Cowley Manor Experimental

06.02.2025

This was an excellent find, perfect country house with amazing spa, ideal to relax and great facilities

27.01.2025

Lovely spa

24.01.2025

On arrival the place is impressive and the staff at the reception desk very friendly. Our room was in the stable block and was “ok” but freezing cold. Luckily we happened to have a portable heater in our vehicle and used it just to get comfortably warm. The dim lighting is way too much. Even with every light on I had to use my phone torch just to read the hotel facilities brochure. The wicker chair in the room was falling apart and very imbalanced so much so I lost count how many times it fell backs just from placing a hand on it. On a positive note the bed was very large and comfortable. Now to the restaurant. Same situation with the lighting. Phone torch used to read the menu. Almost 50 minutes wait for the meal to arrive and not even offered an olive or piece of bread during that time. Mr H picked well with the venison (though the hotel website menu priced it at £38 but we were charged £42). The vegetables came at an extra £6 each for potatoes (nothing fancy) and green beans with a pinch of sea salt. Seriously overpriced in my opinion. I chose the fresh Taglioni Cornish lobster priced at £38 and which was absolutely terrible. It consisted of a bowl of overcooked pasta and three small pieces (each the size of a peeled king prawn) of lobster. After chewing my way through the first rubbery morsel I sent it back to the kitchen. I asked to have the same as Mr H instead but by the time it arrived (with the venison half the portion size to that Mr H had enjoyed) he had finished eating and by then I’d completely lost my appetite. I refused to pay for my dinner. It cost around £93 for Mr H’s meal (no starter or dessert) and a medium sized glass of rosé each. Breakfast the next morning was average at best. Good eggs and tasty sausage but very dry bacon. over cooked black pudding and mushroom and flavourless tomato. Great location but that’s it!

22.01.2025

We stayed 3 nights at the hotel with family. Staff was friendly especially the breakfast staff. Unfortunately, when we arrived in our room the toilet was very dirty which I wouldn't expect to find in a 4 star hotel. I called reception and they came to clean it right away but it is still not up to standards to have to ask for a clean toilet upon arrival. My parents found a big hole in their bed sheets and it was also reported to reception. We went to the indoor pool, all sun loungers were taken. A few had people using them but the rest it was just old towels and robes thrown on them with no one using the lounger. It looked like no one had cleared the loungers for a while as we stayed there for 2h and didn't see any change which meant we couldn't use one and had to put our towels on the wall. The female changing room was quite dirty with pastry all over the bench and floor. The pool temperature was also quite cold for an indoor pool in a winter month although it can be a question of preference. We believe a gesture from the hotel would have been appropriate.

12.01.2025

The afternoon tea was VERY nice!

12.01.2025

Great experience celebrating our daughter's 30th birthday

07.01.2025

We stayed in the main house which was beautiful, the room was lovely and spacious and the staff were always friendly. The drinks and particularly the mocktails were great throughout and we enjoyed the breakfast which included a great continental. There were some cons though, and I don’t think we’d return sadly - including that the food in the main restaurant was very hit and miss for the price (average main is around £35+), with the vegetarian options in particular being extremely oily and the desserts being quite disappointing. The biggest issue though is the ‘spa’, which is a main reason we booked - be aware that there are a LOT of children that stay at this hotel, and the poolside was extremely loud with lots of screaming kids diving in meaning that it’s not a place to relax with a book or chill out. Great for young families but for us, as a couple looking for a quiet romantic stay, it wasn’t usable.

04.01.2025

Lovely getaway with fantastic service - more vegan & gluten free food options than advertised. My husband and I stayed here just before Christmas for 2 nights and really enjoyed. The location is beautiful and the decor is very fun and whimsical. We enjoyed spending the evening in the spa (which guests have access to all day) and playing games in the game room after a busy day exploring. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the staff are so friendly. Special mention to Lucy who served us at breakfast, Louis who was the porter and Elly at the spa - they really went above and beyond to make our experience very enjoyable. I was worried that there wouldn't be much to eat at breakfast, as every item on the menu included eggs. However, Lucy let us know that the chefs could cook a vegan breakfast and it was delicious (pictured). We ordered room service one evening and the restaurant was able to cater to my vegan & gluten free diet too, which I was really grateful for. A lovely place to escape to and spend time exploring. Thank you!

29.12.2024

Fantastic Sunday roast in their restaurant, great walk around the grounds with supplied wellies and then coffee by the open fire in the bar Highly recommend

16.12.2024

Whilst quietly having dinner during our stay, we were subject to abuse from another guest (who was not staying at the hotel). People on the surrounding tables overheard what had happened as did a member of the restaurant team. The hotel manager allowed the the guest in question to remain and enjoy his dinner and it was us who ended up leaving not just the restaurant but the hotel. The hotel management appear to accept sexism and abuse from their guests and I have messaged their senior leadership team and had no response. To further cement the dim view they take of abuse aimed toward females, the hotel manage offered a discount on a future stay to 'sweeten the deal'. Poor.

