Champneys Forest Mere

Fantastic experience: Had a lovely spa day here, super relaxing, exceeded my expectations, staff were friendly and beautiful grounds, will revisit.

Negative experience: RUINED MY FRIENDS 60th BIRTHDAY I booked a day spa for my friends 60th birthday and was looking forward having a relaxing treat together. The reception was amazing, the lady was kind and very informative. She showed us where to go and ran us through the next steps, informed us that our lunch is booked at 14:00 and our treatments at 17:00. We started our day at 12:00and it was beautiful and calm, enjoy all the available facilities inside but when went outside to use the outdoor jacuzzi, it was freezing cold. I had mentioned it at the desk outside the spa and the lady said they will check but we were very disappointed that we could not utilise all the facilities and that we were not informed prior to our visit that the outdoor jacuzzi was not in order. It was nearly 14:00 so we went for lunch. By the time we had ordered our wine and started with the salad bar, the time we went to help ourselves the hot dishes , they started packing away the hot food. They started packing away at 14:30 and by 14:45 all the food was packed away and I had to ask twice for some desert to be brought out, and was told that the chef is making it. I felt really bad for my friend and I was embarrassed as I had treated her to this experience for a significant birthday and she was left disappointed. I then had to take her to your albeit lovely cafe and bought her tea and cake to fill her up. In addition to this, our treatments were supposed to be 20 minutes each but by the time we filled the questionnaire and had got ready for the treatment, we had around 10 minutes of that. My treatment started at 17:09 and I was out in the ash room at 17:17 so definitely not 20 minutes. When sent numerous emails back and forth to Paulius Mecelica Operations Manager, her answer was to book again so we can take care of you properly ! I said that’s not right for me to pay twice so you do your job right! This is the answer I had from Paulius Mecelica I’d like to clarify that I’m not suggesting you must re-book, but if you do decide to proceed with another visit, we would be more than happy to discuss ways to enhance your experience. Our goal is to ensure that, should you choose to return, we can offer an elevated stay tailored to your expectations, with a focus on addressing any concerns from your previous visit. I completely understand your disappointment, and I truly regret that your first experience did not meet the standard you expected. While I cannot provide a free spa day at this time, we will certainly work with you to ensure that everything is in working order and that your next visit runs smoothly. YET AGAIN. I PAY TWICE SO YOU DO YOUR JOB PROPERLY! YOU RUINED MY FRIENDS 60th BIRTHDAY

Fantastic experience: I want to give Belinda in the spa wellness centre this 5* review. I left my bikini at the hotel, and I was unable to travel back there as I’m immigrating to Australia. Belinda went out of her way to send my bikini back to me at the quickest way possible to ensure that I received it in time for my trip. Thank you Belinda for your great customer experience.

Negative experience: I booked a spa break with treatment for my mum, the package was completely misleading and when I emailed them to query the booking, I had no reply, I also called multiple times and no one answered the phone. I ended up paying for an additional treatment which wasn’t included into the package and they were extremely unhelpful providing a refund for something that could have been easily resolved by communication. Service was appalling and would not recommend staying here at all.

Negative experience: Tired and shockingly poor maintenance. You can tell its going to be awful by the road leading up to the place, potholes everywhere and huge craters all across the car park, poor girl had broken down yesterday after driving down one. The facilities themselves are very tired and dated. Most of the lockers don't work (flat batteries) or doors are broken. Gym is small and old machines. Pool area is grubby and needs a decent clean, the changing facilities especially in the men's are not adequate with half the changing space sharing a single bench! Products in the showers are normally empty and the shower heads falling apart. Staff are generally good, some are obviously fed up and will bury their head, go slow and furiously type away taking minutes to look up the answer for an obvious question while the queue stretches away waiting just for a towel. Champneys really need to up their game, the old thorns is much nicer, this place is neglected.

Positive experience: The staff as Steve, Rofo and Tom and the waiters/ waitresses at meal times were very helpfull and forthcoming. Upper management seemed a bit overwhelmed at times which was slightly bewildering. The treatments messed up my massage time and my massage was overpriced for what it was. Grounds are exquisite. The spa facilities were lovely and the the beds comfortable. The dinner and buffet lunchwere healthy and the menue tasy and of good quality. Overall our group of 10 mothers had a lovely and relaxing time.

Negative experience: Sorry to say, the worst Spa Weekend we have ever been too. Room was awful, dusty, temporary heater wire running from bedroom to bathroom, trip hazard, toilet after flushing kept running (all night too), room ceiling has a huge leak mark and paint peeling, cupboard doors didn’t close, bed sheets and pillow covers stained…. Now talk about the Spa itself… overcrowded, indoor whirlpool enough for 6 people! Indoor Steam room, for 4 people max, walking around pool was full of people, had to keep saying sorry as we walk past…. Now restaurants service… what service! Really poor. I have no idea how Champneys could call that a world-class Spa. Definately very poor!!!! Avoid at all costs.

Negative experience: Snails in my room and service from staff discussing everyone around me is complaining about the hotel definitely not worth the price ! Premier in is 1000x better and friendlier then this place !!

Negative experience: I was extremely disappointed with my recent stay at Champneys. The room was in poor condition, with visible signs of neglect and a shocking lack of cleanliness – including dead bugs, which clearly indicated inadequate housekeeping. The beds were incredibly uncomfortable, feeling like nothing more than springs with a thin sheet on top, making it impossible to get a good night’s sleep. Despite raising these concerns, the response from the hotel was disappointing and failed to address the issues adequately. For the premium price and reputation of Champneys, I expected much better. I would not recommend staying here.

Positive experience: Great, but very busy. The only fault I can make with this spa is the amount of guests they book in one day. Every bed and chair has towels on it to 'reserve' them, even for hours on end which made it hard for us enjoy all the facilities. They should really work on managing that better.

Fantastic experience: I recently had a spa day at Forest Mere and loved it so much I am thinking of becoming a member! The settings is absolutely stunning, the staff very welcoming and friendly. I had a facial with the lovely Nox, which was so relaxing and I spent the rest of the day just enjoying the facilities. I had lunch and dinner and the food was superb. Definitely thinking of joining as a member - would throughly recommend

Positive experience: It’s tired and a bit weird. The massage I got was a joke I won’t go there again. Especially for the price they charge.

Positive experience: Disappointing Stay at Champneys Forest Mere Spa Hotel My boyfriend and I stayed at Champneys Forest Mere Spa Hotel for two nights, utilizing the Vitality Membership benefits. Upon arrival, we received welcome bags with robes and flip-flops, which was a nice touch. However, our experience quickly went downhill from there. When we settled into our room, we discovered that the window was broken and wouldn’t fully close, leaving it slightly open. Given that it was -3°C outside, this was a serious issue. We contacted reception, and although they promised to send maintenance, it took an hour for them to arrive. Instead of fixing the window, they broke the handle, making the situation worse. We requested a room change due to the freezing temperature. The reception staff moved us to a ground-floor room, but it was in poor condition with rusty taps and single beds. Feeling disappointed, we complained again about the unacceptable service and room conditions. The hotel manager eventually acknowledged our concerns and upgraded us to a slightly better room. While the view was nicer, the room was essentially the same as the first one. The following day, we visited the spa for massages, expecting to use our Vitality benefits for a discount. Unfortunately, the spa staff informed us that we couldn’t apply the Vitality discount, despite being promised a 25% discount when we booked two weeks in advance. After some confusion, we received only a 15% discount. The massage itself was underwhelming; the room was cold, and despite multiple requests for more pressure, the massage remained too light. Overall, our stay was disappointing, marred by poor service, unfulfilled promises, and subpar facilities. Spending most of our first day dealing with room issues was frustrating, and the spa experience didn’t redeem the stay. We will not be returning to Champneys Forest Mere.

