Down Hall Country House Hotel - Sawbridgeworth

I was here for a conference so I can't speak about what the surrounding areas have to offer. Service was friendly and the price seemed like a fair amount for how nice the hotel is. The only negative are the creaky bedroom floors - noisy and may have been audible to people in other rooms.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This hotel was just lovely it could do with a little upgrade in certain areas but I would highly recommend it. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars across the board was I could not get a answer when I called reception if housekeeping.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This hotel is a castle. Beautiful and the breakfast was delicious. I would stay here again if it wasn't so far from Central London.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This was a welcome change from the usual hotel. Down Hall is a beautiful place and I would like to return at some point as we were there only one night after attending a funeral. The young man in the bar in particular made us very welcome. The bed was comfortable and the room was a decent size. The hotel is steeped in history and full of old world charm, […] we will definately recommend it. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Wonderful

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Only stayed for a night, but it's a very beautiful property -- out in the middle of theEnglish countryside.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Great setting, ideal location, welcoming and helpful staff, comfortable, clean room and superb restaurant.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

I stayed at this hotel mid week for business and what a find, its an amazing house that is well looked after. a perfect romantic break destination. food in the restaurant was top class to and the only moan was a new member of staff needed a manners lesson of how to talk to customers.i will be staying here again

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We stayed for two nights during the week, the hotel is lovely, great facilities and good value. This is a proper country house hotel with good service from all the staff we encountered. We would recomend this as a place to stay that is on the outskirts of London.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The reality inside the room is far from the glossy description online. The furniture is old and not even give an antique feel. Premier Inn is much cleaner and fresher at half the price The surroundings are fabulous scenic views, ideal for wedding venue but insist on new furniture in the bridal suite

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

A beautiful setting. Friendly staff. 2 very ninor things ..... a chipped saucer at breakfast and the breakfast buffet -the food was not as hot as I like it and the scrambled egg looked unappetising. For rhe budget conscious watch out for the wine prices.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We have stayed at this hotel now quite a few times. It suits us for a stop off for our business/ pleasure trips.The hotel is a very relaxing place to be in. beds relatively comfy, and so full of history. The grounds are so vast so a walk before or after dinner this is a lovely place to walk. As with all hotels they can only please some of the people […] some of the time. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Spacious room with good views and interesting featured. Quiet and comfortable.

Genuine Expedia guest review

We spent a long weekend at Down Hall in the depths of winter. Our stay was generally pleasant, but a few things let it down such as the heating failing in our bedroom one night. The staff were pleasant and helpful. Some of the walks in the grounds were only accessible if you had walking boots or wellies. There were ample helpings of food at the buffet […] breakfast, but sausages and bacon could have been cooked more. Decor is a bit shabby in places showing signs of wear, and cleaning of places out of sight (e.g behind curtains and beds) tended to be a bit hit and miss. Overall we enjoyed our stay, but our expectations were not met. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Very nice hotel, unable to explore due to weather conditions, room not perfect as not properly cleaned although comfortable. Breakfast very nice although could have been warmer. Overall good value particularly at on-line price.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We booked a standard double room. The room was it self was the disappointing aspect of the hotel. It was small and was not cleaned properly. The main reason it was disappointing however was the partition walls to the next room and corridor were very light weight and you could hear everything, but most of all the floors were very creaky and very loud […] whenever people walked on them near to the room. It was not a relaxing or particulalry private experience. The staff however are fine and friendly and the hotel in general itself is quite impressive in its historic + rural locations. However the standard for the rooms itself needs to be greatly improved to match initial impressions. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

The hotel itself was fine but was spoilt for me by one barmen trying to serve everyone in the evening also being charged £31 for 3 plain ham sandwiches with a few crisps put on the plate !! Also our breakfast tasted like it had been cooked the night before and stored in warmers. Overall if you want to stay in a nice hotel without eating or drinking […] it would be great. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

WHILE THE HOTEL IS IN A WONDERFUL SETTING, AND THE STAFF WERE VERY WELCOMING, THE HOTEL ITSELF IS TIRED AND NEEDS REDECORATING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THE MENU WAS DISAPPOINTING FOR A FOUR STAR HOTEL AND THE CHOICE WAS VERY LIMITED AND THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD WASN'T ANYTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT!

Genuine Expedia guest review

Asked for non feather bedding 3 times, request was ignored Room 212, no court yard view, car park and smoking staff was our view No indoor tennis court as advertised No rooftop terrace as advertised No heating in rooms! No locks on windows Our room left unlocked by staff! No lift to most rooms as advertised Food expensive and average! Pubic hair on […] mattress protecter!!!! Empty bottles strewn throughout the grounds Damp, dingy rooms with wornout and stained carpets, sofas and chairs. Hairdryer attached to wall looks like something from the fifties and would take a whole day to dry your hair. I could go on.... Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Can't give it full marks as we dined in the grill and a specifc request for the childern was ignored which meant they got their food late and therefore hardly ate it as so tired and had to go to bed. Otherwise beautiful building with superb ambience, rooms great, food excellent, facilites good, grounds lovely and service very good!

