Overview

Stanbrook never fails to absolutely fascinate us every time we visit, it’s review after review as we are so impressed by this delightful hotel. Of all hotels we have reviewed for our disabled friends this is a must, and we hope you will like Stanbrook as much as ourselves. PLEASE READ ALL THE REVIEWS WE OFFER SO AS TO GET A REAL FEEL FOR HOTEL. On this review we want to tell you about the fantastic cellar you can look at, and then enjoy a really nice lunch here, in lovely surroundings. So where shall we begin ? Pictures tell the stories, so let’s use these to tell you about our wine and dine delight. It’s so easy to enter the hotel as two disabled bays are situated right outside by main entrance, ( photo 1) all on the level, with automatic doors, which by the way, we always find then opened for us, and you Immediately enter a delightful warm attractive reception area (photo 2) and over to the left a lift awaits you (photo 3) which is wide enough to get your chair in there quite comfortably (photo 4) Take the bottom button, not shown on this sign, for wine cellar, and a fascinating journey will begin for you. A long old cellar invites you to explore, lots of room for wheelchair to move around (5) old barrels of my favourite aperitif pop Tio Pepe line the walls, as you stand in the tasting room, with a table calling you forward to sit and sip (photo 6) owhich you can do so on the evenings that they hold wine tasting events while you glance at their selection of bottles (7) that line the wall. Empty ! I wonder why ? Heading on, more treats line the wall (8) as you reach the Green room and Games room (9) and what a pleasant surprise, it’s green ( 10) with cosy leather chairs looking so comfortable (11). A quiet organised games room allows you to try out your skill on a few game tables (12) and a pool table is ready for you, go on, enjoy the game (13). At the far end another lift will take you up to the ground floor, and back to reception desk. We hope you enjoyed that little surprising visit to the cellars, but now it’s time to take lunch and a small sip or two at George’s Bar) (photo 14). Now, you can either sit here for lunch, or do as we do, go out of hotel at reception, and allow carer to take you down the ramp to the terraced area, and then across to the door to enter the lounge, a nuisance, but it’s worth it. (One day someone will sort out this disabled entry for us ) but as you enter this most delightfully decorated attractive lounge (15) you will forgive their oversight at not thinking about us, and settle down to browse the menu (photo 16) We find it more comfortable on the settee and carefully spaced little tables (photo 17) and awaited our lunch to arrive. As we have had lunch here before, and always a treat, we decided to try out the fish and chips (photo 18) and we will be honest with you, they were the most enjoyable, well cooked and presented fish and chips we have probably ever had. The fish was done just right with a very crusty crumbly coating, the chips where crisp and the best tasting yet, the peas had that minty hint to them, and it seems the tartar sauce must have been hand made, a truly wonderful lunch (19) with an opportunity to get stuck in (20) in a very cosy, quite, beautiful lounge. OUR FINAL THOUGHTS If you like character, interested in wine, then you will find this a must. The cellars are most interesting, with other rooms that we have not mentioned here, as unable to put more photos on our review. This is a hotel that every time you visit, you seem to find more to look at, and we would certainly recommend lunch here at this delightful historical hotel.

Transport & Parking

Disabled may park right outside the hotels main entrance, (photo 1) and it’s on the level as you enter the lovely reception area, with wide, polished, carefully selected furnishings, that immediately appeal (photo 2)

Access

For this particular review we are able to give top marks as it was all on the level, be it a bit of a nuisance to have to go out of hotel and walk all the way round and across the terrace to reach the disabled door for George’s Bar lounge. (On this particular visit, we met a member of the hotels management, and he registered our concerns about this long walk, and stated not to worry, it was all in hand, so we await to see any future alterations they may have in mind to help disabled ) To get us around today, two lifts were available, and that really helped my husband to get to see everything he had not yet seen ) which still impressed him so much, he does nothing but show his appreciation for the efforts of Handpicked hotels every time he comes back from his wandering around exploring Stanbrook Abbey. You take the lift down from outside reception desk, stroll around the cellars and all the interesting rooms that run off from the passage , then take another lift at the far end of cellar to take you back up to far end of this lovely hotel.

Toilets

It is situated right by the main restaurant, with a ramp if needed, and although toilet is quite small, you have to leave wheelchair along corridor by its door, it is always very clean and well maintained, with grab handle.

Staff

Always top marks, very helpful, willing and polite, and offering full support to the disabled, thank you all.

Photos