Rowhill Grange & Utopia Spa - part of the Alexander Hotel Collection

22.01.2025

For a 4 star hotel I was disappointed. In the room, there was a huge cobweb hanging from one of the ceiling lights, there was a piece of plastic which looked like it was from a bottle top on the floor obviously from a previous occupant. I had a burger in the bar, admittedly it was just bar food but the burger was bland and tasteless apart from the overcooked fried onions on it. When the food came I wasn't offered any condiments or sauces. As a guest you are expected to pay a further £20 to use the spa facilities when in other hotels as a guest it is included. I would not stay here again nor recommend it.

02.02.2025

Room was nice but lots of stains on carpets and furniture. Tv in bathroom didn't work. Service was generally good although found one of the barman's attitude a little off. Food was generally good although portion size of starters a little small and the garlic bread is more like a garlic cake. Spa treatments were perfect, gym is small but functional. Overall the price is very high for what you get.

27.01.2025

Booked this spa break as a last minute getaway to unwind before the weekend. I couldn't fault my my stay and the whole experience. 10/10 from the welcoming reception team, energetic waiting staff and elegant spa ladies. Everyone was accommodating and it felt like a home away from home. Please bear in my that when you got to eat at the restaurant please allow yourself plenty of time and never book if your in a hurry. The food is exquisite quality and this shown in the time it take to prepare. Thank you to All staff that took the time to make my stay special.

20.06.2024

Got married here and stayed the night before. Best time ever. Go to the spa area! It’s so good! Staff were so so amazing. I don’t drink, and I wasn’t offered alcohol once! They all remembered and only offered me the Nosecco! So grateful. So much fun, can’t thank you all enough. Can’t even remember all the bits I need to thank you for because I’m still walking on air, but thanks guys it was the best.

21.01.2025

We really enjoyed our visit, we had a spa day with afternoon tea and a 50 minute treatment and we couldn’t fault it! Everything was perfect from the food, to the service, to the treatment. The pool area was lovely with plenty of seats and wasn’t too busy, afternoon tea was delicious with fresh cakes and sandwiches and fresh warm scones. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and would recommend! Not sure why there’s so many negative reviews on here, which nearly put us off visiting but very glad it didn’t! Just goes to show it’s best to try it out and see for yourself!

21.01.2025

Booked a couples massage day and was concerned after reading some of the reviews! Started off great, all the staff were friendly/welcoming and the spa wasn’t too busy. However after our visit treatment it got busier, then after lunch it got busier and then after our second treatment it got even busier! In the end you weren’t far from having to wait for a seat by the pool. The sauna and steam were set to too high of a temperature to allow you sit comfortably. The only positive to take from the experience is that the treatments were good but probably not worth the price paid.

10.01.2025

A lovely spa day spent in the awesome Hydro for which was an amazing film on the muscles in my neck and shoulders. Accompanied with a full body massage, this was a perfect retreat. I actually feel like I use the facilities to their full extent for the afternoon I was there.

02.01.2025

Spa could be improved . The staff and services provided wasn't great!

31.12.2024

I purchased an afternoon spa day advertised as a luxurious spa retreat with fine dining. The package included spa access, a treatment, and a 2 course lunch. The day started off fine with an agenda provided however the lunch meal choices were really poor (you pick lunch on arrival). It was really hard to pick something as the dishes were so strange and far from the nice and normal food on the regular menu. The main spa facilities were quite busy which was a shame especially because we expected it to be a lot quieter based on the date we booked. We had a slot of a massage and we arrived early only to wait nearly an hour - it was only when I enquired that they sorted out our treatments. Due to this we missed our lunch booking, and so instead of being out in the main restaurant lounge, we were put in a back room dining area with only a couple of other tables. The starters came quickly but my sister had soup which was meant to come with bread, and there was no salt and pepper on the table. I had to get the attention of one of the waitresses to ask for bread and seasoning to be told that the soup doesn’t come with bread when the menu said it did. The mains came and were really not nice. By this point we were alone in the dining area and had to leave the room to find a waitress to take our plates away - bearing in mind that we had a limited amount of time for spa access in the package and had already lost an hour. We did get free desserts to make up for the treatment delay but it was very disappointing how poor the service was, and the food. Not at all as advertised.

