Fishmore Hall Hotel and Boutique Spa

We have been going to Fishmore Hall for over six years, and we have always enjoyed a fine dining experience that left us wanting to return again. This year for our 55th Wedding Anniversary we naturally chose to drive from Gloucestershire to Ludlow to enjoy another evening of being spoiled and excellent fine dining. The evening started badly when we along with several others couldn’t find a barman at 5 o’clock, nor could we raise any sort of management to request a drink. A young man finally appeared who turned out to a very hard working waiter who was not familiar with the workings of the bar or mixing drinks, but we all persevered. We came down for dinner at 7 o’clock, finally got our drinks from the barman/waiter who didn’t really know which way to turn. There was no Maitre d or anyone else in charge as in past visits.The restaurant wasn’t particularly busy but we were still asked if we minded waiting before we could go into the restaurant. The first course was very pleasant but that is were fine dining met poor pub grub, and the poor pub grub won! We had a large dollop of mashed potato (which had been mashed so much it had lost any fluffiness and was tight and firm), this was topped with a sad looking piece of poached chicken with a couple of asparagus spears in a cream sauce. We were so disappointed, what was meant to be a memorable experience will now be memorable for all the wrong reasons. We had already booked to stay at Fishmore Hall in September for the Ludlow Food Festival, but I will be cancelled that reservation. SO SAD AND DISAPPOINTED

Lovely hotel, our room was very spacious. Had a mini bar. Shower and very large bath to choose from. Our evening meal was well presented and tasty. Options to choose from, seven course taster menu and a set two or three course menu. We had a cheese board in the garden afterwards with wine. Breakfast was hot and delicious. Not a huge continental choice, but the fresh fruit salad was superb. Waitress was wonderful, nothing was too much trouble for her. We both enjoyed our stay.

The hotel was fine, good sized rooms and comfortable bed, but was let down by the restaurant (fourelles). We had dinner there on the friday evening. We had booked for 8pm. Our order wasn't taken until 8:30 and our main course didn't arrive until 9:30, and the sides arrived 5 mins after the mains. By the time we had finished it was too late to even think about ordering a dessert. Breakfast the next morning we were told on entering the restaurant to sit anywhere and someone would take our order. After 10 mins waiting I had to go and find someone. We then had to wait another 15 mins before it arrived and they forgot the toast!. The toast finally arrived just as we were finishing. The fresh fruit salad on the continental breakfast table ran out and was never replenished. There were no croissants or pastries. It was very basic. The next day They forgot the toast again. It did arrive sooner than the day before, but they brought white toast when we had asked for wholemeal. Fourelles is in the Michelin guide. it shouldn't be. The service and attention to detail is nowhere near what it should be. The food when you get it is good, but there is no excuse for the poor service.

The first evening I had booked a table in the restaurant for 7p.m . The starter came out on time and was delicious. The mains came out without our sides and we waited for an unreasonable time. This spoiled the main dish which was no longer hot. To make matters worse, the dessert which was ordered. My partner's chocolate torte was frozen and inedible. We sent the frozen chocolate torte back to the kitchen and chose the cheese cake. We waited over 20 mins for our desserts, when other customers had been served. To be served a dessert which was still frozen is unacceptable and a poor decision from your restaurant chef. Considering you pride yourselves on serving fine quality food and your awards previously won. The following day we went into Ludow town centre, as tourists to view the historical beauty. Before we left the hotel, I placed the clean me tag outside on the door handle at 10:45 a.m. Believing this would be the case, as expected when staying multiple nights at a hotel. To our disbelief when we arrived back at 12:30 p.m, our hotel was not cleaned. I went down to the receptionist and asked for our room to be cleaned. We went out again and came back at approximately 2:30 p.m, the hotel room had still not been cleaned. Although earlier other rooms had been cleaned on the same floor as number 2. Dirty bed linen sacks were left on the landing floor which was confusing to us both. The receptionist informed me that the cleaner had left the hotel for personal reasons early. My room would still be cleaned as the hotel was outsourcing alternative cleaners locally to complete this job of housekeeping. At 3:30 p.m Kieron, who had previously worked as a waiter in the restaurant, came to clean room 2. He proceeded to strip the bed linen with me present observing inside the room. This is when I witnessed something, which will always remain in my memory due shock and horror. The bed mattress was soiled with blood, urine and faeces, clearly visible. The bed which Fishmore Hall Boutique Spa Hotel had allowed myself & other customers to sleep on. Unprofessional and concerning to consider that is a blatant health & safety issue. The state of that bed should have been addressed previously, if housekeeping duties were undertaken in an correct manner. No telephone in the hotel room to use, as literature inside the room stated. I asked Kieron to go and contact the hotel manager at 3:50 p.m, my partner and I were in shock. After waiting patiently inside a dirty room, I decided to walk over to find a manager. Asking for a manager to come upto to witness the filthy state of the mattress within their hotel room.Front of house manager Amy came up to the room with Clare restaurant manager. Amy tried to brush this matter under the carpet and was unhelpful with Clare remaining silent. Although it was clear from Clare's expression, she felt embarrassed by this dirty revelation being brought to their attention. I told Amy, me and my partner are not sleeping inside that bed

Booked this hotel for a group of us going to Ludlow races (great day for bookies) They were able to sort our luggage in store as our rooms were not ready When we returned the accommodation was superb very tastefully decorated and immaculately clean We took a light supper in the dining room which the kitchen staff kindly kept open for us, the meal was incredibly good The breakfast the following morning was freshly cooked to order and was superb Great value for money couldn’t do any better Thank you

Sadly this hotel has been taken over and standards changed. We unfortunately stayed on a Tuesday night for a birthday treat and chose to eat in the restaurant based on previous reviews applying to the previous owners. Tuesday menu now is effectively a bar snack menu at extortionate pricing and on the day we visited, inedible. Pleasant enough staff who unfortunately did not know what they were doing, it turned out all the restaurant staff had left. We went down for breakfast in the morning wondering if we should but were presently surprised by a good hot breakfast. The continental element best left alone. Sad to see a previously good hotel deteriorate.