County Arms Birr

Such a dissapointing stay. The outside of this hotel is spectacular. The gardens are fabulous. The main areas of the hotel are fantastically appointed, whoever designed the decor has immaculate taste and the staff are all lovely and friendly. The breakfast was also absolutely scrumptious, one of nicest I have had in a hotel in this country. However my room, although beautifully decorated was very grimy and not clean, also the bathroom in need of renovation. Found dirty black mark on my bed sheets and what looked like pencil marks on sheets but when I inspected further it was hairs that were between the top sheet and the mattress protector. Also black marks on the shower curtain and the bathroom was not in very good condition, broken tiles, limescale, stained bath snd surfaces and shower was barely warm. Bin in bathroom lid didn't work. Beautiful tolietreies in bathroom, Rituals, which are a favourite of mine but felt out of place in the run down bathroom. The carpet was terribly, terribly stained, hair and balck marks all over, the room really didn't feel clean at all. The noise proofing in our particular room was dreadful, I have never encountered anything like it, I could hear coughing, talking, banging, we could even hear our next door neighbour snoring. The bedroom has fabulous mod cons, TV with netflix ect and fancy kettles however the nesspresso machine wasn't fit to make a hot cup the water could only just reach tepid, would be better with basic items that worked better. We were so excited for our dinner, it was a massive let down, obviously frozen and processed meats, I couldn't eat my main and that is really saying something. Signs up on doors listing charges if items were taken from hotel just added to the dreadful feeling I had in this room. I was thinking what sort of clientell do they have that they need to do this. I came for a relaxing stay and I really wanted to just leave. I didn't go to the spa, I felt so disappointed with my stay i wasnt going to chance it at all, but I decided to give it a go to see if it could redeem the stay and found the four changing rooms were full of people's clothes that they seem to just leave there so I just gave up and left was pretty much the icing of a pretty dismal cake. I think I really had just given up on the Birr Country Arms before this anyway. I sat last night, unable to sleep reading all the 5 star reviews and I have cone to the conclusion myself and my husband must have been put into the worst room in the hotel and experienced a series of unfortunate events as others had fabulous stays, which makes me feel very let down but also management should realise that a hotel is only as good as their worst room.

Our family have been members of the springs leisure centre for a number of years. In my opinion this leisure centre is one of the best in the midlands. The staff are always so friendly and helpful, going above and beyond all the time. The Aqua Aerobics class is on 5 mornings and it is an absolutely brilliant class. Recently one of the staff went through a gym programme with me, which I found extremely helpful and I find has given me more confidence in the gym. All areas of the leisure centre are always very clean. Overall I find The Springs a very peaceful calming environment.

One of the best "family hotel rooms" we have seen in our travels with 4 young children, 2 parents. The layout of the family room has a partition wall between the parents side and the kids double-bunk-bed configuration. Each side gets their own TV and there are large operable windows for fresh air yet with adequate shades to block the light. There is a pool facility, restaurants in the hotel, borrow bicycles available and a large well-kept garden with yard-chess set. The property is within walking distance with a safe sidewalk for a leisurely walk or borrowed-bicycle ride down by a river. The breakfast was wonderful and the staff's hospitable disposition made the whole experience just lovely. Would definitely return.