St Michael's Manor in St Albans

We booked to stay hear for the weekend after our wedding the staff was so friendly and attentive the service was amazing our room was beautiful we very much enjoyed our stay thank you so much

Beautiful, Historique St Albans, Gorgeous Birthday Afternoon Tea. Set in peaceful, scenic surroundings... The staff are so lovely and caring... spent a brilliant, memorable afternoon with friends. The food was delicious 😋 and abundant.... and well presented. I loved it. Thanks to St Michael Manor. It's a little Gem 💎 in St Albans. Will be back.

I took my parents here for afternoon tea to celebrate their 61st wedding anniversary. It was early October 2024. We celebrated their diamond anniversary with afternoon tea there the previous year. As then the service was impeccable, the staff were very friendly and couldn't do enough for us. The afternoon tea was lovely with plenty of extra sandwiches should we have been able to fit them in! The room we were seated in looks out over the garden and although there were several other tables taken the noise level was not uncomfortable. All things considered afternoon tea here is worth every penny!

The hotel is in a beautiful area, surrounded by historical places and authentic buildings. I stayed with my partner in this hotel just for one night but it was enough to feel the magical atmosphere of this place and I am sure that in the spring it’s even better! The nature around and the design of the building is gorgeous! I understand why people get married here! The staff is the nicest, really helpful & patient. The breakfast is very nice & the experience itself of sitting in the dining room and looking at the garden through the windows, it for the first time for me that I am experiencing something like this. Really recommended! Really recommended!

This was a beautiful place, and when the weather's nice, it looks magical.

This location is so tranquil in the heart of a busy and very popular City. We chose St Michaels Manor because the staff have a very personal approach and in our experience the answer was always yes to any question. We wanted a late Brunch. This was accommodated and we were amazed by the selection of offerings. Who knew you could serve a poached egg in so many different ways. The food was excellent, freshly cooked and delicious. The serving staff were attentive and the lovely Maître D' made our experience really special. We will be back again soon, maybe lunch next time! Huge thanks to the whole team

Wonderful venue with stunning grounds!

Went for afternoon tea with my mum and our friends, it was such a great experience start to finish. We were very warmly welcomed and cared for by the staff. With varying dietary requirements across our group, it can be a bit worrying when doing afternoon teas, to be sure these are being considered. Here we had no worries, and despite opting for some vegan options - the taste of everything was incredible. One of the better afternoon teas I have had in the area, and great value for money too. Having also seen the grounds and rooms of the hotel, I must say no detail has been spared and I will definitely be visiting again, hopefully to spend a night, at some point in the future.

I was disappointed with the experience. The pricing for spirits was particularly unreasonable—some were even more expensive than the cocktails. I found this surprising and unjustified, especially given the standard of the drinks. Additionally, the service was less than friendly, which further detracted from the experience. While the setting was pleasant, the combination of overpriced drinks and unwelcoming staff made for an overall unsatisfactory visit.

The new chef, Mr Nitin, has raised the cuisine in the restaurant of St Michael’s Manor to a new level. We had a meal that was memorable, and far superior to a lunch taken there with friends in July 2023. I’ll be back. VIP treatment for vegetarians too.

The sandwiches, wraps, scones and cakes were amazing. I came for afternoon tea with my daughter and a friend and her daughter and we have all experienced afternoon tea and lots of venues including high end ones. We can genuinely say this was one of the best tasting ones. We had vegan options which were so sumptuous. The chicken wrap was creamy and indulging, the humus and roasted veg sandwiches were so well balanced. The fillings were so generous. I would give this afternoon tea a 5/5. The staff were so helpful, polite and provides a fantastic service. I think this place deserves to be shouted about more. The prices are very reasonable. This venue should also be considered for a private party, wedding events or a wedding itself. There is beautiful lake and plenty of parking. Highly recommend. We would certainly come back.

Such obliging staff, at all levels! Engagement party was an absolute success.

It’s a bid devoid of atmosphere. The food was good overall for a breakfast although portion size was small. Continental breakfast also offered. Nice views of the lake.

