Stratford Manor

The food was fine but the service was very poor. Inexperienced staff and too few of them. The room lacked ambience. It took forty minutes before any wine was served and almost an hour for the first course to arrive.

A new member of staff was very personable and helpful. The food was more than edible. The soup was a bit watery and the fig tart dry needs some cream or ice cream. The mains were much better and the wine good.

Booked afternoon tea on 8.8.18 for 28.10.18 (over two months notice); however, when we arrived (for a special birthday weekend celebration) there was no awareness of out booking.
Therefore, it appeared that there was a rushed, haphazard afternoon tea prepared- and not done well!
Sandwiches were dry, all with same bread and with poor fillings (nothing like the options listed on the website)
Scones were hard, dense and dry- there was no option given of fruited/ plain, as the website suggested, nor the option of an alternative flavour as suggested on the website.
Desserts were the same desserts that were served at the previous day’s lunch. Although relatively good, it did not lead us to feel like the afternoon tea was a special experience.
Not offered to replenish hot drinks at any time.
Overall, very poor and would not recommend. Most certainly not the 4* standard that the hotel grading suggests.