I have had the pleasure of staying at The Seckford Hall Hotel twice. If I could re-run my life all over again - this is where I would press the pause button and take a breather from all the hustle-and-bustle of everyday life - a truly wonderful experience will be had by staying or dining here...We have taken or American friends and South African relatives - all have been very impressed with the surroundings, hotel and amazing food.Oh!, and did I mention our French friends? Well, you know how difficult they are to please? - They were really gob-smacked (real Cockney saying - meaning impressed to the nth degree!)

We have eaten here before in the evening, but decided to take my mother-in-law there for lunch for her 92nd birthday. There is a set-lunch menu of two courses for £12.95 ($20.50) or three courses for £15.95 ($25.00). This is only slightly more (and in some cases less) than you would pay in a pub restaurant! One wonders why on earth visit pubs for lunch when you can have a fantastic lunch prepared by a top chef in the surroundings of a 16th century country hotel with the attention of a maitre de and uniformed waitresses for the same money? We (my grand daughter came as well) opted for the risotta starter followed by poached breast of guinea fowl w/fondant potatoes, puy lentils & root vegetables (1), pan fried pork cutlet with chorizo pomme puree and red onion & madeira sauce (1) and grilled plaice in citrus butter & warm fennel w/spring onion & green bean salad (2). We had bread & butter pudding with custard (choice of cream also) and one had coffee and mints. Everyone was well pleased with their choice and portion sizes. Of particular mention was the risotta starter. We shared a half-bottle of very nice wine recommended by the maitre de. The service and surroundings were top-notch. There are no dress standards imposed, but I would recommend smart casual or better. Try it, I think you will agree it is great vale for money. Not including the wine our bill came to just over £61. Not bad for four people in such grand surroundings with excellent food and quality service. Walk it off afterwards in the beautiful gardens and visit the mixed wildlife living in and near the large pond. We will definitely be visiting again!

When you drive up to the hotel, it's difficult not to be wowed by the sight of the building; it's quite something. The reception is a small window to your right as you creak open the massive front door. the staff are very helpful, polite and obliging. When you are offered help to find your room, take it! It's a proper rabbit-warren and you'd be hard-pressed to find your room unless you've stayed there before.

The room was a bit like my grannies house - in a good way - and had everything you could want. It's clearly (and you'll know this when you book) not modern or trendy so don't expect huge plasma TVs and such like.

As I was there on business, 12 of us ate in the restaurant which is very classic. Loved the Lobster Thermidore.

Breakfast also very good and lots of smiles from the staff.

I booked an overnight stay on the 30th October for my wife and I to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary, I chose the Hall because we held our after wedding drinks party there 30 years ago..
The web site booking system was efficient and I chose the package which included an evening meal in the restaurant but you had to spend a minimum of £31.50 per person. This description on the web site could be misleading but I will explain further later.
On our arrival I have to say that our room bore little resemblance to that depicted on the web site it was very small, very cream and in desperate need of refurbishment. It was generally lacklustre. Fortunately we had a small balcony which our dog enjoyed, without which, moving around the room would have been chaotic.
The room had no face flannels and despite searching most of the drawers etc I was unable to locate a hair dryer.
Before dinner I decided to sample the Adnams in the bar but although this facility was open I had to search for a member of staff and when finally served she continued to 'play' with her mobile which I consider to be both impolite and unprofessional. The beer was very average.
We sat in the bar with our aperitifs and ordered our food with the bar person still 'playing' with her mobile - very irritating! When we were called to our table the waitress did not carry our unfinished drinks or seat my wife in the usual appropriate manner to which we are accustomed in a 4 star establishment. Additionally I was very surprised to see that our wine had already been opened. This was I assume an attempt to let it breathe, this being the case then it should have been uncorked in front of us in the bar.
The food was very good.
In the morning I noticed that the underside of the toilet seat was filthy which is unforgivable - we had not attempted to use this facility the previous night. As a result of this, although I had pre- booked breakfast we decided to give it a miss and leave.
On check out I was not asked if we enjoyed our stay but I was informed that an additional £5 odd had been added to my bill as we had not spent the requisite £31.50 each on FOOD! Our restaurant and drinks bill was nearly £120. When I questioned this I was told quite emphatically that the £31.50 related to food only not wine etc. The web site does not refer to food it refers to dinner and in my opinion if it only relates to food then this should make this clear. Had I been aware of this top up charge I would not have left my very generous tip in the restaurant.
On my return home I emailed the Manager regarding these issues and his reply addressed some but not others, no mention was made regarding the lack of face cloths or indeed what I consider to be a lack of courtesy by one of the restaurant staff.
However, what convinced me to write this report for the world to read was his answer regarding my failure to find the hair dyer. I was told and I quote ' the hair dryer was in the top RH drawer of the dressing table, where I expected to find it'. I consider this remark to be both rude and quite unnecessary - but I extend my sincere apologies to all at Seckford Hall for not searching comprehensively for the hair dryer!

Needless to say we shall never frequent this establishment again.