The Cottage in the Wood in Malvern

Holywell Rd, Malvern Wells, Malvern WR14 4LG, United Kingdom

★★★★☆
(542 reviews)
Categories: Hotel Bar Event venue Function room facility Restaurant

About

Georgian country house hotel with traditional simple rooms and 30-mile views from its restaurant.

Website
cottageinthewood.co.uk
Address
Holywell Rd, Malvern Wells, Malvern WR14 4LG, United Kingdom
Plus Code
3MM7+4V Malvern, United Kingdom
Time Zone
Europe/London

Services

Reviews

4.2
★★★★☆
542 reviews

Most Mentioned

meal (36) birthday (29) afternoon tea (16) course (15) sunday lunch (13) tasting menu (12) dining room (12) scones (11) sandwiches (9) romantic (5)
5 stars
333
4 stars
107
3 stars
46
2 stars
16
1 stars
40
December 11, 2024

Sunday lunch for a birthday treat. Having not been for a while , our return trip was a tad disappointing. As always we enjoyed the food but the service marred by a grumpy manager who was unwelcoming, a shame because the younger staff were lovely and we have enjoyed previous visits.

December 9, 2024

From the moment we stepped foot through the door we made really welcome, every one of the staff members we encountered were wonderful. The hotel is warm, a nice atmosphere in the bar area, very clean generally a really nice place to be.|The rooms are nice enough, bed very comfortable.|We had a meal in the restaurant which was simply amazing, the lady who served us was so good, so welcoming, thank you Alex you are lovely.

★★★★
December 8, 2024

We were gifted a voucher for an afternoon cream tea here. Upon arrival we sat at the bar, waiting for to be called in. The afternoon tea was unlimited selection of teas or coffee, and set amount of sandwiches, sausage rolls, scones and cakes. We liked the restaurant area and the view. I'd recommend this place for a stay or dining out or for afternoon tea.

★★★★
November 21, 2024

Another very enjoyable stay. We stayed three nights, dining at the restaurant one evening and in the bar another evening. We like to stay in the Coach House annexe. Our room was comfortable and clean, with thoughtful touches such as milk and water in the fridge, homemade shortbread biscuits each day, non-slip bath mat, and face cloths.|The restaurant dinner was excellent, and they took great care to accommodate our food intolerances. Breakfast also copious. |All the staff we dealt with were friendly, professional and helpful. We particularly wanted to mention Sophie who was around for much of our stay and was warm and full of charm.|Slight warning - our room 30 had an old fashioned bath on legs (and the shower was in the bath). Nicely characterful, but very high for clambering in and out. If you are less the 5'6'' or getting stiff you will find this a challenge. Best to check when you book your room.

★★★
October 12, 2024

I just booked for lunch and ate from the 3 course menu. The food was exceptional, particularly the venison. The little extras - scrumptious amuse bouche and a cherry crème fraiche mousse were much appreciated. The service was faultless; it was a particularly nice touched to be called “Mrs D…..” throughout. I will be back and next time walk a lot further than 3 miles on the hills to generate enough of an appetite for the 5 course tasting menu!

★★★
October 6, 2024

This was our 4th visit to the Cottage in the Wood. It came fully up to expectations. We found that there had been a change of ownership and some re-modelling of the hotel, especially the dining room but all was fine. My wife required gluten-free meals, and she was superbly assisted by the waiting staff. They were very knowledgeable and gave us advice. The meals were well cooked, and the menu did change during our three-night stay. The room (in the Coach House) was comfortable and warm. The other thing this hotel is acclaimed for is the views - and they lived up to expectations too! Even in the mist and rain, the Vale below looked beautiful, but the glorious sunshine on our final morning rounded the stay off. We highly recommend the Cottage in the Wood. Thank you for a wonderful, much needed stay.

★★★★
September 29, 2024

Beautiful hotel nestled in the Malvern Hills. Stunning vistas and a prime location for visiting the area and beyond.||Comfy rooms, lovely toiletries and very peaceful and quiet. ||Dining is a true experience. Make sure you book ahead if staying for the time you want to eat, as this is a destination restaurant. Had dinner there two nights in a row as it was so delicious.||Parking can be busy but there is additional parking behind some of the accommodation. ||V Friendly helpful hotel. Lovely staff. ||Would definitely stay here again. ||Ps being walking boots as the countryside and walks are splendid

★★★
September 7, 2024

Perhaps, the location and views are the only redeeming features. Rooms - Shabby with no thought given to the layout. If you like dust, then you’ve come to stay at the right place. However, plenty of soft towels provided and the bed was comfortable. Shower - The temperature was lukewarm at best. The shower tray did not drain sufficiently which meant my partner had to forgo the pleasure of having a shower. I mentioned the lukewarm water and shower tray to the (oh so helpful but couldn’t give a toss) Receptionist who said she would arrange for maintenance to inspect. Given the smell of damp and uneven flooring, I suspect this is not the first time this has occurred. Food - The portions are small and it may be advisable to have a small snack before (or after) your meal. This did not overly concern us as we had read the previous reviews. Breakfast was an odd affair. Perhaps the butter and side plate were there simply for decoration? At no point were we offered toast to accompany our choice from the menu. Bizarre! The coffee was good. The tables are situated far too close to each other. So off-putting. Service - This was somewhat lacking and certainly something they need to improve on.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

Wonderful stay for a special birthday. Food was incredible.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 8, 2024

Lovely location. Great food and service. Will be back. Thank you

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 24, 2024

What a lovely hotel, in a beautiful part of the world. I stayed for business for one night, the service and quality of the rooms was impeccable. The food was excellent and I had a really enjoyable stay! Rooms : 5/5

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

A really delightful meal, not too large, but interspersed with lovely little tasters - a real delight as were the attentive, friendly and efficient staff. Thank you.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

We went for lunch and it was absolutely delicious. Very nice touches with amuse bouches and pre-dessert. Great service and friendly, efficient staff. Amazing view, even in a hazy day.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Dined for lunch with friends....it was exceptionally good....I believe it is a new chef....Great food and flavours...beautifully presented...complete with 3 amuse boucle. For a beautiful lunch...with a magnificent view...book here!!

★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

My daughter had an 18th birthday celebration here. The food was excellent and they had a nice evening, but they were totally not informed of having to take the set 3 course menu. On the website, it says that theres a 2 course menu ánd you can eat à la carte. À la carte means that you can choose any starter, main and dessert from the menu. It made it an unexpected expensive night out for the young girls. A pity, because they could have informed my daughter upon reservation. It would have given her the chance to reconsider.

★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Would have been a stunning location and view except for the weather as we were in the clouds and fogged in!

October 22, 2024

On 17th September at 20.08 I booked a table for my wife s birthday on 15 October . I contacted on the 14th as I had forgotten the exact time of the table, only to be told that my booking had been cancelled because I hadn t given card details I was not asked for this and as I was at home when I booked I could have easily complied .. When I asked if they could fit us in I was told no ,because there was a large group booked in the restaurant , and they had booked months ago ! As i consolation a member of staff said she d arrange for us to have a free drink if we rebooked ! I spoke to another staff member the following day ,and she emailed back and informed me that the General Manager would contact me this weekend . It s 21.30 now on Sunday and nothing . Imagine if I d have remembered the table time ,and we d turned up !!

★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Just went for coffee

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

A great hotel halfway up the hill, with a backdoor to the path to go up and see the amazing views. The rooms are big and cosy, much bigger than expected for an older building, and of very modern design. The views are stunning, and breakfast served in the morning is not a buffet but a proper table service. Wow! Would highly recommend to people wanting to walk the hills and indulge afterwards. Only minor thing - parking is challenging and we struggled to find place.

