Best Hotels near Woodlands Garden Centre, Sevenoaks

Stayed at the Donnington manor hotel on the 20/21 April after attending a nearby wedding. On arrival greeted by a polite attentive assistant, already checked in online, so only had to register car for free parking and collect room key. Room 307 second floor, very nice room clean , well decorated and quiet. All the public area's in hotel in very good decrotive condition. Sleepy well on memory foam mattress, slept well. On Sunday morning went for breakfast in the restaurant buffet style, good selection of fresh fruit cereal and cooked meats, eggs cooked to your order (nice touch) all good quality fayre enjoyed breakfast, and service by all staff. If in area would definitely stay again

Without doubt the best nights stayover I’ve had in years. There’s lots of hotels that play tricks on you. Like, instant coffee in a Cafetière, putting you in disabled access when you're of full ability to charging you for stuff you’d expect to get for gratis, wifi, parking etc etc. When the hot water only goes luke warm, the bath is 4ft and the shower heads max height is 5ft and you’re 5ft 10. The list is endless. Frozen butters, bread that’s thinner than a tramps shoe, jeez, don’t get me started. Non of that with The Castle in Eyesfleet. Plush, decor with soft music playing in the back ground, great lighting and all smiles from their super team. Rooms are light with crisp bed linen, lanterns, coffee machines, windows that actually open, vintage fans, green plants etc. The Castle is like Soho Houses baby brother. A great menu from their relatively new young chef. He left the flat plains of Norfolk heading for the Smoke, stumbled upon The Castle in Eyesfleet and has stayed ever since. Believe me, I know a Thai curry pie sounds grim but it was pretty sensational, although the accompanied gravy boat could’ve done with a touch of coconut/curry sauce. I’d suggested it, so if you order the curry pie and it comes with the sauce, you’ve me to thank. What else can I tell you? The bar? Cocktails, craft beers and more spirits than a haunted house. Full bodied reds available by the glass. Always a bugbear when the house red is like flamin’ Vimto. Not at the Castle, the Shiraz went straight to the knees and had me aiming for bed for a great nights kip.

Overall we were pleasantly surprised with our stay since it was our first time staying at this hotel chain. The location was convenient being right next to the A2, yet still peaceful inside our hotel. The room was very large, the customer service was great and the value for money was so much better than the more established chains. There’s also an independent coffee stand just a short walk from the hotel. It’s called grounded coffee and we recommend a visit. A highly recommended hotel.

The staff in the Spa and Orangery are excellent with the exception of one quite sullen masseuse. My facial was a lovely experience. For the Spa cost, i’d have expected more. Fellow guests felt their massages were shorter than the allotted time. Treatments were not booked in synch with others in the party or timed adequately wrt using gym/pool. My facial was before my sauna/swim. The lounge/waiting area and relaxation areas both need a top-notch coffee machine. The pool needs to be warmer. The changing room is too small and lockers cramped. The between-shower screens are almost transparent. The showers need luxury shampoos, shower gels and body and hand lotions. The make-up area is too small for ladies glamming up for the afternoon tea or post-spa lunch. There needs to be more waste-bins too. The Orangery is beautifully decorated and light and airy. The afternoon tea is quite small and food replenishments are sadly chargeable. Tea is replenished. The scones are small and not warm. Overall, great front-of-house staff and quality decor covers for a lack of substance in facilities and food which feels like a let-down in one of Tun Wells most notable hotels.