Genuine Expedia guest review

Very relaxing, friendly courteous and helpful staff, excellent breakfast - especially the sausages (not too impressed with the orange juice). Had a lunchtime snack at the bar which included one of the best coffees I have had for a long time. Will definitely be back again if the chance arrises.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This is a very comfortable place to stay with excellent facilities and grounds. The Breakfast was very good with a big selection on offer.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We enjoyed our stay enormously. The hotel and grounds were lovely and extensive and we felt very relaxed there. Some of the room fittings were a bit dated (eg electric towel rail didn't work and bath plug could not be removed!) but it was very elegant and comfortable. Pool was OK although a bit old and small and quickly crowded. Jacuzzi was in a corner […] of the pool which took up swimming space and the saunas were in the changing rooms so couples could not go together! Overall we had a good experience and would not hesitate to revisit. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We decided to book Down Hall as we were in the area visiting Paradise Wildlife park for a Red Letter experience. We wanted somewhere nice but not over priced and Down Hall was just that. The location of the hotel is perfect for a country getaway, the grounds are stunning and you really get the feeling you are in the middle of nowhere. The hotel itself […] is a beautiful old building that has been maintained well and you really get a feel for the history that surrounds it. The room was comfortable, we were at the front of the house with a standard double and we had a great nights sleep. There were extra pillows, a large modern TV, tea making facilities - everything we could have asked for. The bathroom was also clean and modern. We decided against eating in The Grill restaurant as we had heard alot about small portions and the menu was not cheap. We were also unable to find The Terrace menu (slightly cheaper on the website) and the bar menu didnt really inspire us. Instead, we drove about 5 mins down the road and found a lovely Indian Restaurant. We returned afterwards and went to the bar for cocktails - in my case a Cosmo - expensive but highly reccomended! The staff were polite, informative and curteous from start to finish. I would highly reccomend a visit. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Generally a very nice hotel. The good certainly out ways the bad here. It may be a very large country house but still has the personal feel about it. We found staff on the whole where very nice and helpful and service was great even though it was completely fully booked and there was a wedding on we hardly noticed it. Dinner was am expensive option […] when there are some good places to eat locally but breakfast was well worth it! Overall a great relaxing weekend. Would definitely consider again. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The hotel was good, better than expected, our rooms was large and comfortable with a sitting area included. We had a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside from our room. We liked the fact there was a trouser press in the room even if it didn't work it didn't matter we didn't need it we were only there for one night. There was also an iron, ironing […] board, coffee and tea making facilities provided including biscuits. Nice little touch. Buffet breakfast was very good. The location is in the countryside and about a six minute cab ride from the nearest train station. Would use this hotel again if staying in the area. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The house and grounds were beautiful, with a relaxing atmosphere (the only exeption was the amount of traffic caused by several wedding parties!) The pool was lovely, but the changing rooms were small and without designated changing areas, so it was a bit of a free for all. Fortunately for us, there was only one other couple using the pool so there […] was enough space.The room was a good size, with good facilities. The only down side was that the bed was two singles pushed together which never makes for the most comfortable night! We found the towel rail broken, which was reported to reception, however after an inspection we realised nothing (could have?) had been done. Breakfast was excellent. The variety and service was like which we've never seen. As it was included in the rate of the room, we were over the moon with what was put on. We can highly recommend 'The Cock Inn' in the nearby village of Sheering, with excellent food, and staff. Overall, a very picturesque location, great if you want to get away from it all and relax. In fact, you can't help it, it's difficult to get phone reception! Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The room was nice and the hotel generally looks good. However the service at the hotel was unacceptable. Firstly the internet wasn't working in the room , the staff were very unhelpful with dealing with this matter. Saying that our devices were at fault - 2 laptop's and 2 Phones , which we have had no problem with connecting to wireless networks before […] and since staying at the hotel. Having a Wifi service was the main reason we selected this hotel. We then ordered food to the room. The food didn't arrive until an hour after we ordered and when it did it the food was cold and items were missing. The bathroom looks nice however the shower pressure was very very low. The service and the attitude of the staff at this hotel was by far the worst I have experienced in a UK hotel. I would not stay at this hotel again even if i was offered money to. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We had a wonderful time at Down Hall for our second anniversary. The hotel and staff are lovely. The grounds are beautiful, well kept around the hotel with a little forest and a few acres to explore beyond. The hotel itself is a stately home type of country house with all the grand fittings and trimmings you'd expect and then some. If you're looking […] for somewhere nice to stay that's out in the country you can't go far wrong. We ate there two nights out of three and the food was great in general, although unfortunately my wife's steak on the first night (sunday) was a little cold and chewy. My meal was perfect though so perhaps just a bit of bad luck. We ate one night at the curry restaurant in the local village (recommended by one of the bar staff at the hotel) and that was amazing too. If you decide to go for a stay here I can recommend both the hotel and the surroundings. Enjoy. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