We have a little party with friends . Few drinks and a snack. We don't know how room are

Booked this hotel for a visit to St Alban's for my birthday, as it was a special occasion we opted to get one of the rooms which overlooked the gardens which to my surprise wasn't too much extra. Check in was nice and easy and we were given keys to our room. It turns out my girlfriend had messaged the hotel and I was met with a happy birthday card and treat. The room was spacious and extremely comfortable, and the view of the garden and lake was lovely. The breakfast was nice with a selection of poached egg breakfasts and a small buffet. That was included in the price too. I'd highly recommend having a walk around the gardens. I actually proposed to my girlfriend (now fiancé) overlooking the lake.

We stayed for a wedding here, the service was very good, the Manor Hotel is beautifully decorated, clean and comfortable, with amazing grounds. The food was delicious. We had dinner here and breakfast in the morning. Caters for the whole family. Would recommend and would stay again.

Went for an afternoon tea which was very good. Offered more sandwiches, tea etc. It was lovely. Service was excellent.

Had just a night here with my daughter. Absolutely lovely. Staff very nice. Had a prawn dish to die for and the brekky was great. Amazing grounds. Really lovely .

Stylish hotel with beautiful grounds. Great staff. Dinner and breakfast were excellent. A room upgrade to a suite made our day....which had been challenging up to that point....so it was a lovely surprise! It's not a cheap hotel then quality never is!

Excellent place to stay in St Albans. Fantastic room and spa like bathroom. The staff were all very friendly and even had our room upgraded which was a nice surprise. We will definitely return when in the area next.

What a beautiful place! The manor feels like frozen in time with the old world charm coupled with modern amenities. It was a perfect getaway for us for the weekend! The lake was almost frozen in the morning but we still had a lovely walk. The breakfast was absolutely tasty and the view from the restaurant is some of the best you can get in the morning. We will definitely be back to this place.

We hired the Oak room for a private Sunday lunch celebration to celebrate a milestone birthday. It comfortably sat 12 people and gave us the peace of mind to not worry about the two toddlers we had. Although we only ate from the Sunday lunch menu the food was excellent and the service was quietly efficient too. The whole event was organised by Ussha at St Michael’s who was really helpful.

Terrible afternoon tea. Dull, lifeless seating area. Practically empty but service was still terrible. Staff made me feel as though I was disturbing them when I stood for ages near several members of staff waiting to pay.

Great place. Great staff. Great food.

I went for St Michael’s bottomless afternoon tea brunch with 5 friends and had an amazing time. The service was super quick and friendly and they were extremely generous with the bubbles and didn’t rush us on time. There was an electric violinist playing modern pop songs which made for a great atmosphere. After the tea we went to the bar and continued with cocktails. Altogether a fabulous day and will definitely be back again!!

Lovely afternoon tea experience in the Lakeside restaurant.

Afternoon tea was so so. Hard scones, sandwich selection limited and sweets we're far too sweet. The signature tea blend was very nice and great view from the dinning room.

Lovely hotel, great location. Stayed in the Oak room, good bed and bathroom. Lovely size room. Breakfast was good,

This is my second visit in St.Michael’s Manor Hotel - and it was again awesome - Simply I am getting in love in this cosy vintage place - with such a great view - as a group of family - we came to celebrate anniversary of my parents- We were welcome - enthusiastically and with bright smile of waiter - introduces himself as Adil - Marvellous customer service - He really look after us - we felt - seen- heard- and important - not only like another customers but human being. Food was served hot and delicious 100% - I must say Adil was working very hard with passion for his work and all heart - It was very busy and He was working on his own ! - we hope the person who is taking responsibility for schedule people - on shift - will make sure to have enough people- I think it is not nice to let only one person to running out so many tables in one time - Adil was smiling all the time even so - was so crazy busy - He is the Star of St. Michael’s Manor Hotel - honestly this man has astounding skills and service - Truly deserving Christmas Bonus - I hope so He is appreciated for His work - Me And My Family Wish You St Michael’s Manor - Merry Christmas- I feel delight to have such an establishment so near to my family - We will definitely return ! - May The Peace, Blessings, and Joy - Be Yours And May The Coming Year Be Filled With Happiness And Good Fortune For All Of You ! Lots of Love - Thank You For All Your Work And Creating This Magic Place For Everyone!

