Guildford Manor Hotel & Spa

Friendly staff , comfortable room

We got married at Guildford Hotel and Manor on 16 August 2025. When we first viewed the venue the grounds looked beautiful and well maintained, which is what initially attracted us. Unfortunately our experience was far more stressful than expected due to a number of organisational and communication issues throughout the planning process and on the wedding weekend itself.
During the planning stage our wedding manager changed four times. While staff changes do happen, the repeated handovers made communication difficult and meant information often had to be repeated. The wedding coordinator was helpful over email, but several phone calls that had been arranged never took place. This created delays because some of our external vendors were waiting for information that only the venue could provide.
There were also errors in our contract. We were originally told that cutlery, crockery and linens were included, but later informed this was not the case. As a result we had to quickly contact our vendors and arrange these items ourselves at short notice.
When we asked what size dancefloor would fit in the reception space the venue was unable to give a clear answer. Considering weddings are hosted there regularly this seemed like something that should have been straightforward to confirm.
We were also told months in advance that a final planning meeting would take place closer to the wedding date. When we had not heard anything I contacted the venue and was told this usually happens two weeks before the wedding. Two weeks passed without contact. After following up again we were told it would actually happen during the week of the wedding because we would be the “wedding couple of the week”. Five days before the wedding we still had not heard anything and had to chase again. We were then asked to attend a meeting at the venue three days before the wedding, which was not realistic as guests were already arriving. In the end we requested a phone call simply to run through the schedule and final details.
The accommodation also caused problems. Several guests reported rooms that were not clean or had maintenance issues. One guest experienced a leak and my parents’ room smelled strongly of smoke, making it impossible for them to stay there. Because of this I gave my room to my parents the night before the wedding and stayed with my fiancé instead. A number of guests also mentioned that their rooms felt smaller than advertised.
During the reception one of my wedding dresses went missing after being left in the hallway. No one in our group had moved it and staff were unable to tell us where it was. At the end of the night when we were shown to the honeymoon suite we found the dress outside the door. Neither my husband nor I knew in advance which room we would be staying in and none of our guests had that information.
We also realised later that some of our wedding cards were missing while items were being packed up at the end of the evening. Several of those cards contained money, which was concerning. When we raised this we were initially told the reception room had CCTV that would be reviewed, but later informed that there was actually no camera covering the room.
There was also confusion at the end of the evening regarding the music and finishing time. Our DJ was told by bar staff that he needed to finish earlier than planned. There were still people on the dancefloor when the lights were turned on and the evening ended. Afterwards we were told the space had been available until 11:30 pm, but the DJ had already been instructed to shut down earlier.
Although we paid for a dry hire wedding the space was not exclusive. Other hotel guests walked into the wedding area, took pizzas intended for our evening guests and used the seating areas reserved for our party.
There were also additional charges, including a £500 fee to use the pavilion, which made the overall cost difficult to justify.
The grounds are lovely, but the organisation, communication and issues we experienced meant the venue did not meet our expectations. I appreciate the venue may have a different perspective, but this review reflects our genuine experience of hosting our wedding at Guildford Hotel and Manor so that other couples can make an informed decision.

We had a lovely one-night stay at Guildford Manor Hotel & Spa and honestly wish we could have stayed longer! The hotel is set in beautiful, peaceful surroundings which made it the perfect place to relax and unwind for the night. The spa facilities were great and such a nice way to switch off for a few hours.

The highlight for us was definitely the food – absolutely amazing! Everything we had was fresh, beautifully presente and full of flavour. It really made the stay feel extra special.

The staff were friendly and welcoming and the whole experience felt calm and enjoyable from start to finish. We left feeling relaxed and already talking about when we can come back.

Spa

My friend and I stayed here last night as a Christmas present from our husbands, so we were really looking forward to it. The spa experience included one night in superior room, afternoon tea, massage, breakfast and use of spa. Unfortunately, for the price, the experience was disappointing and well below what we would expect from a 4-star hotel.
The outside area at the front of the hotel is beautiful and well maintained, which creates a great first impression. We also enjoyed the afternoon tea and the restaurant area itself is nice, dinner was also nice and the massage was pleasant.
However, the conditions and cleanliness inside the hotel were a real let down. The large glass front entrance door was very dirty and inside there were cobwebs on chandeliers. The stair carpets are old, dirty and damaged.
Our “superior” room did not feel superior at all. The bed is just a standard double bed, the window and blind not very clean and there was a noticeable drain like smell in the room when we first entered. The towels felt damp and had a damp smell , the toiletries in the bathroom very minimal for two people. My robe also had a ripped pocket and broken belt holder on one side.
The spa facilities were also disappointing. The pool was cold, the indoor hot tub did not work in the evening and the outside hot tub was too crowded. In the morning when we went to use the hot tub, the first floor corridors smelled strongly of cigarettes.
Breakfast was ok but most of the plates felt gritty as if they hadn’t been properly washed and a few were visibly dirty. The toilets in the restaurant area were also very cold.
Overall, the inside of the hotel needs a thorough clean and significant updating. The furniture and decor feel very dated and the overall standard simply does not reflect a 4-star hotel. It’s a shame as the setting has potential but the experience did not match expectations.

The location and the exterior area

The property was alright.

Perfect place to relax in the countryside.

Pros: room was nice, hotel looked clean,pool reasonable size. Tray of yea/coffee/biscuits provided alongside shower cream etc. Tv worked. Room view showing hot tub and garden

During my stay at this hotel for a friends' spa weekend, I encountered several issues that impacted the overall experience. Upon arrival, we visited the swimming pool, which was uncomfortably cold and appeared dirty. The jacuzzi was also cold . In addition, our rooms and other areas of the hotel contained cobwebs, and the carpets were stained with sawdust throughout. Based on these observations, I cannot recommend this hotel and am uncertain how it continues to operate.

Lovely decoration in the public areas , room clean and bed very comfy - room did have a bit of a strange smell but not enough for me to mention to staff . Spa lovely - a little busy , seating area soon became full , in the warmer weather this won’t be a problem as plenty of lovely furniture outside . Staff lovely

Excellent location, nice sized pool, lovely jacuzzi, very friendly if somewhat overworked staff.