28.12.2024

Poppy Room was lovely overall (Pic attached). Nice bed, cosy and great heating system. They forgot to provide bathrobe and slippers but was corrected straight away. Only real issue with room for us was the bath tap was dangerously in the way, over hanging nearly half way across the bath, dead centre. Very easy to hit your face and or body if not careful. Really spoilt the otherwise decent bath. As for the spa, that needs some TLC. Has done for while now. But I suppose it's logistical nightmare to close it and refurb, plus the income they loose as a hotel in doing so. I noticed the carpets and upholstery could really do with a good professional deep clean in many areas. They should contact ACE Carpet Cleaning, ace-carpetcleaning.co.uk as they are a superb company and not too far away! As for the SPA treatments. It's the second back, shoulder & neck massage I've had in the last couple of years, and it was absolutely terrible. It was meant to be for 40 mins and I actually received 25 mins. There was no pressure applied so didn't even feel like I had a treatment. Really was so disappointed with it. However, credit to the amazing Spa Manager Melissa, who I spoke to the next morning. She kindly dealt with the issue so incredibly well. She was so calm and professional in her manor and put everything right! A 10/10 Manager. I hope the hotel look after her well! On to the RG's restaurant... The staff were absolutely spot on, so polite, and very well presented. They are young, but superb. The food... not so good. Starters, I had the crab and tiger prawn, really not great. Possibly from frozen & laid on a fat slab of lettuce. For £15, don't waste your money! The scallops were also awful. Again £15, for 2x of the smallest scallops I have ever seen! Any decent chef does not put 2 scallops, especially ones that are tiny as a starter dish. 3 - 4 medium/large is the correct number. They really need to address that dish asap. The flavour was there, but the portion totally off the mark. The side of creamed spinach was blasted to inch of it's life, with a nutri-bullet possibly! No cream either. Was a very strange turnout. So I would pass on that also. Triple cooked chips... Spot on... Steaks are very expensive for what you get... £49 for fillet & £42 for Sirloin. I had Sirloin 7oz - 198 grams, was nice but not £42.To give you an idea, you get 400grams sirloin at Hawksmoor for £43 - So over twice the size and far superior quality cut of meat. The bill come to £165 and I had only one glass of large Shiraz. And 1 bottle of carbon filter water (basically tap water). It's way too expensive for what they are serving up. If it was worth the money, I would gladly pay it and leave the review to match. But they either drop their prices, or improve the dishes if they want consistent 5 star reviews. On a final note, and if i'm 100% honest, I don't think I would stay here again... Was nearly £500 all for 1 night, there's better places to stay.

26.12.2024

38-bedroom hotel in its own grounds. Lots of trees and bushes so no views but pleasant gardens to stroll round. Our room was comfortable and had a decent sized bathroom. Unfortunately the sink was very slow to drain and, despite the handyman’s attention remained so. However, the unnecessarily large bed was very comfortable but, please, lose the cushions. Two bottles of water (still and fizzy) were replaced each day but we never did work out how to make a cup of coffee with the pod machine. The room seemed well cleaned but there was a dirty mark on the over-blanket. The main bedrooms lead off a corridor from the lift at one end so it is easy to navigate. Nevertheless, on arrival we were given a short tour of the ground floor before being escorted to our room, which has an old-fashioned key. All the rooms are called after flowers and (I assume) all had a large flower picture in the room. Oddly, ours was not the same as the room name. Food and drink were provide on a generous basis and generally of good quality (but not cordon bleu) and clearly given some thought. The Christmas day (pre-ordered) meal was acceptable although most people found the enormous Yorkshire pudding a bit too tough to eat. Prosecco was offered on our arrival and Bucks Fizz on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day breakfast, so no complaints there. There is a comfortable lounge with bar and this leads through to the spa which seems to be very popular both for guests and day visitors. My wife enjoyed her massage and other guests commented favourably on the swimming pool and other facilities. Coal/wood fires heat the reception and lounge which is nice but the bedroom was warmed by an air conditioning system which was not controllable, although its slight hum was not obtrusive. Whilst our stay was not without some minor problems, I have to praise the staff who made every effort to make us comfortable, sort out any issues, and were ready to go the extra mile when required.

