Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel & Spa, Chester

Ellesmere Port, England United Kingdom

Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel & Spa, Chester
3.9
Select room:
Availability
gazwhite2014
5 days ago
What a let down. Sorry. Pictures make this place look really nice but the reality is far different. Staff are pleasant enough bug I wonder if there is a staffing issue. We arrived to a noisy reception/bar area and on booking in we’re told that there was a wedding that day and also the next. This immediately filled us with dread because experience tells me that all their efforts and staff would be concentrating on the weddings and it was going to be noisy and rowdy, and so it was. Went to breakfast on the first morning to be greeted by a grumpy Italian gent who seated us and told us to help ourselves to breakfast buffet and they would come and take our order for cooked food. We were first in , trying to miss the wedding crowd, others arrived after us and were served , eventually we left and went to pret instead. Very poor. We had friends come and join us on the Saturday evening for dinner. We asked for 7.30 only to be told that they emerge fully booked but could fit us in at 8.15. After speaking to the restaurant manager she said that they would fit us in at7.30. On arrival only 3 or 4 tables were occupied. So much for being too busy. Food was poor. I had sausage and mash and my wife had lemon chicken. Both were badly burnt. Despite notices to the contrary people were outside the reception doors smoking. Our room was just above. Will not return here. Public areas were uninviting. Corridors were tired and miserable. Macdonald need to up their game or risk loosing valued customers.

Amenities

Pool - Indoor
Center- Fitness
Spa
Parking - Free
Internet - Wi-Fi - Free
Sauna
Restaurant

Property Location
When you stay at Macdonald Craxton Wood Hotel & Spa, Chester in Ellesmere Port, you'll be in the historical district, within a 10-minute drive of Chester Zoo and Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. This eco-certified hotel is 13.2 mi (21.3 km) from Royal Albert Dock and 20.1 mi (32.3 km) from Anfield Stadium.

Rooms
Stay in one of 72 guestrooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Your bed comes with down comforters and premium bedding. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and digital programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers.

Amenities
Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers body treatments and facials. If you're looking for recreational opportunities, you'll find a health club, an indoor pool, and a sauna. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless internet access, wedding services, and a television in a common area.

Dining
Grab dinner at Craxton Wood Grill, a restaurant that specializes in British cuisine. Dining is also available at the coffee shop/cafe, and room service (during limited hours) is provided. Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. Full breakfasts are served on weekdays from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and on weekends from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM for a fee.

Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include a business center, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a 24-hour front desk. Event facilities at this hotel consist of conference space and meeting rooms. Free self parking is available onsite.

Need To Know Info

The room rates listed are for double occupancy per room unless otherwise stated and exclude tax recovery charges and service fees. The actual booking amount will be charged in USD. See FAQs for more details.

Customer Reviews

Reviewed on
gazwhite2014
|1 review
What a let down. Sorry. Pictures make this place look really nice but the reality is far different. Staff are pleasant enough bug I wonder if there is a staffing issue. We arrived to a noisy reception/bar area and on booking in we’re told that there was a wedding that day and also the next. This immediately filled us with dread because experience tells me that all their efforts and staff would be concentrating on the weddings and it was going to be noisy and rowdy, and so it was. Went to breakfast on the first morning to be greeted by a grumpy Italian gent who seated us and told us to help ourselves to breakfast buffet and they would come and take our order for cooked food. We were first in , trying to miss the wedding crowd, others arrived after us and were served , eventually we left and went to pret instead. Very poor. We had friends come and join us on the Saturday evening for dinner. We asked for 7.30 only to be told that they emerge fully booked but could fit us in at 8.15. After speaking to the restaurant manager she said that they would fit us in at7.30. On arrival only 3 or 4 tables were occupied. So much for being too busy. Food was poor. I had sausage and mash and my wife had lemon chicken. Both were badly burnt. Despite notices to the contrary people were outside the reception doors smoking. Our room was just above. Will not return here. Public areas were uninviting. Corridors were tired and miserable. Macdonald need to up their game or risk loosing valued customers.
rachissitt
|1 review
Horrible Absolutely shocking hotel. Really needs updating, electricity in room kept going off, lamps were broken, room and bathroom were dirty, seal on the shower screen was broken so the bathroom flooded. Staff were rude and gave you no help or information about breakfast times, spa or bar times. Half of the “thermal experience” was broken and what did work was dirty. Service was exceptionally slow at breakfast, to the point where we were sat down for 30-40 minutes, asked if we could order and was told breakfast had finished. No staff on reception while checking out and when we asked a cleaner where they were she said “on the toilet” Was there for my brothers wedding for 3 days and we couldn’t wait to leave. Would NOT recommend.
U4509SMjohnc
|1 review
Disappointing stay We had chosen Macdonald Craxton Hotel to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary, specifically because of the spa facilities, which my wife particularly enjoys. However, upon check-in, we were informed that electrical work would be taking place between 09:00 and 13:00 on the 27th August, meaning the spa and related amenities would be unavailable during that time. This disruption was not mentioned at the time of booking, and had we been aware, we would have either selected different dates or chosen another hotel with uninterrupted spa access. We were disappointed that we were not given prior notice of this, especially given the occasion we were celebrating. The food was also horrendous.
aileenhotchkiss
|1 review
Disappointing experience. Hotel craving TLC. Such a shame that hotel in lovely setting with so much potential is being let down by lack of investment and poor staff training. Positive note = large comfortable bed and good room temperature. Waitresses in main restaurant were efficient and spa was nice. Negatives = tired, dated and dirty hotel. Room had terrible smell, very dirty upholstery on chairs, broken tiles on bathroom floor, foul smell from sink, chipped toilet seat. Main areas very tired with old smelly carpets lifting in various locations. Very dark in places, especially main driveway entrance at night. Groups of men loitering at entrance smoking weed and wandering around the grounds with hoods up made me feel unsafe. Unpleasant experience checking out where I was only provided with half my itemised bill. On asking for full print out I discovered I had been charged twice for spa treatment. No apology and asked 'if I was sure I only had one treatment' - reluctantly receptionist refunded the £85 back to card. Food in main restaurant was average at best, except the salad which was very poor, watery dressing and missing main components. All in all a poor experience from Macdonald hotels.
548pennyw
|1 review
Very disappointed for the price we paid!!! The receptionist when we checked in to the hotel room, she a young lady wasn't helpful at all, she didn't inform us where to go for our evening meal or anything. And seem remotely bothered about our issues, no apology or nothing. Also the staff in the spa reception were quite abrupt and not very welcoming to us. There was a broken tile and also a wobbly tile which was dangerous near the foot spa. Broken tiles in the steam room also. When we arrived in the spa area around 12.30, there was empty glasses left on the tables outside and was still there when we went back outside at 5.15. Our massages were very good and we compliment the ladies who gave us those. Our evening meal and breakfast were absolutely delicious so compliments to the chef. The cleanliness of the windows in our room were not ideal, had children's handprints on them. Unfortunately there were cobwebs in the restaurant in various places, which wasn't ideal. It felt like the hotel was overall in desperate need of a refresh.

Explore more