The Bartley Lodge Hotel, Cadnam

...hotel dozens of times over the last 5 or 6 years, when I've been working in Hampshire. I've probably stayed in every room, eaten every item off the menu, outstayed most of the staff and taken up every space in the car parks.

If I tell you that I get to choose where I stay (within reason) and that there is plenty of choice of fine hotels in this area, then you will realise that I've developed a strong affection for the Bartley Lodge.
.../> The hotel is located on the edge of the New Forest at Cadnam near Southampton, off the A337 near Junction 1 on the M27. Full location and contact details are as shown below:

The Bartley Lodge Hotel
Cadnam
Nr Southampton
Hampshire
SO40 2NR

Telephone: 023 8081 2248
Fax: 023 8081 2075
E-mail: bartley@newforesthotels.co.uk
Web: http://www.newforesthotels.co.uk/BartleyLodgeHotel.asp
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BARTLEY LODGE HOTEL
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I've stayed at this hotel dozens of times over the last 5 or 6 years, when I've been working in Hampshire. I've probably stayed in every room, eaten every item off the menu, outstayed most of the staff and taken up every space in the car parks.

If I tell you that I get to choose where I stay (within reason) and that there is plenty of choice of fine hotels in this area, then you will realise that I've developed a strong affection for the Bartley Lodge.

~~ LOCATION ~~

The hotel is located on the edge of the New Forest at Cadnam near Southampton, off the A337 near Junction 1 on the M27. Full location and contact details are as shown below:

The Bartley Lodge Hotel
Cadnam
Nr Southampton
Hampshire
SO40 2NR

Telephone: 023 8081 2248
Fax: 023 8081 2075
E-mail: bartley@newforesthotels.co.uk
Web: http://www.newforesthotels.co.uk/BartleyLodgeHotel.asp

Apparently the hotel used to be a hunting lodge with the oldest parts dating back to 1759. The front of the hotel shows it's age and it's Georgian heritage. It's a beautiful hotel sitting in beautiful grounds in a fantastic location.

The hotel is part of the New Forest Hotels group which includes hotels at 4 locations in the Forest:

Bartley Lodge Hotel - Cadnam
Forest Lodge Hotel - Lyndhurst
Moorhill House Hotel - Burley
The Beaulieu Hotel - Beaulieu

I've stayed at all 4 hotels in the group, and all are pretty unique, friendly and cosy places to stay and would make excellent bases for touring the New Forest and surrounding areas.

The first thing that you notice as you approach the hotel is the long narrow drive through a section of mature trees where you occasionally spot a New Forest pony. The drive eventually opens up to a gravel covered car park at the front of the hotel (further parking is located at the rear) revealing the main building to the left and a new extension in front of you (also housing the leisure centre and swimming pool).

~~ RECEPTION ~~

As you enter the reception area you will see beautiful oak wood panelling on the walls with a recessed reception desk in front of you. To your left is a fairly big lounge area with a number of leather sofas and tables. This area is usually used for serving tea, coffee and petit-fours after dinner. The whole area gives a really cosy feel

As you approach the reception desk, to your right you will see the bar (also wood panelled) and behind you - a wooden staircase leading to a landing leading to most of the bedrooms.

I've always found the staff in the reception (in fact in the hotel in general) to be friendly and helpful, so checking in when you are tired after a long journey is not at all onerous.

~~BEDROOM~~

As you would expect in a hotel of this quality, all rooms are en-suite and include all of the usual facilities, including:

Tea & Coffee making facility, including biscuits and plenty of provisions.
A TV, usually a portable unit on a wall mounted stand, with remote control.
One or more good sized beds - dependant on room type
Bedside tables with lamps
A writing desk, usually fitted with drawers
Direct dial telephone, with modem socket
Wardrobe, or built in hanging space
Hairdryer

The en-suite facilities also vary from room to room, but generally include:

Toilet
Sink unit
Shower or Bath (some have both)
Basic toiletries
Plenty of good quality towels

Most of the rooms that I have stayed in have included one double bed of a god size, with a thick duvet. Beds usually have reading lamps and bedside tables. Amongst the 31 bedrooms, there are rooms available with 4 poster beds (I've only ever stayed in these when the rest of the hotel was full !), as well as family rooms.

The one criticism that I have of the rooms is the lack of either Wireless Broadband or wired Broadband Internet access, I have always had to use the Narrowband access via the telephone mounted data-port.

~~ DINING~~

The Dining room is quite long with about 15 (or so) tables, usually set up to cater groups of from 2 to 6, although I've been to parties there where tables have been set up for breakfast to cater for 20+.

The room is softly lit including individual oil lamps on each table, and downlighters on walls and floor mounted standing lamps. The whole place is nicely decorated and gives a sense of calm and comfort.

For me, the highlight of staying at the Bartley Lodge is the dining. The menu is varied with a relatively small number of dishes (which change regularly) that are all well and accurately described. Portions vary between adequate and more than adequate.

My favourite dishes are usually either fish or duck ensembles, especially the Salmon - both as a starter and as a main meal. I have never been served a meal at this hotel which has disappointed me, and this also goes for my colleagues who have dined with me. Vegetables are tasty and fresh; meat is cooked to perfection, steaks cooked to your own taste. The food is well presented.

As an entrée to the meal, you are served a small selection of home made breads, these are excellent and varied, from Granaries to fruit breads.

As a sweet, my preference at the Bartley Lodge, is the cheese board which usually includes an excellent Stilton as well as Cheddar and various other cheeses.

Breakfasts can include a variety of cereals, toast, fruit juices, tea & coffee, croissants, breads, and of course Full English. Also included are kippers. As with evening meals, the breakfasts are excellent.

Staff serving in the dining rooms are friendly and helpful and not overbearing.

~~ BAR ~~

The bar is small and cosy with It's oak panelling and wooden furniture. Adjoining the bar there are also two additional rooms (that can be joined to make one large room) available for larger groups for special events.

The selection of Beers, Wines and Spirits is more than adequate and I've always found that the beers on tap are fresh and of good quality.

~~ LEISURE FACILITIES ~~

Although I've never taken advantage of these, I have viewed them and they have been used by my colleagues. Indoors there is a reasonably sized swimming pool, a Sauna, and a small Gym. Outdoors, there is a large grassed area and two tennis courts.

The main activities, however, that are partaken in by visitors to the hotel are walking and pony trekking in the New Forest. I've taken many walks in the summer and it's a great place to start from.

~~ RATES ~~

Rates at the hotel vary, dependant on time of year and on which room you choose. I have often been informed of special seasonal deals that have been on offer, usually covering long-weekends. Currently (according to the web-site on 7th December 2006) a 2 night break will cost £135 per person, this includes Dinner, Bed and Breakfast. I think that this is excellent value for money.

~~ RECOMMENDATION ~~

I would recommend this hotel to just about anyone, the exception being those who want to party all night - this hotel is just too relaxed for that, although at Christmas, things can change. I've been at parties in the hotel that have gone on into the early hours, although after about midnight, party revellers tend to keep the noise down.
 

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