Crazy Bear Stadhampton

This place has sadly lost its sparkle and appeal which is sad as this was somewhere we loved going for events and weekends. The NYE party was poorly planned with a 40-50 minute wait for drinks, there were less acts, the buffet being moved really made no sense to carry the food through and then people line and over crowd over people tables. Breakfast was cold and despite previously paying for the continental option this was not laid out and had to be ordered which the waiter was not pleased with and after asking for a couple of slices of toast each for 2 of us were handed 1 cold slice between us so we gave up and left! Rooms are dirty with cobwebs visible and the whole place looks like it needs a good deep clean. Rooms have coffee machine with fresh milk left standing in a warm room and only decaf coffee available nothing more. Such a shame as this place used to have that special feel but now it’s just disappointing and after multiple events and trips here we really don’t think we will return again

We decided to stay over whilst attending the Christmas party with a group of friends. Given that we (2) spent in excess of £500 for the room/tickets etc this offers dreadful value for money. Yes, the rooms are quirky (but small) along with reception but are tired and in need of work. At least the staff were friendly. Our room was small, as expected, but nicely decorated. The shower room looked impressive but it was a wet room, literally! After showering, which was lukewarm at best, the floor was flooded and water started to come into the bedroom. We left towels down to stop the water but was not able to go back into the bathroom without getting wet. Sleep quality was good. Carpet needs replacing on stairway. With regards to the party, which was billed as a 3 course meal. This involved bread to start, a lukewarm Thai style buffet (not much choice) and then cheese. Disappointing. We were crammed into our table, alongside other crammed tables - so was not easy to get around. The bar was too busy, so had to resort going to the restaurant bar, which in turn got too busy. Entertainment was average. The following morning we went down for breakfast, which surprisingly was an expensive extra, with an added service charge which we wasn't expecting. Food was lukewarm and had to be returned to be heated up. Quality was average at best. Very poor value and would not return.

Overall, we were impressed with the accommodation, and we really enjoyed our room. However, we did have some concerns regarding our experience with room service. Upon arrival, we requested a cup of tea and two wine glasses, but we were informed by a staff member, in a rather unfriendly manner, that we were only allowed two cups of tea then we would be charged for more. In my experience, I’ve stayed in hotels worldwide, and I can't recall any hotel imposing a limit on tea or coffee, especially considering the price we paid for our stay. After waiting for about half an hour, we called reception again, only to be told that room service had forgotten about our request. We then waited another 20-25 minutes, and when room service finally arrived, they had forgotten the wine glasses. This was a simple request that was unfortunately handled poorly, and it left us feeling disappointed. On a positive note, the rest of our stay was enjoyable. The food was lovely, and the bar and restaurant staff were friendly and accommodating. We booked our stay through Wowcher, where we received a significant discount (49%, I believe). Even with the discount, the stay still felt expensive, and we found it to be somewhat overpriced for what we received. Both my girlfriend and I agreed that we would consider returning, but we wouldn’t be willing to pay more than the discounted price we paid. If we do return, I hope we will experience more welcoming reception staff and a little more flexibility when it comes to tea and coffee. The experience left us with a bitter taste, not from the tea, but from the way the situation was handled.