Champneys Forest Mere Review

We were so lucky to booked on the hottest day in February with lots of sunshine and great weather. Love to come back as it has all we love..good food, great facilities and Excellent service

Amazing spa location albeit a little expensive for how crowded it can get. Food has never been my favourite here BUT they do not lie about the fact that they are a health spa!

Wonderful staff, relaxing setting and brilliant facilities. The food is very tasty and a great range to suit everyone.

Spent the night with my partner. The Spa facilities are very good with shared steam/sauna as well gender only ones. There 4 Jacuzzi pools, one being outdoors and many rest areas if you want to relax.

Accommodation was good and the food was okay. A lot of the food is very healthy so don't expect your usual full English fry up in the morning.

I had a wonderful experience, and the staff where brilliant from beginning to end,

highly recommend

This is a lovely place to go to relax. Rooms are comfy and the food is excellent. They are a little disorganised but did make every effort to sort out the problems as they arose. You will need to be aware of the supplements which can be charged!

Very relaxing, great staff, food excellent, extensive range of facilities and classes.

Relaxed beautiful setting, staff welcoming, food lovely, treatments amazing.

Lovely surroundings. Requested a room change due to poor furnishings and level of cleanliness. Moved to a modern suite. Minor issues with attention to detail. Over all a pleasant stay but it required prompting

We loved our little break. We found the accommodation comfortable and the food was great. We had a massage, used the gym, did some classes and used the pool area with steam rooms and Jacuzzis.

Definitely recommend this place! Maybe a little expensive for how nice it is. It's a bit shabby in places, so for me it wasn't perfect, but we enjoyed it all the same.

Most loveliest weekend ever, shame about some of the miserable customers.
Staff were amazing, so helpful and nice. Shall definitely return.

I went here with my mum and sister for the day. It was absolutely wonderful - so many areas to relax in and the lunch was super tasty. We did a hula hoop class, which was lots of fun!

Can't fault it! Did the 'day pass'. Had a lovely lunch and great swim, sauna steam etc. Beautiful ground. Friendly staff. Would come babk.

Possibly the worst website ever! There is scant information about treatments and pricing is hard to find. It has taken me over two hours and four phone calls to make a booking. Free treatments are only available if you book on line but if More

Very pretty location with good walks and very polite and professional staff. Food at dinner was very good but breakfast was not as good due to no croissants! Spa is well sized with a good choice of activities and treatments.

Amazing when the weather is good. Very good service, only downside: the food could be improved. A large part of it is industrial

Super relaxed after a 2 day, 1 night break here. Lots of lovely spa experiences and plenty of relaxation rooms/beds. The food was delicious and all staff are welcoming and friendly. The room we stayed in was good, I think it was a standard double but there was plenty of room and all the usual things you need including a coffee pod machine.

Unfortunately we didn't have a great experience at this place. The eating area felt neglected and dirty. The waiting time to be seated at a table was huge and the plates were always dirty.

Forest Mere has recently been renovated to a very high standard. The pool and spa area are extremely comfortable with plenty of seats and towels. The rainforest showers with music are a fun touch. The treatments were excellent, I had a Seaweed wrap and a facial. The head massage during the facial was so good I fell asleep. I visited with 2 girlfriends as day spa guests and would gladly visit again

Outside jacuzzi was cold, thalassotherapy pool was complementary last time I was there. Now you have to pay! The one in Tring is free. Massage treatment was very poor. Overall very dissatisfied. Won t be going back.

We went away for our birthdays plus our friends 60th. Staff were so friendly and nothing was to much trouble for them. Would go back againx

Relaxing, pampering atmosphere with friendly and helpful staff. Accommendation was good and food was varied, tasty and excellent.
There was something for everyone to do the choice was wide.
The setting was magnificent.
Looking forward to returning.

A very good visit a chance to relax with the company of my family. I love the changes around the pool and the food was great as usual.

Positives:
- Most of the staff were extremely kind and attentive
- Had the most amazing facial using Elemis products. My skin genuinely felt so much better afterwards
- Went to a great spinning class in the morning, which is included in the Day pass.
- Good number and variety of pools/showers/steam rooms/saunas etc.

