Local Reviews
In May 2025, S Woody said about Hestercombe Gardens
Visited yesterday with family. Hestercombe is lovely as it has both formal gardens & more natural woodland/meadow walks. We were very fortunate to see a pair of Canadian Geese next to the largest pond. It was calming to browse the second hand book shop & the plant stalls. We very much enjoyed tea & cake at the restaurant, I particularly like that it’s table service as it’s far more pleasant and relaxing.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2025, darren p said about Hestercombe Gardens
This is a beautiful place great gardens where dogs are more than welcome but not in the actual house theirs a lovely place to buy food and plants we had a great day
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2025, Linda M said about Hestercombe Gardens
The gardens are beautiful and we particularly love walking through the woodland with the lovely bluebells on show. What does annoy us is the cafe is now a restaurant and a formal “ wait to be seated”set up. A woman is wandering around flashing menu’s around at 11.am when all we want is a coffee and maybe a cake. The management are obviously on a money making scheme and this is very off putting. The old cafe has now been turned into a book lending snug! Last summer we enjoyed having a coffee and occasional cake on the lawn but that’s all gone now.
Another irritant is the Wedding events . We were sitting on a bench in the landscape garden when we were told to leave as the bride would be walking past ! What a cheek if they don’t want the public there then the bridal party should have to pay Hestercombe to close it down that day to the public like other large venues do.
The grounds are wonderful but the way the place is run is not.
Another irritant is the Wedding events . We were sitting on a bench in the landscape garden when we were told to leave as the bride would be walking past ! What a cheek if they don’t want the public there then the bridal party should have to pay Hestercombe to close it down that day to the public like other large venues do.
The grounds are wonderful but the way the place is run is not.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In June 2025, floss143 said about Hestercombe Gardens
Hestercombe gardens are beautiful, well worth a visit.
On the downside, the café only sell cakes on Monday and Tuesday. We went in after 12.00 expecting to be able to buy something savoury, sandwich etc only to be told not available on these days. Very disappointing.
On the downside, the café only sell cakes on Monday and Tuesday. We went in after 12.00 expecting to be able to buy something savoury, sandwich etc only to be told not available on these days. Very disappointing.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In May 2021, CharleyG25 said about Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa
Booked one night here for the bank holiday. Bed, breakfast and evening meal. Just lovely. The hotel is stunning, set in gorgeous surroundings. The room had everything we needed and an enormous TV that you can cast from your phone to so could watch Netflix as well as normal channels. Used the pool and jacuzzi, some of the facilities are still closed but the pool was lovely. Special mention to all the staff. Every single person we spoke to was so friendly, helpful and attentive. We will definitely be back for another visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In June 2021, kathKmidlands said about Mercure Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa
This hotel looks great and the room we were in was excellent. Large, clean, bed was comfy, windows were able to be open wide (it was hot weather) and tv and WiFi worked fine, however the breakfast and dinner experience let it down. The restaurant looked nice and the food was good . However it was a buffet and due to COVID it should have been table service really as guests should not be wandering around. Mains were home cooked but desserts were bought in with only two choices. Staff serving the food were asked about the antipasti starter and gave the reply ‘I don’t know’ and ‘it’s what they gave me’. And why were the starters in plastic pots? Mains were on a plate.
Breakfast was same but timings and venue let it down. It was in a large, soulless function room with a carpet that was horrible. Looked like coffee ground spilled all over! Food choices were poor. No fresh fruit salad ( could be pre portioned into plastic pots as was starters at dinner) everything ran out, so if three days of cooked breakfast did not suit then there was only toast/ pastries to choose from. Where was the eggs benedict, kippers, smoked salmon, cold meats and cheese?
We were asked to wait until 10.30 on two days and on the last day the same. However on all the days it was clear that there was not enough staff to operate. Hence spreading guests out.
Also there is no lounge area to relax in. Only the small bar. Most hotels have sofas in reception or elsewhere in the hotel.
All in all a stay we enjoyed but had too many niggles.
Breakfast was same but timings and venue let it down. It was in a large, soulless function room with a carpet that was horrible. Looked like coffee ground spilled all over! Food choices were poor. No fresh fruit salad ( could be pre portioned into plastic pots as was starters at dinner) everything ran out, so if three days of cooked breakfast did not suit then there was only toast/ pastries to choose from. Where was the eggs benedict, kippers, smoked salmon, cold meats and cheese?
We were asked to wait until 10.30 on two days and on the last day the same. However on all the days it was clear that there was not enough staff to operate. Hence spreading guests out.