We've been to the restaurant here many times, and each time we've had one problem or another. It has in fact become a running joke in our family as to what will go wrong this time. St Michael's Manor have outdone themselves this most recent time though - we booked a table for lunch shortly before Christmas. However we have been informed that our booking has been cancelled, and upon further enquiries they are even refusing to tell us why - presumably they simply had a better offer and are hosting a function, which is apparently more important to them than honouring their existing commitments. We have now been left in the lurch as everywhere else is fully booked over the pre-Christmas period. Many thanks to St Michael's Manor for your complete incompetence. If you fancy eating in an out-of-date, overpriced and boring restaurant that doesn't care about its customers, this may just be the perfect restaurant for you.

Excellent. Very Friendly Staff. Nice Location. Would definitely stay again. Food was excellent. Always go for the Hand Cut Chips.

Stayed hear for the night 2/12/23 , our room was ok , but could do with a refurb , not sure the room was worth the money they charged, but I understand they have a lot of people staying in these rooms so they are bound to get knocked around a bit , we went for breakfast in the morning and one member of staff on his phone texting which didn’t impress me and breakfast was ok ! Again if you was paying a low rate then you would not think anything of it but when you are paying over a few hundred pounds a night then these things are not very impressive, and on check out we was not asked how our stay was! Then I could have told them my opinion , but I would not rush to rebook! Which is a shame as I was looking forward to the stay .

So I have stayed at and eaten at St. Michael's Manor for decades. Its location, history, and staff can not be beaten. However, the hotel desperately needs investment in the rooms and facilities. I stayed in the Magnolia Suite, and I also stayed in 2017. It's billed as a Master Suite and priced accordingly, but it lacks any up to date facilities that you'd expect in a 4* hotel. Literally nothing had changed nor been updated in six years. Breakfast is lacking and often served cold. I get the feeling that the hotel only makes money by holding events, and the rest of the building is run down. It's a shame but is retrievable with swift investment. So, management, please listen and act accordingly.

St Michael's Manor Hotel is right in the centre of the city of St Albans in Hertfordshire and yet Very Tranquil and quiet. A place to be and reflect away from it all. Very helpful stuff. Thank you for your attentive service.

Exceeded all expectations and can't wait to stay again

Perfect birthday celebration with family & friends in private room! Great service, delicious meal & friendly staff.

We held a conference for KDW Financial Planning with over 50 guest great venue and service.

Attending a wake. The food was lovely, plenty provided. Toilets clean. Was able to park on site.

Great hotel in St Albans 10 minute walk to High Street. It is in a refurbished manor house with beautiful gardens and a lake. Plentiful parking, free wifi and lovely reception staff. Rooms were named after plants ( rather than numbers) were modern and clean with a comfortable bed and good shower. Tea and coffee facilities in the room were adequate. Rooms on the first and second floor are accessed via a staircase. Do specify if you need disabled access rooms. The communal areas such as the bar longe and restaurant were nice. Super breakfast. Continental breakfast is a buffet and hot food eggs, bacon etc are brought to your table. They have conference facilities. All in all a good stay.

St Michael's is a well known local hotel of high standards. Its restaurant serves up an excellent meal suited for special occasions. I haven't stayed there as I live locally, so cannot comment on the rooms. I would expect them to match the standard of the rest of the hotel.

Stunning hotel. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Book for dinner, the experience and atmosphere was excellent. The service was incredible and with a late check out of 12pm you get to enjoy it!! It’s so relaxing it is my new zen place. Above and beyond.

Great time staying here. Food really good. Grounds beautiful. Staff attentive and professional.

Excellent service, very accommodating.

We had a beautiful stay at this hotel. The staff were all very friendly and accomodating, the rooms were lovely, food especially the buffet breakfast was exceptional. The grounds are well maintained and picturesque with squirrels hopping around. The lounge area is super comfortable and perfect for an evening drink. Would highly recommend a stay at St Michael's Manor.

