This break was booked as a Christmas present for me from my wife, and as it turned out it could not have come at a better time - the end of a months work without a day off, so I was ready to enjoy a couple of days doing nothing.
On arrival we were efficiently checked in without problem and directed to our suite.
My wife had booked a junior suite (room 71) which was defiantly worth paying the extra for, being able to put our bags in the upstairs gallery bedroom then relax with our complimentary bubbly while watching Sunday afternoon football on sky sports got it off to a good start.
The bathrobes and slippers in the suite are a vital addition, meaning that after a bath or shower you can relax for a while without having to sit round in a towel or immediately get dressed.
The rooms and bathroom were both perfectly clean and well decorated with everything in perfect working order (a rarity in most hotels) and the bed was gigantic, a monster that allowed me to have the best couple of nights sleep I have had in a long time (in part due to not having my three year old daughter wake me at six a.m.) the pillows were also excellent to the point that I even looked at the label to see what brand they were, although I had forgotten this by the time we got home.
We ate in the restaurant both nights, choosing to have a drink in the bar first while we browsed the menus. The food in the restaurant was good and very well presented, on the Sunday night neither myself or my wife had room for a dessert (possibly because the food was so rich).
The bread on the table is a nice touch as is the offer of more once it is eaten, the amuse bouch we were given on the Monday evening was excellent, a salmon and dill terrine which was amazingly flavoursome.
Breakfast is excellent with the usual continental/buffet to start then a vast choice of cooked items , both mornings we opted for the full English which was as good as any I have ever eaten, very nice thick smoked bacon and quality tasting sausage.
On the Monday we spent the day in the spa, an impressive facility which seems almost as big as the hotel itself. If you have access to the hotel fitness club as part of your room deal then virtually all of the spa facilities are available to you at no extra cost. The infra red sauna was a particular favourite of ours and the day seemed to pass very quickly.
We found the staff to be very friendly and helpfully (even the chambermaids) with only a couple of things being forgotten in the restaurant the only critisism, such minor things are to be expected occasionally though.
I had a slight problem with a charge on my account which I took up with the hotel on my return to avoid spoiling the atmosphere while there, and to their credit they have been fantastic about it, escalating it to the owner who dealt with me directly and to my complete satisfaction, thank you.
All in all we had a fantastic relaxing time there and I hope to return, I would rate this hotel at 90% plus, thank you to all the staff for looking after us, the owner for sorting out my problem and my wife for booking it.
- Fairlawns Hotel Aldridge
