The Speech House

Hotels
8.3 (579 reviews)
Nr Coleford, The Forest Of Dean , Coleford , gb

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Free
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Restaurant
Room service
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Luggage storage
Safety deposit box
Fax/photocopying
Facilities for disabled guests
Packed lunches
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Good food
Lovely atmosphere
Great location
Cons:
Room cleanliness issues
Overpriced
Facilities need updating

Categories

Cleanliness
7.95
Some reviewers mentioned cleanliness issues like cobwebs in the room.
Service
8.75
Consistently praised as friendly and helpful by guests.
Location
8.75
Frequently mentioned as excellent, particularly for its close proximity to the Forest of Dean.
Room Quality
8.15
Generally positive but noted that some rooms could use updates.
Amenities
8.45
Standard amenities with a cozy atmosphere, though some facilities need updating.
Value for Money
7.45
Some reviewers found the hotel to be overpriced for what was offered.
Food and Beverage
8.65
Consistently described as delicious and of high quality.
Overall Experience
8.25
Guests reported enjoyable stays with mostly positive experiences.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-11 08:59

Property Description

Historic Charm and Modern Luxury

The Speech House Hotel, originally a hunting lodge for King Charles II, now offers modern facilities and luxurious rooms while preserving its period features. Situated in the heart of the Forest of Dean, just 5 miles from the stunning Wye Valley, this hotel is a perfect blend of history and comfort.

Elegant Accommodations and Dining

Choose from rooms in the main house or courtyard, some with forest views and four-poster beds. Enjoy traditional decor, Freeview TVs, and tea/coffee facilities. Indulge in modern European cuisine at the Verderer’s Court restaurant with its beamed ceilings, or opt for lighter fare at The Orangery.

Convenient Location for Exploring

Only a short drive from attractions like Dean Forest Steam Railway and Dean Heritage Centre, the hotel also provides easy access to Chepstow Castle, Gloucester, and Cheltenham. With proximity to the M4 and M5 motorways, The Speech House Hotel is an ideal base for exploring the region.

Book your stay now and experience the perfect blend of history and luxury at The Speech House Hotel.

Important information:

Guests are required to show a credit card upon check-in.

There is likely to be music until 24:00 on the weekends, which can be heard from some rooms.

For group bookings, the first nights accommodations will be taken 24 hours prior to arrival at the hotel.

Please note pets are allowed on ground floor courtyard rooms only; excluding four poster rooms.

Charges of £15 per dog per night will be applied.

This property offers 24-hour room service. Between 21:00 - 07:00 it is sandwiches only.

Please note that payments are made on arrival at the hotel. Accepted Payment Methods- Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Maestro and Solo. The hotel does not accept Delta Card Payments.Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Check-in and check-out hours:

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Groups

    When booking more than 5 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 1 year old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 3 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    Children from 4 years old to 15 years old stay for £20 per person per night when using an existing bed.
    Children up to and including 12 years old stay for £20 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.3
Based on 579 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.95
Service: 8.75
Location: 8.75
Room Quality: 8.15
Amenities: 8.45
Value for Money: 7.45
Food and Beverage: 8.65
Overall Experience: 8.25
J
Jerome • couple • gb
9
2026-02-12 • via Nuitee
H
Hooyveld • couple • gb
5
a two night stay
Pros:

waitress service and bar staff - all young people had very good customer skills, polite and courteous.
Breakfast on first day - a good old fashioned 'full English' was great

Cons:

buffet breakfast on 2nd day
1st evening meal in restaurant - trying too hard with menu, presentation of food was good but too many mixtures of flavours/spices hiding taste of true foods.
Waiting staff and cleaning staff (room) very polite and helpful.

2026-01-26 • via Nuitee
K
Ken • couple • gb
8
Pros:

Unique character venue experienced and well trained staff made the stay very enjoyable

2026-01-25 • via Nuitee
L
Lucy • solo_traveller • gb
9
2026-01-23 • via Nuitee
M
Martene • extended_group • gb
7
Very accommodating for a large group
Pros:

Very accommodating for our large group who checked in late and left early. Breakfast starts at 7.30am, our group needed to check out early so they very kindly prepared a continental breakfast for us before we departed.

