Delicious Dining and a Peaceful Stay at Walton Hall Hotel & Spa
Published On Thursday 9 Oct 2025 by Sticky Beak
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It could never be said that The Man Bird and I miss an opportunity to indulge in some self-care, and so he was all over it when a Groupon deal caught his eye for us to have a cheeky night away. There was an ulterior motive for booking this particular deal though: it provided the ideal halfway stop between Bristol and Hoar Cross Hall Spa, a place we were booked into for our anniversary. It just seemed daft to drive all the way back to the ‘Shire (for one night) from Bristol and then have to drive back down to Hoar Cross Hall Spa…much better to grab an extra night away, wouldn’t you agree?!
As far as dramatic entrances go, Walton Hall Hotel and Spa is up there with the prettiest. The long, sweeping drive takes you over a bridge framed by Bullrush-heavy waters either side of it and lush, green lawns that usher you to the car park area. Leaving the jalopy, we headed down the gravel path and admired the lily pad-filled ornamental pond and fountain that had plenty of lazing Goldfish in it as we made our way to reception.
Having had the travel gods on our side, we had arrived very early, but the lovely young man in reception said that he would notify the house-keeping team to expedite our rooms’ turn-around and that we were very welcome to explore the grounds or have a drink in the bar in the meantime. With the weather being so nice, we decided to go for a trot round and made our way back towards the lake that had caught our attention on the way in.
Swans and their cygnets, Mallards, and Moorhens were eager to see if we came bearing food and quickly lost interest in us when it became apparent we hadn’t! Bullrushes and Reeds provided interest in the water, and mature trees and shrubs decorated the pathway that we took around the lake periphery; there was a variety of birdsong filling the air, soothing and relaxing us as we strolled happily along. We had a wander around the gardens to the rear of the Hall itself, and they are beautiful (if in need of a bit of tending to).
On our return, we were told that our room (not in the old hall itself, sadly) was ready and we soon got unpacked and settled in. The Spa is your typical type of general hotel one, comprising a smallish pool (no bubble pool/Jacuzzi here), a Sauna, and a Steam Room. Children are permitted in the Spa suite 9-11am and 4-7pm, so there’s plenty of ‘peace and quiet’ for those who have come to be child-free: there would be nothing worse than wanting some ‘couple time’ and being harangued by others’ kids, would there? There were plenty of loungers to recline on, so we kicked back and read books for a bit - we didn’t use the sauna or steam room, but it’s a good excuse to return, no?
Our package included a two-course dinner (option to have a third, at additional cost) and breakfast the following morning, so it was time head back up to our room to freshen up and get changed. The bathroom had a good-sized shower-over-bath and all the toiletries you could want, as well as a pair of towels each; we were both impressed by the size of it. Personally, I hate cramped bathrooms so a well-proportioned one instantly has me in a good mood.
My good mood continued thanks to the warmest welcome you could wish for from the young lady who was in the restaurant; she took the time to chat as she ticked us off the reservation sheet and asked if we were staying for an occasion. The next thing we knew, as we were seated, a wine stand and bucket containing two individual bottles of Rosé Prosecco were winging their way to us! What a nice touch, and one that certainly made our anniversary celebrations extra special.
Now, I’m not going to pretend that the menu was the most extensive or imaginative that you’ll encounter, but there was enough variety and choice available and the portion and presentation couldn’t be faulted. His Nibs had the Korean Belly Pork Bites to start, followed by Steak and Ale Pie, and I opted for Bang-Bang Cauliflower, followed by a Vegetable Dhansak Pie. Everything was tasty and hot, and the young serving team strived to provide us with a good dining experience, which it mainly was. We returned to our room with full tummies and happy hearts and, following a solid nights’ kip, we went back to the dining room for breakfast.
Buffet style, the breakfast selection had plenty of choice and we had fresh fruit and yoghurt to begin, then wandered over to help ourselves to all the goodies of an English fry-up. Different breads were available to toast, and there were mini pastries and croissants to help yourself to, too. Needless to say, we broke our fasts robustly in readiness for a day exploring in Stratford-Upon-Avon before checking-in at Hoar Cross Hall Spa and Hotel.
Given its size, I don’t think I would recommend Walton Hall Hotel and Spa as a destination Spa per se, but if you want an overnight (or short-stay) ‘base’ from which to explore the area, then this venue has a lot to offer.
Several sites have offers available for Walton Hall Hotel and Spa, so shop around to get the best deal. I would definitely recommend reserving a table in the restaurant before, or as, you arrive, otherwise you may end up at the bar tables.
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