Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa in Cheshire has been highlighted as one of the top-rated choices for Hand Picked Hotels' autumn spa breaks, with guests describing it as the "absolute best hotel" they have ever stayed in.
The 19th-century Nantwich mansion is set in 38 acres of gardens, pasture and parkland and holds a 4 AA Red Star status, the AA's top accolade for hotels in the UK and Ireland. It is one of the properties where the Amber Hours Autumn Spa Break for Two is available to book at selected mainland spa hotels up to November 30.
Autumn spa break inclusions
The two-night escape includes breakfast, an Autumn Champagne Afternoon Tea with seasonal treats, a 50-minute Tranquillity Pro Sleep Ritual for two, and use of the spa facilities. Guests also receive a complimentary 200ml Tranquillity Pro Sleep Bath and Body Oil by Comfort Zone to take home.
The Tranquillity Pro Sleep Ritual is a massage treatment designed for optimal sleep, making the package a potential gift for stressed loved ones or a romantic getaway for couples. The AA notes: "Bedrooms are spacious and appointed to a high standard with wide-screen TVs; many rooms have separate walk-in showers as well as deep tubs. Public areas are delightful and retain many original features. There is an extensive, state-of-the art spa and leisure complex."
Guest reviews and ratings
The AA also highlighted the hotel's fine dining experience, with the restaurant drawing inspiration from the Cheshire countryside for a menu of classic British dishes with a "contemporary twist". Accommodation ranges from suites with garden views to unique feature rooms, with prices starting from £172 per night this autumn.
Rookery Hall has an average rating of 4.5 out of five stars on Tripadvisor based on more than 2,500 reviews. One guest wrote: "We would go as far as saying Rookery Hall is the best hotel and spa experience we have ever had in the UK (and we have been to many). Everything was perfect, from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. The room was wonderful and the food in the restaurant was exceptional."
Another reviewer said: "Can honestly say it was the absolute best hotel we've ever stayed in. Beautiful hotel in a stunning location. Every room was very grand and oozing history, absolutely stunning. The service and every single member of staff were outstanding."
Other options and feedback
Guests at Rookery Hall or any other Hand Picked Hotels can also book an Amber Hours Retreat, which includes an Autumn Champagne Afternoon Tea and a complimentary room upgrade for one-night stays up to November 30. Stays of two nights or more also include a specially created three-course autumn dinner.
On Booking.com, Rookery Hall is the top-rated spa hotel stay in Cheshire with a 'Superb' rating of 9.3 out of 10 based on more than 600 reviews. Manor House in Alsager, with a spa garden featuring hanging beds and a herb garden, is second, followed by Grosvenor Hotel & Spa in Pulford, which has 75 bedrooms and two restaurants offering AA Rosette-awarded dining.
One guest suggested the food menu could improve, saying: "The place is lovely and the staff are incredible but they really need to upgrade their vegetarian options." A hotel staff member responded: "We do offer a separate plant-based menu alongside the vegetarian dishes on our main menu, and had we been made aware at the time that you were vegetarian, we would have been more than happy to provide this and guide you through the additional options available. If this was something we were aware of and did not offer, then I can only apologise."
Another guest noted: "My only negative comment would not really be too specific to Rookery Hall as such, but during our one night stay, there was a large wedding party staying at the hotel who took up most of the bar during the course of the afternoon." A further review praised: "Had a super overnight stay and dinner. What a lovely experience that we all enjoyed. The staff without exception were so charming helpful and exactly how a great hotel should operate. Dinner was delicious in a lovely dining room and our suite had a beautiful bathroom and very comfortable bed."
