Shrigley Hall Hotel,A Paramount Signature Hotel - Macclesfield, United Kingdom     

We stayed at this beautiful hotel from July 12th - 15th 2008 and i have to say it was just wonderful. My partner and i have never booked a UK mini break before as we save our money for a long haul, all inclusive type break in August/September. However, we both had holiday to take from work and really wanted to get away for a few days. I looked on the net for quite some time, always using tripadvisor to pick out my top 3 or so hotels. I found a few within the Peak District which all looked stunning but settled on Shrigley Hall as it has it's own Golf course, spa/gym and had some very good, recent reviews. We were not disappointed on arrival, WOW it is so stunning and it is like something out of an old Englidh movie, very decident. We had booked a standard double, bed and breakfast ( 3 nights) and were looking forward to crashing out for a bit after a long journey in bad traffic. Our room was in the main building and i have to admit was very small for two of us (with a large case) and could have done with updating. It also looked over the air con unit, which wasn't exactly the peaceful view that we hoped for. I popped downstairs to have a word with the front of house manager i explained my feelings. This lady was so helpful, i think she was called Maggie (french lady i believe) she looked at the rooms available and advised me that we could move to a newer, larger room but there was a wedding reception taking place near by so it would be noisey untill 2am. She then advised that she could upgrade us the following night to a room with a stunning view and a four poster bed but then the next night we would need to move again. To be honest, i really didn't mind doing this at all, it's not like we were the for 2 weeks and wanted to unpack all of our clothes so we went with that, at no extra charge. The first night we went down to the resturant for dinner, It is a very light, airey room and very pleasantly decorated. However we decided not to eat here as the menu was limited (only around 5-6 main course choices) and i felt it was quite pricey. The staff were very understanding and advise us we should try the Leigh arms, just a few miles away from the hotel. We did and it was just fine, a carvery type resturant, very relaxed and good food. Especially if you are hungry and have a large appetite... The second day we drove to the Trafford Centre in Manchester which was only about 30 mins and this was great to mix city with countryside. We popped into the Minors arms, just a few miles from the hotel and enjoyed a lovely country pub lunch. This place has got it all, great food, friendly staff and the most amazing ice cream sunday i have ever seen in my life (great place to take children) Later that day we tested out the Golf course, my partner paid ?25.00 after 4pm and ?15.00 to hire the buggy. I just drove and enjoyed the views. It is a really lovely course and not busy so you could really enjoy the scenery. When we returned that night, we got the key card to the upgraded room. The new room was so beautiful and looked over the front of the hotel and the golf course. It had a jacuzzi bath and was very comfortable. Housekeeping had moved our case and our clothes which were hanging in the wardrobe, so everything was taken care of. That night we tried the Indian resturant a few miles away, The Viceroy. It was OK, quiet as it was a Sunday evening. I probaly wouldn't go back becuase the food was average, although it was reasonable. Following our meal, we had a couple of drinks in the Courtyard bar back at the Hotel, it was exspensive in here and lacked atmosphere so we didn't spend a lot of time here. There was another wedding reception going on but apart from that, no other people enjoying a drink. Monday was a day out at Chatsworth house, a very windy journey and takes around 45 mins - I wouldn't recommed for people who suffer from travel sickness. I also would not suggest eating in the resturant at Chatsworth house, it was very overpriced and i was quite unwell after lunch - STAY AWAY - take a packed lunch or stop at a local pub, there are loads around just outside the grounds and im sure they have lovely traditional pub food. We were tierd that night so were pleased to see that our case had been moved for the final time and we could go stright to our new room. We had room service which was average but on time and not too pricey. Just a burger and chips and a tuna sarnie so not gourmet or anything - it did the trick though, There are tennis courts and a lovely spa/swimming/sauna/jacuzzi/gym within a converted church but unfortunately didnt have time to use them - there is just so much to do around the hotel. We had a wonderful time at Shrigley Hall, we realised that there is such beauty and wonderful places to see in the UK we are already planning a spa break for this weekend. (i think we have now caught the mini break bug!) We paid ?186 for the entire trip (including full hot and cold breakfast buffet) and it was worth every penny!!! They have a stunning hotel with great facilities and staff that really care about your stay. Book this hotel, you will have a delightfull mini break!!! Enjoy!

Attended a wedding at the hotel and stayed the night with most of the other guests. The wedding function was fine; service was good, and so was the food. HOWEVER, be warned that the hotel bar is extortionate. Talk about a rip off; this hotel seems to think it is ok to charge ?14 for a glass of red wine and a jack daniels w/coke. Outrageous. This is Macclesfield we're talking about, not central London. Profiteering is alive and well here when a captive audience has nowhere else to go. The reception and feature staircase are lovely but the rest of the decor at the hotel is tired, worn, and dated and there are a lot of threadbare carpets. The room was clean but the bathroom was tired - though the shower had plenty of power. The towels are thin and course from about a thousand too many washes. Overall, I thought the hotel was far too expensive for the standard it delivered.