Worst organisation skills ever experienced from any "event/venue restaurant", extremely disappointed & will not return. We were a large party but other small parties walked out mid-meal, so we were not alone! We prompted staff multiple times for drinks. Some wine glasses were taken away before all wine had been finished. Set menu chosen months beforehand had multiple items unavailable on the day (2starter, 2main & 1dessert) & they didn't tell us until the point of having served everyone else in the party that course, so some had food while others re-looked at the menu. For others they brought out replacements without asking if suitable first ie. Ordered scallops brought out trout!? After the chaos of the starters & mains availability, I asked if all desserts ordered were available, the manager went away, checked with the kitchen & confirmed yes. Desserts then came out & sure enough some weren't available, so 3 had to wait again for new choices to be prepared. They clearly haven't ordered the correct food amounts in & prepared or organised themselves in any way for the days service. Therefore unfortunately giving the worst case of bad service I have witnessed. They fully accepted their shortcomings & did not argue against providing a discount, which was really appreciated. The food was nice & the location is beautiful.

Party of 12 of us attended for a 50th wedding anniversary. Menus were sent out two months prior, and everybody chose what they wanted in ample time. Unfortunately the service was complete chaos today, long waits for food to arrive, multiple items on all three courses from the menu that we'd ordered from two months ago weren't available? There was no information about the subs when we arrived, we were told as they were bringing the food out. Some of our food came out half an hour earlier than the rest so people were eating at different times, only one lager on tap. Madness from a high end restaraunt. Food quality was generally OK but not the standard expected for the price they're charging. To be fair to the place they did deduct the food completely from our bill so we only paid for drinks. Unfortunate for our golden anniversary couple.

We stopped there after pub in the park lovely hotel great breakfast very relaxing environment

My friend and I booked one of the hotel's master suites (Holly) at just under £300 for the night (a price point that usually guarantees a decent stay) and left way more disappointed than pleased. Pros: - Very friendly staff - Well-kept grounds - Attractive building exterior - Peaceful location - Comfortable bed - Big wrap-around balcony - Garden and lake views - Massive room with big four-poster bed, and huge bathroom with walk-in shower, bath and 2 sinks - Room service breakfast arranged at no extra cost (although there was meant to be a tray charge) - Couldn't check in 30 mins early, but the reception kindly let us leave our bags until we returned later that evening Cons: - Interior of the hotel and room tired, tacky, dated and utterly tasteless (so many cheap, poor quality furnishings that look and feel like they were bought at Home Bargains or Poundland; lots of soft furnishings stained, dirty, smelly and in need of replacement; all paintwork and other decor desperate for a refresh) - Drain in shower totally blocked and flooded the bathroom and part of the hallway through a fire door right next to the shower - Tiny TV for the size of the room - No information booklet - Cheap, generic coffee pods for the Nespresso machine - Only one packet of 2 biscuits on the hostess trolley - Iron but no ironing board - Useless air conditioning that meant the room was still stuffy after a really hot day and we slept badly - Bathroom towel rail wouldn't turn off and made the space feel like a sauna - Breakfast was passable at best (budget baked beans and bread, only 2 slices for both of us, and no milk, sugar, salt, pepper, ketchup, butter or jam came on the breakfast tray (although brought once requested) - No minifridge in room - Water from the taps was lukewarm even after running for a while, which left us with no water after we'd drunk the two small bottles provided (also lukewarm given the lack of fridge) - A couple of chairs on the balcony would be nice

Precioso hotel, fuimos a disfrutar de un té en la terraza y el ambiente era muy agradable, recomendable

Held our August Wedding at St Michael's Manor and had the most amazing day. The weather was dry so we held the ceremony outside on the jetty with the lake as back drop, drinks reception at the Summer House. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff. Wedding breakfast in the Cedar room followed by evening in the Restaurant. Tara, Nathan and Balou to name just a few of the people that made our day so special. Chef was excellent and open to specific alternatives to the menu. It far exceeded our expectations and we would highly recommend this beautiful hotel and lovely staff as a perfect Wedding venue. Mr & Mrs B

This is a very well located and quite stylish hotel, with surprisingly extensive gardens for what is a City hotel. Rooms are reasonably well appointed, even the cheaper ones. Staff are very pleasant. Good parking.

מסעדה אנגלית טיפוסית מגישים כריכים ושתיה

Went for family Sunday lunch - great meal in very nice surroundings- service was excellent too Would recommend this special location to anyone

Beautiful location. Stayed here for a wedding. Room cost £170 for one night ... nearly choked on my £12.50 pinot grigio. Wedding meal was very good. Breakfast was adequate.

