Château de Bagnols

Moderately disappointing . Nice reception but the room selected wasn’t too nice but they changed it to a gorgeous room . What’s not to like . /? Well the bathroom was poor quality . Chipped sinks and antiquated toilet with no proper shower seems underwhelming . We wanted a light meal so didn’t eat dinner in the hotel , but concierge selection wasn’t great . Excellent breakfast but please buy both (nice) waiters a new pair of shoes each!

This was our fifth visit here over 25 years or so. Our first visit was shortly after the chateau opened after a major refit and under the personal hand of Lady Hamblyn. While the first two stays were magical, with a plethora of friendly, helpful staff, it probably failed to make a profit and it was inevitably taken over by a hotel group. Nonetheless, two further visits proved delightful, especially in the newly built annexe which has modern layout and bathrooms, with walk in showers. This year we returned and were grievously disappointed. I would state that all the following comments were put to the receptionist at our checkout with a strong suggestion that management and/or a director contact us to discuss further. We did receive a somewhat underwhelming response. My second main point is that several other recent reviews mention the scarcity of staff, poor breakfast offering and general laissez faire attitude. Read the negative reviews carefully before booking and don’t be seduced by the setting. For guests who don’t remember what great service is, or are happy with a self service approach, they won’t have an issue. For people who want a hotel to know how to run a proper 5 star hotel, this one isn’t for you. This hotel has been, and could be again, one of the world’s great hotels but the service severely impacted on our enjoyment. 1. Absolutely no staff anywhere. We saw more gardening and housekeeping staff than general staff. Not once were we approached to ask if we wanted a drink when we sat for several hours on the main terrace. 2. Unwelcoming. Not once did anyone put out the outside cushions or open the parasols on the main terrace overlooking the vines. Inevitably very few guests lingered around the hotel during the day and there was no atmosphere. The outside tables and some of the loungers had bird mess that remained uncleaned during our stay. 3. Crass dining service. On the first evening we had booked to eat in the main restaurant, when we arrived we were told we couldn’t eat outside because it would “spoil the gastronomic experience.” As the guests we thought we could have made that choice for ourselves and went elsewhere. On the second evening, we wanted a very simple supper outside, as has been our habit previously. After much harrumphing they decided we would need a room service meal which we then put in a table, brought some cushions and had a pleasant, if lonely time. No one bothered to remove the cushions for the next 24 hours. 4. Dining staff are inexperienced. One of the waiters at breakfast stank of cigarette smoke, having rushed back from a crafty fag break, to help guests use a thermos flask (!) to pour our coffee. 5. Breakfast very lacking, a hotel at this level would normally showcase local produce (jams, breads, cheeses etc). Everything here was minimal (only one loaf to cut) or reminded us of a Premier Inn. No one offered coffee, we were expected to pour it from a thermos flask, which didn’t work. Surely a N

Chateau de Bagnols is a magical place. The historic building puts you back in time and you can forget the world around you. The gardens are well kept, the grounds are worth exploring, there are many corners you can enjoy moments of privacy. The staff is very welcoming and professional. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and can recommend this place, especially for those seeking peace, quiet and rest.

Staying at the Chateau Bagnols is a truly unique and memorable experience; dramatically set in the surrounding vineyards, the chateau is steeped in history, beautifully appointed and the staff are exceptional. One of the best dining experiences, the restaurant is Michelin star quality. A rare find indeed!

The outdoor swimming pool and the quality of sleep were particularly outstanding. The service in the restaurant still has some room for improvement, but overall it was good.

I love all the medieval trappings! You are a VIP when you sneak through the village to the gated entrance. The bâtiment walk via lavender and cherry trees to the pool is worthy of 1000 pictures.