The Essex Golf & Country Club Hotel - Colchester, United Kingdom     

I booked a group of guests into the Lodge for our wedding. It was a mistake. There were some domestic problems, including the key-card system breaking down (meaning that my bride couldn't get into her room before the wedding!) and the sink of the "bridal suite" being cracked and 'fixed' with mastik. The service was pretty poor too - their response to our problems was slow and uncooperative. A manager was called but never visited the site. Their attitude was pretty lax. The catering staff also lacked training and customer service skills. Catering arrangements are haphazard - your hotel guide offers room service, but it is denied when you telephone reception. The arrangement for breakfast is poorly thought-out and results in large queues for lacklustre food, in s small bar-area. The Essex is primarily a golf & country club, so one might forgive them for being less-than-perfect. However, the experience we had shows deficiencies which are far beyond this, and caused us some major irritation and disappointment. The hotel side of the operation is in dire need of a management shake-up. The buildings and room facilities are in dire need of investment. The staff are in dire need of training to improve service levels.

Der einstöckige Zimmertrakt ist in eine Sport und Freizeitanlage mit Golfplatz integriert. Die Zimmer sind sehr groß, mit eigenem Bad/WC und Vorraum ausgestattet. Für Familien ideal ist die Verbindungstür zum Nebenzimmer. Der Pool und Spabereich sowie das Restaurant sind im Haupthaus untergebracht. Das Frühstück ist eher einfach gehalten, die übrigen Speisen des Restaurants sehen toll aus, schmecken vorzüglich und können für englische Verhältnisse als günstig bezeichnet werden. Die Anlage liegt fast versteckt mitten in der Natur weshalb sich eine Anreise bei Tageslicht empfiehlt. Besonders ideal ist die Nähe zum Flughafen Stansted - ca.35 Minuten mit dem Auto.