A beautiful 4 star country hotel set in lovely surroundings. We had a very nice room,very large with sofa & high ceilings and comfortable bed. Tea & coffee provided and biscuits which adds a nice touch Breakfast was good My only complaint was that the spa was not open when we arrived as they were having work done so slightly disappointing on this front. […] Should the hotel not inform guests about this before they arrive? Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Good overall, attended a wedding very quiet country house hotel, spacious room and very comfortable, Very easy to reach from London. Pool was not available, food served at the bar was substandard, my bed sheet had blood stains on it but on notifying it was replaced immediately. Reception was too small for the requirement. generally looked under staffed […] away from the wedding. Perfect as a wedding venue but there is not much else to do within the hotel or in the immediate vicinity Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

We stayed for my partners 50th birthday with family. We hired a function room with dinner. We were allocated our own personal host for the evening who was brilliant. Food was great. The grounds of the hotel are stunning. A weekend to be remembered.

Genuine Expedia guest review

We stayed for my partners 50th birthday with family. We hired a function room with dinner. We were allocated our own personal host for the evening who was brilliant. Food was great. The grounds of the hotel are stunning. A weekend to be remembered.

Genuine Expedia guest review

Perfect if you want to stay somewhere a bit different. Like an old mansion house. Felt like being in a movie, even more so as all the staff have thick essex accents! Staff helpful and polite. Made me feel welcome and that nothing was too much trouble. Lots to do if you have a few hours to spare - swimming, pool, tennis, giant chess. Only negatives […] were the very rich food served in the restaurant. Seemed a bit out dated to me. Breakfast great but they quickly ran out of everything and couldn't keep up with replacing it. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Beautiful property in lovely surroundings. Great value at current rates that included a good cooked breakfast and rooms well equipped with flat -screen TV's, WiFi (free) and irons. Location though makes it only sutable really for guests with cars.

Genuine Expedia guest review

Lovely Hotel and Grounds. Weddings are kept separate from other guest so you can still sit in the gardens or lounges without being disturbed. Service was non existent you had to chase people to get a simple drink. The excuse was that they are busy serving afternoon tea, although the service was no different in the evening. We once waited 45 min for […] a sandwich and when it arrived it was wrong. We went to the village and ate there. The Restaurant was very average and over priced we even had our water taken away when we was half way through our main course. Much better food can be found in the village. After saying the service was bad, the breakfast staff were very good, the breakfast was well presented and nice. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Beautiful hotel, excellent value.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

the windows of the swimming pool could do with a clean and some of the outdoor areas were a bit mossy the cooked breakfast was buffet style as many unfortunately are, so not freshly cooked , but the staff were very helpful and kind the swimming pool was lovely and warm the grounds lovely and the room very spacious with a lovely high ceiling - not a […] very fresh smell in the corridor outside the room but no real ventilation either -the nearest train station btw is not bishops storford but sawbridgeworth Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Given the low price I paid as part of a special 'two night stay' deal I was not expecting anything outstanding. However, the service and location was five star for my overnight stays. The breakfast buffet was also first class and I found the staff helpful and attentive. I did not use the restaurant or other eating options for dinner but will be tempted […] in future. A major wedding reception on the second evening (Friday) of my stay made it difficult to use all the hotel's general facilities and I suspect the bed in my room could have done with a new matress as it's firmness was variable. I enjoyed extensive walks in the hotel grounds. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Beautiful hotel and grounds at a great price. However rooms are shabby chic and really need updating. Really detracts from the rest of the beautiful hotel.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Really kept the feel of a country manor. Very homely feel in the main building. Grounds gorgeous and pool with separate sauna for men and ladies was a luxury. However I booked for travel into Enfield to work and was a bit too far. Also restaurant very expensive - good if you like poncy food but you dont get much and cheapest main started around £15. […] Breakfast was great though. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

it was lovely

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The hotel is lovely. We stayed there for a friends wedding. The service in general was very good, reception staff were brilliant. Our only gripe was housekeeping knocking at 7.45 am after the first night of a 2 night stay. Obviously guests aren't meant ot be enjoying a lie-in! The room we stayed in was rather large and being a corner room, had windows […] on 2 sides. Stunning room, good views, decor is slightly tired but still good. Being in the middle of the countryside you WILL need transport to get here (either drive or get a taxi). A really lovely place in the middle of the countryside to spend a little bit of quiet time. Would recommend. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review