Positive experience: If you’ve booked a spa day on a deal - say under £100 for spa use, perhaps including a meal / express treatment, then it’s great value. If you’re thinking of paying full price, explore other options. I went for a 12-6pm spa use, with lunch and a 20min treatment included for £99. Here’s some thoughts: BEST BITS: The staff were all super friendly, approachable and helpful - smooth check-in with tailored flip-flops and robe to suit your sizing. The lunch, served in the restaurant, was buffet style - a soup, hot mains including chicken, fish, potatoes and ratatouille, a salad bar with absolutely loads of tasty fresh options, and a dessert section of healthy alternative cheesecake / mousse - with vegan options everywhere. Everything was super tasty and plentiful. The setting of the orangerie cafe is also lovely - if you’re going for an afternoon tea, you’ll eat in here - with gorgeous views across the lake, in a cosier, more snug-like space. We spent some time here at the end of the day in a gorgeous dimmed light, before we departed the resort. The poolside steam and cold/ice experiences were novel - not something you get everywhere. THE SPA: The spa itself is split into lots of different areas. In the female changing/spa area there is a sauna, steam room and quiet relaxation area (one assumes this is the same in the men’s), and those spaces are all replicated in some form poolside as well, together with jacuzzi whirlpools - so everyone can access some kind of spa experience. The pool is huge for the small number of people who actually want to use it. Outside there is also a hydrotherapy pool. THE LOWS: It was busy. There was limited space to sit poolside, with many people reserving spaces with towels / bags etc. Everyone wants to be in the hydrotherapy pool, and it’s not big enough for that. There were not enough wrist bands for the number of lockers, so if you wanted your stuff locked away you had to ask a member of staff to come unlock/lock it for you. This was tedious. The staff seemed used to it so one assumes this is a regular occurrence (although there was only one master key). Having to ask for towels, instead of them just being present. Phones and devices were in abundance - can anyone really switch off when so many are still connected? Visitors ignored ‘no mobile phone’ signs and there were people using laptops pool side. A ban on all digital devices would have created a more relaxing atmosphere for everyone. That being said, if you can’t lock your device in a locker, where else are you going to put it? The poolside sauna is terrible - only space for 4 to 5 people sat at normal chair height, so you end up with a hot head but can’t get your body warm. I agree with other reviewers that the spa is past its best - rundown and in need of complete renovation. I wouldn’t necessarily agree that it’s dirty, but that surfaces and decorations are just well worn. Tiles/mosaic missing from fixtures, build up of limescale in some areas, broken lockers etc. Decor wise, I kept thinking it would make an excellent location for the next series of Rivals… IN SUMMARY: The flow of the place is all wrong - awkward to move between / around the different experiences, with insufficient space for simply sitting and relaxing when it’s busy. If the user experience was better considered for the way the space is organised then this could be transformative. Some spa facilities were great, most were not. Food and setting were excellent. Overall 3 stars for this deal, but I probably won’t return and definitely wouldn’t pay full price - there are many more relaxing, affordable and well kept spas out there.

Fantastic experience: I’m lucky enough to be a health club member at Champneys Forest Mere. Just had 2 fantastic weekends with masterclass dance fitness guest presenters - Jane Alexander and Neil Solomon - a great start to 2025!!

Fantastic experience: Joined Champneys Forest Mere and attending 3 times a week has become a fixed part of my weekly routine. Huge stress relief, really friendly, welcoming staff and a wonderful environment. I live 30 miles away and the journey is well worth the effort every time. I have no hesitation in recommending Forest Mere for a health/gym membership. Have stayed overnight, rooms are very nice and beds very comfortable.

Negative experience: DO NOT BOOK! We went for a relaxing spa evening and they not only messed up our booking but we also found ourselves leaving more stressed than when we arrived. Our treatment was average and were then thrown into the health club with everyone else who has a fitness memeberships so it felt totally overcrowded. I have emailed the central team at Champneys with my feedback and not had a response! Even the on-site team couldn't help! What a sham, waste of money and would never go back. Spend your well-earned money elsewhere.

Positive experience: We visited the Forest Mere location after an amazing time visiting the Leicester branch last year. Unfortunately the experience was not to the same standards. Upon arrival we waited over 20mins to be seen to, with no rush to help us get checked in. The bedroom was nice, however the shower curtain was in need of replacing. Previously products provided in the rooms and throughout the resort were champneys own, however they have been replaced with Elemis, of which the quality is not the same. Service overall was very slow when dining, of which we had issues with. On two occasions waiting staff came up to our table with cleared plates containing leftover food to take our orders. The bread provided with the soup was state and processed and the pannacotta was grainy. When mentioned to the waiting staff they offered an alternative dessert, of which we chose the cheese board. However, upon eating, there was a partial used cocktail stick in the chutney, indicating it was left over from another guest. I could not eat the dessert option for lunch as it was not palitable and just tasted of cream cheese. The facilities itself were very nice, however the temperature of the outdoor hot tub, jacuzzi and sauna needed increasing.

Positive experience: Lovely hotel and Spa. Just feel we have not been properly attended to at reception with training staff giving incorrect information. We were told NYE dinner was included in our stay however it turned out this was not the case and we had cancelled NYE dinner at a nearby pub so we’re left without any place to celebrate NYE..

Positive experience: Our experience at Champneys Forest Mere overall was nice. Having been to Tring also, I’d say that anyone expecting a true luxury spa experience, should consider other options. It’s nice but not as fancy as other resorts. The spa facilities are pretty good, a little over crowded but nice and was good to have gender split, as well as mixed. Unfortunately the food and service let it down the most. I was really disappointed in the food; the flavours tasted artificial, prepared badly and cheap quality. I left feeling unsatisfied for the stay. We did book with Vitality and so benefited from a large discount, which I was happy to pay for what we got. I wouldn’t pay full price personally. I didn’t even consider booking a treatment as they are extortionate. The sports facilities were pretty good and really happy to see Padel courts. Generally the grounds seemed a bit run down and could be maintained better. Grateful there’s no children still.

