I stayed at Coombe Abbey last weekend with my boyfriend and while it is in a pretty location and its a gorgeous building, it failed to impress. The Abbey has been extensively restored and we felt over done. The food was nice, but for the price we paid, unfortunately it didn't go the extra mile. The staff were keen to make us happy which was nice. The whole experience smelt of a nice hotel that no-one had actually tested before opening. So when it comes to checking in, no-one tells you where your dinner will be, where the bar is, or even that you have to book for dinner in advance. There is a note in the room which contains rules about dress code for dinner. Unfortunately we were both planning on wearing jeans with dressy top/shirt (this is all we had) and denim is not allowed. Surely this should have been in the confirmation email? The room itself was about a third of the size of the photos on the website. At dinner we were not told that we were on the special menu, but we were given the full menu which was confusing. A lot of the wines from the elaborately printed wine list were not available. Even the bill did not take into account the package deal, and the waiter told us to sign the additional costs anyway and that reception would work it out in the morning. Not right. Then the bill in the morning contained a lot of things we hadn't used/ordered. When I brought this up with reception, they told me that the items were the right price, but that they were not called what they actually were. e.g. Garden lunch was actually the 4 glasses of champagne we'd had before dinner. Finally, as we left we were told to leave our swipe cards in the express checkout box, and then found that we needed one to get out of the carpark. Gah!

Stayed 2 nights her with my husband as we were attending a wedding. As we entered the building there was a marked difference from the daylight outside to the dark low light of the interior. The decor has a medieval theme and many pieces of reproduction and original furniture. After booking in at the reception We took the lift to the first floor and wandered round the maze of corridors to find our room which we soon did with the help of a friendly maid. On entering the spacious room we were pleased to see the same theme in there. A large canopied bed with a tapestry counterpane. Dark green and cream/burgundy decor, heavy drapes hung at gorgeous leaded windows overlooking the courtyard where you could hear the birds singing. A pile of vintage hardback books sat on the deep windowsill and a comfortable winged armchair near by to relax in. The ensuite bathroom was pleasing with a corner bath tub and thick fluffy towels and bathrobes. OK there were little details like an old tv, creaking floorboards and the window drapes had come away from the pole here and there. Also I found the rooms too hot (but then all hotels seem to want to boil you in your bed at night) so the fan was a blessed extra. I loved it all. It was a pleasure to have stayed in Coombe Abbey and I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of it. The whole experience was a good one and one I would like to repeat it someday.

I have been staying at Coombe Abbey hotel since a year after it opened. Unfortunately they have got rid of the plain chant and fairy lights by the entrance: so atmospheric it made your hair stand on end! If you like high Gothic, this will float your boat! If you want modern conveniences, don't go there: the first room I stayed in had a bath behind a screen in the bedroom, and you had to go down some stairs to the floor below for the loo and basin. The building is gorgeous (you occasionnaly run into a group of people being shown round the place, all with bemused looks on their faces) The food in the dining room is on the whole very good, sometimes superb. The only thing that almost always lets the hotel down is the breakfast. When the lady called Jean was there you always got what you ordered. Now, if you are in a hurry you have to eat from the buffet and the cooked breakfast is quite frankly horrible. Does it cost that much more to buy decent produce? Local free range eggs, bacon and sausages? Even the baked beans taste cheap! You can order 'off piste' if you don't like congealed scambled egg, but in my experience that means a long wait and often cold food, often not even very well cooked. Though I have had some dreadful visits, I have also had some great ones: the place is very erratic. On balance though, if I have to come to Coventry on business, Coombe Abbey makes it a pleasure too.

We stayed at Coombe for a number of nights as it was the venue for our wedding reception. First off this is certainly "no ordinary hotel". It is medieval themed and so quite dark and spooky in places, the staff dress in medieval outfits and the rooms are ornately decorated. The nature of the place means there are likely to be a number of weddings at weekends. If all this is not your cup of tea then don't go here. However we love this place because our stay was fantastic but also the staff certainly know how to run a wedding reception. The service was exceptional - one member of staff on reception got someone to cover for them and went down to the kitchen and made me a meal at 11.30pm at night even though room service had ended and then personally delivered it to my room. Another point regarding weddings, they should be pretty self contained as they tend to take place in various rooms around the grounds, so no music issues but guests do invariably wander around later at night. Rates are not cheap, granted. If you are going for a grand feature can I recommend the Lindlay Suite or the Lady Craven room (137). For a more standard room 124 or 126 are both great as they have a superb view over the entrance courtyard, moat and entrance road. The grounds are amazing as well and certainly as good as the photos suggest. I've read some complaints about breakfast, can't agree, it was absolutely fine with staff willing to make you basically anything you wanted. If you are not a fan of the buffet style order off the menu. Also make sure you book a table if eating in the restuarant for dinner. You'll get a truely memorable stay here, can't recommend it enough!