Negatives:
- Head in the Clouds massage was so so. My mum also had this and didn't enjoy it. This was on promotion so maybe they were using new and unexperienced masseurs to do it. My masseur (Oliv) for the full body massage also did not seem very experienced.
- Had the mother's day experience which included a free Elemis gift, but we weren't given this
- Big queue at reception on arrival
- Online booking system AWFUL
- Lunch was absolutely terrible. Had the halloumi and aubergine burger, which had obviously been cooked some time ago as the halloumi was squeaky and cold. Had to send back and ask for something else. Had an upset stomach the next day. Limited vegetarian/vegan options - surprising for a 'health conscious' spa. Salad buffet was bland, poorly cooked with a lack of variety. Staff also didn't speak clear English and not attentive. Maybe the whole catering function is outsourced because it was really awful, I would be embarrassed if i were responsible for that

Nice facility but not up to scratch with dealing with food allergies despite 3 months notice of our stay. Previous years, the food has been excellent, but the last 2 years have been a real let down.

Amazing place and service. Not much to do after dinner.

Lovely place good atmosphere good treatments clean modern rooms. However had problems booking treatments then on departure got charged for a treatment that I did not have and I felt the staff member dealt badly with the problem.

Had a fab day with my two daughters relaxing chilling swimming etc , treatment arnt up to much sadly , would have rather saved our money to be honest , and checking out was tiresome ,

Calming, relaxing atmosphere. Lovely surroundings and grounds. Food delicious.

Renovation was in progress around the pool so there was no room to lie and relax; only facility outside changing rooms were sauna and whirlpool (not jacuzzi). Slow service - 30 mins for tea and cake; 30 mins for a bottle of wine by room service; 25 mins for our dinner mains. Wow we did spend a lot of time waiting. At reception. To check out. God knows for what else. Treatments were ok. Nothing amazing. It's the Ryanair approach that really annoys after paying a good amount for the package. Extra charge for cheeseboard, late checkout; hot breakfast. Anything they possibly can. It's not brilliant.

Lovely and spacious and green. Very relaxing. Great food. Great people

Champneys Forest mere one of my most favourite places. The new refurbishments are really great, more unisex places for couples. I go with friends several times a year and we love it.

Lovely setting, good food and nice comfortable rooms.

My wife and I visited Champneys at Forest Mere for a overnight spa break. We go to many spas around the country but this was by far the best spa retreat we have ever been too.
Beautiful location, great facilities, wonderful, polite, very professional staff and great service.
Totally relaxing, wonderful selection of very healthy foods. We shall definitely go back and look forward to a fully rejuvenating stay.
Can t recommend this place enough

This is my 2nd time at Champneys and I was disappointed with the breakfast and lunch buffet, staff seemed stressed in the kitchen. Most of the food items would run out and they would only replenish them if you ask, they even served up frozen bread when the baked bread ran out. I would have assumed they would have food ready in the back rather than hoping no one would ask. The coffee area at night was a complete mess one night, cups everywhere unable to find a clean place to sit. The spa and fitness centre was great, I really enjoyed the classes. I would maybe return again but for the price I was expecting better service overall.

Been trying for 2 weeks to speak to someone soon can use my voucher. Unable to get through. They have an answering service that costs a fortune - you phone, your call is answered by a machine and you get put on hold. I hang up after 20 mins. Absolutely disgusting abuse of the telephone system. Still not able to book.

Had a wonderful 5 days met some nice ppl surroundings lovely food could've been better. Facilities good

Great experience. Facilities very varied and excellent. jacuzzi, steam, sauna, snow room, hot stone room. Breakfast, lunch both buffet. Fantastic choice of very tasty food. Dinner, 3 courses off a menu. Again fantastic value and very tasty. A very pleasant experience. The grounds are beautiful and my room overlooked a huge lake. Totally recommend

Did not realise we were going to what feels like diet camp. We were left very hungry as we arrived at 3pm on a saturday for my 30th birthday and there was no space left in the restaurant until 8.45pm. No minibar in rooms and room service the same as dinner menu. Calorie restricted menus were outdated along with only sweeteners for hot drinks and no sugar. Our double room came with 2 twin beds pushed together and TV did not work. We did enjoy the swimming pool but hot tub outdoors was freezing and unusable.

Excellent facilities both rooms and spa. Food very nice. Staff friendly and excellent walks

Factory spa. Disappointed with service, food, accommodation, spa service received (very poor) and amenities (more than 1 out of order, paint peeling in thalassotherapy pool). There are other places to go doing a much better job than this. Don't waste your money.

I stayed overnight on a Friday night. The spa facilities were excellent, I particularly liked the fleece covered water beds for relaxing on. I had a full body massage during my stay which was pleasant enough but a little tarnished at the end by the pushing of products & up selling.

Service outside of the spa is an issue, there are plenty of staff but they are not well trained and I got a different answer to the same question on multiple occasions.