Fantastic experience: Absolutely fantastic stay. Wonderful staff & service, & very relaxing atmosphere. Will definitely return. Thank you to all the team for making us feel so welcome (after a poor stay at Henlow Grange a few weeks ago, this was brilliant)

Fantastic experience: I’ve just joined as a member and can honestly say it’s had a really positive impact on my health and well being. The facilities are smart and well looked after with staff who are always happy to help. The timetable of classes is extensive and varied and even though I have off-peak membership, there are plenty for me to do! Having been a member of other gyms, nothing really compares to Champneys and especially Forest Mere

Negative experience: It's not a great experience, and we will not return. The best compliment to Champneys is the rooms and the service by the room staff. Check-in was OK. Unfortunately, we were locked out of our room before our leaving time and had to go to reception in robes. They did not sort this issue or apologise for this. This really sums up the service. Staff are disinterested in your contentment and seem unskilled in customer service. The site needs updating, modernising, and a make-over as it looks tired. A map of the site and walks you can do in the grounds would be useful. There are other reviews here worth reading about the SPA. This is often congested due to day visitors, and evening classes really ruined the tranquilness of the environment. It was packed in the evening, and there were no seats available. This ruined the experience after a treatment. The treatments were OK. I felt again that Eva was disinterested and, at one point, yawned during the treatment. I did not feel the treatment was great. The staff can also be unprofessional and loud in the staff rooms or grumpy and unsupportive. This is a constant underlying feature of the visit. Foods was hit or miss. Again, see the other reviews. The evening meal was not great. Service was poor. We were not given menus and then have to share one. We were waiting 15 minutes in a long line to be seated. We tried to order dessert, and the waiter said he would be back and left his shift as it had ended. The buffet was a great experience. I believe there are other better experiences you can book for less of the cost of Champneys. I booked this as a treat and was left disappointed. We should have revisited another rival SPA hotel in Kent. I left a review, and there was no response from Champneys. This shows a lack of interest in improving service or customer experience. Perhaps this will get the response it needs to greatly improve in the quality of experience given to customers.

Negative experience: Website wasn't working properly to make a purchase of a gift card. It kept trying to force me to reserve a booking rather than just send me the gift card to allow the person I was gifting it to make their own bookings. When I tried to call to querie it, there was no answer.

Negative experience: Very disappointing stay at Champneys. On arrival we were not given a treatment schedule, the rooms were shabby, the bath didn’t drain properly and the sink was really low in the bathroom so you had to bend down to wash your hands. Most of the staff didn’t acknowledge us and we had to ask them to be seated in the restaurant even if they were standing right there. We waited half an hour each time for starters to arrive and had to prompt the waiting staff about our drinks. The food was very disappointing with stale bread, dry pasta and poor quality. The one good bit was the treatments which were expertly done and I would recommend these.

Positive experience: Have just returned home after an overnight break for my mums birthday. Overall a pleasant experience. Food was delicious and plentiful, setting was beautiful, most of the staff were polite and friendly and would visit again. However, with all the pros comes the cons. We found the cafe staff to be miserable and almost rude as if serving guests was not in their job description. The spa area was busy with most of the comfy beds unoccupied but covered with people's belongings presumably to secure them even though guests are asked not to do this. A few of the spa bits like the cryotherapy service and some of the sauna options were unavailable due to them being broken. Alot of the communal areas were dirty in places. In particular cobwebs everywhere if you looked beyond first appearances. Check in was very slow!! Check out a little better. The room was a standard. Quite comfortable for one night. Although the TV was on the blink so kept turning itself off/on and changing channel on own, losing sound. Also could not fathom how to access the guest services option through it so gave up in the end. Would like to stay again, but perhaps if there is a quieter time.

Negative experience: Save your money, a business class lounge has a better buffet and cleaner standards than this “spa”. Seals are broken on all steam/sauna facilities so it’s not even warm enough to be there without a robe. Grime all over restaurant walls where you’re seated/old cobwebs on door handles and disgusting chairs. Champneys may of had a brand 20years ago but today it’s as tatty as old boots.

Fantastic experience: A favourite location of mine, the peaceful surroundings are a real highlight. I appreciated the option of a self-guided local walk, made easy with a QR code providing clear directions. The lake views are highly recommended! The room was comfortable and stylish, enhancing my stay. The instructors for the aqua, pilates, and dance classes were welcoming and enthusiastic. The food was good – I’ve tried most dishes on the menu, and you can’t go wrong with the duck, vegan burger, or brioche dessert. The staff were polite and helpful, whether in the dining area or at reception. I enjoyed my time so much that I extended my stay. I would definitely recommend this place to reset and unwind.

Positive experience: Spent a lovely day at the Spa at the weekend with my good friend. However, it was nicer early afternoon when it was quieter and then it got SUPER busy from about 2pm, it was quite crowded. Not an especially relaxing atmosphere. I'd recommend probably going during the week instead. Just one thing would've made it truly excellent. Offer a towel when you give the robes out. Or if working at the spa/gym reception and you're asked which way to the Spa - offer a towel. Also, you're terrible at answering the phone. I tried to call to use the return voucher (as you can't do this online) and spent about 30 mins on hold (the lady that answered didn't even apologise), and then finally was put through to Forest Mere and was on hold again for another 30 mins before I gave up. Oh my goodness, I lost the will to live. Are you really going to make me drive there to book my stay with my return voucher?! I've actually given up. Not booking it, if you can't even simply answer the phone.

Negative experience: Really poor experience for a number of reasons. Spa was over crowded and left us unable to use the facilities, and no space to sit down and relax. Outdoor jacuzzi, steam room and ice room closed with no notification they would not be available. Staff in the orangery were inattentive and unapproachable. Lockers did not work. The list goes on ! Overall a really sad experience, especially considering the price, which ruined a special occasion for us. Would not go back or recommend.

Fantastic experience: Really great experience in lovely surroundings. Staff were all lovely - competent and professional. Facilities were very good and the range of treatments were excellent - something for everyone. In 2024 when environmental issues are in everyone's thoughts, I think baths in bedroom en-suites should be a thing of the past . Please consider showers to help conserve water.

Negative experience: If you’re looking for a relaxing spa experience, avoid Champneys at all costs! This place felt more like an overcrowded leisure centre than a high end spa. Every room was crammed with people, two rooms were out of order so much so that there was literally nowhere to sit and relax. Imagine paying for a tranquil day and ending up shuffling through crowds just to find a single open chair!! When I finally managed to find the manager Verity, she came down to reception. She told us we’d be issued a refund, advising us to get changed and meet her at reception and it would be sorted.. after getting changed we waited an hour for Verity and she never showed up! Instead, another staff member came over and casually told us we’d get an email about the refund. No apology, no concern from the staff—just an impersonal, disappointing experience from start to finish. Do yourself a favor and save your money. Champneys might have a big name, but the service here is appalling. Never again!

Positive experience: It's ok - nice location, nice enough staff. But very bland food, and both times I've been, various parts of the spa have been out of service. I had a four day stay recently and the steam/sauna were closed. So disappointing.

Fantastic experience: Excellent rooms, superb food and all the spa facilities made for a very relaxing stay.

Negative experience: Don't go with an allergy it will be stressful and embarrassing. Very expensive for such a decline in everything. Food is repetitive and lack of information on everything makes it difficult. Pool attendant is abrasive and removes bags even when you are next to them

Positive experience: Bedroom was old and needed a thorough clean furniture filthy. Food dull and not great for non meat eaters Same every day

Positive experience: Bit overpriced for what you get. No cooked breakfast included. Dinner looked nice but was pretty bland

Fantastic experience: A wonderful place to stay. We went for my birthday. A plate with cakes on and a message HAPPY BIRTHDAY was in my room. What a welcome. All the staff smiling and helpful. Our treatments were great. Classes were really good. Came home with a wonderful feeling and thoroughly relaxed.

Positive experience: Staff welcoming and helpful. Buffet lunch delicious. Facilities are great,but too many people, so heated water beds,pool side loungers/beds, and jacuzzi spaces were at a premium... people waiting.

Negative experience: Disappointed by the customer service. We left our robes in the room and took advantage of the express checkout. We then discovered that they charged us £40 for the robes saying we took them. When we pointed out that we left them in the room they were unwilling to refund the charge.

