Misafir Kullanıcı
31 Mayıs 2024
Summary: Lovely, quiet, peaceful location. Ideal for a quick getaway break and some R&R. But, price and atmosphere just take that edge off. Average, not exceptional. Food: We chose to eat locally rather than at Retreat East, except for breakfast which was pleasant but pricey for what it was. £9 for a bacon sandwich is something you’d expect to find in a fancy London restaurant, not here. A shame. Atmosphere: Sadly, the atmosphere is lacking a little something. It feels a little soulless; somewhat formulaic and generic. Where’s the view into the fields from the bathtub? The personal welcoming touches? The little things to say “you’re here, in the countryside… now relax and enjoy”. They could make so much more of this. Facilities: Facilities are fine - sauna is especially lovely - but the requirement to book a 30 minute slot (that’s your allowance) felt a little too disciplined for a couple wanting to relax and go with the flow. It plays into the very formulaic, less personal feel to Retreat East. It’s a shame. Now, don’t get me wrong, I see why they do it, but when it’s not overly busy it’s a shame the rules are enforced. I also didn’t realise there was a small gym until checking out, a shame it wasn’t mentioned before. Accommodation: The accommodation was lovely. Bed very comfy and we slept like logs. The outdoor bath was a real plus. Very private and tranquil and one of the reasons we booked this particular accommodation. Cleanliness: While generally very clean throughout, it was a shame to notice under the bed seemingly hadn’t been cleaned in a long time with lots of dust rolls. Fortunately I only noticed as I went to retrieve an escaped AirPod before checking out, but not what you expect for premium accommodation. Car parking: The car park is a short walk away and there’s a bit of a fuss about not parking on site overnight. Even the suggestion of a £50 fine in the welcome brochure. However, we found people tended to park on site closer to the accommodation overnight and the rules are seemingly not enforced. We stuck to the rules, of course. They have EV charging, including a Tesla fast charger nearer to the accommodation and there’s also accessible parking but note that most pathways are gravel which could be tricky for wheelchair users. Pricing: We got the midweek price deal which was still a little steep all things considered. We’d be happy to pay this price for a little more soul and greater freedom around facility use. Summary: Difficult to rate this one. The price doesn’t quite match the experience, a little steep when cleanliness and facilities are taken into account. The price of food also not helping here. But, still a lovely site in a nice countryside location where you do truly feel able to relax. I wouldn’t knock it, and I’d certainly come back. I just hope they can make it feel a bit more special, a bit more personal and less formulaic. That way, they might just help it find its soul. It’s just missing that extra some
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