Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa, Best Western Signature Collection

I was really looking forward to this stay, but the hotel felt dated from the moment we arrived. Our room was cold because the wall heater stopped working after about thirty minutes, and when we reported it the staff didn’t seem surprised. They simply brought a portable oil heater, which helped a little but didn’t solve the underlying issue. The towels were old and stained with makeup, the toiletries were tiny, and the beds were saggy and clearly past their best. Even getting to and from the room was awkward, as we were advised to use fire escape doors to avoid navigating a confusing maze of indoor stairs just to reach reception or breakfast. Breakfast itself had a good selection, but the service was disorganised. We arrived at 7am, right at the start of breakfast, yet still had to wait to be seated. Calling out for staff didn’t help, even though we could hear them in the kitchen. The coffee was disappointing, with no proper cappuccino or barista-style option. On the first day staff walked around with flasks decanting it, and on the second day the flasks were simply left on a table. The cooked breakfast sat under heat lamps, leaving it dried out and not particularly warm. The spa was the biggest disappointment. I had phoned ahead to ask if we could book just a massage, but was told we had to pay £69 for spa access before we could book any treatment. We went ahead as a treat and then paid an additional £45 each for a hot stone massage. On arrival we were given only one small locker between two people, and when we asked for another we were told to use any locker, but we hadn’t been given the code so we couldn’t lock it. The spa itself was very small, with only four recliners and four chairs, all of which were “reserved” with towels by people who never actually used them. There was nowhere to relax, so we left after an hour. Many guests ended up sitting in the small café in their robes because there was nowhere else to go. We ordered cappuccino and cake after getting changed, but the cake was dry, and when we stood up we realised our trousers were wet from previous guests sitting there in damp swimwear. The saunas were good and had a nice view, but there was no pool, only a large jacuzzi with chlorine so strong that our eyes were streaming after five minutes. When we arrived for our massage, five minutes early as instructed, there was no one to greet us or tell us where to go. After waiting around in the hallway, someone passing by told us to sit in the treehouse room. The therapists arrived late and apologised, but it’s not something I’ve experienced before, and the massage itself was nothing special. We tried returning to the spa afterwards but again found nowhere to sit, so we gave up and left. Overall, despite a few positives such as the breakfast variety and the sauna views, the stay was disappointing. The hotel feels tired, the spa is overcrowded and poorly managed, and the service lacks the attention and organisation you would expect at this price point. I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

Enjoyed our stay at the Ringwood Hotel and spa. Room clean and tidy though some distance from reception though nice and quiet throughout the night. Evening meal was a delight with food being plentiful and expertly cooked. Things to improve on was quality of breakfast which for the price was substandard in both quality and quantity available as it wasn't topped up with several people asking for food . Also better training for staff on morning shift should be done before they start working as sweeping crumbs from table to chairs isn't good practice. These though are only minor gripes and can easily be rectified.

Nice hotel and amenities

Booked a superior room with garden view and got a dated room which had a horrible corner jacuzzi bath in the bedroom that didn’t work with a shower attachment you had to hold which soaked the carpet and wallpaper. Also a great view of the carpark