Fantastic experience: We REALLY enjoyed our stay @ Forest Mere recently. Yes the rooms may be slightly dated but we went for the whole experience. The rooms are only a fraction of the experience. We used them only to sleep in and spent most of our stay in and around the hotel. The stunning grounds were fabulous to run around in the morning. We took bikes out and cycled through the woods surrounding Forest Mere in the afternoon after lunch. The food was fabulous! Great variety, great choice! The quiet rooms off the pool area were great for sitting in and reading quietly (although you could do with a sign up saying whisper tones appreciated instead of full blown conversations in there) We didn’t want to be privy to listening in on others loud conversations) The staff in the restaurant and around the hotel were friendly and courteous although Amelia on reception could do with some warmth to her tones. Robotic nature. The gym was well equipped and the staff at the spa reception were full of smiles and joy. The 25 metre pool was fabulous although very crowded and no seats/spaces left to sit after our swim mid afternoon. Loved the ice chamber and tropical rainforest showers by the pool. All in all I would give it 10/10 for a whole rounded experience! We left keen to book our next stay.

Negative experience: My treatment was terrible, the lady was nice but the quality was very poor. The buffet lunch as a day guest was so shocking I can’t out into words - crumbs ignored on the table, dirty tables surrounding us that were ignored for over an hour, no one asked us if we wanted drinks, no direction as to what to do or where the food was upon arrival, waited for 10 mins to even sit down, no plates at the buffet, had to ask for butter and spoons, the food itself was claggy, lukewarm and completely uninspiring. As we didn’t get any drinks we went to the little cafe overlooking the lake, ordered two coffees which didn’t arrive and I had to chase after a 15 minute wait. While waiting I also noticed huge cobwebs and black mould stains on the ceiling, really off putting in a food/drink space. In the female locker room I had to try 8 different lockers until I found one that worked, and my shower water kept switching from cold to hot. As we were leaving we had to wait a minimum of 10 minutes standing in the check out area waiting for a member of staff. Once someone eventually arrived there was no apology for the delay. My husband said his treatment was the best he had, when the coffees arrived they tasted great and the spa/pool area was nice (despite the fact we had to wait 20 mins for seats and two of the saunas/steam rooms were out of order). But this isn’t an opportunity we get very often and it was so disappointing as we paid to our my daughter in childcare for the day so we could come. Really sad as we can’t do this again for another 6 months. Sadly won’t be returning

Fantastic experience: Beautiful place and beautiful stay in the shepherds hut. However, service was slow for breakfast, lunch and dinner. More staff needed for smoother operations.

Negative experience: Came for our first anniversary today, spa was great, room was ok, food was terrible never seen a short rib like it, couldn't even cut it with a knife, awful!

Positive experience: Had a super day out! The breakfast was a lovely surprise and very acceptable! The pool and all the surrounding amenities were thoroughly enjoyed by myself and friend. It's a shame the thalassotherapy pool is still not open. It was a real relaxing day, an oasis in the middle of the week! We both broke our own rule not to spend too much in the shop! Am really looking forward to a return in the future.

Negative experience: I was so disappointed, we had saved to make this such a special night away for my 40th but were in disappointed at every turn. When we arrived on the Friday at 15:20 the earliest time we could get at dinner was 20:30, which considering check in only opens at 15:00 was disappointing, we were shown where to go to get to the pool and our room by the check in staff but weren’t told about any classes or anything. Our massage was booked in for 4pm so we went straight there, massage was lovely, my husband said his wasn’t so good. We then went to the pool, the facilities they have are wonderful however we couldn’t use them, it was SO busy in there, again I felt disappointed, the night had been over sold, there wasn’t one sunbed, in any of the rooms, let alone 2 together. We spent 5 minutes in the outside hot tub purely because of the noise of so many people in the main room, and then went up to our room to be disappointed again, the bathroom was covered in black mould, it was all over the ceiling and the walls, there was a hole in my husbands pillowcase, multiple blood spots on the voile curtain, the room felt dirty, overnight I was bitten by something in the bed. I really wanted to complain and be moved but my husband wouldn’t let me, he was so annoyed. We went down for dinner and the food was again disappointing, and very small portions. We stayed the night, went for breakfast at 8 which again was disappointing, No coffee! having to pay extra for cooked breakfast, we were not told that only continental was included. We checked out at 8:30, my husband wouldn’t even stay for the lunch we had paid for. It was a massive waste of £650. I emailed Champneys twice to complain and have had no response. Very disappointing. I wouldn’t waste your money.

Positive experience: Always enjoy my stays at Forestmere Champneys but this time I was in a room on the 3rd floor, felt small with a tiny window, restricted opening and view! I didn’t ask to change as I assumed they only use the 3rd floor rooms when there is nothing else! Although it was probably the furthest away from my friend in a disabled room on the ground floor! A Cobweb was dangling from the ceiling, my friends room had a larger cobweb by her dresser, there was a Champneys credit type card left just under the bed, first thing I saw but had been missed by cleaners! My friend was in a disabled room with a wet room, however all chairs and the bed are low! (she has very limited mobility) There is a super choice of meals in the main restaurant and all intolerances seem really well catered for, with a comprehensive list of allergens and intolerances, the waiting staff either knew what was in the food or very happy to check out for you. Quick, friendly and efficient service. Cobwebs also on the wooden entry pillars to restaurant ! I wasn’t actually even looking but if cleanliness Is your “ thing” be aware. Could be said we are in the countryside and this is the downside- spiders cobwebs ?! I also lost 2 nights / days on a prior visit and found it impossible to contact Forestmere direct by phone to discuss if anything could be done (family emergency) despite 2 staff members offering direct details which I believed was what I had been ringing or so central reservations told Me ! Nobody seemed able or willing to discuss the issue and tell me if any concession could be made available! The grounds are amazing, well kept lots of shrubs, trees, flowers in beautiful scenery. Lovely walks on the doorstep! Fabulous! A quiet open fire room to relax and chill on colder days is really nice. The coffee shop ( not included in price) has tasty cakes and lovely staff with a superb view of the ground's seated inside or outside. Would recommend Chamneys Forestmere as overall it is such a lovely relaxing spa retreat!

Negative experience: The spa was completely over populated. There was no where for my partner or I to sit on either day we visited the spa at our overnignt stay. The purpose of the visit was to relax but this was not possible, nor was it possible to use all the facilities due to there being so many people. The rooms are extremely outdated, paint flaking away and dusty. The food choice has diminished significantly over the past few years. The lunch and breakfast choice is dismal and the food is not replenished quickly. After coming to Champneys for many years I would not return or recommend. This is a costly spa and the service and standard was not what is to be expected

Fantastic experience: Comfortable, clean and luxurious stay at Forest mere Champneys. I was given an upgraded room on arrival beautiful room with a special gift in celebration of my birthday. Excellent service provided by Raymond the manager who looked after us during our stay. We made use of the bikes and had a wonderful cycle around the lake. Spa facilities were busy but still managed to use the facilities and enjoy them. Din er was exceptional and delicious compliments to the chef . Really enjoyed our stay thank you !

Positive experience: The food was nice but nothing special. Some of the rooms are very dated, giving old person care home vibes. Others have been updated. The biggest issue I had was with was that the out hot tub was mid bath water temperature at best. Indoor hot tubs were only fractionally better, neither were actually hot. The steam room in the communal space was hardly steamy at all and smelt of bit dank. It all looked very nice but in practice it was just very anticlimactic. Wouldn’t go to this branch again. I have been told since others have had the same experience here but much better at the Tring branch so I will try that one out next time.

Negative experience: My first experience of Champneys was the complete opposite to what I had expected. The spa day was oversubscribed, queuing to use the steam room (only accommodates 4 people at a time), other areas including "quiet room, female sauna etc closed" sauna was cold, unable to book any classes as fully booked. Nowhere to sit and relax within the pool area, predominately garden cheap "occasional chairs", which were very uncomfortable. Other rest areas were either packed and or cold, not at all relaxing. Food options were poor, hard potatoes, limited selection "Fish" or "Chicken", both looked very unappealing. A treatment known as "Cloud something", was £68 and very poor, felt no different, very rushed and more focus on cross-selling than providing a relaxing experience. Absolutely shocking experience. Currently waiting for Champneys to come back to me...

Negative experience: Did a weekend spa break. Pretty disappointed. Room was the only good thing. Food was sooo bad that I had to go out to eat. Breakfast included meant just toast and bagel! Rest you had to pay for. Staff not so friendly and gave 1 or 2 word response. Pool was so busy bright and loud that no chance of relaxing. Overall not the Greatest experience.

Negative experience: Such a disappointing evening spa to celebrate friends special birthday. Facilities were tired and in very poor condition All areas of the resort were freezing. Relaxation rooms looked like hospital wards. Saunas and steam rooms broken/closed or extremely dangerous. Very disappointing and would not recommend. Some staff were doing their best but appears to be very poorly run with disjointed functions and poor communication between colleagues. Have stayed and visited other Champneys and this is by far the absolute worst. Several areas were closed on safety ground once we’d reported during our stay.

Negative experience: From poor check in to mouldy food, to poor waiting service, naff old bathroom in room, shower not hot, to a ridiculously packed spa that you couldn’t even get in to a jacuzzi. Heard so many people complaining! Not impressed and will not return.

Negative experience: Sadly the spa was far too busy meaning little to no space to sit and relax. If you did get a space to sit, you were fearful to move. Service was appalling at both breakfast and lunch. The lunch has changed from a 3 option per course, 3 course meal, to a wholly inadequate buffet, and there were replenishing issues at both breakfast and dinner. All in all, we won't rush to return having been going for 15+ years. Very disappointing.

Positive experience: Great pool, but en suites in the bedrooms are very tired! Food was very good. Staff lovely and location fab.

Negative experience: I've stayed at various Champneys over a couple of decades now and was really sad to see how run down Forest Mere has become. Clearly they're struggling to keep costs down but in my opinion they're taking it too far. Too many guests for the facilities, too may facilities out of order, broken window held together with tape in the main lounge area, whole place just looking tatty and unloved. Plus a £5 'overnight guest gratuity' slapped on my bill without my consent!

Positive experience: I booked a weekend spa break for my husband as part of his birthday gift. Neither of us have been to Champneys before so were both really looking forward to it. It’s a lovely location. Our room was small, but all in all adequate albeit in need of some TLC. The blind was broken, handles missing off the chest of drawers, mould spots in various places on the bathroom ceiling. The spa itself is average, a lovely large pool but for the number of guests they allow in the other spa facilities are far too small. 4 person steam room/ice room approx 4 person/sauna approx 6-8 seated. Nowhere near enough beds/loungers. On the Sunday we actually left early as there was no point staying as we couldn’t find a single place to sit/lay and couldn’t get in any of the spa rooms. So very disappointing. Way too many guests allowed in for the facilities they have to offer. Which just screams ‘Greed’ to me. The food on the other hand was very nice. Sadly we will not be rushing back to champneys as we feel we’ve been to much better spa places even if only for the day. Not the reputation we’d hope for of champneys

Positive experience: Excellent spa facilities in a great location, let down by some poor staffing, within the catering and reception, everything felt a little chaotic and manic in the restaurant, although the food was excellent. The room was nice, the bathroom was a little dated and wasn't the cleanest.

Positive experience: I visited on Monday and it was pretty poor. The spa was extremely overcrowded. Lunch was just awful, no plates, bowls, no offer of a drink. Pool is so cold! Needs a good clean and some money spent on tidying it up. Not enough chairs round pool. 5 comfortable beds the rest are rusty garden chairs!

Negative experience: Many facilities not working, nowhere to sit and relax, cafe closed so could not get any refreshments, but the worst part is the staff. Incompetent, and dishonest. Sadly a very disappointing encounter with Champneys, I would not recommend them at all. Champneys are no longer a reputable brand, they are old and tired and well past their best.

Negative experience: Website crashed at booking, meaning we booked twice and had to get a refund. This took two email requests and days to get our money back. Booking staff (on phone) didn't book our dinner, breakfast and lunch bookings so had to be done again at check-in. Check-in issued us a twin room instead of double. Back and forth to reception meant we had less time in the spa, we ended up with two hours only on the first day. Spa facilities were small and not suitable for the number of guests packed in on the Sunday. The place was heaving and there was no room to move, let alone relax. One steam room with four seats for 100s of guests?! Towels and gowns left on all chairs/beds so nowhere to sit. No chance to try water beds as made for two with one person hogging each one for hours at a time. Chairs crammed around the poolside with no safe walkway. Ladies' sauna not open. Outside hydrotherapy pool too cold on Sunday, was warmer on Monday as so many people complained. Dangerously sharp tiles/gravel outside, at least two people cut their feet that we knew of. My treatment room had a bright light that was kept on throughout even though I informed the therapist I had just had an eye op and my eyes were sensitive and the light was too bright. My partner had a room with lovely dim night sky effect, no bright lights for him. Try consistency for guests and make them as comfortable as possible. This was not a relaxing experience. Dinner food quality was terrible, never had such a tasteless meal –– and on my birthday too, disappointing. The prawn cocktail was made with frozen prawns still full of water and was inedible, I've never had to leave food when eating out before. We made a request for no onions as my partner and I are both intolerant to them (not an allergy as we won't have a serious reaction or die if we eat them but they do make us unwell). Staff didn't deal with this well, a lot of fuss was made for a simple request as there was no flexibility in the kitchen as nothing was prepared fresh. We felt humiliated and stressed and still ended up with onions... Likewise, onions were in five out of five salads at lunchtime, our only choice was plain lettuce. Come on, be more imaginative than to stick onions in everything! We went to relax and ended up feeling more stressed. Well done, Champneys ☹

Negative experience: Unfortunately the place was packed on the Monday morning we were there, obviously weekenders mixing with day guests. Staff were having to put deck chairs out as there were no comfy seats left. We waited until the afternoon to use the spa when the weekenders had gone. Food was very disappointing too, it was a buffet that looked good enough but everything lacked flavour. I really wanted to love this place.

Positive experience: Whirlpool not warm enough Lovely rooms but shower not hot enough Great food Most staff are very friendly and personable Travel to and from train and taxi had it's challenges

Fantastic experience: I had a wonderful return visit to Forest Mere, this time on my own for the first time. I needed some rest and time to look after me and that's exactly what I got. The staff were great, my room was clean and comfortable although the bathrooms are a bit dated. The bed was fine but I did miss my memory foam mattress! The food was delicious and healthy. It was the same menu each night but I found things to enjoy on my three night stay. Had I stayed longer, I'd have ended up having the same meals again which is a bit disappointing. I did a couple of classes, all of which I enjoyed although you now have to pay for them. Champneys have made small cuts to what's provided, ie charges for attending classes, but it's still my go to place when I need to step off the world briefly. My only criticism is that the website states solo travellers can share a 'Champneys' table at dinner if they so wish but the person on reception wasn't aware of this (he did say he was new) and there was no such table. This needs to be offered or removed from the website.