★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

We went for Sunday lunch and this review is based on one visit so may not be a good reflection of their service and meal. The pre-lunch drinks and general ambience was lovely. The lunch menu was a fixed price (£34) for three courses, no option for one or two courses. Service was only ok. Some of our party had a great meal and others just average. No-one felt that they would be tempted to go back.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

We didnt stay but had a lovely lunch here, the view is spectacular and it is a lovely place to while away a few hours. The dining room is on the more formal side, but there was a good childrens menu, child friendly, but not the usual junk food aimed at children. I liked that the childrens menu didnt seem like an afterthought or a bolt on, but good food aimed at kids. Our mocktails were also good, again some thought had gone into them and included 0% kir royale or a spritz. The adults food was good if not a little variable. For example, the fishcake was good, the raspberry dessert was excellent. The only slight niggle is that the service was friendly and polite but slow and a little inattentive. Not enough to spoil the experience, we still had a lovely time in a special place. I would happily go back and recommend it to others if they are in the area, I just feel with a few tweaks, it could be exceptional.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

The hotel s location has fantastic views and walks around the Malvern hills. We found the check in experience difficult, as the room we booked was different to what was given, the receptionist did change our room, and explained the issue was with who we booked through, So be careful who you book with as a deluxe is not worded the same as on their website. The room we had in the coach house was boiling hot, and had had dogs in previously as the smell was apparent, the floor is very creaky and the decor could do with updating. Breakfast was very good, and overall a good stay, though would have been disappointed to have paid £200 for that room a night.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Hotel has magnificent views! Getting to it feels a little procarious and I wouldnt want to do it in the winter! We booked a best room and it was located in the coach house. The room was ok but for the price lacked some finesse. I feel there may have been better best rooms we just didnt get allocated one. Bed was very comfy and shower was nice. The main building requires some aesthetic attention. Its gutters need clearing and it could do with cleaning down and painting but this didnt detract from the fabulous view from the dining room, bar and patio areas. We ate in the restaurant for the first night and enjoyed the food. There wasnt (or didnt appear) to be any other option other than a 3 course meal or the tasting menu. It was all beautifully presented and delicious but too rich for us to consider eating there the next evening. There was an in room menu which I believe was available to order at the bar so perhaps thats what we should have done the second night? The bar only has one draft lager, a local brew which was a little hoppy but not too bad according to my husband. The alternative was bottled peroni. Bitter was all bottled and they dont have Guinness so lacked choice for beer drinkers. I was unsure of the in-room toiletries. They are all full size bottles and you are requested not to take them home or you will be charged £20 per bottle! I really didnt like the thought of communal toiletries so was glad I took my own. I realise this is to help with plastic waste but there may be better ways of dealing with this. Perhaps dont provide a them at all? Most people bring their own anyway. Overall we had a nice relaxing break. The breakfasts were lovely and the staff work very hard to make sure you are well looked after.

★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Conflicted on my experience at this place. Room and general atmosphere here was positive but the cost of food and the size of the dishes was a distinct negative. Nothing worse than paying quite a lot of money and going to bed feeling hungry! For the record, I travel for work and stay in 3 hotels a month as a result. I try to stay in a different hotel every time and go back to the good ones when I can. Unfortunately, I wont be rebooking here due to the restaurant. Rooms: The rooms were well furnished, clean and comfortable. The building is situated on a hillside and the views were superb (although room 4, it was mostly obscured by a roof and fire escape). Everything needed was there - drinks making, fridge with (complimentary water and milk), ironing and ironing board, safe. Food and drinks: The food and the variety in the menu was disappointing. The food came out very well presented and it tasted nice but the dish was ridiculously small and as a result - very expensive! I order the fish cake one small fish cake arrived in what looked like a large cereal bowl, handful of veg and some sauce. That coat £26.00! The waiter asked if I needed sides, I said no and the guy came across as slightly surprised and I knew why when the food arrived. The breakfast (£15) was equally miniscule. If you had a 3 course meal with sides and breakfast, you aint going to get much change from £60 per person.

★★★★★
July 22, 2024

If you can find a hotel in Worcestershire with a better view which I doubt, superb lunch, light subtle excellent falvor - will worth a vist Food and drinks: see photos

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

A fantastic find, for a quick relaxing break from the mad world. The drinks are very reasonably priced, and the food is outstanding.

★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Beautiful place to stay food was very nice. Im not a fan of streaky bacon on the breakfast. Not a hotel you want to walk to. Rooms: Rooms are spacious, comfortable,and clean. Walkability: The hotel is on a very steep road.

★★★★
July 22, 2024

Beautiful location with great views and easy access to fantastic walking trails. Rooms were nice but not luxurious. What could be improved - some of the staff (particularly strangely the more senior staff) seemed a bit inconvenienced by guests being around and were not that friendly. In addition, they were initially very unaccommodating with my dietaries, stating that I could have the tasting menu but I shouldn t expect much flavour - shocking in this day and age. The food turned out to be delicious so it was a completely unnecessary way to start the evening off on a negative note. They have a great location so if they could improve the service it would be somewhere I would go back to for a staycay with great food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Couldnt fault it... but expensive.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

This was our second time to Cottage in the Woods, and it did not disappoint! Our room was great, our building was Beach Cottage and we had a good view of the Malvern hills. Really cant thank the restaurant and bar staff enough they were all amazing and so attentive, nothing was too much trouble and they were super friendly, whilst also remaining professional. Dont change a thing! We will be back again soon. Thanks to all the staff for making our visit so special again. Rooms: Lovely Rooms, the beach house is our favourite building to stay in so far after two visits. Food and drinks: The food here, especially the breakfast, is amazing. Staff and service are exceptional.

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Very pleasant visit today, I have been a few times now and always enjoy the excellent presentation and flavours. Today did not disappoint! Staff very attentive and polite my only wish would be a smile once in a while. Everyone was fantastic. The chef definitely deserves all the accolades he has been collecting over the past few years. Very much worth a visit again.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Perfect place to escape from city life. Was enjoying beautiful views from the restaurant. Friendly staff:)

Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Had left a 5* review previously, but hadnt experienced the arrogance of the customer service until now. We booked a table for our anniversary that we had to cancel. Slapped with a £25 charge per head! Weve been for our anniversary several times over recent years, but not again. Ive sent so many friends here on recommendation. Can someone send them a book on customer retention?

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Excellent fathers day meal. Great service and wonderful food. Didnt stay so cannot comment on the rooms. Food and drinks: Gourmet style food at reasonable (but not cheap!) prices.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Lovely meal last night. Friendly staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Hadnt been for ages but was treated to Lunch yesterday and really enjoyed it. Think I will be planning on returning! Food and drinks: Recommend the lunches

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Amazing lunch at the beautiful restaurant. Not cheap, but well worth it. We did not stay at the hotel.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Beautiful food and very tasty. Stunning views and good service

Local Guide
April 22, 2024

For a corporate booking, one room for two people, they have a hidden additional fee for the second person; they charge double! That is, if the room booking is £80, they charge another £80 per night per person even though they are in the same room. So if you make such a booking, expect them to spring that on you when you come to check-in or check-out. Feels a lot like a scam. The Abbey Great Malvern are much more reasonable. Edit: Reply to their Response It is of course not at all a problem that you charge more for two guests, you as a business owner can price your service however you like, and prospective customers can take it or leave it. The reason you have earned a bad review is that I booked a room for two guests, and you intended to hit me with additional hidden fees not specified elsewhere. The real problem is that you dont have the IT setup correctly and you dont seem to care about that. I have drawn your attention to this problem, but you are happy to spring hidden fees on people. You can ask for however much money you want but you must be transparent about the cost upfront, which due to the IT not being setup correctly, you are not.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Food and drinks: Wonderful food. Hotel highlights

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Absolutely fantastic! We popped in for lunch today as a last minute decision, nothing was too much trouble for the team. Food was delicious, great tastes, lovely location! Very reasonably priced. One of our favourites.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Rooms in the annexe are nice but nothing special. Nearby activities: Great Malvern , Ledbury and Hereford are all nearby. Walkability: Lots of walks on the nearby Malvern hills.

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

My wife and I went today for a 3 course lunch for her birthday. We ve been a couple of times before and today didn t disappoint. It was just out of this world. The location is stunning with beautiful views across the Severn Valley. It s always a classy experience. The food is just to die for (catering for all tastes and requirements) and the service is top class. Thanks to Rachel who looked after us attentively. I m not one for photographing my food, but I enclose a couple of the desserts and little birthday treat. Very highly recommended, thanks guys x

March 22, 2024

We had a very bad experience with hotel. Very poor customer service and management. I would NEVER book this hotel again and would NOT recommend. Service

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

My wife and I came here last Friday for dinner and overnight stay to celebrate her birthday and our anniversary. What a good choice we made! Such a charming, friendly and welcoming hotel in a gorgeous location with superb views over the surrounding countryside. Our room was clean, cosy and very comfortable (with a bed, bowl and treats for our dog too!). What made our short stay truly special though was the dinner - absolutely superb in every aspect. We had the 3 course special menu and it was worth every penny and every course was perfectly cooked and stylishly presented. Well definitely return and with luck have better weather so we can also enjoy the wonderful walks in the Malverns to be had directly from the hotel.

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Everything about our stay was 10/10. Lovely room, amazing views, the staff were great. Our dinner was one of the nicest meals we have had! :)

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

Surprise family meal for my husbands birthday. The whole experience from beginning to end was fabulous Food was amazing, delicious and beautifully presented. Hopefully it wont be to long before we return. Service : 5/5 |

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Came just for the Sunday lunch and was not disappointed at all. Every course was very tastefully crafted and the desserts were on the money! Definitely worth the drive from Birmingham and back. The views from the restaurant on a sunny day are great!

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Absolutely stunning, cant rate it enough it. The food was devine and service was impeccable. Honestly if you get the opportunity go, you wont regret it Rooms: Beautiful, everything you could need and spotlessly clean. The bed was so comfortable, I havent slept that well in a long time. Nearby activities: Right in the Malvern Hills, lots of beautiful walks. Food and drinks: Insanely good food, loved everything I had.

★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Had set menu lunch with friends. Service was very good and food was hot and well presented. Taste wise it was okay but I was a bit disappointed but considering the price I guess it was value for money. The view from the restaurant is fabulous and that makes it worth the visit. We will go back and try the tasting menu. If you want a reasonably priced lunch its worth considering but there are other pkaces that offer a wider choice but are more expensive.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fantastic

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Lovely tasting menu. Nice birthday treat. Attentive staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Been back several times since my review below and we love it! Food is gorgeous and the current lunch offer of £19 is amazing. We intend to keep going, the chef is just brilliant! Absolutely beautiful setting. A bit on the expensive side at £11 each but the Marmalade cocktails were really good and the service was friendly and prompt. Will have to go back and try the food next time!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

We had a Xmas dinner party and accomodation for over 30 people. The staff were very accommodating and everything that we required they delivered.The food was of excellent standards but the portions were a little on the small side. The rooms were lovely, spacious, quiet and very comfortable. Breakfast was of a high standard and hopefully we book again for next year. Lovely location .

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

OK, we maybe biased as we stayed for our honeymoon a long time ago...and found it charming this time too. Room was a bit chilly and didnt notice til we were leaving that the window ( hidden behind a blind) was open! its a bit like visiting a great aunts home....comfortable welcoming and a little dated.dinner and breakfast were amazing...drinks in the bar was nice but you need to offer mixers by someone other than fevertree as they are as expensive as the spirits and it feels a rip off. Reception staff were extremely helpful even when I queried a charge for dinner that was correct!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I never stayed in the rooms but I did dine there for the evening, and wow what an experience from the get go of walking in the door , was welcomed and had are coats taken , sat down at the bar area to pick drinks as they got are table ready. Once they was ready they moved use all to the table and thats where the magic happened, I have never had food like it before, so flavour some and nice , it was great ,it was my parents birthday and they got her a card and a lil plate of sweet treats at the end of the meal which was lovely , highly recommend, Food and drinks: The food was mind blowing , just look at the pictures. They do not do the meal justice. Did walk away full even tho potion sizes look small .

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Gorgeous rural retreat in the English countryside! We stayed here for one night in the Coach House and had a stunning view of the landscape. Our room was very spacious and comfortable, with an easy to use heating system. Breakfast is included with the booking. We also had the tasting menu at the award winning restaurant in the evening which was delicious and had a great variety of dishes on it. Wed love to come back in the warmer weather to try some of the nearby walking routes.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great Sunday lunch. Food and drinks: Good quality and a good selection for Sunday Lunch. Service : 4/5 |

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Very nice place to stay

★★★
December 22, 2023

Food was very good. However the waiter who took our order was very unfriendly and unhelpful. Once we ordered our meal , he asked if we would like any sides.....I asked him how big are the portions and he said read the menu its all there ,Which we thought was increadbly rude. I am pretty sure his attitude towards us changed when he realised I was not drinking alcohol and was happy with water. My husband had a G&T though. We had 3 course menu ( as there was no other choices) at£49 each so not cheap .The waiter who served us food was better . All in all food was good but need serving staff who enjoy their job and do it with a smile and are not be judgemental.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The food was beyond good Food and drinks: Awesome Service : 5/5 |

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We had an excellent three course Sunday lunch with good service. High end food, and hence small portions, but very well balanced and very well cooked.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fantastic afternoon tea with stunning views

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Wow what a fantastic location

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The Cottage in the Wood is the most beautiful hotel and very special to us as we had our honeymoon 41 years ago. After several visits since, this weekend was once again superb! The room, staff, and ambience could not be faulted. We chose to have the tasting menu for our dinner last night, and I can not describe to you how incredible it was! First class - and faultless each and every course. Thankyou all so much for a wonderful evening

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Enjoyed the taster menu here 7 courses., fantastic views to the east of Malvern and Interesting history of the site and buildings.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We had an excellent Sunday roast.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Lovely food, friendly and helpful staff, all in a superb location with fantastic views.

December 22, 2023

I stayed here last year and was overwhelmed by it unfortunately I rebooked for my partner and myself for our anniversary only to be treated appalling in the restaurant by the newly appointed General Manager who I m sorry to say was Truly Homophobic I was booked in for 2 nights but left after only one in tears and very very upset my partner and I were there to relax and we both came away so stressed and unhappy which was such a shame because last year it was perfect. May I suggest that you take the time and make your general manager aware of his truly horrible behaviour appalling to let 2 women leave a restaurant that upset a very horrible person will not recommend this hotel to anyone and I will make sure my mom and dad who are booked there in July will not be coming

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Called in on spec for lunch and a drink, gerally staff were OK but could have been more knowledgeable, recommend booking first, however having phoned several times, phone remained unanswered, would have to think hard about revisit.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Rooms: Comfortable but up 2 flights with no lift, demanding. Nearby activities: The town of Malvern has a variety of shops and attractions. The Priory is a very welcoming, friendly church. Walkability: Set on a hillside, the walks are inevitably not flat! Food and drinks: Delicious dinner, though the menu didnt vary over the 3 nights we were there Noteworthy details: Looking East from this vantage point is a great panorama. In the warmer weather, it must be delightful to sit and enjoy the view.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Stayed four nights. Lovely stay, excellent food and lovely staff. Very professional and friendly. Views from hotel wonderful.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We had a three night stay, the room was ok apart from the fact that you could hear everything from the other rooms, including a dog barking from 6am on. Furthermore the terrace door couldn t be locked so we had to take our important belongings with us at all time. In the end, the only ones that came in through that open door were spiders I don t know if that s a good or bad thing And to get back to the dogs, we ve read, that dogs are allowed in all rooms on the ground floor of the coach house. We slept in one of those rooms but were never asked if we maybe had a dog allergy. Luckily we didn t but we were asking ourselves, what they would have done in that case? I think this is really unprofessional. Breakfast is included in the price, on the first day it was quite good but it somehow got worse with every time cold porridge, untoasted bread, bitter tea. Most of the staff was a little bit unfriendly and terribly slow. The tables around us were not cleared for a very long time, the chairs are stained and the tables sticky. For us it was in no way worth the price and we probably won t come back any time soon

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We only visited the bar. Stunning place with a breathtaking view.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We went for a drink and the view. It is an amazing place!

★★
December 22, 2023

An incredibly mixed review I m afraid. We arrived for a two night stay. Our room in the coach house was damp, not very well maintained and a mushroom was growing out of the shower due to damp. I m allergic to pet hair and spent all my time sneezing and coming up in hives and needing to scratch like mad!! It wasn t until the final night at around 11pm that it realised there was pet hair and we were in a dog friendly room!! You should be asked when you book about pet friendly rooms. We had the tasting menu on the first night and the food was absolutely fantastic. Probably the best tasting menu we had ever had! I did however have three hairs on my plate when served the crab. I informed the waiter who looked at it and said he didn t understand as the chef was blonde. He said it must have come from somewhere else?? Ok, but I not my partner have black hair so it wasn t us either?!? The receptionist was friendly and the bar staff were ok. One young chap was not great and I had to remind them twice about the mayo I had requested with my fries. We had afternoon tea and two teaspoons we were give were dirty. I had to walk off with them and find someone to replace them so there was no one around. Overall good food but nothing else is worth the trip. I couldn t wait to go home.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fabulous 7 course taster menu. Distinctive tastes across all parts of the menu and courses. Service was great and a glorious location.

December 22, 2023

Not the best road up as a single lane and narrow. Food not really value for money even the lunch time deal, £19, more of a taster meal, 2 choices a cauliflower dish and a roast beef which was the size of a £2 coin, (didnt include vegetables),the starter again, two choices and a coffee included in meal deal. Overall good quality but not really value for money, better to have more choice rather than a pretence meal deal. You have to pay extra for vegetables, a fiver for a brocoli.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Another very enjoyable stay at The Cottage. Comfy room with wonderful views over the beautiful Worcestershire countryside. Ate in the restaurant both nights of our stay - food was superb. All the staff are very welcoming and helpful, but must say a special thank you to Tiff in the restaurant who made sure the six of us were so well looked after - we were all very appreciative of her professional but friendly care, ensuring that all went smoothly.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Fantastic experience! Food was amazing, liquor selections was great, location is magical, staff was wonderful and our room was perfect. Thank you

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Amazing stay! We were just wowed by the view here and how peaceful the stay was. We got a room with a balcony that overlooked to the view and this was the highlight of our stay. Breakfast was lovely and staff at the hotel were friendly, close to lovely walks and Malvern town, would love to come back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Stopped here for a coffee in the morning, a beautiful view across to the Three Counties Showground

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Rooms: We must have been unlucky! Very small room at the top of the hotel. Good job it wasnt too hot otherwise we would have sweltered! Thankfully we are small people otherwise it would have been very uncomfortable. Food and drinks: Food very good although portions were small for the evening meal. Service was excellent.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Beautiful location, my room had a super comfortable bed. The entire team that looked after me during my stay were fantastic. Delicious menus for breakfast and dinner and a very welcoming atmosphere.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

What a stunning location! Stayed for 6 days. Thoroughly spoilt with exceptionally good meals and a well stocked bar to round off the evening! Many thanks to the chefs who also catered excellently for vegetarian meals with good nutrition and imagination! Please send our grateful thanks to all your staff who were so friendly and helpful. Would love to re visit and will remember those panoramic views from the ridge above the woods behind the hotel forever. We needed a break and chose just the right place to stay. Thank you.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Beautiful place on the hills above Malvern. Food was exceptional too, Michelin star level. Food and drinks: Exceptional

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Been several times with friends, and my partner. Very nice food. Amazing view. Definitely sit outside or by the window.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The fabulous location and reputation of this hotel was let down by poor service and a miserable GF scone,, The non gf scones were apparently OK though. The Cream Tea experience felt rushed and was a disappointing experience. Service

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The views from the dining room are absolutely amazing, the afternoon tea was really lovely, will be returning soon

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food and drinks: Well prepared and served with care, 5 dinner. Service

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

We loved EVERYTHING!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Wonderful location, exquisitely presented & very tasty lunch. Service was excellent. Highly recommend.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Been visiting Malvern Wells for years and years but only just visited here. Drive up is steep and parking tight and limited. But view is worth it, food lovely.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Fabulous food and location highly recommended.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great place Great staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Lovely restaurant fantastic food, great for a special occasion or celebration. We had our 38th anniversary there, and it made our evening.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Absolutely relaxing, stunning views, lovely balcony, fantastic meal, fantastic breakfast.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Fantastic hotel. Great for walking in the Malvern hills or relaxing in the garden. Couldnt fault the food or service. All the team were very nice and nothing was too much trouble.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Booked for a surprise birthday meal for 2. Food fantastic, full of flavour. High end & refined. Great value for money. Unfortunately the service let the side down massively. Nearly a Half an hour wait to someone to take our drinks order, a further 10 minutes for them to arrive, then drinks came incorrect. Overall service very slow, appeared asif they were a new team and slightly inexperienced. Had to remind of birthday dessert gesture, (standard in most restaurants) even though mentioned in booking. Service would be the only reason i wouldnt recommend sadly, hopefully this improves.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A lovely place, great breakfast. Superb room. A return is on the cards Rooms

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Paid a lot of money for our room, nice room but certainly not £297 per nights worth. Beautiful location, food and staff were amazing. We will visit again but find a cheaper room. The bed was so comfy though. Nearby activities: We stayed for the amazing 3 counties Malvern autumn show. Food and drinks: Food was amazing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Enjoyed a lovely relaxed anniversary meal with a wonderful view. The service was excellent, especially Calem who was very attentive. Booked a room so we could enjoy a drink, however although the room was nice with a lovely view and well appointed I didnt think it represented the best value for money compared with other similar hotels.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

We visited the restaurant and had the 10 course tasting menu. The food was absolutely incredible. Some of the best food I ve tasted. Price was reasonable for what you get. Would recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

