Booked to go away to a hotel for Christmas for the first time. We lived quite local and arrived a day later than most others due to work.
When we booked we had not been to see the place so we called in for coffee after paying the deposit about a week earlier. We were NOT disappointed, it looked so lovely as has just changed hands and has undergone refurbishment. (Spa yet to be added).
We arrived Christmas Eve and had a good checking in experience with the young girl on reception and in fact ALL the staff we had dealings with throughout our stay were efficient and friendly. Many of the staff are young and work well under the supervision/support of Claudia who appears everywhere, to the point I asked her at one point how many of her were there!
I think the Christmas Day lunch could have been best served a bit later as it was not long after breakfast finished and even though we had our breakfast early and went for a walk to build up an appetite we were still not that hungry at 12.30. We still ate all the courses as they didn’t rush us and we had joined our tables up with a few other couples that made it fun and just like at home or in France a food and good atmosphere extended event. I think this also made Christmas working for the staff a bit of lighthearted entertainment and enjoyable as they were working their Christmas after all. Bless them. The nice thing was all the subsequent meal times they left our tables joined up. Great as by now we had become friendly for the whole stay.
After lunch my partner played cards with some of the group while I went up to the room to watch some TV. I would recommend they have a TV room or rooms to enjoy some of the Christmas programmes with others, but this is their first year of hosting a Christmas Stay and I did say this when we were asked for some feedback before we left. No biggie.
Boxing Day was amazing. For over 60 years the hunt has left from the hotel. (Trail hunting now not fox hunting) about 500 people turned up and were served food and drinks, mulled wine, port, tea, coffee, pigs in blankets, pork pies, stuffing, pork baps like clockwork. Good atmosphere children and family pets too.
The hotel was then busy inside for the whole day and we had a carvery provided which was my best meal of the stay. Sorry to say I had a huge plate of food but didn’t waste any. Hot, plentiful and tasty. Some of the meals were a little light on portions as with so many hotels these days. I wouldn’t want my plate piled up like I did on the carvery but just a little more focus on the food and not so much plate. Particularly could have done with a bit more food on our first night after working all day and travelling. Having said that, on two nights, Christmas Day and Boxing Day I didn’t take advantage of the buffet in the evening so obviously not hungry all the time!
We were both sorry to leave. Great to be prepared to mingle and join in with people on stays like this. That’s what makes it. Some people just sat there bored with each other and moaning the whole time because they had little else to do. Shame for them.
We went for a stomp over the Moor before driving home. Wonderful open views and you can see for miles around.
Thank you all at The Moorland, we will be in for coffee sometime soon to check your still being fantastic......
