Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf and Spa

Hot breakfast choices very limited. Staff and service we cannot fault.

2nd time stay at the Portal. Rooms are great, championship golf course very good (even in the wet/muddy ground). Staff are great & had a super breakfast in the restaurant in the morning which is fulled with light & good views.

Stayed here recently for a spa evening, I would say the hotel itself is very clean, friendly staff however the spa amenities need updating drastically, The ice room was not working which was unfortunate, our treatment was running behind and my masseuse kept asking me about why I’m so stressed, after I told her why she kept asking me more about it whilst having a massage - so this was not very relaxing. We retired to the bar and waited 15 minutes to be served at the bar as there was only one member of staff on. Overall a pleasant experience but a few things definitely need improvement.

Excellent service and great room. Gym had plenty of equipment and was spotless. Lovely location.

My husband and I took my daughter for a spa day with afternoon tea. The service we received during our afternoon tea was terrible! We ordered tea and water and waited nearly 20 minutes and someone else who came in after us received their drinks before us . We had to order our drinks again however in the meantime the food came out. There was little awareness of which was the gluten free afternoon tea and was concerning as the staff member did not have a clue! Our drinks finally arrived no glasses had to ask for glasses had to ask for milk and sugar. The sugar had hairs in so had to ask for another pot of sugar. The sandwiches on the normal afternoon were mainly cheese no variety! Kept having to ask staff , there was 6 members of staff we noticed just stood around talking no one seemed very interested and instead starting setting tables! My husband and my massage were very good!! However my daughter was quite upset as the masseuse walked straight in on her whilst she was changing didn’t knock on the door luckily there was no one else walking past so no one else saw but she was very embarrassed and upset on her special day

7th July - Lovely room was very spacious and clean , bed was comfy and good size bathroom with bath and shower (328) unfortunately this is where the positives end.. ordered bar food on arrival, missing items and one meal was sent back as not described properly on menu. I then slipped on a wet tile, a manager then shouted over asking if I was ok instead of coming over. The spa area is a pool (ceiling is all pealing and paint can be found on poolside and in pool) with the sauna and steam rooms to the side.. the ice room shower was hanging off the wall and didn’t work and the area was filled with children, so if you are hoping for relaxing this isn’t the place for you.. my husbands massage was apparently very good, she discussed what he had filled in on the form and did his scalp, neck,back, hands. Mine however was not, she did not speak at all other than to ask me to lay on the bed, I had to let her know twice that I would prefer more pressure, however it just felt like she was smoothing the oil in. Very disappointed. Evening dinner.. was fine, the young lad who was restaurant host was possibly the best member of staff we came across, polite, smiley, professional and attentive to customers needs. He was seating people, taking orders, drink running, clearing tables as well as speaking with guests. The blonde female breakfast host could learn a thing or two from him. Got two hot chocolates from the bar to take back to the room, not sure if these were made from a machine or not but unfortunately they were lacking in chocolate and were just like warm milk. Breakfast was shocking, no glasses, no juice, no fruit in the bowl.. this was not replenished the entire time we were in the restaurant, no butter, no gluten free items at all!! Not even any bread for toast. Only bacon available was smoked bacon. Absolutely shocking!!

Not often I write reviews - but here goes Had a fabulous treat to me today ! Visited the spa for the best ever massage with Farzay - will definitely be back Lovely swim & various saunas too I am local to Tarporley so lucky to have this on my doorstep

The property and rooms are not clean. It needs a refurbishment