Also there is no lounge area to relax in. Only the small bar. Most hotels have sofas in reception or elsewhere in the hotel.
All in all a stay we enjoyed but had too many niggles.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In June 2025, Chris B said about Hestercombe Gardens
Hestercombe Gardens remain beautiful and extensive, and I’ve enjoyed many visits over the years.
The house once featured excellent art and photography exhibitions, but I didn’t renew my membership this year due to noticeable decline.
During my final year, the gift shop relocated, the cafe closed and there were no new exhibitions. The estate looked increasingly neglected—shuttered windows with weeds behind the glass, broken features like the turbine generator and AV tunnel display, and long-closed upper estate paths.
The much-loved self-service café, once offering quick drinks and snacks, has been replaced by a gift shop. The remaining restaurant is overpriced and inefficient for a simple coffee stop.
I understand funding may be limited as a charitable trust, but the absence of a basic café is a missed opportunity. Hosting exhibitions by local artists, college art departments and photographic clubs could revive interest and enhance the visitor experience.
The house once featured excellent art and photography exhibitions, but I didn’t renew my membership this year due to noticeable decline.
During my final year, the gift shop relocated, the cafe closed and there were no new exhibitions. The estate looked increasingly neglected—shuttered windows with weeds behind the glass, broken features like the turbine generator and AV tunnel display, and long-closed upper estate paths.
The much-loved self-service café, once offering quick drinks and snacks, has been replaced by a gift shop. The remaining restaurant is overpriced and inefficient for a simple coffee stop.
I understand funding may be limited as a charitable trust, but the absence of a basic café is a missed opportunity. Hosting exhibitions by local artists, college art departments and photographic clubs could revive interest and enhance the visitor experience.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In June 2025, Cruiser46765351446 said about Hestercombe Gardens
Beautiful wooded landscape up through the valley. The sun was shining, birds were singing and it was a wonderfully peaceful place to be walking. I did feel that far too much laurel had been planted though, seemingly to cheaply and easily fill in gaps. It meant colour was not as plentiful as it could be. Lutyens formal gardens were lovely and were obviously very well planted and tended. Well done the garden team.
My gripe would be food and drink. I wanted a cafe for a quick coffee stop but there wasn't one. Instead they have gone down the rather hoity toity route with a head waiter who pretty obviously looked down his nose at us. I don't need to be waited on and I don't want to pay extra for something I don't need. Inflated prices don't help either. Get rid of it. Make it a cafeteria style, reduce prices by 20%, I'm not going to pay £4.50 for an average slice of cake. Maybe have a separate coffee and snack 'to go' outlet where you can just pick something up without being seated. The restaurant is pretty obviously there to sting the foreign coach parties of which 3 were there. Finally the house. Get some interesting exhibitions going. It was good to read the history of the place but it could have been put into two rooms, not spread out thinly over lots.
My gripe would be food and drink. I wanted a cafe for a quick coffee stop but there wasn't one. Instead they have gone down the rather hoity toity route with a head waiter who pretty obviously looked down his nose at us. I don't need to be waited on and I don't want to pay extra for something I don't need. Inflated prices don't help either. Get rid of it. Make it a cafeteria style, reduce prices by 20%, I'm not going to pay £4.50 for an average slice of cake. Maybe have a separate coffee and snack 'to go' outlet where you can just pick something up without being seated. The restaurant is pretty obviously there to sting the foreign coach parties of which 3 were there. Finally the house. Get some interesting exhibitions going. It was good to read the history of the place but it could have been put into two rooms, not spread out thinly over lots.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In June 2025, Susan B said about Hestercombe Gardens
Interesting place to visit. The house is empty of furniture but still interesting to walk around. The gardens are lovely to walk around with formal planting.The cafe was nice. We only had 3 teas and 2 cakes and it did cost £19.50 which is a bit steep.
The plant sales area was definitely understocked (almost empty)and was just closing so if we had wanted to buy anything we were told we had to walk all the way back to the book shop to pay. Not ideal.
All in all a nice afternoon
The plant sales area was definitely understocked (almost empty)and was just closing so if we had wanted to buy anything we were told we had to walk all the way back to the book shop to pay. Not ideal.
All in all a nice afternoon
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
In July 2025, Fingal72 said about Hestercombe Gardens
We had an enjoyable afternoon at Hestercomb Gardens and we had a terrific Sunday lunch in the cafe, it was plentiful and all well cooked . I believe the cafe has recently changed hands and we wish the new management the best of luck.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk