February 2024 by Reg Cox
Relaxing lounge, friendly staff and delicous meal......
September 2023 by 836patricia
We recently returned from our fifth visit to Summer Lodge over several years , the second since covid, and we enjoyed it just as much as ever. We live over three hundred miles away and it s our favourite English hotel and we wish we lived nearer to it.. The staff were as usual very friendly, yet discreet and the room and food were as enjoyable as ever. There is just one thing that irked me. Our bathroom was luxurious with two basins, separate shower and lovely toiletries but the toilet seat was very basic plastic with a very sharp ridge on the lid and no soft close facility. It may seem a bit picky to criticise a toilet as it was clean and worked satisfactorily but ours did not live up to the standard of the rest of our room and was certainly not five star. The gardens looked amazing and the friendly gardener we met was lovely to chat to. We hope to return soon.
September 2023 by davidmM2698EA
We thought we were getting a really good deal when we got the four nights for the price of three offer. But when we arrived that got even better when we were upgraded to the Room 1 suite. The Summer Lodge is a beautiful hotel in a beautiful part of the Dorset Countryside. The facilities are excellent and although it isn't cheap you definitely get what you pay for (more, in fact - see above!) But what sets this country house hotel apart is the staff from the invisible (in a good way) housekeeping staff to the receptionists, management, restaurant staff, gardeners, etc. Everyone. They are superb; we're both in our seventies and have never encountered better. It would be wrong to single out any particular member of staff - they are all fantastic.
September 2023 by Harry4Sammy
Our 5th visit, with dog. Had previously found hotel to be outstanding and our favourite British hotel. Sadly not so this time. Key staff had left (e.g. sommelier, executive chef and bar manager) and either not replaced or replaced by less-experienced people. Didn't enjoy dinner in restaurant as much as previous visits (separate review) and found portions very small. Wine list much shorter now. Had run out of number of whiskies, and not replenished or updated drinks list. Staff often not as attentive as previous visits. Ordered tea/coffee at breakfast, asked 4 times when it would arrive as other guests had ordered after us and already received their hot drinks: ours finally arrived as we were finishing our hot breakfast, c. 20 mins after ordering. Slow to clear plates at breakfast. Felt something had changed and then discovered hotel is for sale. A great shame. We wish the remaining staff well for the future.
September 2023 by Patsiegirl
We had the most wonderful and delicious lunch for our Grandson's 18th Birthday. The food was excellent and the staff were great, especially the wine waiter who looked after me well! I thoroughly recommend it one of the best meals I've ever had.
August 2023 by xboshx
Very nice hotel. Slightly frayed at the edges, but in a nice way. Very good restaurant and the gardens were beautiful. Nice touches (excellent shortbread in bedrooms, bottles of water as you leave for the road). Lost a star because the pool wasn?t properly operational and there was a deal of confusion whether ewe could or couldn?t use it (which went no, yes, no, yes, no, yes) which was a bit annoying. Would stay there again.
August 2023 by bouclee
This was our fourth visit to this hotel and hitherto was our favourite hotel in the UK. The accommodation is still excellent but sadly, from our point of view the restaurant lets the hotel down badly. Part of the enjoyment of staying in an hotel is the dining experience, which on previous occasions was very good. However, since our previous stay, the menu seems to have changed in favour of ?Nouvelle Cuisine ?. There seems to now be more emphasis on the presentation of the food than the actual content and the choice is very limited. Despite having a very small appetite, I found that I was not satisfied even after three courses. We will not be returning unless the restaurant improves its offering.
August 2023 by freddyboy5000
This is a small country house hotel, the emphasis being on ?small?. The access and public areas are quite restricted. The room was ok but not outstanding. For what we paid there ought to have been more of a wow factor. It all felt just a little bit tired. The staff were helpful and enthusiastic but several we spoke to said they had not been there very long which made us think that they must have recruitment issues.? There was nothing major amiss but lots of little details made us feel that the price charged was not entirely justified. One small example: on the breakfast menu it proudly announces that they provide their own ?marmalade, jam and honey? and as none was included on the buffet I asked a waiter if they were available. He went off to ask and came back to breezily respond that ? that was a pre-covid thing, they don?t do that anymore. The menu hasn?t been changed . Sorry ? Covid was three years ago and the menus haven?t been changed since then? A silly detail but quite telling.
August 2023 by johnfP2386EL
A fantastic venue that offers peace and quiet in its beautiful house and surrounding gardens. From the moment we arrived we were greeted with outstanding hospitality, friendly faces and a warm welcome. Our room (Room 2) was immaculate and was given an extra birthday make-over, which was a surprise and added an extra touch of personal service. The Spa, gym and treatment area is also immaculately presented in every way with refreshments available to ensure an enjoyable and relaxing experience. The food blew us away, the choice and flavours along with the beautifully presented restaurant was nothing short of an experience to remember. As for the service, it was beyond reproach. The staff and waiters were extremely knowledgeable and professional and on par with some of the best hotels in the UK. I fully recommend a stay here or even try the afternoon tea?. It won?t disappoint. Thank you to all the staff and especially to Max for a wonderful break. John
August 2023 by angelag78
A step back in time! We stayed at Summer Lodge to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Such a beautiful, tranquil place with discreet, efficient service. The interior is that of an English Country House - material clad walls and you?d be hard pressed to require anything that isn?t in your room. We ate lunch and breakfast while we were there and had a highly efficient room service deliver a club sandwich with chips. All delicious. We wandered over to The Acorn (a pub opposite the Lodge, also owned by the same people). If you?re looking for a lively evening, then go elsewhere - Evershot was like a film set but without a cast. But if you want a relaxing break in beautiful countryside then I wouldn?t hesitate to recommend Summer Lodge. If you are thinking of dining at The Acorn however, be sure to book a table in good time - it looked very busy.
July 2023 by W3635OZdebbiem
My friend and I were treated to a half day at the spa at Summer Lodge. We found the team really professional, friendly and helpful. A wonderful place to relax and unwind combined with a fantastic back and shoulder massage followed by an Elemis facial. The cream tea in the hotel was superb, we just had to ask for their scone recipe. We had a fabulous experience and one we will be repeating. Thank you very much for making it so special for us.
July 2023 by JONUK13
There are some very good aspects to the hotel - the spa, gym and pool though small are good. Massages are excellent. Although it says it is dog friendly lots of the hotel arent accesible with a dog (basically you can use one part of the bar and the terrace....not great if the weather is rainy). The food was a bit variable unfortunately and overall we were left feeling that the hotel and restaurant was punching above its weight in terms of price (which are top end).
July 2023 by ChrisJ532
Elegant country house hotel in a relaxing and peaceful setting with beautiful gardens, a good choice of super bedrooms and top quality food and service. Staff are professional and helpful. Nothing is too much trouble. The spa and pool are a great bonus too. A perfect place to stay for a celebration.
July 2023 by 58AndyH
Our second visit to Summer Lodge and it was as good as the first time. Lovely dog friendly room, great food and wine and really nice, efficient staff. If anything the dinner was better. The spa is small but I?m we had excellent neck, shoulder back massages.
July 2023 by 918london
Stayed here for a couple nights with a two year old. The hotel amenities and touches towards our toddler were very thoughtful. The rooms are fresh and the gardens are stunning. It is the staff that are the top positive - incredibly friendly and caring! We ate at the acorn inn for dinner which again was lovely, amazing food. The summer lodge breakfast is incredible!