The restaurant needs work, the service is terrible and the food runs out quickly - which they are slow to replenish. There is a restaurant manager present but during my stay he spent his time dashing around avoiding eye contact.

It is a nice spa experience that needs some work to make it excellent.

Bad service at meal times, never anyone a reception

Stunning place and great activities available. Most staff are lovely, though one or two were a little rude if you ask for bubbly at the wrong time of the day!

Have been here twice now, once in October and again in July, both times were great and the facilities are amazing.

Only downside is the waiting staff, having worked in FnB for a number of years I was seriously amazed by how lethargic and disinterested the waiters seemed (especially at dinner time).

I would be back again, and would eat there as the food was nice, but would have less expectations at dinner.

We loved the spa but the hotel was definitely not what we were expecting!!
Our room was dirty (sheets + wall), the lights in the bathroom doesn't work, my robe was with a big hole, and the restaurant was not exceptional! We ordered 2 fries, one came fresh the second one came very not fresh so we asked to change it (which make the waitress not happy and angry). Definitely not what you expecting when you going to a 4* hotel...
We also were disappointed about our massage, our shoulders (my husband and me same)was very painful after it, the girls was laughing many times do very embarrassing, we didn't if it's about us or some thing else but not very relaxing though...

But we have to say that the outside is amazing wahou so beautiful and make real break with our life in busy London. And the spa was exceptional so comfy, really relaxing and really really beautiful!! The water mattress that you can set them hot are wonderful, I would give 5* for the spa and the outside of the hotel

This is the 3rd time of going to Champneys.Sadly very disappointed l know alot was due to Corona virus.But trying to book any classes was awful not unless you wanted to pay a fee upfront then they were all gone.Breakfast was a nightmare we waited 45mins for it to arrive to be given someone else's,Which made us miss the only class that we could get into.Might give it a miss next year.

I love champneys. The environment is fantastic and tranquil, and food is amazing. Staff are very friendly and accommodating.

Always a great stay at Champneys Forest Mere. It was a little busy on a Sat, Sun stay but no less enjoyable. Food and service was perfect as usual. It would be good to have "BE QUIET. SHHHH' signs in the relaxation rooms. Sadly, not everyone is considerate to others.

Once again, fantastic stay - Rooms spotless and Spa as good as always!

The best Champneys.
Hidden down a private road located in the countryside with a large lake outside the resort this is the Champneys to visit. As with all Champneys the treatments, activities and food are world class. What sets this Champneys aside from the others is space, plenty of relaxation areas with very modern facilities. We have stayed here several times and cannot fault it! A true relaxing escape.

Awesome 1 night break, food amazing and facilities top notch

Stayed with a friend for a few nights. I came here about 17 years ago it was a luxury retreat. When we arrived it was so disorganised with the staff I felt there was no customer service . The room was fine, clean and great view I couldn't fault that. With the covid regulations every meal and fitness class/swim had to be booked which takes time to sort out and takes the fun out of things. The girl at fitness reception had an attitude problem when I asked a question she raised her eyes several times at me. The outside pool is shockingly run down & dirty it looked like a derelict pool just filled with grubby water. Inside the building no ambience no music and not many people about. The food was fine. Dora & Tom worked very hard but there is definitely not enough staff there in general. It has become very dated and what was once a great place sadly has become run down. These places get established and get their name but then let standards slip . There seemed to be no general manager overseeing the running of it just very young staff probably poorly paid and doing 3 people's job hence the reason standards have slipped. Based on my experience I wouldn't recommend. There are smaller places just as nice that do not get the recognition.

A little getaway for the wife and I at Champneys Forest Mere. Arrived in the day on the Friday, stayed the night and left on the Saturday afternoon. I would say both left a little disappointed.

Firstly I'd like to point out that the facilities are great. Everything really clean, gym a good size with plenty of equipment, pool a good size and steam rooms and saunas are good (when you can get in them).

The first disappointment was just how hot the place was. It was really warm throughout the building and in particular our bedroom was very warm (we were on the top floor). No Aircon in the accommodation, however there was a little desk fan in the wardrobe, but still, I'd expect more at this pricepoint. The window opened (just) but this didn't help much. The rest of the building was also warm, but often to be expected with the glass windows and spa facilities.

The next disappointment was dinner. I know health is the main focus here but I would say that healthy food doesn't need to be bland, and the portions were sometimes laughable. The beef with stir fried "super greens", aka, beef on a bed of wilted kale... Was very disappointing, super greens would expect more than that. My seabass fillet was also very bland and not seasoned enough. The vegan Mac and "cheese with truffle" was again a big disappointment, literally just tasted like bland boiled pasta. The desert was also disappointing, a very dry courgette cake and the desert I wanted was unavailable.