On the 3rd of October 2023 my wife had booked lunch for us at The Cottage in the Wood and I was blown away. The view was nothing but stunning! The staff were friendly and the manager seemed very knowledgeable about what wine should go with our five course tasting menu. All the menu items (not just the five course) seemed very nice but as it was my birthday we went with the five course tasting. Each and every dish was great! The food was top of the line and we both couldn t have asked for better tasting food. For the price of £55 each we thought it was great value after tasting the food. We can t comment on staying at the hotel but they are the only hotel approved my employer Cisco so it must be good. For dining we really recommend going to The Cottage in the Wood when visiting Malvern! Food and drinks: Amazing food and drink

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Location on side of the malvern hills excellent. Dining room quite pleasant if you like grey. Service good until 15-00 pm when staff were busy serving afternoon teas. Food :- Bread excellent, starters very good ( artichokes), sweet good (apple cake) Pity about the main course (beef). The meat was good but the parsnips was hard and there was not enough potatoes to tell if good or bad and the whole meal was let down by being lukewarm. Walkability: Malvern hills on your door step

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Nice

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Excellent Sunday lunch. Food and service were excellent. Food and drinks: Great food. Chef is excellent. Service : 5/5 Hotel highlights

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious food, exquisitely presented and attentive, discreet service. Superb

★★
December 22, 2023

Booked a champagne afternoon tea for my mums birthday and was bitterly disappointed. No atmosphere whatsoever and the quality and selection of the afternoon tea was very poor and not at all value for money. We were a party of three ladies not big portion eaters at all but even we were shocked at the little amount of finger sandwiches approximately 3 Lipitor fingers each! We asked if it would be possible to have a few more and were told that was the allocated amount!! And that the chefs had gone on their break. She did in all fairness come back a few minutes later with four more fingers! The fillings were the cheapest possible ingredients, one a cheap salmon pate, (at the price we paid per head I would have expected smoked salmon) one egg mayo and the other some horrible cheese and onion sandwich filing. The sweet / cake selection was dreadful and very uninspiring, the scones were as dry as a bone and tasteless, the shot glass of panna cotta was curdled and runny, there was a little dish each of what looked and tasted like a blob of Nutella chocolate paste with a Shrewsbury biscuit stuck in it! The only decent thing was a tiny little individual carrot cakes. The leaf tea was weak. The glass of champagne was good, nice and cold and nice flutes. I can honestly say this was the worst afternoon tea selection I ve ever had in terms of quality and value for money, and it felt even more disappointing because it was my mums birthday. We certainly won t be rushing back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food and drinks: Great food Service

★★★
December 22, 2023

This establishment has become a caricature of itself. If you love the idea of the place and are blind to the let-downs you will blissfully believe you have enjoyed a life-enhancing experience and excellent value. For those with appreciation of reality quality and value are twin problems. The food inhabits a nether world where ingredients and flavour are strangers and the portion size and cost is an obvious joke. The customer could be forgiven for imagining hearing the chefs evil sniggering at the emperors new trousers jest he has successfully delivered once again confident that the view outside has worked its powerful diverting magic. Expect the headline price to be merely a launching pad for higher atmospheres fuelled by extras. Service is warm veering often to cold depending on the staff member but overall is good. The location would be spectacular when some trees and shrubs are removed especially for times of leafiness. But pick the right angle and you can see forever. Well as far as Bredon Hill on a clear day if you blinker away the 3 Counties Showgrounds regular gaudiness and the trailer park beyond. Having said that it is Worcestershires Severn Valley so cant be that bad. CITW is a curates egg that should be fatter and more generous and one I will avoid cracking open again.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Lovely place to stay

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Met up with the family for a late Christmas lunch. Pre ordered the food from the menu. Was £29 per head and the food was exceptional!! The communication with the venue was simple and efficient. Excellent venue for a nice meal out and good views.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We had the festive lunch and it was delicious. Beautifully presented food with lots of flavour, definitely recommended for a treat.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Fabulous food, ambience, service, and views over Worcestershire!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Really welcoming staff and amazing view from the room. The restaurant was really excellent. There s a direct route out from the hotel into the hills which was very useful. Great getaway!

★★
December 22, 2022

Poor room initially. Upgrade but that was poor also.. breakfast.. had to wait an hour each day!!! Shocking service.

December 22, 2022

No hot water Bugs all over the inside of our windows Mould all over bathroom window Limescale in kettle (covered) no mesh to stop it pouring into your cup. Waited an hour for our order to be taken in the restaurant. Waiting staff don t know what food they are even serving. It was a joke. Ruined our weekend away, had to book a different hotel nearby for our second night. This was the best room we booked by the way. Views are breathtaking, but I d recommend a fancy tent on the hills over a night at faulty towers.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

This hotel is incredible, view is off the charts, service is outstanding, food fantastic, amazingly comfortable and tastefully decorated. Its a bargain for what you get, a proper experience.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Lovely location with great views had afternoon tea great service and friendly atmosphere. Lovely staff.

December 22, 2022

Room was not in main hotel. In Covid times no individual toiletries. Even had to share milk from a communal fridge. Wanted late breakfast was told 8.30.only 2 tables filled when we arrived. Cant understand why we couldnt have 9.00.Very disappointed. Never again.

Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Terrible place!! One member of staff in particular rude!! (Older lady) I love watching Faulty Towers but to experience the place is another thing!! STAY AWAY!! Please don t reply to my review with the same cut and paste review as you do to others.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Small selection of drinks

December 22, 2022

I booked a surprise birthday for my husband, we arrived for lunch to find we were the only 2 people in the restaurant that day . I was a little daunted but my husband said, well this is romantic, we have the restaurant to ourselves I said, well the food will be amazing, chef only has to cook for 2! We ordered cod, the minute it was put in front of us, the smell.... my husband who does not usually pick fish on the menu, quickly ate it,. I on the other hand tried to get it down, but gagged and left it by the side of a spoonful of green slime, what was the accompanying veg? It looked , smelt and tasted like it was the leftovers, albeit arranged perfectly on the plate. We were booked in for dinner...... it was a surprise for my husbands birthday , at this point my husband had no clue..I sat at the table worrying that I had to tell him, dinner and breakfast were in front of us. We checked in to our room, not what I had envisaged really, large room, but as they state on the website, a boutique hotel, I was disappointed, very sparse, ok, in these times we are in, but to find in the bathroom, we had to use the toiletries that were left over from the previous guests, with stickers on saying ..dont take me.. Good god, really!! I wanted to go home! But, we decided to give them a chance, we went down to dinner, wow, some other guests in the restaurant, bit of ambiance, ....... To be fair , we couldnt fault the food at dinner, service good, but Im afraid our vision of a perfect relaxation night away was ruined, and after dinner we left, didnt feel we wanted to stay over and paid the bill, horrendous charges for extras, and a service charge after every meal. What a shame, this place could be so much better, and a more personal reply instead of a generic response to reviews would make such a difference.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Absolutely loved it! A clean and cosy place with extremely convenient location for hills walks! Amazing dinner and spectacular view breakfast.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Afternoon tea , was amazing great food great service and great place.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Yummy Wild Garlic soup

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We had an absolutely lovely stay at The Cottage in the Wood! Appreciate all the friendly staff and the great location of the cottage, easy access to the walking trails along Malvern Hills.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Wonderful. From the moment of arrival to checking out could not have been better. Lovely hotel in a lovely setting with great views was certainly a good start. Next, the food. The chef must be complimented, the evening meal was delightful. A wonderful combination of tastes in every course made it most enjoyable. The bar was comfortable and nice to relax in afterwards, had a nice local bottled ale, shame only lager on draft. Breakfast. Nice choice and tasty once again. The staff. Really friendly and welcoming from start to end. Thoroughly enjoyed and will visit again.