Had a one night stay at the Ash room, nice and warm. There's ac but it didn't quite work but the back up fan filled the room with the ventilation we needed. Ample free car parking on site and we used one of the two lots provided for electric cars that comes with 15 minutes free charging. Lovely breakfast restaurant.

A gorgeous, romantic venue at the heart of Hertfordshire As wedding photographers in Hertfordshire, we love capturing weddings taking place in this location. St Michael's Manor Hotel provided the perfect setting to tell the story of Ryan + Poonam's wedding day. Not only do they have a grand, historic and traditional building, they also have a wonderful garden which provided us with a variety of spaces to capture relaxed, natural, candid portraits with couple. We can't wait to capture more weddings here again!

Convenient and close hotel with excellent service.

I love my stays at St Michael's. So welcoming and and cosy but with the height of luxury. Super staff and breakfasts. Wonderful peaceful location.

Beautiful venue with beautiful grounds. I ate in the restaurant, which served good quality food. It's not Michelin star, but it was OK.

We had our wedding here it was lovely!

Lovely afternoon tea overlooking extensive grounds with lake. Excellent for a birthday treat.

Great service and a lovely venue

DONT BOOK WITH THEM. the frist trip, rube staff, room was not clean and knocking at door really ear;y in morning to get out!!!! 9am!!! way way way over priced! do not waste time or money with their service. When we offered them to make it up, again confronted with the same who cares customer service!!

Very disappointed with the experience. Firstly they got the booking wrong and had us down for afternoon tea instead of a Sunday lunch. (Simple mistake but we let this go) We were asked to take a seat and wait a moment whilst they found us a table. Waited about 10-15 mins and not once asked if we wanted a drink. When we got to the table the waiter asked us if we wanted some water to which we were all very thirsty. About 15 mins later we were finally given some menus to decide what to eat. The waiter then came back over quickly and took our order and then went off. We still hadn't ordered any proper drinks so someone in our party went to find some and was told a waiter would come over. 10 mins later still no drinks order had been taken but we were given a bread roll each and no butter. Funny enough out starters came out before the butter and drinks order was taken. By the time we had our mains we were then given a personal waiter who was much better and very attentive. The mains were nice but nothing that amazing. A few ordered pudding which took a long while to come out and when they did were very small. As it was sunny we chose to sit outside. I think they felt a bit sorry for us with the experience we had and gave us a free round of drinks to enjoy. Although if we didn't ask for the bill I don't think we would have needed to pay 😂 Getting the bill was another nightmare, we spoke to the manager who was very rude and couldn't care less. It seems they were very short staffed. If this was the case I would book as many reservations as they could handle and not a full service and leave people unhappy. Or have others in the hotel pitch in to assist the waiters, from what we saw one female was doing all the work. Given the price of the meal you would expect a certain level of service but this was far from it! I heard a few people on the way to the toilet complaining about the same topics. Needless to say I don't think we will be back and in hindsight should have had dinner at the Grove. Really Disappointing 😔

We came for a drink in the sun. I took my dog and she enjoyed sniffing around.

Beautiful hotel, in a beautiful setting

Luncheon after a wedding service

Really lovely hotel. Gorgeous setting and the decor reflects the architecture and gardens. Staff were all really friendly, food at the wedding was very good.

We had a champagne afternoon tea. Good quality teas and champagne. Very nice selection of sandwiches, scones and cakes. The service and ambience was very good. Also, a nice location with large lawns overlooking a lake.

Very nice location and lovely staff! Managers could be a bit more switched on and polite towards pregnant women. Overall ok experience.

The staff were pleasant n very helpful food was lovely our room was excellent The whole experience was relaxing

Fantastic meal. Have eaten here many times over the years and that was the best meal I've had and looking forward to eating there again

Went for the murder mystery which was fantastic. Brilliant company of actors. Very well organised. And Adil the waiter went above and beyond. I hope he is recognised for his work.

