Reviews in Darlington

Better food than expected although the restaurant is a bit soulless. There was a sixth form leavers party next door and they clearly started drinking early which I suppose made for a fun spectacle. Overall this is a budget hotel pretending to be more than it is. The food and the bar area are it's best points.

I had a £70 spa pamper day to include spa facilities, lunch or afternoon tea, and a 55-minute massage or facial treatment. The spa staff were lovely and helpful. The pool area was so hot and steamy that I didn't need sauna or steam room and as the jacuzzi was also warm it was quite oppresive and uncomfortable. Lovely big windows could have provided some fresh air but they can't be opened as they have been sealed for security reasons. It was nice to escape to the seating area for a coffee and some air. The Stables bar is closed so lunch was in the hotel. Despite confirming a table for one the waiter expected me to be accompanied and said he didn't see the emails. Communication could be improved. I chose the chicken parfait for starter and the meat and cheese platter for my main course. The parfait and chutney were lovely but what a shame the dish didn't come with fresh toast rather than rock hard shop-bought oval-shaped toast. The salad would have been better described as wilted greens. Personally I would have been ashamed to serve the main course to family or friends let alone to paying guests. I didn't eat the blue cheese (my choice) but would have eaten the other two. The, what I think was, red Leicester was rubbery and so cold from the fridge that it was tasteless. I love Brie but the Brie that was served was also very cold, very firm, and tasteless. Terrible waste of good cheese. It was served with a selection of crackers with butter packs and a few slices each of Parma ham and some sort of sausage round along with 2 small sticks of celery, There was a small dish of green and black olives that were poor quality and bitter. There was a small dish of oil and balsamic for dipping but no bread for dipping. I asked for some which was reluctantly provided but it was the same shop-bought rock hard toast that has come with the parfait so still nothing to dip in the oil and balsamic. I did try to use it with a cracker but the oil was very heavy and the balsamic wouldn't even rise so that simply tasted of oil which was not very palatable. I left more than half of the platter. To be fair the waiter offered more cheese but what's the point of getting more of the same that I didn't want to eat? I was the only customer in the restaurant so no ambience but I did enjoy the choice of music. After a coffee back in the spa I had a body massage with Catherine and that was the best part of the day. It was very good. Overall this was a very mixed day in terms of enjoyment. I won't be rushing back.

Probably the worst afternoon tea I’ve had. Stale sandwiches, awful quiche and poor selection of cakes. The Service was appalling. Stood waiting for over ten minutes before anyone came to show us to a table and then they disappeared. Really disappointed

The breakfast and the spa was amazing.. Breakfast was very nice they was a wide selection of fruits, pastries & a full English with tea and coffee.

Dinner was ok - 'gourmet burger' looked like squashed mince and was a bit dry. The chicken was delicious. Asked for a candle but staff had no matches!? Not once did anyone ask if everything was ok/how our food was. Breakfast was very good, although the juices were empty and the coffee machine was not working so had to make do with instant coffee.

Food looked amazing and came around 45 minutes after ordering, so not too bad at all , my meal was the belly pork , was amazing! My mum had the garlic chicken with greens , thos was a bit disappointing, chicken was all bruised and didn't taste of garlic, she also couldn't eat the greens as they were raw , such a shame . When staff asked I did inform them of the hard greens and chicken , apologised but that's it, Staff were all so friendly and the lady with the blonde hair on reception was so so lovely, nothing was a problem , goes over and beyond to help you , just a lovely lovely woman ! On the other hand the breakfast was amazing ! Lots of choice and good quality, 10 out of 10 for breakfast !!! Yes as everyone stated the hotel rooms could do with a little upgrade as uts starting to look tired but we love the quaint feel and you have to understand this building is not brand new , I would stay again

Had Breakfast Lunch and Dinner during our stay. Lunch Caeser Salad with Chicken & Bacon was lovely with plenty ingredients. Dinner delicious with Blackpudding Scotch egg as starter Cod as a main. Beautifully cooked and presented. Breakfast let them down both mornings. Very disapointing buffet first day was dry and over cooked as was second morning although made to order. Feature room very spacious but not 4 poster as advertised. Enjoyed our stay. Golf course well maintained, Spa staff very friendly and polite.

We visited for afternoon tea and the use of leisure facilities. The grounds are absolutely stunning. Afternoon tea was gorgeous and we didn’t feel rushed. The spa facilities were very well managed and kept to a clean and safe standard. Will definitely return

Paid for a spa day , no jacuzzi or sauna working only had the option of steam room and swim pool , was busy and not enough seating for everyone round the pool. Massage and facial was lovely and food was lovely

We had a 2 course lunch and it was delicious. The staff are very friendly. We had a lovely stay for 1 night. Breakfast next morning was really good. We will definitely return. Thank you

Service couldn't have been much better. Staff were very friendly and attentive. Atmosphere was just what we wanted for a relaxing romantic night away. Main meals were lovely but definitely overpriced. Desserts however were not as good unfortunately. Chocolate browney was more like Chocolate cake but not a nice one. Sticky toffee pudding was underwhelming and chewy. Both tasted like shop bought puddings heated up in the microwave. Shame the puddings let down the meal.

Not impressed. Came for afternoon tea as part of a spa break. And was given less variety than others who had ordered the same. It was an automatic fruit scone, not asking if fruit or plain. Which led to me having to pick out sultanas. Also only given jam for the scone no cream or butter. Which meant it was very dry. The bread on the sandwiches were starting to go hard as if it had been left out a while. Staff were not very welcoming. We were seating bang smack in the centre of the room when there were plenty of empty tables around that were by windows for a nice view. When asking for some more sweetener for my tea it seemed as if it were a chore for the staff to get me some before it being heavy handedly placed on the table. It was also very expensive. 2 cups of tea = £7! Overall, not a good experience for us. We wont be returning.

We had a very pleasant stay at Hall Garth Hotel staff we very friendly and helpful Could review and give more variety on menu for lunch and dinner breakfast was fine Leisure facilities are good

Food was nice but was over priced for what you got .my partner ordered a burger as that was the only thing on the menu he liked he asked the waiter if it came with onions and was told no .the burger turned up with onion relish on they changed it for another which still came back with onions so ended up eating a chip butty .also the breakfast was so dry as it was just left in warming pots. Good points hotel was lovely ,staff were very friendly .

Served a purpose but was a bit disappointing. Food and drink are very overpriced, no atmosphere and the restaurant was cold. Food tasted ok, but nothing special.

Arrived an hour early for afternoon tea. This was not a problem for the lovely staff. Afternoon tea wes lovely, very fresh, good choice of sandwich, fruit scone with clotted cream and jam, quiche ( cheese and tomato) left the best for last Victoria sponge carrot cake and chocolate brownie and a small bottle of prosecco. Great value for money.

We were really looking forward to this meal having viewed the menu, we wanted to low key review the place as a potential Wedding venue. The service was poor we waited 20minutes for our drinks and had to ask twice. The starters were fine. The burger was hard and inedible, the duck was not rendered and way over cooked. We asked for the bill yet still had to follow up and pay at the counter. Not one person during our whole stay asked if we enjoyed it other that the events manager.. rule 1 of customer service is surely ask if it’s ok.

Food was lovely although waiters were a mess. Setting was terrible sat in a cold conservatory with smooth radio station on. Not the ideal setting based on the expensive menu.