2026-01-22 • via Nuitee
J
Jacqueline • couple • gb
8
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Our room was outside main building in stormy weather

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
S
Sarah • extended_group • gb
8
A special place to stay in the Forest of Dean
Pros:

The history of the hotel is very interesting particularly the Verderers Court (used as the main restaurant) and the location is second to none, right in the depths of the Forest of Dean.
The staff were charming and really helpful.
The food was really good too.

Cons:

The bathroom could do with some updating though clean and useable.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
L
Lee • couple • gb
10
Historic country hotel
Pros:

A wonderful and historic country hotel. Food in the Orangery was excellent and the staff throughout our stay, with attentive and friendly.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
R
Rosemary • family_with_children • gb
7
Enjoyed our stay but room too small.
Pros:

The Hotel was very welcoming and Orangery Restaurant and garden very pleasing.

Cons:

Courtyard room in small cottage upstairs. Stairs steep and narrow. Room too small. Beds pushed up against walls. Small single wardrobe had a fan heater, a convector heater and very large umbrella in it! It was positioned at foot of bed and only limited space to open door.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
S
Sue • couple • gb
9
Lovely location, lovely old historical building, decent breakfast.
Pros:

The location was excellent for exploring the local area.
The room was comfortable and clean.

Cons:

The service at the bar was a little slow, but not to the extent that I’d complain. And the cost of drinks seemed to vary depending on who was serving you.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
S
Sarah • solo_traveller • gb
9
The perfect getaway for a few days.
Pros:

The place has a lot of character and it is very well located with lots of things to do right on the doorstep. The staff were really friendly and helpful. I have a severe nut allergy and the staff made sure the food I ordered was nut free. The rooms were very nicely presented and a good size, I stayed in one of the cottage rooms. The bed was very comfy and a good size. The room came with tea/ coffee making facilities, hairdryer and toiletries. I had the best time away (could have easily stayed for longer). I would definitely go back again. Thank you to all the staff at Speech House for making my stay really enjoyable and the perfect little getaway.

Cons:

N/A there is nothing to dislike about this place.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
H
Heidi • couple • gb
5
Cosy courtyard double room was satisfactory, but a nasty smell of sewerage when stepping outside.
Pros:

The lady serving our meal on the Friday night went above and beyond, bringing in the meals to us with a cheery smile, and appeared to be the only person waitressing.
The food was what I had expected, and was very good.

Cons:

Lack of seating in the orangery meant we had to sit and eat our dinner out the back, which was darker, and with no atmosphere. Very short staffed and clearly the lady working behind the bar was feeling this as she appeared miserable.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
J
Julia • extended_group • gb
4
It was OK
Pros:

The staff were lovely and helpful, couldn't fault them. There was a lovely choice for breakfast and the evening meal we had was very tasty

Cons:

The drinks are pricey. Our room in the "Cottage" was disappointing, we had booked a "Courtyard room" but was put in the cottage, we were told this was a courtyard room. It was a little dated and the finish wasn't very good, we also run out of hot water on the Saturday night, apparently the cottage is served by one hot tank for all the rooms. I think it should be made clear on the booking site that there are different rooms eg in the house, in the courtyard and in the cottage, this would then prevent any issues if you don't want to be in the cottage which is near the road and if you have mobility issues you will struggle with the stairs.

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
H
Heidi • family_with_children • gb
8
Lovely hotel, great stay, expensive for what it is
Pros:

Breakfast and Room was superb

Cons:

A couple of staff members were not as friendly which let the stay down

2026-01-19 • via Nuitee
T
Trevor Hudson • family_with_children • gb
9
2026-01-18 • via Nuitee
R
Richard • solo_traveller • gb
9
2026-01-18 • via Nuitee
L
Liz • solo_traveller • gb
9
Had my father’s 90th birthday celebration. We booked the Carolina room for 17 people - staff couldn’t have been more hel
Pros:

Excellent service from staff

2025-12-30 • via Nuitee
A
Andrew • couple • gb
9
Lovely staff,nice atmosphere and nice surroundings. Good evening meal and breakfast
Pros:

Comfortable, warm atmosphere

2025-12-22 • via Nuitee
S
Stephen • couple • gb
10
Very good Break
Pros:

Everything

Cons:

Nothing

2025-12-08 • via Nuitee
R
Robin Morgan • family_with_children • gb
10
Very special place
Pros:

The staff are amazing, friendly, helpful, professional and pleasant.
The food is of a high standard and very tasty.
Location is perfect.
The family room is spacious and comfortable.

2025-11-24 • via Nuitee