The Manor House

Visited for afternoon tea for a birthday celebration. Food was both delicious and filling. The staff were so welcoming and friendly and were attentive to this being a special occasion ( an individual stand of food labelled happy birthday and complimentary glass of prosecco for each guest). The only thing we thought was a shame was the tea-ware/ crockery used was not the leaf vine style as used normally for their afternoon teas. We were also not placed in their yellow room backing onto the garden which lead to quite a lot of foot traffic round the table and more of a disruptive experience.

The Manor House is undeniably a stunning and historic property, steeped in charm and atmosphere that makes it feel truly special. We first visited a couple of days before our booked lunch and instantly fell in love with the place—its architecture, grounds, and overall magic had us hooked. However, we were informed that dining was restricted to residents only at that time, which was a bit surprising but understandable for a boutique hotel, especially around the busy Christmas period.|We managed to secure a lunch reservation for December 26th and drove from Chipping Norton, full of anticipation for what promised to be a memorable experience. Unfortunately, the reality didn’t quite live up to the hype.|Upon arrival, the check-in process felt unwelcoming—the staff member handling it came across as curt and uninterested, which set a disappointing tone for what we’d expected to be a warm, hospitable venue. Things worsened once seated: we waited over 15 to 20 mins to give the food order and then we waited more than 30 mins for our meals without any communication about delays. No one checked in on us, and I had to visit the reception multiple times just to get some attention. The service throughout felt inattentive and neglectful; we were made to feel like an afterthought rather than valued guests.|That said, the food itself was a highlight and partially redeemed the visit. The dishes were delicious, with beautiful presentation. The deer (venison) was outstanding—tender, flavorful, and the standout of the meal—while the boat fish was good but not quite as impressive.|Overall, the Manor House has immense potential with its history and setting, and the quality of the food shows what it can achieve. However, on this occasion, the poor service and lack of attentiveness overshadowed the positives, making it feel far from the “magical” experience we’d hoped for. We’d consider returning if service improves, but for now, it’s a mixed bag. Recommended with caution, especially for non-residents during peak times.

There aren’t enough stars to award to this absolutely stunning hotel and restaurant. The room was spectacular, service and location exceptional. The meal at Bybrook was unbelievably good. The staff took great care to adjust the menu to our dietary requirements (vegan and vegetarian), and we felt thoroughly spoiled. One of the best meals we had ever had.

Our stay at The Manor House in Castle Combe was simply perfect.||The property is absolutely beautiful and immaculately maintained. The house itself is stunning, and the surrounding landscape — with its gardens, river and peaceful atmosphere — makes the entire experience feel truly magical.||We were delighted to receive a room upgrade, and our room was extremely comfortable and charming, providing a wonderful retreat despite the –5°C temperatures outside. When we woke up the next morning to find the village covered in snow, it made the whole setting even more enchanting.||Breakfast was delicious, and the entire team was outstanding. A special mention goes to Noah, our waiter, who was exceptionally attentive and made everything even more enjoyable.||It was a memorable stay in every sense, and we would return without hesitation.

I can’t say enough about our Christmas stay here at the Manor House. From the moment we checked in thoughtful details greeted us like a small tree in our room with a hamper of decorations so we could have that experience here. Another basket filled with treats made both in-house as well as locally made. Festive trees, wooden reindeer and lovely fires abound. The menus were thoughtfully curated and wine was plentiful. Christmas morning was a delight with a lovely stocking left outside our room with even more treats. This was a very special experience and one I’d do again with out hesitation.

We selected the Manor Hotel as a one night stop over, taking advantage of our Exclusive Collection membership. The hotel is immaculately maintained and the staff are very friendly and welcoming. ||Our room was spacious, quiet and very clean, had all of the amities we expected, with a great view over the front of the hotel. We decided to eat in the Castle Inn, which is part of the hotel, and we were not disappointed. The menu was reasonably priced and we also received a discount as part of our membership. Dinning in the hotel is also available. Breakfast in the hotel is amazing, offering both cold and hot selections, continental and traditional English breakfast.||EV charging is widely available via the ChargePoint app and is reasonably priced.||As we only stayed for a single night, we felt there was a lot more to offer and explore in the surrounding areas and hotel grounds.

We stayed in one of the cottages for two nights. At first, this place was lovely. It’s a beautiful area and the house is stunning from the outside. However, I wouldn’t stay here again. The food isn’t great at the main house or at their pub in town. It also takes forever for food to arrive. The Inn in town took 45 minutes to make our food (we were the first to arrive and to order). We had to run to a wedding and they don’t provide takeout boxes. So we wrapped our food in napkins. The breakfast at the house requires a reservation to eat. The food also takes forever and is extremely sub par. We ordered coffees and it took 20 mins to arrive. For such an expensive and fancy location, we were expecting a bit more than we received. We had previously stayed in Edinburgh at a less nice hotel that was more accommodating and timely. Our shower wasn’t working and we told the front desk who said “oh we don’t know unless someone tells us.” Which worries me a bit - shouldn’t you check the amenities at a 4 star hotel in each room? Finally, we had turn down service while leaving for the day. Upon returning, none of the trash was taken out. We had left empty water bottles for them to take, none were taken. The bed was made and that seemed to be the only thing that was done. Again, for such an expensive location I would expect trash, towels, and recycling taken. This was such a disappointing stay. Do not stay here. Find another spot in town and come visit for an hour.

We spent two wonderful nights here with our family, and it honestly felt like living inside a movie set. The peace and calm of this place are truly magical — you can feel it the moment you walk through the gardens. Every corner looks like a postcard. The food was absolutely delicious — beautifully presented, full of flavour, and served with so much care. And the breakfast… just out of this world! Fresh pastries, local products, everything perfectly prepared. The staff were warm, professional and genuinely kind. If you’re dreaming of a true countryside escape — peaceful, elegant and full of charm — this is the place. We’ll definitely be back!