Guest Reviews & Comments
Sopwell House Hotel near Watford: Watford Hotels
1 Business Trip - 05/02/08	80%
Good Points: The attitude of the staff and the quality of the restaurants.
Bad Points: For the price the room is quite small and the lack of an elevator on one side of the hotel meant lugging suitcases up and dowb stairs.
Further Comments: Excellent Restaurant and Brasserie, adequate rooms, good general ambience in the reception areas. helpful staff. it seems that none of the information that is filled out in the online booking process is transferred to the hotel as I had to fillout exactlty the same information again when I arrived at the hotel. Ohter comments as above.
2 Business Trip - 05/02/08	80%
Good Points: The attitude of the staff and the quality of the restaurants.
Bad Points: For the price the room is quite small and the lack of an elevator on one side of the hotel meant lugging suitcases up and dowb stairs.
Further Comments: Excellent Restaurant and Brasserie, adequate rooms, good general ambience in the reception areas. helpful staff. it seems that none of the information that is filled out in the online booking process is transferred to the hotel as I had to fillout exactlty the same information again when I arrived at the hotel. Ohter comments as above.
3 Young couple - 21/11/07	100%
Good Points: Lovely setting. Great staff.
4 Business Trip - 07/10/07	80%
Good Points: excellent bed and linen, quiet location away from traffic.
Further Comments: Good location for working in St. Albans. Good choice of food, reasonably priced.
5 Business Trip - 07/10/07	80%
Good Points: excellent bed and linen, quiet location away from traffic.
Further Comments: Good location for working in St. Albans. Good choice of food, reasonably priced.
6 Young couple - 26/09/07	70%
7 Business Trip - 25/09/07	60%
8 Mature couple - 25/07/07	80%
9 Mature couple - 25/07/07	80%
Good Points: A clean room to a good standard in terms of decor and furniture.
Bad Points: Noise from bank of air conditioning units outside bedroom window. Double bed up against wall - so only able to access this side of bed from bottom once partner in bed/or climb across partner. Tea and coffee facilities at floor level not practical.
Further Comments: We had a very relaxed time and would definitely stay there again. Initially we were checked into wrong room, despite our pointing this out to receptionist at the time, but were efficiently moved. There was a lack of available appointments for Spa treatments although seeking to make bookings ahead of our arrival. The bar and lounges are very pleasant with a nice atmosphere and there are beautiful grounds to enjoy. We liked the relaxing music from the pianist during Sat. evg. and during day on Sunday. In general the service and the hotel were of a very good standard (although had to point out to bar staff that empty glasses/plates could be cleared and on Saturday evening the bar had no crisps or nuts to offer with our drinks). However,the hotel's lax attitude to the new no smoking law was disappointing. A group of guests were permitted to stand and smoke blocking the hotel entrance (smoke wafting into reception lounge) with no comment made by reception staff - I am unclear however where the designated smoking area was as clients were smoking wandering around the gardens, smoking outside function rooms, but there were ash trays in another garden area too. A guest was also smoking outside the open window of Brasserie during our meal. This is a very sad indication of how this law is already being disregarded and an irritation to those of us who would have anticipated a reasonably rigourous adherence at a hotel of this standard. Nevertheless, our overall experience of this hotel was very positive.
10 Business Trip - 13/06/07	50%
11 Business Trip - 13/06/07	50%
Good Points: rooms clean
Bad Points: pool and gym not available due to powercut. Limited entertainment through television, no films for example. Generally very ordinary. Overpriced
Further Comments: Rooms generally very clean and comfortable but without anything to make it special or out-of-the-ordinary. Limited facilities within rooms, no films available, no minibar etc. Breakfast ok but overpriced for choice offered. Generally overpriced for level of facilities and service, especially when the pool and gym are out of order. Overall a fairly standard hotel that has aspirations to be something greater but without understanding how to go that bit further.
12 Young couple - 09/05/07	70%
13 Business Trip - 03/05/07	60%
Good Points: The lcoation and character
Bad Points: The bathroom was old and needed repairs and updating
Further Comments: The hotel has character, in particular the football gallery. The rooms are very expensive for what you get in return. I felt that the hotel has seen it's best days. It definitely needs updating. i.e the bathroom was need of updating, likewise the shower and bath did not work properly (Repairs - outstanding). The furniture in my room was old, as was the carpet. Apart from tht I did enjoy my stay at the hotel. The food in the restaurant is OK and the breakfast is good.
14 Business Trip - 03/05/07	60%
Good Points: The lcoation and character
Bad Points: The bathroom was old and needed repairs and updating
Further Comments: The hotel has character, in particular the football gallery. The rooms are very expensive for what you get in return. I felt that the hotel has seen it's best days. It definitely needs updating. i.e the bathroom was need of updating, likewise the shower and bath did not work properly (Repairs - outstanding). The furniture in my room was old, as was the carpet. Apart from tht I did enjoy my stay at the hotel. The food in the restaurant is OK and the breakfast is good.
15 Young couple - 08/04/07	90%
Good Points: Staff very attentive and accomodating. Pool, sauna, gym, spa of high standard. Residents bar full of character and brassiere good value for money and of a high standard. Nice room.
Bad Points: Small lift to room and down a winding corridor to get to this lift. Skip and builders container in the car park
Further Comments: We are using this venue for our wedding reception in the summer and as such have stayed here to test the waters. I have read negative reviews but I feel they are unfounded. We have stayed midweek, weekend and popped in at unusual hours of the day and night to check on specific things. Any member of staff we have spoken to has been helpful and polite although quite a few do not have english as there first language. They are all however competent in communication. The spa/leisure facilities are of a high standard and the residents bar, brassiere and the main resturant are all of a high standard. I have yet to encounter anything to be negative about when it comes to the cuisine. This is also an area where I feel you get good value for money. (Food anyway - drinks are usual hotel rip off price) The rooms themselves are 3*+ possibly 4* but I believe that most have been or are currently being renovated. The prices on the Sopwell Website are extreme and I would suggest a last minute booking (which will still probably be ￂﾣ120 upwards) or spa deals from other web sites. Even for the wedding our special rate is ￂﾣ155 per double. The grounds and the house itself are lovely and you are 5 minutes car journey to St.Albans which is interesting and full of style.
16 Young couple - 08/04/07	90%
Good Points: Staff very attentive and accomodating. Pool, sauna, gym, spa of high standard. Residents bar full of character and brassiere good value for money and of a high standard. Nice room.
Bad Points: Small lift to room and down a winding corridor to get to this lift. Skip and builders container in the car park
Further Comments: We are using this venue for our wedding reception in the summer and as such have stayed here to test the waters. I have read negative reviews but I feel they are unfounded. We have stayed midweek, weekend and popped in at unusual hours of the day and night to check on specific things. Any member of staff we have spoken to has been helpful and polite although quite a few do not have english as there first language. They are all however competent in communication. The spa/leisure facilities are of a high standard and the residents bar, brassiere and the main resturant are all of a high standard. I have yet to encounter anything to be negative about when it comes to the cuisine. This is also an area where I feel you get good value for money. (Food anyway - drinks are usual hotel rip off price) The rooms themselves are 3*+ possibly 4* but I believe that most have been or are currently being renovated. The prices on the Sopwell Website are extreme and I would suggest a last minute booking (which will still probably be ￂﾣ120 upwards) or spa deals from other web sites. Even for the wedding our special rate is ￂﾣ155 per double. The grounds and the house itself are lovely and you are 5 minutes car journey to St.Albans which is interesting and full of style.
17 Business Trip - 06/03/07	70%
Good Points: The staff were very friendly and efficient. The room was large and the facilities were extensive with free WiFi.
Bad Points: The bedroom was very hot.
Further Comments: The booking made over the internet worked well with a speedy confirmation. On arrival the bedroom offered was not a double but a twin which was corrected on request. However, the repalcement room was very hot but did have air conditioing which had to be left on overnight to avoid waking up too hot. The dinner menu had a limited choice and the quality of food was average. The WiFI was free and worked very well with great speed. The facilities pool, gym etc were extensive and well looked after. Unfortunately the breakfast offered was again limited and very expensive, ￂﾣ14. However, I would stay at the hotel again.
18 Business Trip - 06/03/07	70%
Good Points: The staff were very friendly and efficient. The room was large and the facilities were extensive with free WiFi.
Bad Points: The bedroom was very hot.
Further Comments: The booking made over the internet worked well with a speedy confirmation. On arrival the bedroom offered was not a double but a twin which was corrected on request. However, the repalcement room was very hot but did have air conditioing which had to be left on overnight to avoid waking up too hot. The dinner menu had a limited choice and the quality of food was average. The WiFI was free and worked very well with great speed. The facilities pool, gym etc were extensive and well looked after. Unfortunately the breakfast offered was again limited and very expensive, ￂﾣ14. However, I would stay at the hotel again.
19 Young couple - 03/02/07	90%
20 Mature couple - 17/01/07	90%
Good Points: Large room overlooking the lovely garden
Bad Points: Not enough sachets of coffee/milk
If you are unable to book a room at Sopwell House Hotel then the nearest UK hotels around the St Albans area are: Comfort Hotel St Albans-City Centre Review, : Ardmore House Hotel Review, : Thistle St Albans Review,