Lunch however was a particular highlight, a very good standard buffet with lots of choice and again good healthy options, this time though with flavour!

We had a full body massage each which we both agreed was very good and we both enjoyed it very much!

Checking out was also a bit annoying as we were waiting a long time at the desk to be served (definitely felt understaffed) to then be told to wait in the departures desk.

Overall the facilities were good and there were definitely some positives but unfortunately just as many negatives. I think we'd come back but DEFINITELY not for full price. And also beware there's extras galore!!

The SPA area is the best part of it all and it is only decent when it comes to the indoor pool and the outdoor one. The steam room is tiny (it holds 4 people max) and one whirpool tub was out of order. The sauna is ok in term of space but one door was not closing properly hence the heat was lost. Dinner at the restaurant was terrible (unless you pay extra for dishes outside the all inclusive menu but we guessed the chef would be the same hence there was no point!). The service was not attentive, it was rushed and cold and a bit chaotic. Breakfast and lunch were better/decent but nothing to rave about. Also you need to book your table for dinner (and lunch) but you only find this out when you check-in hence by then we were told the restaurant was fully booked and that we had to get room service! Crazy! We complained profusely until by magic a table was found. The room was clean and basic but were promised a double bed and we had 2 single ones. The built part overall looks outdated, the outside ground and natural landscape is however very nice. The service overall was ok and the 1 hour body massage at the SPA was the best thing of it all. For the money you spend it is not worth it.

Had a delightful one night mid-week spa break at Forest Mere. Room was fantastic, gym was well equipped and pool , Sauna and steam room were very good. Food, breakfast, dinner and lunch were all excellent. Service, throughout was very good, though was a bit slow at dinner. In all an excellent break and would highly recommend

Good to see there s been some renovations here. Love coming to Forest Mere

I was charged a fiver just to check their price over the phone, be careful.

Availability in 6 months via Vitality and it's still ridiculously expensive.

My girlfriend and I went here for 3 nights...wow!
The entire place was very clean and tidy and well looked after.
The treatment I had was very relaxing and helpful for my back as well. Treatments are not all that over priced either!
We did a couple of gym classes while we were there and they were very well organised and thought through too!
Would love to go back again and would recommend for those whole want a short break.

The grounds are beautiful. All public areas are of high spec. Bathroom a little tired. Comfortable bed, great patio area.
Was disappointed with the food, it's healthy which is good but flavours were just not there. Best thing the vegan chocolate mouse, it was heavenly.
Staff were very friendly and everywhere was spotless.

Such a lovely setting and facilities, perfect for a spa stay with my daughter. Lovely pool area and the whole spa area is very clean with plenty to do-steam room, saunas, inside and outdoor jacuzzis. The food is delicious with plenty of choice-perfect after working up an appetite doing some fitness classes.
Look forward to next year!

Good day out. Nice to relax. Friendly and helpful staff.

Wonderful location and very good facilities. Let down, slightly, by only 2 things: 1) from the car park the view of seriously deterioration to the timber work of the window frames was shocking. When walking to the outdoor pool the exterior doors are also missing paint and timber that has simply rotted away. 2) We had never had a spa day or been there before, so did not know what was what or where we should go. Were told to have a drink, relax and someone would show us around, but we waited an hour and no-one came or talked to us. Eventually we asked the person clearing the tables who told us nobody would come.

So relaxing, felt very safe and clean and the treatments were wonderful. Only a few things weren't open because of covid but that didn't detract from the experience

Nice and relaxing but wasn t impressed with the food. The treatments are awesome.

Generally nice but a little tired in places. Good food. Some nice walks nearby.

Went as a day guest, the breakfast was more than disappointing. Whereas the overnight guests appeared to have a good selection of choice. The lunch faired little better with the saving grace being the buffet salad with chicken. (Again the overnight guests had a much superior meal and choice). The spa had a lot to offer with the massage being one of the best I ve had. As a conclusion, never go as a day guest.

Friendly and patient staff. Clean, compfy and relaxing... treatments are great and very popular, food is satisfying. All information displayed so no surprise charges if you actually take the time to read/ pay attention. Will definitely be back and bring friends.

Wanted treatment no one told us that you have to book by 6 at night but on the website gives you the impression you can book any time.

Such a relaxing time feel very pampered, thoroughly wonderful time, and very helpful staff.