I had the most amazing wedding day in September 2022. Jess, the manager and all the hotel staff were amazing! It was the most memorable day and everything was done so beautifully. All our guests are still raving about what a stunning wedding it was! I couldn’t recommend more for any upcoming bride - look forward to continuing to visit for upcoming anniversaries! Thank you SMM xx

After living in St Albans all my life I had never been to St Michael’s Manor until recently and I now realise I’ve been missing out, we had their Champagne afternoon tea and it’s was absolutely delicious, the quality of the food was fantastic, especially the scones, we were lucky that it was a sunny day and were able to enjoy a stroll around the lovely ground afterwards.. looking forward to visiting again soon.

The service at the bar and dinner was fabulous. The team were attentive and very pleasant. The food was delicious and presented well. The location of the hotel was central and the grounds were lovely and well looked after.

Used for a wake. Staff very helpful. Ordered cream tea buffet style. Food was beautiful. This is a lovely comfortable hotel in a stunning location in the oldest part of St Albans. Would highly recommend.

Classy, smart and in a lovely historic part of St.Albans..brought mum for her birthday, smashing 🙏🏽👍🏽👍🏽

A great day was enjoyed by all the family as we gathered for Sunday lunch and to celebrate a very special birthday. The food, the service plus the location made it a day that will go down in the annuals of the family history. W Well your on 85 once in your life.

Great afternoon tea for my birthday! Lovely views

Great location, their own lake. Have to book in advance for afternoon tea. Great wedding venue (expensive). My wife and I were married here! Friendly staff.

We went here for cream tea, cakes and sandwiches for my daughter's 30th birthday celebration and were treated like royalty. The staff were absolutely amazing. 5 star service throughout. Would like to say a special thanks to Petra, Adil, Nathan and Balou for making our visit a beautifully memorable experience. They were extremely friendly and hospitable and we will be returning for sure very soon again.

Okay first I have to say it is a bit expensive but yeah you will have a very nice experience... the check out is at 11:00am!!!!!!!! It makes difference.... but the biggest different has been made by Petra she's been absolutely fantastic and made our breakfast experience different!!!! We really enjoyed also the coffee is good just if you could add salmon at your breakfast it would be much better.. more than that a very beautiful and calm experience... reccomend it

Idyllisch gelegenes Hotel mit gutem Frühstück.

Pretty hotel, lovely friendly staff…

Gorgeous venue visited for a friends wedding. Didn't stay but everything looked stunning.

We booked this hotels Cedar room for our Wedding reception, the food and the staff were excellent, and the whole process of booking, selecting menu, and advice on wines etc.. was extremely professional. I can highly recommend them, their attention to detail made our day extra special !

(Rating 2.5 stars) We visited for afternoon tea for 4 people for an 82nd birthday last Sunday. There was a large party relocating from the Orangery to the restaurant area. We spoke to 4 people whilst waiting to be seated. We were eventually seated by the fire (not lit) in the room between the bar and the restaurant. We were served water and our order taken very promptly. The waiting staff were very good, the afternoon tea was ok but the sandwich selection was unusual. The main issue we had was that after overnight snow the night before the room we were seated in was freezing, the radiators weren’t working and the air blower that had been put in the room was blowing into the back of a settee. The majority of afternoon tea guests were having tea still wearing their coats and scarves! Yes it is a beautiful building with large windows overlooking a very beautiful wintery landscape but it was hard to enjoy the experience when we were so cold. I mentioned this to the receptionist when I was paying the bill and her reply was ‘Oh really, is it cold in there?’ Definitely not the best afternoon experience and I expected it to be much better than it was.

Beautiful place and the are so friendly and welcome

Visited for a work conference (didn't stay over). Lovely old building, attentive team and delicious lunch.

We had our Association's annual dinner there last night (24th November) with 90 seated. The food was absolutely excellent. Beef cooked to perfection, and the Sea Bass was just superb . Some of our attendees had particular dietary requirements, which were very well catered for. The staff , and the service were excellent. In particular Jasmine, the Events Manager, in helping to organise the event, and Roberto, the General Manager for his help on the night. The hotel provided a private room for our special guest speaker, prior to the event, and gave refreshments to his support staff, FOC. The main dining room has been recently redecorated and comfortably re-furnished. It was a lovely evening at a lovely venue.

The hotel hosted a fantastic dinner for over 90 people last night, attended by Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer. The food was outstanding and the hotel staff were very helpful from the early planning stage to the end of the evening itself.

