Robert Smith

Review of Heythrop Park Resort

Expectations were high, as I was attending a Chris...

Expectations were high, as I was attending a Christmas party function. The long driveway and exterior setting is fabulous, if slightly odd with the original historical architecture extended with swathes of 1970s concrete. Think of the hotel in The Shining and you won't be far off. I was in the 'S' wing of the building, and a long 4-5 minute walk from reception to my room is no exaggeration. It is my understanding that the hotel is slowly being refurbished, as other colleagues seemed to have much newer rooms, and there was also the smell of paint wafting down the hallway. Highlights: Bed was comfortable. Low points: It took 4 phone calls and 2 hours to get an ironing board and iron brought to the room. 2 of the 5 plug sockets in my room worked. No bedside table, just a random hole in the headboard. Only enough room to walk down the side of the bed on one side, as other side was jammed up against the radiator. In December with snow outside, the heating was off. Dinner was 3 courses. Brief review: * Ham hock was brilliant * Smallest most dubious fillet of cod I've ever seen. 'Selection of winter vegetables' was represented by 5 overcooked carrot sticks. * For dessert, I am no culinary expert, but I am fairly sure that traditional Christmas pudding 1) isn't usually served as a slice, 2) isn't meant to have a skin around it. Would I stay again? Not until the refurbishments were over.