07.12.2024

Stunning hotel, with beautiful grounds. The dinner and cocktails were delicious. The DJ playing at the lounge was playing really tasteful ibiza music. The negatives: Our water lily room was quite dark, it was actually difficult to find anything in the room, let alone to do make up. The room is quite loud, as the new wing is made of wood. We got woken up by the people staying up and by the people waking up early walking up and down the wooden stairs. Sadly that did not make for a relaxing break. The breakfast wasn’t good but the dinners were fantastic. The gym had a lot of mould on the walls and ceiling, also lots of guests lacked proper sauna etiquette. Perhaps the staff should go over the do’s and don’ts upon entry. I would definitely come back, it just needs minor improvements.

28.11.2024

Stayed here one night as I saw a good deal for a room and a nice visit to the Cotswolds. The hotel is designed really well. The service and staff are really friendly. We had dinner and breakfast in the restaurant which is quite good. The spa and pool is nice but didn’t have availability for a last minute massage. So do book it days prior if you want one.

07.11.2024

I booked a night here for my partners birthday and it was such a wonderful experience, I couldn't recommend Cowley enough. From the really sweet added touches for his birthday and the surprise room upgrade to the exquisite food and drink at the bar and restaurant (both breakfast and dinner were incredible), everything was amazing, we had such a wonderful time. The spa and gym facilities are also lovely and made for a really relaxing morning before we checked out. Highly recommend!

21.10.2024

We were impressed by the attention to detail from the restaurant team. The service was great, and there were plenty of delicious vegan options. Breakfast included a full vegan English breakfast, vegan yogurt, vegan butter, fresh fruits, and even a vegan croissant. Our room was very nice—a Tree Room spread across three floors. The bathtub was spacious enough for both my husband and me, which was a plus since we’re both pretty tall. The hotel itself has a lovely feel, with modern interior design that works well with its classic architecture. The spa was enjoyable, especially the hot sauna. The only downside was that it would be good for guests to be reminded to shower between using the sauna and swimming in the pool! And finally- it’s a great place to hike to and from - tons of beautiful paths everywhere!

15.10.2024

This is a really special place. The hotel is an interior designer’s dream and a home decor lovers paradise. Perfectly design with a mix of artistic flair and modern contemporary style. Beautifully featuring the stunning architectural. The grounds were gorgeous too. Love the breakfast and dinner too. Fully enjoyed our stay!

10.10.2024

Had lunch at the restaurant, the food was well below average. Worse than your typical pub food, the service was also slow

08.10.2024

Absolutely amazing location. This hotel is sumptuous, very well decorated in a modern and stylish way. Make sure to visit the gardens and have a drink on the terrace, this is in my opinion the best feature of this hotel. The rooms are big, cosy and classy. The spa is alright, it has got nice swimming pools (outdoor and indoor), but it does not have a hot tub/jacuzzi! Now the real shame about this hotel seems to be the restaurant! We had dinner there which was very pricey as you can guess, but the food was not up to those standards. Worse: the breakfast was not good: the buffet was ok but the things we ordered were not cooked properly, and the coffee (served in a massive thermos jug) was AWFUL! This is not acceptable for a place like that! Make an effort!!

30.09.2024

The hotel and spa itself are beautiful, but the facilities and the service rather let it down! I travel to Cowley to use the spa for a day with 2 of my friends, we drove from London, a nearly 3 hour drive. When we arrived we were told the steam room was out of use, really disappointed we weren't told this before we left as we could have rearranged the day so we could make full use of the facilities. They offered for us to come back, great, when we came back the sauna was out of use! I also booked what I thought was a £45 facial, to later be told they are only £45 if an apprentice does it, it didn't say this anywhere on the menu, or when I booked. Very confusing, misleading and led to disappointment again at check out.

27.09.2024

Not well signposted. Beautiful gardens and interior. Spa disappointing. Service variable.

23.09.2024

Experimental Group converted an existing luxury hotel. Modern Furniture was added - or old one modernised. In our room the old cupboard was painted and the doors covered with a new fabric. Bed, sofa, chairs and carpet were new. The bathroom was partial new - old shower, new sink, etc. The only downside was, that the room door was old (and a rather cheap addition in the 70s(?)) and did not close tightly. Breakfast was great and the staff always friendly and helpful. The Gardens are marvellous and the pool is very nice. If all this is worth the rather steep price, is up to you.

08.09.2024

Had a lovely cream tea afternoon with friends, it was beautiful. Service was excellent and the staff were very welcoming and helpful. The only problem was the parking, unfortunately we had to park out on the road.

05.09.2024

Beautiful place, but clearly it has seen better days. The staff were attentive and the service was great. The in house restaurant was just about ok, we had dinner there the first night and avoided it after that.

20.08.2024

The spa team needs training because I booked 2 x 60 minute (£45) facials for my mother and I. Which is was charged for immediately - personally in all the massages I’ve gone too I’ve never heard of this. It’s usually after the massage. A week later I get a random booking email saying we booked the same facial with two separate facialists but the price was now (£100). Which was very confusing; so I emailed them saying we did not book this, we only booked the (£45) facials. They came back saying the prior facialist is not working that day so they automatically booked us for the more expensive one without even informing of us of the change first. I was not happy and cancelled them. I expected the level of service to be elite for a luxury hotel of this calibre. But their practices seem very shady to me in this regard. Which is a shame. I’m on the fence about bringing my mother here for lunch considering the level of service we got without even visiting their location. I would avoid the spa completely.