13.12.2024

Spa day as a gift. Personally will never go there again. Sauna was like volcanic ash. Went in with just swimming costume had to come out and wear robe to make it bearable for a few seconds. As for the size of the sauna, I'm 5ft 4 and could not strecth my arms when lying on bench. The bottom bench can't sit on it as the layout it's used as a step to get to the top. Sauna door broken doesn't shut properly, maybe just as well for the gap as it was too hot. Did not see one person going in there. Steam room just as dire, heavily over perfumed. Did not even bother with the swimming pool nor jacuzzi. The relaxation room and massage were no better. Asked for deep tissue massage, felt like I was applying cream to myself, no pressure. Finally had afternoon tea, not great. Seen and ate better sandwiches. Pictures of spa area when compared to actual reality, the contrast is to be admired. Emperor's New Clothes.

04.12.2024

Very dirty room broken handle, shower terrible water going everywhere!! spider Web everywhere, food absolutely don't even think about it to be served hear price are ridiculous 🙄. There two glass bottles water honestly I didn't touch it, it was looking like Peckham Springs so dirty looks like someone filled it up by hand hahahah 😜!! I will never recommend this place. Reciption stuff just to get you in and take £100.00 from your card so ridiculous!!!!!There are way better places I guess around so disappointing I don't know how they got 4 star??

03.12.2024

Had my 50th birthday there for afternoon tea with my daughter and my partner unhappy with the service. The table next to us were celebrating a birthday as well did not even get a free cake like the table next to us instead as I have a nut allergy and they cannot give us a free cake but didn’t even offer me a free glass of wine. It was my big 50 not happy would not recommend it to any of my friends or work colleagues.

02.12.2024

Excellent service phonomial food Fantastic ambiance

02.12.2024

We had the most perfect wedding day at Rowhill Grange. It is a beautiful venue and food was amazing. We also couldn’t fault the staff at all. Everyone from our wedding coordinator Abbie and the rest of the events team, to the bar staff and waiters and our on the day wedding coordinator were honestly amazing. The events team made sure everything ran smoothly and their planning process is so comprehensive that you really feel like nothing could really go wrong on the day. They are such a credit to the venue and we are so grateful for their support throughout the planning. We are really looking forward to spending our first anniversary there and can’t recommend the venue enough!

01.12.2024

I felt immediately at home here. Staff were excellent and I was cared for. It’s the small things that really make a difference - and the Rowhill staff seemed to really understand the experience of their clients. If you want a break with a warm “hug” this is the place and I can’t wait to come back.

30.11.2024

Fabulous standard of hotel accommodation and professional staff, great drinks and food selection 👌

20.11.2024

Upon arrival the reception staff welcome you and explain thoroughly where everything is located and also gave us a free upgrade. The room was lovely! Especially the bath. The spa itself is super cute and our treatments were lovely and relaxing. Dinner and breakfast was good- the service was better! Only bad thing was there wasn’t enough robes in the spa the next day so make sure you wear the ones from your room. Will definitely recommend and will be back!