Negative experience: I can't warn people strongly enough against visiting this place. We booked a supposedly lovely evening spa including dinner. Neither of us got wet because not a single facility was available. Overcrowded to the point of ridicule, nothing could be accessed, unless you decided to sit on someone's lap. The sauna was always full, the comfy loungers and beds were either full with several people each, or covered by inconsiderate guests towels, the hot tubs had more people in them that is probably safer to have. The changing rooms are crowded, with no private spaces to change, and the inside of the female changing room can be clearly seen when someone opens the door to the pool. The service at the restaurant is non-existent, with lack of interest by the staff. The dinner was seriously underwhelming with tiny portions of bland food. Very long queues of people were trying to get a table but the staff were not responding to customers requests for the next dish so they could vacate the tables to allow others in. All in all, serious failure of management and/or care for customer service. I guess one has to try it at least once, and then come to terms with the fact that "never again".

Negative experience: Had a recent spa day and it was not worth the money at all. So incredibly busy, no where to sit. Lunch was awful, nothing was restocked so was very limited.

Positive experience: The service has gone down over the last few times. Rob and flip flops provided but only had large flip flops so lots of people with massive flip flops and small feet so dangerous! Lots of staff in restaurant but all standing about doing not a lot. Overall pool and spa area average. Paying really now for the name. Shop was closed as I came out of my treatment at 5.50pm so products recommended couldn’t buy and therapist even say good freebie if buy something! Spa staff very friendly. Cafe area closed at 6pm so could t have a drink after treatment and main restaurant not serving till 6.30pm.

Negative experience: Extremely disappointing. Understaffed. Spa area too busy and overcrowded. Sauna broke , other sauna cold. Hydro pool packed 24/7. No beds available all day. Restaurant understaffed and inexperienced. Won’t be back

Positive experience: I was wary as there’s lots of negative reviews recently but I think people are being a bit unfair! I had a lovely solo spa day today. It was quite busy but still enough chairs and beds around the pool and relaxation rooms, there was always somewhere to sit. My treatment with Sam was amazing. The food wasn’t all that for the price you’re paying but I still think it was a very enjoyable day.

Positive experience: This hotel was okay overall - the food was very good. I feel like it’s trying to position itself as luxury but some elements were not such as no biscuits/snacks in room (even upgraded room), no fridge or minibar in room. The hot tub was luke warm also. Some of the staff need some training to allow them to deliver excellent consistent service. Raymond was a standout, his professionalism and customer service is top notch! I can see he really takes pride in what he does and always puts the customers first.

Positive experience: Nice facilities although the other guests were quite noisy and that spoiled it a bit. Lovely food and location. Outside pool could do with more maintenance during the day to clear leaves, the orangery needed more staff as was a bit of a wait.

Negative experience: I had booked an evening experience for my husband and I as a treat after recently finishing some treatment for breast cancer. Very disappointed. I came here about ten years ago and came away feeling really revived and great. We were offered flip flops size small or large. I opted for small as was told it was my size. The back of my feet were overhanging them. The pool had no spare seats to relax and beds had others wet robes and towels on. No sign of a cleaner. We were told our meal was booked for 8.30pm. We tried to change it but we’re offered 6.30pm but this was in ten minutes time and we were in our robes. We got to the restaurant at 8.30pm and sat down. At 8.45pm had not been able to order food. I asked the waitress who took our order. At 9.05 still no food and my husband had ordered bread and hummus so not difficult. We again complained and the waitress brought out 2 starters (one of which was wrong). At that point we decided to leave and ask for a refund. I went back to the locker room to get my rucksack but it was locked (wish I had been told it shut at a certain time). Had to wait until they could let me back in to get my bag. Ended up getting a McDonald’s at the services on way home as had no food for hours. Not the luxury and relaxing time we hoped for. I have given 2 stars for the grounds and decor. Felt like they had crammed as many as possible in for the money despite not having the staff or facilities to cope with it.

Positive experience: Lovely resort and ground. Few of the staff were not keep up with the big name standard especially at the cafe. Turned away for 1st visit to the cafe and when came back waited 25 mins for a cup americano!! Treatment was ok nothing special! Reception on arrival was impressive. Spa was over crowded.

Negative experience: Very disappointing visit. This does not feel like any kind of luxury or relaxing experience. I would not recomend to anyone. The spa is severely overcrowded, which means you cannot access parts of the facilities as they are in constant or even shared use (i.e. couples sharing the relaxation beds). This meant that many rooms were cold as people were going in and out all the time. The following rooms were cold: communal sauna, dry heat room, indoor whirlpool, outdoor jacuzzi, womens relaxation room and women's sauna. To note this was on a Thursday which I would not expect to be a peak time. The exterior and old house portion are lovely and the mere is beautiful its a shame that the best view is in the paid cafe. Otherwise the premises are generally tired and dated. The bathroom in our room was very dated with cheap hardware, i.e. taps and shower head, with poor lighting and unpleasant beige tiles. The outdoor jacuzzi was missing tiles. Breakfast is continental with hot breakfast being an approx additional £5-7. We paid the £5 desert surcharge for the chocolate fondant at dinner which was small and looked like a cheap supermarket variety. Certain buffet items were unlabed or mislabed - If I had a food allergy I would not feel confident that there would not be a mistake or mix up. The map is unclear with no outside areas marked. Checkout is poor with no info about what you do with your robes, there was generally only one member of staff on check in/check out at the given check out times. The cleaning staff were knocking on doors at 9am even when checkout is at 11. It is incredibly basic for the cleaning staff to know who has and has not checked out yet for one night visits.

Positive experience: Beautiful hotel and location. Absolutely gorgeous area. We stayed for 2 nights for a spa break. Spa: 5/10 Not much to do and not necessarily an amazing spa, was very average. Spa areas could do with maintenance. Food: 2/10 The food was quite simply poor. Ordered lamb biryani and received tough chewy lamb chunks with cold rice and lettuce. Struggled to get through the meals here. The only nice dish I had a was a steak which I had to pay a surcharge for. Service: 2/10 The staff in the restaurant could do with some people skills. They all seemed pretty unhappy, not one member smiled throughout the 2 breakfasts, lunch and dinners we went for. The managers need to work on the staff here and either do something that will make the staff enjoy their job more, or the staff simply need more training. Rooms: 8/10 Lovely rooms, clean, updated, well maintained. Was very pleased with our rooms.

Negative experience: My stay at this hotel was disappointing, largely due to poor service and management of guest issues. While the facilities have potential, several areas need serious improvement. First, the food quality was consistently below standard. The scrambled eggs at breakfast resembled gray mush and were watery, making them inedible (for additional charge). Dinner service wasn’t much better—staff seemed poorly trained, frequently asking me to repeat my order and forgetting to serve wine until after the starter had arrived. Overall, the food was bland and unremarkable. Cleanliness also fell short. I found long dark hairs in my bathtub, which was both unpleasant and concerning in terms of hygiene. The most frustrating part of my stay was the lack of response to a noise issue during the night. Around 1 a.m., a group of loud guests were shouting outside for over an hour. Despite multiple attempts to contact reception, no action was taken to resolve the situation. When I raised this during check-out, I had to wait 10 minutes for someone to appear at the front desk, and when the staff member arrived, she was dismissive and unhelpful. She claimed the night porter had been dealing with the issue, which was clearly not the case given how long the disturbance continued. The hotel’s failure to address both the noise and my concerns during check-out showed a lack of care for guest experience. For a place marketed as a peaceful, relaxing spa retreat, the reality fell far short.