19.08.2024

Amazing experience and interior design is on top. But the favorite part was food in the restaurant. Deserves 3 Michelin!

13.08.2024

Very poor service of the spa team I tried to book the spa package as a surprise birthday gift for my friend, who came from abroad to visit me. She was only available on 5th Aug, so I contacted them 2 weeks in advance to arrange. They emailed me with an available time slot on that day and we agreed a package and price. As I didn’t want to send my card details by email, I asked them to call me to take payment. After that, I didn’t hear from them for a week. I tried calling, sending emails, but no one picked up the phone and I received no replies. I even left a message at the hotel reception asking them to get back to me. They eventually replied by email just a day before saying they were now fully booked on 5th Aug. So my plan for my friend’s birthday treatment was totally ruined. So shocked by the poor service and sloppy communication from a supposedly high-end hotel/spa

02.08.2024

Recently had afternoon tea at Cowley Manor for a birthday treat. Unfortunately the whole experience was really disappointing. The service was awful, the lady serving us didn’t bring us over tea or coffee until we asked. The food was pretty poor and no one explained what anything was. We then thought as the grounds are so lovely we’d move outside for a cocktail which we confirmed was okay with the waitress, we waited 15 minutes for someone to take our drinks order and no one came so we just left. Would not return purely because of the service which is such a shame because we were so looking forward to it.

01.08.2024

A big thank you for all your hard work and all the efforts of your staff during our Wedding on Sunday. The guests had a lovely time and everyone felt very welcome. Matt, you have been so very patient with all our requests, thank you for the attention to detail and all your kindness. Rachel was so very helpful and such a kind lady. What a fantastic addition to your team. Cyril was very efficient and kind. The rooms were beautiful, food and drink delicious and the gardens were stunning. A very special day!

29.07.2024

nice place and highly recommend ：）

26.07.2024

Went for afternoon tea with family - Sat in main restaurant and was served by lovely Amy who was very attentive and professional - a credit to the hotel - The full tea was huge so make sure you go with healthy appetite - the scones were some of the best we have ever had so compliments to the chef as apparently they are freshly made when you order - We were not rushed so spent a lovely afternoon - we finished with a walk in the beautiful grounds - I only wish we had more time as could have sat looking at the view for few more hours - the tea is not cheap but being able to wander the grounds and just sit and absorb the ambiance is worth the extra - it really is whole afternoon attraction

25.07.2024

Incredible one night stay. Spa was gorgeous, clean and restful. Food was off the chart! Drinks were incredible and the staff couldn’t do enough for you. Very good value for money. Gorgeous design. Can’t wait to come back.

25.07.2024

I stayed here for 1 night with my partner. Everything was excellent, from the setting, to the staff to the food and drinks. I cannot recommend this place enough, it was fantastic!

25.07.2024

Honestly don’t understand how anyone could leave this place a negative review. It really is sensational. The food was 10/10 some of the best I’ve had. The staff customer service was 10/10 The hotel was 10/10 Such a great hotel & spa. Will be telling everyone to go here

24.07.2024

We recently stayed for 2 nights at Cowley Manor for our anniversary. Upon arrival, we were very pleasantly surprised to have had our room upgraded to a lake view Waterlily suite which was wonderfully spacious and had great views over the grounds. We also found a personalised noted in the room along with a small gift, all of which made us feel like they had really put in some attention to detail for our stay. We were fortunate enough to have pleasant sunny weather, so were able to enjoy tasty cocktails on the back lawn overlooking the well-appointed estate as well as make the most of the outdoor pool. Having dinner in the restaurant that evening we were impressed by the flavours and the portion sizes which were generous. The brioche in particular was a highlight. Overall, the aesthetic of the hotel is great and the staff were very accommodating with regards to room service / drinks etc. Would recommend for a short getaway.

24.07.2024

I recently had the opportunity to stay at Cowley Manor with my partner and was thoroughly impressed by the whole experience. Firstly the service provided by all the staff was exceptional. Whilst the main manor and grounds are expansive, the relatively small number of rooms meant that it felt like staying at a bougie friends house than a hotel. There was ample room to share communal spaces with other guests without detracting from the spaces feeling relaxed and intimate. The team at Cowley also foster this through their personable nature. They struck the balance between being attentive and unobtrusive perfectly. We were celebrating a special occasion and the gestures provided by the team only elevated the experience for us. The spaces themselves were equally as stunning. We were fortunate enough to stay in a room with a terrace that overlooked the manor gardens. Our room was flooded with natural night and even on the overcast and rainy Cotswold summer day the room felt bright and inviting. The bedding was lovely and plush and the room clean and well kept. If you have a chance I definitely would recommend having dinner at the restaurant. The food was delicious and a very short walk to a night cap at the adjacent bar.