JP

Review of Regency park Hotel

It's a nice enough hotel; plenty of parking, spaci...

It's a nice enough hotel; plenty of parking, spacious room, comfortable bed, clean albeit a bit dated. Spa with good changing room facilities a jacuzzi, steam room and very small sauna. Food was good though choice in the restaurant not as good as in the bar. The bar was an average hotel bar (i.e. expensive and with no atmosphere) and the 20-minute walk to the village with its pubs probably too far for some.

But (and hence the 2-star review): staff and service was shocking. From first encounter (check-in at 6pm on a Friday) to last (check-out at 11am on a Sunday) we were faced with incompetence and rudeness. Front of house seemed like they'd never been faced with the public and seemed like rabbits in headlights (thought complaining about the flickering bulb in our room would have tipped them over the edge we didn't even bother); bar staff disinterested and bickering more about their colleagues and managers (and customers!) than serving, and some unprofessional comments should not be said behind a bar; restaurant staff need training (it's not up to the customer to ask what the soup of the day is, for example) and though quick in serving rarely cleared tables; and spa staff seemed surprised to see people (even though the facility was very busy).

I'm glad no staff seemed to care, though, and no one asked us how the food was or, as we checked out, how our stay had been, because we might have told them.

I am not, on the whole, convinced of the AA's 4-star rating.