Positive experience: Amazing spa. Beautiful location and stunning view. The facilities are fantastic. Pools lovely. Relaxation rooms are nice. Some saunas around the pool were not working so the ones that were had a crowd. Wish the hydrotherapy was open also. No availability for treatments. Sadly at 6pm no hot drinks were served, and no one would make me one, so I couldn't have a cup of tea to sit on the balcony looking over the lake which was a shame. Also shop closed earlier than anticipated considering there were lots of evening guests. But my gripes aside it really is a lovely spa.

Positive experience: A two night spa break. We really enjoyed the beautiful location, , excellent food, pool, walks and aqua class. It was our first visit since 2019 and there were a few extra charges added to classes plus the restaurant. I missed all the lovely magazines that used to be available to read and whilst I appreciated the towel policy that is now in force it was difficult to have one spa towel that you had to take from your room for the whole two day break to use. The room was a little bit tired looking with mould in the bathroom.

Fantastic experience: I have returned from a 2 day spa break at Forest Mere and want to give Raymond, the manager 5 stars. He was amazing throughout our time there and nothing was too much trouble for him. He made us feel very welcomed, always had a smile on his face and dealt with an issue we had straight away. I hope he stays.

Fantastic experience: This is the best of Champneys in my opinion. Location is fantastic outdoor pool is warm. Lots of classes. Walks are great. View is fabulous. Food is amazing. Haven't had a treatment this visit as so much else to do but everyone I've spoken to said they are great. Sept is the best time to visit IMHO. Xx

Positive experience: Staff are without question exemplary. The building and facilities are in good working order, but are quite tired and in need of a lot of tender loving care. It's an older building so there will always be general.maintence required so I am referring to those easy fixes and not necessarily the building itself, although our patio door had rotten through big enough for small animals. Room was clean, however the bathroom needed more attention to cleanliness as there was black mould around the shower screen and on the shower pipe. This seems very nit picky given the exemplary service, food, and spa facilities. We dis not go for a retreat or use the gym as the point of our visit was to escape and force relaxation which absolutely hit the mark. Yes, we'll be booking again for the same reasons.

Negative experience: Standards low from previous visits. Cold shower in en-suite for 5 day stay, so not relaxing. (had to use Spa to shower oils out of my hair) Couldn't move me to another room with facilities that provide the basic standard of amenities in my room! Sauna's Out Of Order - at a Spa break?! (& no Thalassotherapy either) Minimal reception/service - no staff present for assistance. Anxious. Disappointed. Not to the standards that Champneys market themselves as. Better value elsewhere.

Positive experience: Wonderful location and setting. The spa was very disappointing - sauna out of use and steam room so small. Not the best value for money. The food was good however and the staff very welcoming and friendly.

Positive experience: A lovely place to stay, very relaxing and calm The receptionist, Olivia Wright, was particularly helpful, very polite and made sure we had everything we needed for our stay. We were happy to buy a return voucher from her, she clearly explained how they work and the benefit of buying them. thank you Olivia

Fantastic experience: Wonderful second stay at this glorious retreat! I was greeted and made to feel like a VIP. Food is wonderful, classes and self-care options too, like meditation. So impressed I've booked another two return vouchers! Thank you Champneys, I'm feeling back to my old self again! See you again soon ;)

Positive experience: Back for 3rd time…. Very different and lots of disappointing changes. Positives: Liked the lunch time buffet instead of table service All restaurant food amazing. And the regular waiting staff weee as always friendly and helpful and attentive. ( younger staff not been very well trained and not as attentive or helpful) Gardens looked beautiful! Well done to the gardeners! Negatives: Had asked for lake facing rooms for friends birthday spa break . Not given and not helpful staff at checkin Room ok. Chewing gum from previous guest amongst towels . Shower very slow and weak Sauna not working in pool area Lots of lockers broken in ladies spa area Some classes really busy… too busy. Gratitude walk with 3 members of staff who walked ahead talking loudly to each other. Leaving a lady with crutches way behind Cafe very very slow service . duck poo in the cafe area building . Ordered bean dip that arrived Luke warm and totally tasteless. No refund offered when we complained and sent it back. Cakes very tasteless and very expensive Shop amazing and the staff in there were friendly and helpful as always , Reported an accident and was invited to write it on a piece of paper… no accident forms available. No follow up about the accident ( turns out I’ve fracture a couple of ribs) Outdoor pool clearly not covered at night. ( expensive to run as it was very warm . The Bottom of the pool was full of leaves etc with dead mice floating in it in the morning! Am really hoping someone takes this review on board …

Negative experience: My room had a moth infestation, no idea how this was missed as there were so many and the carpet was moth eaten. It made my skin crawl and completely ruined my stay. The outdoor jacuzzi was luke warm, the sauna by the pool was luke warm, the sauna in the ladies changing room was warmer but not as hot as a usual sauna. It was great to see the buffet lunch back but it was very limited compared to before so was disappointed with this also. And I find it extremely poor that they now charge for all the gym classes, it seems Champneys costs more but offers less.

Negative experience: Where do I start? Upon arrival there was nobody on reception, 4 members of staff were conversing and giggling across the hall, we were left waiting for a couple of minutes until one decided it was her job to come and serve us. We were given a room in the old house but moved because it was smaller than expected, stuffy, and had cobwebs hanging off the light fitting. Rooms in the old house are small, fair enough, bigger in the newer sections. No air conditioning in either. The decor is tired and dated and needs a massive refit. We stayed in room 231, just so you know it overlooks the jacuzzi area. The main room is ok but the bathroom fittings and decor is about 20 years old, curtain shower in the bath,no hose attachment and tepid hot water, the plumbing makes shuddering noises, there is mould on the ceiling and grout. Ask for a fridge if you need on as the rooms don’t have any. The corridors leading to the bedrooms have chipped walls around luggage height and the bannisters needed a new lick of varnish. When we swapped rooms the young lady said she would get the new cards and bring them to us. We moved our stuff to the new room and waited, after 10 minutes I went down to find her talking to another guest. She’d clearly either forgotten or considered the other guest more important than us. Made an excuse she what’s just about to come and find us but I didn’t believe her. At dinner that night they couldn’t find our booking because our name was misspelt and the room number hadn’t been changed. Personally I couldn’t care less about the Spa facilities or the grounds after this. The customer service is terrible, the rooms are dated and tired. As others have said there are a lot of extras to pay in the restaurant so beware. Also those who have given this place 5 stars must have been in a different hotel or taking coke, I’m not sure which. I wouldn’t choose to stay at Champneys ever again. Not 4 star in my opinion, 2/3 at best and that’s being generous. Overpriced rubbish, poor customer service. Go check out the trip advisor reviews, this seems to be a common theme with this place, please don’t give them your money.

