I purchased what was described as a £236 deal for £69 on Groupon for my wifes birthday and we drove down to Sidmouth on Friday. Thankfully I had read the reviews on here the week before and knew what to expect so we took some orange oil to fragrance the room and it was needed. We had the room sandwiched between the ladies and gents toilets with thin walls, need I say more?
We were met by the manager on recption in a hoody and he slated Sidmouth, told us it closed at 8.30 and make sure we had our key. The "award winning" menu was no where to be seen when we sneaked a look at our "fabulous" evening meal and the choice was gammon, plaice or mushroom risotto! Mmm. We went for an Indian which was as bad as this hotel but that's another review to come soon.
The smell in reception is that of an old persons home, damp and decaying. The room was not that much better. In fact, our room was so small we could not pass each other in it. There was a portable TV which would get rejected at a car boot sale and the bathroom was smaller than the cupboard. I peered over the top of the shower curtain and it was so small I could barely fit in. I had to leave the room to use the hotel toilet as it was in such a tight corner you had to sit with your legs in the shower to use it.

The bar was good but not manned and after a 5 minute wait on the Saturday night we bought a bottle of wine at Tesco express and drank in the room instead. Also, on the Saturday night we came back and there was no parking space for us as diners who had the "real" menu had taking the spaces up so I had to drive 200 yards to find a parking space and walk back in the rain. Nice touch.

The two young girls who seemed to be the only ones working served breakfast (which was quite nice in fairness) but looked hassled and tired. probably had to deal with a few complaints.

I personally think £69 is the price I would pay for this place for 2 nights B&B and would have left had I been shown the room in advance.

if you have a groupon deal, get a refund and don't go. BTW, the manager desribed us as "You Groupon people!"

Fabulous, almost Fawlty Towers meets The Office.

Having stopped for a 3 hour break in Sidmouth last year, and finding it such a lovely little place, we decided to return for a longer break and to celebrate my 60th birthday decided to opt for a Groupon deal at the Woodlands Hotel. We are both very aware about Groupon deals and the pricing strategy that comes with it , so we do sign up for their deals almost on a 'wing and a prayer'. That way you can be prepared for a disappointment and tell yourself, "Well what did you expect for the money!"
The hotel is situated at the back of the town within a ten minute walk to the centre, and it seemed to be in a perfect position, The weather was remarkable, for January anyway, and sunshine always seems to add an extra sparkle to the most dowdy of towns and buildings.
Today was no exception and the hotel was bathed in warmth. We parked up in the awkward car park and entered with our bags. We were met at reception who barked some questions and a statement of how cold it would be sleeping outside if we forgot to take our key with us at night, etc, etc. A simple "Good afternoon, did you have a pleasant journey?" would have been quite a twee but equally very nice way to greet us! Perhaps, knowing we were 'Grouponites', he treats our sort in a different way! Perhaps I am being a little harsh because 'Superman' turn out to be the hardest working person in the hotel and did have a sharp sense of humour. We has uprated to a bigger room, and big it was, with all the bits and bobs you would expect, tv, tea and coffee, etc. The Groupon deal included dinner on the first night,(only). We sat down at 8pm to a sparsely attended dining room and equally sparse choice of menu, but luckily I liked what was on offer... Joanne, my wife was less than happy and had to settle for a meal that she didn't really care for, but we both held firm, gargled from very nice bottle of Cava to compensate, and after being 'rushed' through the meal, both agreed that the meal was, how can I put it?..... adequate!

We were feeling rather lazy and decided not to frequent the local hostelries in the surrounding town, (on account of it being bloody freezing outside!), and instead we lounged around in the newish, enormous conservatory. It seems everybody else had the same idea and whiled the rest of the evening chatting to other guests, and also 'Superman', who by this time had finished waiting at tables, cleared up, attended to the reception area, and was busy working behind the little bar!
We turned in about eleven, as did virtually everyone else and it wasn't till we had been in the bedroom for about an hour that we realized how cold the room was which made for not for a comfortable nights' sleep. For some bizarre reason the central heating had been turned off despite it being very cold outside!

Breakfast over the two mornings was good, (apart from the carnage in the kitchens on the second morning which was akin to a scene from Fawlty Towers!!) and as the sunshine poured into the dining room and I looked around one could see what a graceful place it would have been in years gone by. Whether the economic climate or the clientele of today will shell out extra money for hotels like these to be ever returned to their former glory is a matter of conjecture. I would like to think they will but I personally have my doubts.

Strangely enough we enjoyed the stay, and as I said earlier, you get what you pay for.

Would we return?

Maybe not.

Just returned from a short stay at Woodlands Hotel. Very concerned before we went after reading some reports but pleasantly surprised after our 2 days stay. Evening meal excellent, staff very friendly and efficient. We were made to feel very welcome. Prices in the Bar were normal hotel prices and price list was on display for all to see. Perhaps some people are used to paying Weatherspoons and Sports and Social prices but this is after all , a hotel.

For the price we paid our break was good value and we would return

we are the couple that upped and left on the 2nd day having decided that we might as well waste our money than stay one more night. we booked on a very reputable discount deals web site, where the picture lead us to believe that the woodlands hotel was a country retreat where in fact we have more of a woodlands in our garden.The picture shown is actually the rear of the hotel and not the front. Don't get me wrong the staff were nice people but that didnt make up for our experiance.Bar over priced,food not what we thought some where we would not go again.