★★
December 22, 2022

I went for a romantic dinner. The place has a great view is well decorated and the staff are good. The main issus is with the quantity of food. For a meal for two including two small glasses of wine and a gnt cost £139 which is at the pricy end for this area. The food is interesting and creative, however both of us left the table very very hungry, there simply is not enough food served to feed a 5 year old. I do not expect to be stuffed after a meal of this type, but as a minimum I should not leave hungry. At £45 per head with etra charges for mandatory sides and suplimental prices for many items its just not good value, especially as we had to go home and make some more food which I add was delicious. Probably explains why it was only about 30% full. Sorry but wont be returning.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Me and my wife stayed one night and was really impressed from the moment of check in to checking out . The room was very clean and very comfortable the staff are very polite and friendly especially the staff at breakfast time what else can I say excellent would definitely stay here again Thank you x

★★★
December 22, 2022

Fabulous food, dogs only allowed outside. The young waiting staff and manager need some training.a real shame. Service

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

It was lovely to be back at the Cottage after three years, and to introduce family to your special hospitality. Our rooms in the Coach House were lovely. The renovations are superb and it was a treat to sit on the individual terraces in the unseasonal sun. Thank you for all the personal touches and the lovely food in your restaurant.

★★★★
December 22, 2022

Positives: pretty scenery and comfy accomodation. Lovely views from hill tops. Negatives: Food, bar menu was bland and boring and overpriced. Fine dining was tiny portions and nothing outstanding, and massively overpriced for what you got (was a joke really). Restaurant would not accommodate for us to order from the bar menu and we were shunted to the bar area if we wanted to have a steak, ridiculous and pretentious policy with no substance.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Lovely place for Sunday lunch. We were lucky enough to get a window table so we had great views. The food and service were excellent

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Always a favourite place to stay, but food better with new chef

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Location. Is fabulous, staff are mostly brilliant, and the food is worth travelling for. Great menu. I stayed overnight in the compact and superbly decorated and furnished room 5 - right at the top of the main building. The room would be too small for 2, and I m sure very warm in summer. This time of year the temperature was just right. Nice touches included a fridge with fresh milk - great for making your own tea and coffee with the ample supplies provided. After a great dinner went to bed and I could not sleep because of industrial fan / extractor noise. By midnight surely the kitchens are closed? Maybe, but the big extractor keeps going. I managed to find someone who kindly turned it off. The next morning I had a superb breakfast in the lovely dining room with great views through the windows.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Views, location and service absolutely incredible at the best place to stay in Malvern.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Very neat and tidy hotel.breakfast superb staff efficient.bar very snug would rate it highly

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Lovely small hotel, beautiful views and friendly staff

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great views, lovely room and delicious breakfast.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Excellent food, although breakfast looks tiny on the plate, you can have fruit and toast, pastries. The staff waiting on you are so kind.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Solo Business Traveller Arrived at the hotel around 6pm on a Wednesday evening, checked in quickly with ease. Shown to Room 3 compact but beautifully decorated, would say a little small for 2. Bathroom extremely clean and room had all facilities required. Booked the restaurant 1919 for 6.30pm didnt realise it was set menu with the bar offering a varied menu. I opted for the 3 course menu. The food was delicious and seasoned perfectly. The view from my table was outstanding went and sat outside on the terrace for a short while to enjoy the view before retiring to my room. My room being at the stop of the open stair case was a little noisy with sounds from the restaurant but that soon settled and was asleep quickly. Breakfast was booked for 7.30am restaurant quiet again a table with great view from the glass doors. Breakfast was ordered off the menu again was delicious Would definitely return to both the hotel and restaurant

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Such a lovely place to have a special dinner! Lovely food presented in a beautiful way.

December 22, 2022

On 20th May i attended this hotel with my wife for afternoon tea. WE reported to reception and was told we were in the wrong place yet had been directed to reception by a member of staff. The receptionist Alex told us to go to the dinning room. I asked him were this was and he said over there noding with his head. I said i was unsure where he meant. He said over there in a very aggressive manner. I said i not sure were you mean could you show us. He said You are in the wrong place go to the dinning room. I asked him for directions and he said This is reception go and ask the manager@ He then sat down and i asked where the manager was. He replied About somewhere. I said can you help to which he replied This is reception i am far too busy. I asked his name to which he shouted Alex. At this stage a foreign gentleman came over and ushered us outside stating he was the manager and was very apologetic as he had witnessed the entire event. We had tea in the garden which was poor, stale white bread with crusts on and smoked salmon which was acceptable. The tea was acceptable although the jam and cream for the microscopic scones came in partly frozen jars. I am a 67 year old retired Solicitor and my wife is 78.We have stayed in some of the worlds finest hotels in the world and the rudeness of Alex the receptionist defies discription. His manager promised he would be dealt with for his incredible rudness. I hope the manager reads this review and realises that we will never attend this hotel again and will go out of our way to spread the word about this faulty towers of an hotel which with the right staff and a makeover could be very good as it is in a fine location. Our day was ruined by the behaviour of the odious receptionist who never came out to apologise.. Our bill was not discounted. Dr.Justin and Vera Johnson, 64 Swan Drive, Droitwich, WR9 8WA. Just look at the other reviews. They are diabolical.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Excellent. Had the place to ourselves on a non-Manic Monday. Service and food was to live for and a special effort was made for our birthday lunch. Views were panoramic. We were on top of the world, with the ghost of Mr Elgar surrounding us. We ignored M. Thatchers.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Afternoon tea. Expensive for what is was. Sandwiches fillings not very inspired, two were cheese the other ham served with a delicious sausage roll. Standard scones and various pastries. Not worth £22 a head Staff were on the abrutp side.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

The room was clean, very comfortable, and the staff are amazing, they went over and beyond to help make our stay enjoyable, perfect for our birthday weekend. Unfortunately one FOH man was not so accommodating but maybe he will learn to be more welcoming and informative in the future. I highly recommend this hotel for anyone visiting the area.

December 22, 2022

We cannot recommend this hotel. Not only did we find in our room a battered table, dust (not only) on the refrigerator, and a sliding door making a very unpleasant squeaking noise. Worse, instead of a peaceful and tranquil Lake District location, we got a room with a noisy kitchen exhaust fan right under our window running until well after 11pm, and our request for a quieter room was turned down. To add insult to injury, the room had no WiFi (!). Update: The hotel is insinuating we might have stayed in a different hotel by the same name. Thats not correct, we did stay in Malvern.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Amazing views over Malvern and Worcestershire... A lovely afternoon having cream teas, staff very attentive

December 22, 2022

We stayed at The Cottage In the Woods, Great Malvern for one night only. Thank goodness it was only one night. The Hotel was quite busy due to an event in the area so accommodation was limited. Last room left it said on Booking.com however when we got there due to my husband having trouble with walking we were given a different room that we booked which was Room 5 in the main building closer to the Bar/Restaurant but had several flights of stairs to struggle up.The room was tiny to say the least, the kitchen extractor fan right outside the bathroom window made a loud noise all night & the milk was off in the fridge (with my husband finding lumps in the bottom of his cup of tea). Dinner was booked for 8.30pm which was a 3 course meal. However we were talked out of this by some others that had had it the night before saying it wasnt worth the money and very small portions. We decided to have the second option a bar meal. Steak was recommended but not available, so Fish of the Day was the choice. The staff didnt know what this main came with so to be safe we ordered fries as well. The main was so tiny everyone laughed when it arrived. We joked after that we needed to go down to the local chippie for more food. The only saving grace was the next morning the breakfast was excellent and we were starving by then. Overall.....wouldnt stay there again.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

The whole experience was memorable! Location, the food, service and atmosphere were all great!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

We really enjoyed our stay as our first night as Mr and Mrs Bishop. The room was just what we needed, clean, comfortable and modern. It was amazing to wake up to that gorgeous view. Breakfast was tasty, although a little overpriced, it did the job! Although I am a Malvern local and wouldnt necessarily need to stay again, I would recommend to friends!