Positive experience: Ignore the horrendous reviews, we had a great time. Lunch is now a buffet which was really delicious and plentiful. A big improvement from our last visit. There's soup and bread, all the components to make a chicken caesar salad, hot food and a small selection of deserts. We had a later lunch and I was concerned after reading previous reviews that they would not replenish empty trays. This was not the case and the waitresses were really busy in replenishing the food. Overall, just a few small issues as listed below:

Negative experience: The lady (maybe her name was Charlotte) serving coffee in the shop adjacent to the terrace was absolutely lovely. Helpful, kind, chatty, everything you would want from someone in that role. She is only 16 and absolute credit to your team and herself. As an aside, the food was awful, 2 small piece of salmon and 2 dried up bits of chicken. The potatoes were hard and so was the broccoli. It was not replenished even when we asked and we were booked in for 1315 so not late in the day and not our choice of time. Dessert was what looked like leftover breakfast and as lunch was served tucked away at the back we felt like we were not worthy of sitting in the restaurant with a wide selection of food that looked amazing and plentiful. Thoroughly disappointed as the food was one of the reasons we chose Champneys over other spa's. Its an expensive day out and we took advantage of the £100 offer but I would not be recommending to others on this basis.

Positive experience: My husband and I booked a last minute spa break at Champneys Forest Mere. This was our first spa experience. We loved the whole spa experience and made full use of the pools and other facilities. We were blown away by the food, it was exceptional and very tasty! The room was very comfortable and it was lovely and quiet. The only negative feedback I can give is that the tv in our room (308) did not work, kept switching off, losing visual but had audio (we like to watch a bit of tv before bed so it wasnt a major issue as we did not spend much time in the room). The coffee at breakfast and when purchased in the main restuarant was not very nice so we had to wait for Orangery to open and buy a coffee there. But those were our only complaints, the rest was amazing! We will definetly go back for more R&R

Fantastic experience: We have just come back from a very relaxing 3 night stay. We've been many times before to Champneys Forest Mere but this was the best experience yet. Staff were attentive and fantastic as always, room was spotless and very spacious. The food was delicious, huge fans of the lunch buffet, everything was being restocked very quickly so you were never waiting for anything. We went for a few bike rides using their bikes, which was a lot of fun! We noticed lots of updates since our last visit such as new bikes, outside pool area is looking much smarter, new poolside bar and super comfy sunbeds dotted about. Excellent experience! We just wish you could book your next stay whilst still at Champneys and not have to phone and book as it takes forever to speak to anyone!

Fantastic experience: Fabulous lakeside setting. Good selection of spa treatments with highly trained friendly staff. Excellent selection of food with good service. We both thoroughly enjoyed our 2 night stay & would love to visit again.

Fantastic experience: Some of the rooms, particularly the bathrooms need a bit of updating, but lots of positive points such as great healthy food, beautiful grounds, friendly staff, and since we came last year, they have made a lot of improvements to their outside areas, especially the outside pool. We will definitely be back!

Negative experience: If Travelodge did a spa hotel this would be it. The brand is trading on past glories. Dated and needs a total top to bottom refurbishment. Spa facilities no better than a local authority sports centre. Pools and jacuzzis cold. £700 a night ans they want an extra £5 for a boiled egg at breakfast or £5 to go to a spin class. Says it all really Avoid

Positive experience: Too many things not working properly and lack-lustre staff spoiled the experience. Overcrowded and not a good experience. We were lucky with the beautiful weather which saved the day and the evening dinner was excellent, but I wouldn't recommend it overall unless they improve things.

Negative experience: The only good thing about champneys forest mere is the beautiful setting. The spa itself was massively overcrowded and noisy. The staff were not welcoming or attentive. The rooms are massively overpriced for the quality of the room. Our room had peeling paint, no air conditioning, and a big gap under the door meant that we were aware of any movement in the corridor. The relaxation areas in the spa were so busy that it was hard to find somewhere to sit let alone relax. At breakfast there was no hot food available and no communication about this at the start of the service. The food that was available wasn’t replenished when it ran out and there was very little staff to assist with queries.

Negative experience: Not sure where to start!! We arrived and asked if we had stayed before to which we said we had not. Ok here is your key. We went off to find our room thinking there would be a map, instructions etc in room. Nothing! We saw everyone in dress owns. Up to reception and a 15 minute queue, oh yes you should have been given these in check in. 2 hours later we wondered about dinner, back to reception , Ah yes we booked you at 8pm at the mere restaurant as you are Premier Guest so you are parked in the premier car park !! No of course not and how exactly would we know that. The spa then off to book a treatment … No you are not residents. Yes we are we have a room key , your not in the system so I cannot book you in. We had to get our phones out and find our booking confirmation before we could book a spa. Oh and you get flip flops at reception. Another 15 minute queue and flip flops and also oh you should have had a gift voucher but we have run out so here’s a couple of pots of champneys bath stuff. I could go on. The website totally mis sold. We paid £1,200 for 2 nights. We felt aggitated and stressed by the time we left early on Sunday after we queued again to check out and without even a “we hope you enjoyed your stay”. Shocking experience.

Negative experience: Whilst there are many positives about Champneys Forest Mere such as the location and outside areas, but its worth noting that there are a lot of areas around the spa that are particularly tired and unloved. many areas look like they have not been updated for 20years. Much of the furniture is akin to something you would find in an old people's home, in the lounge there are some particularly outdated pieces with splits in the seat and foam showing. Its covered in a fabric that looks more suitable for a bedsit rather than a high end spa. The lighting in the lounge is so dim that you couldnt read in there. The chairs in reception were even grubby. The pools and whirlpools are showing signs of age, with water marks and dirty grouting and in some areas such as the steamroom tiles are missing. In the relaxation room with the waterbeds the ceiling as a number of areas where its either dirty or damaged, could be quickly fixed but its been left and looks like no-one cares. At the time we visited there were no Saunas in operation and the thalassotherapy pool is no longer open which means that for the size of the spa there are really not very many facilities available and those that are, are really very small. The outside pool has no cover over it, so is full of leaves and not cleaned frequently. We used a room for rasul treatments which was really not clean with a shower cubicle with a door that stuck so you couldnt access it easily. The Rasul treatment was over double the cost of another spa that I visit regularly and not as good. at £50 per person this was very expensive. I had one treatement "Head in the clouds" ... it wasnt great! The restaurant was badly organised, dinner was OK, although items were not available but service was slow. Breakfast was OK but the dining room isnt big enough so you have to put up with people queuing right next to you which isnt nice, then you have trouble returning to your table because you can't get through the queue. You have to get tea and coffee from a hot water dispenser, would it be too much trouble to have an individual pot on the table? Lunch was an absolute joke, the buffet wasnt replenished so when you went up for your meal you found empty dishes, no soup, no bread, no desserts, no plates, no bowls, no spoons... the list goes on. Just really poor. There were plenty of staff who seemed to lack direction so noone was really doing anything. We had pasta with tomato sauce, the sauce had clealy been burnt as there were flecks of burnt sauce and it tasted burnt but when we raised this as an issue we were told it was lots of herbs (lots of herbs added to disguise the fact it had been burnt maybe??) Due to the lack of other items on the buffet this meant that one of us just had bread and salad for lunch as the pasta sauce was inedible. All classes cost extra, with the exception of Aqua Fit and there really isnt anything to do after your evening meal except travel back to the seventies and sit in the lounge.... In general I had an enjoyable trip because of the people I went with not because of the surroundings.