Hand and Spear

Excellent room. Comfortable and well equipped. Air conditioning quiet and useful.

I've been visiting the Hand & Spear for over four years, mainly during business trips, and it's great to see the positive changes that have been happening recently.
A special mention to Darren, the new General Manager. His passion, enthusiasm, and commitment to improving the venue are clear for everyone to see. His drive is second to none, and the physical improvements around the pub inside and out have made it a much more pleasant and welcoming place to spend time. After a period where the pub seemed to lose some of its mojo and was starting to decline, it's genuinely refreshing to see it moving in such a positive direction.

I'd also like to give a shout-out to Sotty, who, like Darren, consistently goes out of his way to make sure guests are looked after and enjoying their visit. Their customer-focused approach really stands out and makes a big difference. I only wish some of the other team members shared the same level of enthusiasm and attentiveness.

For me, the Hand & Spear has become a great place to visit, focus on work.

While I've only stayed in the hotel once many years ago and feel the room rates are a little on the pricey side compared to some local alternatives, the pub itself is definitely heading in the right direction.
It's lovely to see the venue improving, regaining its character, and getting better with each visit. Keep up the great work, Darren and the team.

Very clean. Had its own parking. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Breakfast was lovely

The location and the facilities were amazing

Gezellige hotel/pub met nette kamer, met iedere dag housekeeping. Veilige parkeerplaats, dichtbij station en Londen. Kaart was beperkt, aangezien er een aantal zaken niet op voorraad waren.

Can’t be faulted on a beautiful stay

Historic house turned hotel from the early 1800s. It is well located on a quiet, leafy lane yet only 2 min walk to the train station for easy access to London. The staff were all very helpful and friendly. The pub is a fun place for a pint and the restaurant has a variety of options for vegetarians and non-veg meals. The breakfast was very good with nice espresso selections and vegetarian or regular full English options available.

Stayed over whilst at a party in the pub, the room was great along with the facilities. Will return hopefully at some point.

The location is perfect for us.
The food is really nice.
Comfortable room.
Lovely staff.

Another lovely visit to the Hand and Spear.

The location is beautiful as are the rooms and the Sunday roast, staff are very friendly, excellent level of service nothing was too much trouble, would stay again and highly recommend

We didn't have any food at the hotel and when we returned in the evening the bar was very busy so we didn't have a drink. Instead we went back to our room to enjoy the comfort. Also considering it was so busy in the pub we didn't experience any noise disruption.
One of the best things was we were able to check in early as I suspect the hotel wasn't too busy.
It really is a lovely hotel and close to god transport links. We were lucky to get a good price so will stay again if the price is right

We chose this venue for what should have been a meaningful catch-up. I haven’t seen my uncle in years, and it took a lot for him to come out, so we expected a welcoming and professional environment.

At £7.65 for a pint of Guinness, you are clearly positioning yourselves as a premium establishment. There is nothing wrong with that — if the service matches the pricing. On this occasion, it did not.
We were seated on a banquette directly alongside the bar. When we asked for additional drinks, the barmaid was dismissive and stated she “had to take the order at the bar,” despite QR codes being present on the tables for ordering food and drinks.

The inconsistency was confusing, and the manner in which it was delivered felt abrupt and unwilling.

Because of how it was handled, despite having mobility issues — i got up and walked to the bar to place the order myself.

The final interaction was equally disappointing. I handed cash directly to the barmaid. When returning my change, she attempted to drop it on the bar rather than place it back into my hand. I had to position my hand underneath hers to receive it properly. It may seem small, but that gesture spoke volumes.

I have worked in hospitality for many years, including high-end venues, so I understand the pressures of service. Basic courtesy, consistency and professionalism are not optional — they are fundamental.

This experience felt pretentious rather than premium.

I won’t be returning.

The staff were fantastic, particularly Ryan and Jess.

The staff were extremely helpful and courteous.

Breakfast on Sunday morning was the best we had had for a long time !

Location good for our tennis tournament- we didn’t have breakfast- just playing so not convienient. A bit noisy but understandable in a pub.

The member of staff that served us was so kind and attentive, she was there alllll night and first thing for breakfast