Rookery Retreat and Spa Reviews
Edingworth Road, Edingworth, Somerset, BS24 0JB
Check availability and book onlineReviews are written by customers after their visit.
169 reviews
Summary - some good treatments and nice bedroom. Some pleasant staff members but lots of disorganisation and disappointments. At times we felt like cogs in a money making machine.
The first disappointment was that although this was billed as a 20% off experience, we discovered upon arriving at the venue that the price we paid was exactly the same as their standard price for the package.
There was a disappointing lack of information given to us. We were only told when we arrived at the spa that it was shutting an hour early on Bank Holiday Monday, so we weren't able to use it on our first day, though we had planned for an hour there. We weren't told that dinner and lunch were only included on two of the three days until we got there. We had to ASK about what we were allowed for dinner and there was a £30 cap on what was included without extra cost, but we weren't told this until we asked. When we arrived we were shown the facilities available in the spa, but one of the rooms we were looking forward to using was unavailable for the whole duration of our stay due to that room being used as a spare tea room to make up for the fact that functions were occurring in the usual restaurant room.
Three times I was not served a breadroll with my meal although it was listed as being included in the menu, and once my salad was missing olives. Another time my Kir Royale was served in a wine glass (not too much of a problem really) and with a tiny amount of cassis. The lead member of staff apologised, after I spoke up about it, that his colleague wasn't experienced and didn't know how to make the drink properly. It was frustrating that I had to keep pointing out things that were missing as I like to keep a good atmosphere.
When in the spa I could see through one of the doors a whiteboard showing members of staff's daily targets for the amount of money they were aiming to earn. This was a little uncomfortable.
The second evening dinner was extremely compromised as there was a wedding held in the hotel earlier that day and the guests left far later than they intended. Our dinner were served very late, the members of staff were visibly exhausted, stressed and harassed and we didn't have candles or mood lighting or comfy chairs (which sounds like a small thing but considering what we were paying...). We were also privy to audible conversations between staff about the chaos of the evening which was not conducive to our relaxing evening. These should at least have been conducted out of ear shot of the guests.
On the other hand, our room was lovely. It was cleaned every day and the tea and biscuits refreshed. The shower was lovely and the french windows led onto a delightful terrace with table and chairs. The treatments were wonderful and those spa facilities which WERE available were good (the sauna, jet pool and jacuzzi). Some very nice members of staff were lovely and friendly, but others were less good at putting us at ease, especially with the problems that arose.
I would recommend doing your research about what will be going on at the hotel for the time of your stay and what you are entitled to before you decide to book.
Show venue reply...
My partner and I were looking forward to a relaxing few days away after a very busy few weeks in work.
Upon arrival there was a wedding taking place which obstructed the reception and we were unsure as to where we needed to go to check in. There was no staff to be found to help direct guests and we felt as though we were lost and unwelcome guests at a wedding.
Eventually, we found someone to check us in, and our room was beautiful.
We were not informed as to what we needed to to do next in relation to our time at the spa, simply given our room keys and sent on our way. When we got to the room we attempted to ring reception a number of times but to no avail.
We found our way to the spa and waited for instructions as to how we would collect our robes, get our treatment etc. Although the staff were very helpful, my partner and I both shared the opinion that we felt in the way and rushed, as all the staff seemed to be doing 3 jobs at once. This of course did not add to the 'stress-free' and relaxing atmosphere you would expect at a spa.
We both ordered our lunch at 2pm ready for 4pm when we both would have had our treatment. The lunch was great, however, due to the busy wedding we had to wait for 10 minutes to get cutlery after we had been brought our lunch.
We were both very excited to get to dinner, as we had viewed the menu online and in our rooms. Upon arriving at the Iris Resteraunt we realised that it was still full of party guests. Staff were running around frantically and no-one could tell us where we needed to go. Eventually, another couple informed us that the wedding party had run over and the restaurant was not available for dinner. At this point my partner and I were very hungry and annoyed. There were both spa and wedding guests everywhere, the place was a mess and no member of staff seemed to know what was happening.
We were eventually taken into another room and told that it was not the staff's fault and that we must wait. When we eventually were served our dinner, it was great. However, the whole evening was brought down by the constant noise of a hoover trying to tidy up the foyer, wedding guests coming in and room and the clearly stressed staff.
Lovely location, beautiful rooms, staff very friendly and helpful, particularly in dining room highly recommended, my third time and never disappointed
We had a lovely relaxing day. The treatments were great. We didn't have a foot scrub which is why it gets a low rating as it was just a warm flannel on our feet, still nice though.
The hydrotherapy pool was lovely, I couldn't get the sauna to work. The showers were fab and the gym was good.
I would have liked a swimming pool but that's a personal preference.
Lunch was superb and a great range to choose from.
Will definitely be returning.
The staff were very friendly and the lady who shows you around was very nice and nothing was a problem, she was always helpful.
Really lovely place, good food with good choice. Facilities very clean and well maintained. Staff lovely and experience very personal as staff find you for your treatment so no clock watching. As for the treatments the time flew by and I thoroughly enjoyed my facial. My therapist was realistic with products suggested and didn't try to get me to purchase everything she had used. Thus is the second time I have been to Rookery through last minute and will definately be going again.
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