Champneys Forest Mere

First and last visit post pandemic and oh how this has fallen! It's not clean, broken loo seats and hand dryers. Limescale and cobwebs. Excrement on Sun loungers outside and pool was dirty. Seating inside and out needs deep clean. Our double room was a twin. They ran out of shower gel! The room was noisy and trolleys were run outside the window before 7am. This was after a fire alarm twice in the night so very little sleep. Front desk girl had no eye contact and an attitude. Operations manager smelled of smoke and didn't give a toss. He literally ignored every point raised. The food is now low quality ingredients and very little choice. They ran out of puddings so it was 'fresh fruit' which was melon or melon.... our lunch was a tiny chicken leg with vegetable broth and pearl barley which was very unpleasant. The table next to us ordered beetroot starter and another lady ordered beetroot salad for main course and they were exactly the same. Dinner was OK because we paid more for steak but the 3 potato wedges with it were black n burnt. Breakfast was shocking! Only cold options unless you pay more. Tinned fruits only apart from banana pieces. No hot option. Cold boiled eggs. Cheap cereal and a mountain of bread. Self serve coffee. Totally different from the lovely buffet breakfast before with egg station and smoked salmon. Now it's low grade ingredients all the way unless you pay more each time. Classes are all paid apart from the odd one or two. Bathrobes are 40 deposit plus you have a paper stamped in and out which they insist you keep safe at all times or they will charge. Then retain this docket so you have no proof and are made to feel like a theif at every discussion about the low quality robe! It wasn't relaxing it was incredible stressful due to the filth and lack of service. Verity the spa manager was the only management who listened and tried to help. We came home early, not relaxed and absolutely shattered through lack of sleep.

Relaxing and magical. Dropped our worries at the door and chillaxed on the 2-night stay. Staff very attentive, especially Claudine who went above and beyond to sort out our bookings when we checked in and out. Have re-booked our next trip thank you Champneys.

A huge shout out to ALL the fabulous fitness team! Everyone is so absolutely amazing and helpful. Stuart my PT who is putting me through my paces, Wendy the best hula hoop and line dancing teacher ever, Jodie the ace stretch lady, Jack with his incredible Pulse Roll class (which totally improved my downward dog in the yoga class that followed!) The super apprentice who I’ve nicknamed “the best arm exercise guy”. The lovely receptionist on the fitness desk helping me book on classes when my app doesn’t work. Then there’s the fabulous team on main reception who are always so friendly and cheerful - Claudine who let me know about the 30% - forever friends LOL! The wonderful team in the shop - so many great offers on the many wondrous things. The superb team in the orangery for the banter as well as the best lattes in town. And upstairs where you can book a selection of treatments, all the staff are so helpful. Huge thank you to Frank who gives the best massage and also an insightful reflexology treatment. Totally love this resort and highly recommend ❤️

The grounds are lovely, the staff are second to none, every time I needed something or was lost around the vast grounds someone was on hand to support. I was worried about the gym as I couldn't find any pictures of it but I didn't need to be worried, they have treadmills, rower, step machines, a Peloton, Wattbike and normal spin bike along with various free weights and resistance machines. The Gym Staff were great and had so much knowledge about the facilities, grounds and activities, they took various different classes and everyone looked like they were having a fab time I love the way they have a filtration system on site so obtaining water isn't an issue and very sustainable. The pools and spa were fab and the food was amazing. The staff in the Restaurant had to be the hardest working by far and my favourite was Katelyn (so bubbly, helpful and friendly) My only grip was that they replace the hand soap bar in your room everyday and still use the tiny bottles of shower gel etc (I wish they would be more sustainable). They don't mention reusing your room towel/bed covers etc like hotels do - so I have no idea if The naughty ducks do come looking for food and so my only other little grip was that there weren't any signs/read material explaining that bread is bad for ducks tummies and so guests were forever giving them their sarnie crusts Last Steve in departures was wonderful and really friendly All round a lovely stay

