The Hickstead Hotel

Hotels
•
Independent
8 (204 reviews)
Jobs Lane, Bolney, Hickstead, Haywards Heath, England, RH17 5NZ , Haywards Heath , GB
+44 1444 248023

listing image 1
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Pets allowed

Facilities

Meeting rooms
Express check-out
Long-term parking
Free WiFi
24-hour front desk
Garden
Luggage storage
Express check-in/check-out
Concierge service
Wheelchair accessible
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Comfortable rooms
Good location
Cons:
Cleanliness issues
Overpriced food
Dated facilities

Categories

Cleanliness
7.33
Guests mentioned cobwebs in dining areas and issues with room servicing.
Service
9.3
Staff are consistently described as friendly, helpful, and welcoming.
Location
8.34
Good location noted; however, it is somewhat isolated.
Room Quality
8.29
Rooms were generally comfortable but some guests found them dated.
Amenities
8.32
The hotel offers adequate amenities, but some improvements are suggested.
Value for Money
7.78
Breakfast and other services perceived as overpriced by some guests.
Food and Beverage
6.33
Breakfast quality was reported as poor with several complaints.
Overall Experience
8.3
Overall positive experience with friendliness of staff being a highlight.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 19:54

Property Description

Discover your perfect getaway at The Hickstead Hotel, a charming Edwardian retreat nestled in the heart of Haywards Heath.

Relaxation and Comfort: Experience unparalleled comfort in our 52 well-appointed guestrooms, complete with flat-screen televisions and complimentary wireless internet. Enjoy the convenience of private bathrooms stocked with complimentary toiletries, ensuring a restful stay.

Gourmet Dining: Savor exquisite dining at our Oak Tree Bistro, or indulge in room service during limited hours. Don't miss our complimentary daily reception, where you can socialize over a drink at the bar/lounge.

Event Planning Made Easy: With 700 square feet of flexible meeting space and expert concierge services, we cater to all your event needs – from weddings to corporate functions. Plus, enjoy the ease of free self-parking during your stay.

Book your escape today and experience the magic of The Hickstead Hotel!

Important information:

  • This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties.
  • The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: LHR

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Service animals are exempt from fees/restrictions

  • Accessibility

    No elevators

  • Pets

    Pets allowed

  • General

    Professional property host/manager

  • Pets

    Only dogs are allowed

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

8
Based on 204 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.33
Service: 9.3
Location: 8.34
Room Quality: 8.29
Amenities: 8.32
Value for Money: 7.78
Food and Beverage: 6.33
Overall Experience: 8.3
P
Peter • couple • gb
8
All good - value for money but very dated
Pros:

The hotel represents good value for money but is showing its age. Needs some TLC. Garden definitely needs a lot of attention - could be a great asset but lets the hotel down

Cons:

Everything was fine but the hotel is in urgent need of being brought into the 21st century. It's very 1970s

2026-07-25 • via Nuitee
P
Patricia • couple • gb
8
Great location but overdue an update.
Pros:

Location is great for what we wanted and parking was great. Breakfast was lovely as were all the staff.

Cons:

The hotel is tired, the sink plumbing regurgitated in the toilet and the bed was noisy when turning over.
They have plans for the new place - which I’m sure will address these issues.

2026-07-24 • via Nuitee
G
Gary Paul • couple • gb
9
Very nice place, quiet, comfy and would stay again.
Pros:

Only used the hotel as a stopover rest as had a busy day with friends a few miles away, but too far to travel home on same day. Room was very clean, had a bath (Great), bed was comfy and in a nice quiet location.

Cons:

We found nothing wrong with the place, though I'm sure if we had, I got the feeling, the staff would have sorted it quickly.

2026-07-24 • via Nuitee
A
Annelie • family_with_children • de
9
Pros:

Sehr bequeme Betten, großzügiges Zimmer, Badewanne, sehr hundefreundlich (aber mit Aufpreis)

Cons:

Ziemlich hellhörig

2026-07-23 • via Nuitee
W
Wendy • family_with_children • gb
8
Met expectations.
Pros:

Friendly, helpful Staff. Convenient location.