Lovely relaxed afternoon tea. Quality products. Greet service. Nice stroll outside. Perfect. Thanks.

Excellent service despite the restrictions. Tea was perfect and I'm fussy. Plenty to eat. Just an issue with their watery hot chocolate. Nice grounds and ambience

We were having afternoon tea celebration with my twin brother and some of our family Lovely scrumptious food delightful surroundings and staff friendly. Marvellous highly recommend thank you

Lovely looking place, great food but the bar service was a let down. Staff need a lot more training. Not a great idea to put new staff on a bar when a party of 50+ walk through the door at once. The poor lad that served me didn't know any drinks behind the bar then to top it off I handed him cash, the shocked look on his face along with...... "I'm sorry I don't know how to take cash" was just jaw dropping.

The hotel paintwork is tired at best, maybe exhausted. Such s shame as its a fine building. The staff are friendly but many lack experience and self confidence. Training is an issue clearly. We walked through the dining room to our Superior Garden Room and had to witness the reduction of tables in the Orangery and walk past the chairs stacked up an stored on the way to the garden rooms!! Note to management, guests paying for premium rooms do not expect to have to squeeze past stacked dining chairs to get to the room. I would also have expected a porter to take the luggage but it seems there isnt one! Would I stay again ! No, I'm afraid. Ill go back to the Lower Red Lion up the road!!

Birthday treat from the children . Afternoon tea . Lovely variety of teas, sandwiches and cakes. All served beautifully. Felt stuffed after . Lovely place. Comfortable and welcoming. Great loos too.

My wife and I visited last Thursday for her birthday. We expected it to be quiet and it was. We were greeted as we entered and shown through to be seated for aperitifs. The room is a high ceiling room just off the restaurant with a fireplace and comfortable seating. As the room was empty apart from us, and the restaurant only had 1 patron at the time it was eerily quiet, and a little chilly. If a small fire had been burning it would have made a great difference. Much more welcoming, warm, inviting etc. Nevertheless we enjoyed our aperitifs although there was no mint for the mojito my wife ordered so she had to choose something else. Bar and table Service was all done by one gentleman. Very polite, professional and discrete. We ordered whilst drinking our aperitifs and I chose some wine (the list is limited, and the wines are pretty ordinary, the sort you can grab for £20-£25 outside of a sit-down forma lmeal environment). To start my wife had the Confit Salmon (£13.50) and I the Venison Cobbler (£13.50). My wife said the salmon melted in her mouth and she enjoyed it. The cobbler was tasty, but for £13.50 it was tiny, very little meat unfortunately and I didn't feel either dish was value for money - £10 perhaps at most. Very nicely presented though. For mains we both had the slow roast Rump of lamb, with braised lamb shoulder (£28.50). Again, very tasty, but perilously small portions for nearly £30 each. Two very small pieces of Rump and a small moulded cylinder of shoulder. We ordered sides of potato dauphinoise and carrots at £4.50 each. The mains were nicely presented and tasty but again not what I would expect for nearly £30 each. To be honest, the quantity of food on the main meal wasn't much more than that of the starter. For dessert my wife had the Chocolate Delice (£11) and I had a Glazed Lemon Tart (£10.50), both of which were beautifully presented and delicious but again, for what they were, carried on the lack of value for money theme. (see pics) Its worth adding here that the menu is limited to x4 starters, x4 mains, X4 sides and x5 desserts. Also, I had no luck in opening the online menu on Android. No idea why. Probably just my phone, or Chrome acting up. There were about four tables in use and although it was quiet, as expected for a Thursday night, we had a very pleasant time. The table was by the window (fortunately the temperature in the restaurant was higher than the room between bar and restaurant... Again, shame about the inactive fireplace, I'm sure it doesn't cost much to set a small fire just for ambiance) and as I say, the service was prompt and genuine. Overall, we had a nice evening. The staff we met were very pleasant and the seating area was lovely. I can imagine it bustling with people on a Friday or Saturday night. The food was tasty and well presented. However, no fire, no mint, no atmosphere, a limited menu and wine list, and what we felt was overpriced food not really conveying value for money or, for us, offer a reason to return, which is a shame as we are local to St Albans.

A family party has afternoon tea here. It was excellent. The surroundings are quite impressive.