Rooms in need of update. Sink very low which makes it uncomfortable to use. Mould spores in bathroom. No shower gel provided on day 1. Had to ask for some to be provided on the second day of stay. Rooms have no air con so get very stuffy. Housekeeping did not wash or replace used glasses in the room and bed linen not changed. This is not a 4 star resort as advertised. Cleaning standard also needs improving. Breakfast is rubbish and the service appalling. There was a constant lack of plates and bowls. When you asked for some to be brought out they would come out with 5 side plates. It’s a disorganised mess. There are also no pastries. Limited choice of continental items and the coffee is terrible . Ate in the restaurant on the 1st evening. There was smashed glass on the floor where we were seated. Brought it to the team’s attention. They did nothing about it. Left us seated with the broken glass. There were many people, including me in flip flops which was a health and safety issue. Another load of disorganised chaos. They see to have lots of work experience people with no direction or experience in how to deal with customers. They need proper training. The queue to be seated was 30 minutes. Don’t order the mac and cheese. The portion size is that of a side dish and not a main. Chicken Caesar salad good. Robes are badly stained yellow. Outdoor pool has no pool bar service. You have to keep getting up to order from somewhere else and then someone would bring your drinks 15 minutes later. Completely inefficient. Indoor pool and facilities were very good. Very disappointed with the facilities overall. The luxury element has been completely stripped away. Save your money for somewhere else

Fantastic stay. Thank goodness the staff in the restaurant are all sorted. Housekeeping is 100 % better. Food in restaurants is better!! Loved staying here- all in all it’s returned to its former self. Loved it team champneys - thank you. Keep doing it.

My friends room was changed twice, due to maintenance issues. My room was ok but no cold running water. Menu needs to offer more variety as it seems to be the same every single meal. I did enjoy 2 good treatments, by AmyLou and Frank. Not been back here for the last five years and there are now obvious cut backs and the spirit of Champneys and what was it’s good business model overall seems to have been rather lost? The star of the visit was the lovely Bonnie from food and beverage who was a complete delight!

I really enjoyed my stay at Champneys everyone was warm and welcoming the service was really good and i particularly appreciated Olivia in reception she was constantly there when i needed her and just added that extra bit to my stay. Every little problem i had, or extra information i need the staff were instantly available and there for me especially olivia who i dealt with the most.

We arrived on a Monday for a two nights stay. The grounds are impressive, the outdoor pool lovely, and the spa impressive - there’s no doubt about that. Being next to a lake, there are a lot of ducks…and a LOT of duck poop…not much can be done about that, however pretty unpleasant when walking down to the deck chairs none the less. The rooms...think Premier inn. Absolutely nothing to write home about. Comfy enough, but very dated and cheap. Tired carpets, mirror damaged and worn, sink is a 70’s mould type. Service...the absolute worst. Woefully understaffed, serious lack of management which is sorely needed with such young and inexperienced members of staff. Overall the staff are pretty lack lustre and miserable, however I can't blame them - I'd prob be the same if I was running from one bar to another and doing the work of 2/3 people. Spa treatments- I had a facial and a body cocoon treatment. The facial was lovely, the exfoliation in the cocoon treatment was not the best, absolutely not worth the £104 price tag. Drinks....I rarely drink alcohol, but if I go away I enjoy a cocktail with my meal. Ordered a strawberry Daquiri, £10, only to discover it was from a bag mix, warm and tasted pretty appalling. I usually drink Coca Cola with my meals when out, but was told they do not service Coca Cola, Pepsi etc as all they stock is health type drinks. They have no issues with servicing wine, Prosecco, spirits apparently...just soft fizzy drinks...bizzare. Food...lovely, however the restaurant decor is a bit Harvester-esque...not a occasion to get dressed up for. No croissants or pastries at breakfast is a bit odd and don't even get me started on the coffee...it is warm, grey tinted and just pretty atrocious. If you are going for a spa day trip, there's no doubt that the spa facilities are excellent. Everything else, however, let's it down enormously. I would not return. I usually go to Eastwell Manor, so I admit that I can't help but compare, and despite the spa at Eastwell being pretty non existent bar the pools, a small sauna and jacuzzi, the accomodation and service is far far better and the overall experience more pleasurable.