I don't really like adding critical reviews - especially when the staff are so friendly and helpful, as in this case. I stayed here for a weekend with my family - and the staff at the reception and the restaurant were welcoming, polite and always helpful. However, the hotel itself was not quite what I expected. We were accommodated in the newer part of the hotel - the tasteless red carpeting ought to have been a clue to what was to come. The room was adequate - but there was absolutely nothing attractive about it. Everything was shabby and very very average. But we learnt that the exceptionally low temperatures that weekend had led to heating failure on the older side of the hotel - so perhaps I ought to have been grateful for the shabby box-like room in the new wing. The restaurant was not quite what one would expect in a good country-hotel - there was simply too much fat and too little flavour in the food.
Overall - all right for the money (I paid £70) for a family room - but not really the country hotel experience I had expected.

Initial impressions were excellent. Ample free parking and the girl on reception - from eastern Europe, by the sound of her accent - looked genuinely delighted to see me! She took me up to my room, offering to carry my bag, explaining the hotel's amenities as we went. The room was very spacious, but cold, as they hadn't put the radiator on. I can understand why they do this, but the room was very chilly.

I took a hot bath to warm up a bit and noticed a pubic hair on the edge of the bath; not too vile, it was a small one, but a bit disconcerting nevertheless. The bed was very soft and extremely comfortable, with a thick quilt, clean linen and an overblanket. I soon dozed off in front of the rugby match on the large tv set at the foot of the bed.

I had booked a cover in their restaurant, which they seem to be very proud of (their chef is French, apparently). Well, this is when things started to go downhill. It was admittedly very cold outside (it was the evening they cancelled the France v Ireland match in Paris at the last minute because of the frozen pitch), but the restaurant was freezing. I saw a few people get up to fetch their coats from their rooms and I found myself warming my hands over the tiny candle in the centre of the table.

The menu looked ok, but the lighting was so weak I could barely read it. I chose what I was able to decipher; terrine of the day and lamb tagine. Service was very fast, almost suspiciously so, and I wondered how long ago the dishes had been prepared. The paté was bland and dry and the tagine way too oily. This is not French cuisine at its best and I should know - I am a UK expat who has lived in France for the last 25 years. I did not stay for desert.

They redeemed themselves at breakfast with a very nice full English, though again the room was cold and the waiter was pretty unprofessional. Example: I was served toast, but no butter. I couldn't find any on the tables, so when the waiter returned after 5 minutes, I asked for some and he said he would get some. Three minutes after that he returned, carrying a dish of butter and some more toast. Now that's impressive, I thought, my toast has been sitting on the table for 10 minutes and is cold, so he's brought me some fresh... but no, the new toast was for another table. So I had freezing butter on cold toast.

Hotels should understand that it is this kind of attention to detail that counts. Having a French cook is great, but his food is bland and oily. Clean rooms mean no pubes on the bath, please. And why not put the radiator on before the guests arrive?

It's a reasonable hotel, and I did have a relaxing stay, but I won't be going again simply because it is let down by the details.

We needed to get away for a little break and I found this hotel on laterooms. I was a little sceptical because of the low price, and wondered what to expect on arrival. However, I should not of worried at all. It was a beautiful hotel, with exceptional staff who could not do enough for us. The breakfast room ( with an exciting addition of a covered underground well ) was equipped with all the usual juices, cereals, and pastries, with as much tea or coffee as we could possibly require, with a fantastic full english breakfast, which set us up nicely for the day ahead. Howfield Manor is situated very close to a main road, and train line, but this could hardly be heard from our room even though it was on our side of the building. Only a short drive from Canterbury city centre and not far from Ashford. Surrounding countryside was lovely, and we will definitely be returning, and have recommended it to friends and family already.

We enjoyed 2 fantastic nights in this wondeful establishment. It rates as some of the best value for money we have had in decades of travelling throughout the world. The room was spacious, well presented and very comfortable, with the bonus of a big bath. Breakfast was ample, cooked to order and nothing was too much for the staff. It was a quick easy drive into Canterbury. We highly recommend.