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Utterly heartbroken after coming back from a 2 night stay in the Cottage in the Wood. Absolutely so disappointed as this was supposed to be for our 10 year wedding anniversary. I chose it as we stayed here in 2017 and 2018 and absolutely loved it. I paid and upgraded to a great room in the coachhouse with a bath, whilst we had quite a nice view, its a complete rip off. I spent £508 for the stay when it wasnt really any different to the two rooms we stayed in previously at standard price. We couldnt use the kettle as it was full of limescale, which was really annoying as we would have liked to have had a hot drink in the room. We didnt have evening meals in the restaurant but had breakfast which was a let down. Clearly theres been a change in chef as we had the same thing weve had before and it wasnt nice. Also like to point out that breakfast menu was still the same!! We both had the salmon and scrambled egg on a very hard piece of toast. Definitely overpriced @£19 each if you werent staying there. However to make it an even worse experience, you are packed in like sardines with other people its not very comfortable at all. Needless to say we wont be going back which is really sad as the location and views are stunning but its not worth the money at all. Bitterly disappointed. Please, if you are reading this and thinking of going, please dont be conned into upgrading like I was, Ive lost hundreds of pounds that I had been saving for a long time. Just book the standard rooms at £134 a night.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Stayed one night and it was excellent! Great food & drinks and faultless customer service. The hotel is located within the beautiful scenery of the Malvern hills with a route to the top of the hills only seconds from our room! Highly recommend!

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Three of us came on a Saturday lunchtime for my mother in laws 75th birthday treat! and we had the 3 courses from the set menu. Whilst the food is to an excellent standard and also beautifully presented we were left feeling very disappointed by the portion sizes. Whilst we completely expect fine dining cuisine to present portions on the smaller side, what we did not expect was to receive such a meagre quantity of food for a main which did not even include any sort of potato or at least a decent amount of vegetables. Any vegetables included in the main dishes were more like a garnish than a portion! We each had a different main course; I had the pork whilst my husband had the loin of cod and his plate was the more sparse out of the two. A particularly meagre loin of code was presented with no other substantial solid food on the plate apart from a puree and some sauces. It was a complete joke that this was being sold as a main course. Mine was not much better but I did at least have a bit more vegetation on my plate albeit not a potato in sight! I am not sure how they can get away with advertising this as a set 2 or 3 course menu at £23 or £29 respectively, when in actual fact in order to have a reasonable meal, you would need to spend at least another £5 - £10pp for the potatoes and vegetables; surely this should come as standard with the main meal! Very misleading in my view and we did leave feeling robbed and still very hungry despite having the 3 courses! Another gripe is that I had the cured trout for starters which in itself tasted lovely, but on seeing the photo of the exact same plate of food on their website just now, I must have had about one third of the amount of food on my plate compared to the photo! Again, I would call that very misleading. My mother in law had the chicken liver parfait to start and on reviewing the menu just now and seeing a photo of what the plate of food should have looked like, I can again see that the portion of food was a lot less compared to the website photo coupled with the fact that they also left out the toasted brioche altogether. This is very poor service indeed and unfortunately I would definitely not recommend this restaurant.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Fantastic food and a lovely view across the Severn valley

★★★
December 22, 2022

We are local to Malvern, as we were moving house and had a two night gap between properties we thought we d take the opportunity to stay in The Cottage in the Wood. It is somewhere I have always wanted to stay as this hotel has always been up there. Unfortunately it didn t meet expectations. We were greeted by a miserable male receptionist which continued throughout our stay. We stayed in room 40 in the annex. Four flights up without a lift. We weren t offered any help with our bags. The room was lack lustre and dreary as it was in the eaves. No mini bar. The toilet seat broke in the bathroom. There just wasn t any special touches at all. Bar service was slow. We ate in the restaurant one of the nights. The meal was good. No complaints. But nobody asks if you would like another drink or anything. Overall we just felt ripped off and soooo disappointed. Shame

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Fantasticly faultless food in a great location.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Short visit on the way to Morgan Cars, but wow! What a hotel. Beautiful room with an epic View, food was great the only negative was we werent there longer.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

My husband and I stayed here recently for our wedding anniversary. Staff were very friendly and attentive. Our meal was exceptional and we even received a complimentary white chocolate happy anniversary plate sent out from the kitchen which was very thoughtful. Our room (in the Coach House) was clean and fresh and very spacious. This is our second visit to this hotel and again it didnt disappoint. We will be going back and would highly recommend.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

This place is a boutique hotel, but with prices than resemble the Ritz. £7 for a bottled cider. The views are lovely, but the outside seating areas need to be better maintained and the chairs and tables have flaking paint all over thier main body. Great location, just needs to be more realistic with thier prices, especially in the current climate.

★★★
December 22, 2022

Excellent service, food could not be better. Im a fussy old git, only fault I could find was the unavailability of food 3 - 6pm, I did go on a Monday/hottest day of year to be fair. Otherwise does not get much better than 1919 in my experience Service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Beautiful position on the hills. Great food, wonderful rooms and great service. Feels like a home rather than a hotel

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea, beautiful setting, especially as we were able to sit outside & admire the panoramic view. Spotlessly clean, friendly staff, excellent value for money

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Lo Ely rooms and excellent bar and restaurant. Very friendly staff that made you feel welcome. Was only here on business but will definitely return with the wife. Rooms: Beautiful room with all the amenities youd expect. Food and drinks: Large selection of drinks at reasonable prices, only one draught lager available, so would love to have seen more draught with local ales.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Visited here on a recommendation and would gladly do the same. The staff were very welcoming and my additional requests were all made. Our room were in a good state with absolutely gorgeous views. This were my first time having a taster menu and I thought I might still be a bit hungry afterwards but this were not the case and the dishes were all very tasty.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Brilliant meal lovely views from terrace and a good place to spot the odd celebrity

December 22, 2022

No lunch available. Took a taxi on a Friday to have lunch. Spent £70 on one bottle of wine and had to get a taxi home again. Stop advertising lunch if not available and wasting everyones time and money. Im not going to bother again.

★★★★
December 22, 2022

Beautiful location in a secluded part of Malvern. The room was clean and spacious. All the staff were friendly and courteous, as it was our wedding night we had requested a bottle of champagne, although this never appeared. However we had a fantastic nonetheless!

December 22, 2022

Irrespective of the food poisoning the view is great but the service is poor in the restaurant several mistakes with our order and I was very underwhelmed by the wine list. This hotel has failed the friends and family test used by the nhs as in would you recommend it to them and clearly the answer for me is absolutely no - very disappointed by their response to my medical issue

★★★★
December 22, 2022

Had Champagne tea there. Beautiful scenery from our table. Sandwiches and cakes to die for but panacotta very runny.