18.11.2024

Siamo stati qualche anno fa è davvero bella per avere un po’ di relax

11.11.2024

Unfortunately I can't recommend this hotel and spa, and have already started to warn friends and colleagues to beware. My partner booked us to stay for one night last week, to celebrate my birthday. He spent about £550 for our stay there, which included a massage each, dinner at the restaurant and a £50 early check in supplement. This was a special treat that we were both really looking forward to, especially as the stay fell on my actual birthday. When we arrived at the hotel, we were surprised with a complimentary upgrade to a bigger room. Great, we thought! Little did we know, that in the cold of a British November when it was a max of 10 degrees outside, that none of the three radiators in the room worked! There was no heating in the room! One radiator in the bathroom and two in the bedroom were completely stone cold. We reported it to the front desk and they 'sent someone to fix it' but we were dismayed to find the room still freezing when we returned from the spa in the late afternoon. The reaction of the staff when we reported it again strongly suggested that they knew the radiators weren't working and that it was not fixable for our one night stay. Instead they put a roaring loud portable heater in the room. We had to have it on all night to stay warm (because the room was so big, it now worked against us!) and I could not sleep from how noisy it was. But the worst was yet to come - we had parked our car just metres from the front entrance in marked customer parking and upon leaving, discovered that our car was damaged and scraped along one side. It was clearly done by whoever had parked next to us and the hotel refused to provide any assistance at all that would help us with a claim, despite them having some level of CCTV footage on cars coming in and out of the parking area. The complete lack of interest from the hotel in helping guests who had just spent over £500 for a room with no heating was incredibly disappointing. Not only that, but this was meant to be a reputable hotel that should be able to provide a level of secure parking on their private property for guests! I have attached photos of the damage to our car to warn others about coming to the hotel and parking on the property. Just know that if anything happens to your car, they will not do anything to help you. So my birthday trip left me with damage to our car which we will now have to pay to repair. Other notes on the spa - it is very small and there are no full body lounge chairs to lie down on. The saunas are separated into male/female and located in the change rooms so be warned that you can't sit in the sauna with your partner if they are of the opposite gender. The saunas are also very small and can only fit 2 people at a time comfortably. There is a sign saying tea and coffee available for spa guests but it turned out this was only until midday, which didn't make any sense! -- UPDATE-- Unfortunately I have to further disagree with the response from the hotel, as it does not reflect our experience: 1. If the heating was not working due to a larger issue and you were aware that it would take a plumber to resolve it, why did the front desk staff tell us that the heating was fixed? 2. The response suggests that the hotel tried to help with the car damage and this is simply not true. After reporting to the hotel of the damage caused to our car (greater than just one 'scratch' as you can see from the photos), we were firmly told within 20 minutes that the hotel could not do anything to assist us: a) because of the angle of the CCTV (which bizarrely is not angled at the car park) and b) they did not want to review the CCTV footage of any other CCTV cameras showing cars coming in and out. If that has happened since, this is the first that we have heard of it since it was made clear to us in our one and only response from the hotel prior to this review that it would be an enormous burden on them to review the CCTV footage.

14.11.2024

It is my girlfriends birthday and brought her here to this lovely hotel. Chloe at front desk was so welcoming and professional who made sure everything was done for us. I couldn't of asked for a better welcoming. Every staff member has been amazing and attentive with our needs. Definitely would come here again. Thank you

11.11.2024

I’m looking to join the tennis group if any spaces is there please let me know 🙏

10.11.2024

Please don’t book this hotel. Is a scam. Pictures don’t match their rooms. You pay for a comfy double room or king room and they give you a different room, that cost way less than what you paid, and when you come to check in they say all the room are booked. a big scam.

09.11.2024

I'm extremely disappointed in your response to me not being able to stay at your hotel. I really wanted to and due to a family emergency I was unable to attend and I was in hospital most of the night. Now you have taken my money without me even putting one foot in your hotel. I was really looking forward to it. Now I'm extremely disappointed that you have taken my hard earned money. And not prepared to hear me or help me out. So I was going to re book. But now never again. Your hospitality is a joke. I'm extremely tired and disappointed with your response. Thank you for nothing

03.11.2024

Excellent service friendly helpful staff great value and treatments were A class I've given 4 stars for the room as the bathroom had thick dust on the heated towel radiator and the wall side of the bath had empty bottles and was damp other than that definitely going back great experience 😀