Cons:

Would have welcomed a choice of pillows.

2026-07-23 • via Nuitee
D
Deborah • solo_traveller • gb
1
Unhappy, upset, dissatisfied guest
Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

Being kept awake until 3am. Only halve the food on the menu available. Now white wine for sale.
People parking in the disabled places without a badge.

2026-07-21 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • couple • gb
1
low quality hotel with a high room rate for what you get
Pros:

The location worked well for us, The cleaner and the receptionist were polite

Cons:

As we drove in we saw a nice looking sign to the building and drove up the long drive to be greeted by grass that nearly up to you waste, weeds and cigarette butts in front of the entrance and the outside of the building looking scruffy and old. Upon entering the building we were greeted by the receptionist who was helpful despite having to run about sorting out other problems while we checked in. Upon entering the room we were hit buy the heat inside the room and then tried to open the window by they had restricted locks on them so only opened 50mm. The fan in the room did nothing to help the temperature , we asked the cleaner if the window could be unlocked she went and asked and was told no they could not be unlocked.!! not sure what would happen if there was a fire in the hall way.
The bed was hard and was broken and every you moved it felt like it was going fall apart. There was black mould in the bathroom and smelt of damp.
If you want a gin and tonic at the bar then you need to take your own tonic as they dont have any and if you want a beer from the pump they are waiting for a delivery. Having now look now at trip advisor this has been mentioned before over the last few months.
The hotel is tired and needs a full renovation i wish i had read the reviews before hand and it was over priced for what it is..

2026-07-21 • via Nuitee
B
Brian • couple • gb
7
Staff were excellent, but were hampered by lack of provisions. Hotel needs upgrading.
Pros:

Staff

Cons:

No draught beer, no tonic. Over half of main course items on menu were unavailable. No phone charging points in room and plumbing was noisy.

2026-07-20 • via Nuitee
J
Joanne • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Rooms were clean & well presented. Location was easy to find & access. Staff friendly & helpful. Good value for money

2026-07-19 • via Nuitee
C
Colin • solo_traveller • gb
1
Not recommended
Pros:

?

Cons:

No food available on the evening
Had ran out of 5 of the 6 meals on the menu
No draft beer any
Television remote didn’t work

2026-07-19 • via Nuitee
X
Xavier • family_with_children • be
8
Peaceful, charming hotel welcoming pets
Pros:

It's good that pets are welcome.
Breakfast buffet very satisfactory, with various offers upon request.
Very calm area.

Cons:

It's good that pets are welcome - but carpets are maybe not the best choice for the rooms where pets spend the night...

2026-07-18 • via Nuitee
T
Tim • solo_traveller • gb
9
2026-07-18 • via Nuitee
G
GEMMA • extended_group • gb
6
It was okay very average but too pricey!
Pros:

Just okay, ran out of butter!

Cons:

One member of staff was quite rude when I arrived.
He didn't understand what drink I wanted at the bar.
No baileys 🤷‍♀️

2026-07-18 • via Nuitee
K
Kieran • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-07-17 • via Nuitee
A
Ahmed Zafar • couple • pk
7
2026-07-17 • via Nuitee
T
Terry • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

All the staff were most helpful and worked hard too please.The room was clean beds were comfortable.

Cons:

I thought the staff were undertaking too many jobs at the same time although they did everything they could to please everyone.Well done.

2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
R
Rod Wood • family_with_children • gb
4
Pros:

Perfect location, friendly staff.

Cons:

bedroom was very hot. No aircon and window didn't open enough to let air in. Lukewarm shower

2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
M
Mohamed • solo_traveller • se
1
very old not clean at all with one guy at the reception handling the reception and the bar alone
Pros:

nothing

Cons:

the Hotel is so old and far away from being clean

2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
A
Amando • couple • gb
1
I would not choose this property again for the above reasons, poor value for money
Pros:

Free parking, the property looks nice, the employees were very friendly

Cons:

The room was like a oven, it didn’t have air conditioning, the window didn’t open wide enough resulting in a sleepless night

2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
J
jill • solo_traveller • gb
1
Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

A separate email has been sent direct. Breakfast was disgusting

2026-07-16 • via Nuitee