★★★★
December 22, 2022

The food and the location are the best assets of The Cottage in the Wood. Our dinner was especially good. It looked and tasted amazing. All the employees were friendly and helpful, especially upon our arrival. The only thing I could fault was the TV didn t work. We didn t report it at the time as we wouldn t have watched it anyway and only tried it to have on in the background while getting ready in the morning. A very small thing that didn t detract from our enjoyment. We d definitely come back.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Defo five stars for the food. I had a three course dinner and breakfast there and all the dishes are amazing. Fresh ingredients, nice presentation, highly recommend. As for the room, the view is absolutely stunning but I wouldn t recommend anyone staying there during a heat wave. The room has no a/c so can be very warm and stuffy. We opened the window to cool ourselves down but then all the bugs flew into our room, which was an absolute nightmare. I would consider visiting the place again in winter, but definitely not summer.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The food is excellent but portions a bit mean!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

We loved this beautiful spot! The food was INCREDIBLE! The staff were excellent and accommodating. We would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice getaway.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

A great place for afternoon tea, the views are stunning. Good food and service.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

It has been revamped since my last visit. I was taken there for lunch to celebrate my birthday. The food was delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The hotel is on a hillside with impressive views. With dog friendly rooms, the staff are welcoming and the restaurant is particularly good

★★★★
December 22, 2022

Great rooms, Breakfast was excellent with fantastic, friendly service.

★★
December 22, 2022

We booked the special offer, 2 courses for £15. First of all, the offer said to use the offer code, but then there was no clear place to put it in the reservation, I had to call the restaurant to sort. High-level, it was bread (which was hit & lovely), a cup of soup and a piece of meat that was 1/3 fat, with no other selection available. It was £5 extra if you want vegetables and £7.50 for pudding. I have taken advantage of meal offers before and later returned for a birthday or anniversary meal to restaurants who have done it well. I ve not encountered this narrow of an offering before (no choice). I wont be returning and would not be able to recommend to others.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

All very good. Lovely Sunday roast.

December 22, 2022

My company already prepaid my stay however the hotel double charged me on site by stating they didn t received any payment. I was left no choice but to pay from my own pocket. After I request evidence of payment from my company and sent it to the hotel, the hotel told me they need a week to verify. I contacted Expedia, where this booking was booked through. They also emailed the hotel to confirm the payment has been made. I requested to speak to the line manager many times but request was rejected. The only response I received is from reception. They keep telling me they will get back to me but never done it

★★
December 22, 2021

It was overpriced and disappointing. We were celebrating a special anniversary and hoped for fine dining. Dont mind paying more if the food is good but it was not! Halibut overcooked and starters sad...Staff appeared to mostly be new and unsure. We even has a fawlty towers moment and they needed the numbers for wine orders as didnt know them.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Stunning views. Great interior makeover. Delightful service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

A lovely hotel, overlooking malvern and the surrounding area. There are woodland walks, plenty of parking and gorgeous food. Our room was very clean and spacious. The staff were very helpful and friendly. Very impressed and will revisit.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Stunning location nestled in the heart of the Malvern Hills. Best views of any restaurant in the area and the food was delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

I wanted to give my partner a lovely meal in the hills and my request for the best seat in the house was granted by the very nice gentleman who I assume was the manager . The food was amazing and so was the service and very reasonable price also! So relaxing and the lighting in the evening also makes you feel warm and cosy.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Never been here before, It was a birthday treat and there was a birthday card on the table for me on arrival. Nice touch

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

I had the most beautiful stay, warm greeting when I arrived, comfortable, clean room, gorgeous sunrise and delicious breakfast! Highly recommend

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

The staff are exceptional, the view, the food and room facilities are equally exceptional. Why 4*? There was a contact lense from a previous guest stuck to the bedside table which didnt increase confidence in cleanliness, which is especially important right now.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great location, booked table for six for birthday celebration. Given table in window alcove with great view of valley below. Greeting card on table for birthday girl, couldnt fault food wine or service, found by happy accident definitely will return if in area again. Well done Chef and team.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Such a beautiful place to stay. The hotel is newly decorated and very tastefully done. Each bedroom is different and individual. The reception areas are fabulous and extremely comfortable with incredible views. The food amazing and all staff very welcoming and helpful. We had a wonderful stay and can t wait to go again. Louise

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Very polite service! Alongside welcoming of our dogs after our walk in the Hills. Beautiful atmosphere and setting,with the view over the fields and beyond!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

A really nice hotel in a great spot with excellent views. We stayed for two nights and had dinner in one night and very much enjoyed all.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

We live in Malvern and took friends for dinner today and it was fantastic. Great service and fabulous food. Service

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Hard to find on the hill, great view and service

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

The setting, staff and service were excellent. The location was beautiful and the view from our room and the restaurant were outstanding. The food was delicious. The only negative was the lack of flexibility with the food choices. Having to have a set menu in order to eat in the restaurant was not ideal. It would have been better to have had an a la carte option where you could pay for the courses you wanted rather than being tied to the full menu.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

It is certainly a beautiful hotel in an exquisite location, and the restaurant really is very good. However, we accidentally ate a cod roe dip with entrees despite specifying to staff our vegetarian dietary requirements when asked at check-in, and then ordering an entirely vegetarian meal; we were not told what the dip was and assumed it was vegetarian like the rest of our order. Partly our fault for sure, but an accident that could have been avoided if we had been told what the food was. The cocktail menu was also unavailable with no explanation offered. Our gin and tonics werent made with the tonic we ordered. Frankly, all this could be forgiven, except that we were emailed almost daily following our stay asking for feedback and review, and when we did get back to them, highlighting both the positives and these negatives and not asking for any compensation, only for an acknowledgement of our experience, they suddenly went very quiet; a week on and we have yet to receive a reply. With regards to the hotel, the rooms are beautiful and very comfortable, but the building is old and creaky. As such, we were kept up late and woken early by the footsteps of residents above us; we are not light sleepers by any means, but the creaking and thudding of other guests was quite impossible to ignore. If you choose to stay here, I would suggest you request a top floor room.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

A beautiful location, views are amazing. Hotel staff try hard but sadly can get a bit distracted. More organisation and training is very much needed. Poor service really with high prices. Service charge on every transaction, which can mount up and really wouldnt be so bad if you had great service. Food is sometimes very poor and there is a a need for management to check the standard if cleaning in the bedrooms. This place could be amazing but I have to say that its very disappointing. Coukd be a Ferrari, but runs like and old crock. Such a shame!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Lovely room with great bathroom, huge comfortable bed, bt turntable with records provided, fantastic view with amazing scenery. Food very tasty but very limited choice of posh nosh available. For those with simple pallets like me you may struggle to find something you like. Chips were amazing

★★
December 22, 2021

Had a pleasant time with friends but found the hotel bar very small for the size of hotel small selection of beers , staff average. Staff need to learn to remove dirty glasses & dishes that are finished with after our evening meal which was a 9pm sitting we went into the bar for a drink & was told stop serving at 10.30pm even though we were residents we eventually got a drink but by 11.15 we were ushered out like school children by to our rooms. Our checking out bill was well over £400.00 for 1 night with Dinner & breakfast therefore should be getting 5 star treatment & service when you charge this sort of money. The service in the breakfast room was like Faulty towers The actual food that arrived on the plate was very nice but everything else was no better than a Premier Lodge

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Fabulous decor and view. Excellent service and food cant wait to return.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Best views in all of Malvern!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Afternoon tea whilst good could be improved upon. White bread sandwiches were not fresh bread or perhaps they were kept in a fridge! Maybe a change of plate and cutlery from savoury to sweet! No spoons for the jam or cream. The cakes were lovely as were the scones, maybe the offer of more tea. Overall good but not perfect. Maybe the crockery should be checked for chips too.