03.11.2024

Upon reflection our experience of this spa has been disappointing. Firstly, when I booked over the telephone I never received a confirmation email (and it was booked on the wrong date) I spent 45 minutes trying to ring through to speak to someone. (Screenhots to prove this) Upon check in, no robes or slippers in our very small room. They’ve done anyway with the phones in the room so you have to use a QR code to contact reception. Robes and slippers were brought up promptly. Spa was incredibly cramped! It is made to look shabby chic, but if you look closer it’s more shabby sh*t. Massage: was a bit odd to be honest. I’ve had many massages but never had one like this. So much attention to wiggling my toes. Didn’t leave feeling very relaxed. Next! Dinner. The menu reads so well, so excited to try some of the delicious sounding dishes. Unfortunately, my friend had to send back his lasagna as it smelt like vomit. All our sides were cold and so tasteless. Crispy new potatoes weren’t crispy in the slightest! Creamed spinach was bland, truffle chips over cooked. My fish was ok. In general the staff seemed like they didn’t want to be there and not attentive to the standard you would expect from a ‘luxury spa’ After dinner we wondered to the bar and tried to get some ice cream. The freezer is on display as if you are to help yourself and bring to the till - Mark behind the bar insinuated we were trying to steal the ice cream! My friend questioned him in this and his defence was just odd, he slagged off the lack of staff and he was over worked, that it wasn’t his idea to have the ice cream freezer on a table across from the bar. He also served us before dinner and made us feel stressed! We only wanted a cocktail but felt like he didn’t have the time. Tables in the bar were covered in empty dirty plates and glasses. Finally…. We went to our room to watch a film. We wanted to cast Netflix from our phone, but the television had been programmed in such a way that this was not possible. My friend went down to reception and waited ten minutes for someone to appear. My friend was pretty annoyed at this point and was left feeling like none of our complaints were really listened to. Granted, our food was deducted from the bill (more on that later) but staff just generally were unphased. I will say, Hector was a help and problem solved by finding some cables we could use to connect my laptop to the television so we could watch a film. The next morning on check out we were behind a couple also complaining. We felt that the staff were already rattled after dealing with them so when we checkout out, it was very matter of fact and the vibe of ‘if you didn’t like it, bad luck, don’t come back’ We laughed walking out thinking we’ve just spent in total over £500 on a spa break which did the reverse of what we needed. We left annoyed and skint. I would not recommend this spa to anyone.

29.10.2024

Went for a Spa Day package with my wife. Spa was good, with plenty of facilities. Lower pool was quite cold but other than that it was good. Definitely overbooked, more people than there were seats in the morning unfortunately. Best thing was the treatments, the products they use are really good and the staff were great. Worst thing was the 2 course lunch. My pumpkin soup was served with burnt bread - literally black. Soup had no salt. Main course was even worse I barely touched it. Had a piece of hake that was less than half a fillet (around 3cm by 6cm) with soggy skin despite being served skin side up. Dish was served in an iron skillet in which the remoulade was burnt to the pan completely, mussels were heavily overcooked and the thinly sliced potatoes had become oxidised before cooking so they were grey in colour. I was utterly shocked at how poor the food was. I’m not normally one to complain but sending a completely untouched meal back i’d expect the staff to ask if it was okay, instead I have to give the feedback at the end of the day. Would have given it a 4* or 5* but the food was that bad it ruined the experience.

27.10.2024

Went there for afternoon tea, something different. Enjoyed the experience.

22.10.2024

Lovely roman-style pools, a bigger jacuzzi would be good, or a warmer spa pool as it can get crowded. The swimming pool is a good size, you can actually swim if you want to. Robes are nice, flip flops not provided as standard but seem to be available if you ask. Enjoyed the sauna, the back, neck and shoulder 40 minute massage was relaxing, comfortable relaxation room and lunch was nice but quite small portions, with excellent, attentive waiting staff.

16.10.2024

We recently stayed at Rowhill Grange Spa for two weeks as we had no water in our house. The service we received especially from Hector was excellent. He was so forward thinking and always looking to find a solution to meet and exceed our expectations, as a customer. For a young man he showed great initiative, patience, resilience and customer service, and he knew the limits of his authority and when to seek approval for an initiative, from his bosses. He is a great asset to you and feel he should be recognised for this. Also want to mention Stevie who was great at taking control of a situation, and also Chloe for her great care and customer service. Finally want to mention Wendy in the restaurant who was always pleasant and welcoming at breakfast and made us feel so valued as a guest. All the best Liz and Les