I love simplistic food done well, but we both thought The Barn was very poor quality and we ordered different starters and mains; didn't bother with a dessert. My steak was tasteless, whilst my partner thought her fish was greasy and without flavour. The salmon starter was so small that it looked like an amuse bouche. In comparison, we go once a week to The Beaumont and love how well they do simple dishes. They also charge less than Coworth Park, which is quite incredible when you compare the difference in locations.

It's a fair point on the swimming pool. It's not a problem for us normally, as places like Whatley Manor don't allow kids and Chewton Glen has its spa area that is adults only. Coworth only has the pool and nowhere else to hang around.

In terms of which is best....

Location = draw, as Coworth is only 40 minutes from London vs Chewton is nearly 2 hours. I prefer Chewton being walking distance to the coast.
Setting = Coworth - the grounds are so beautiful.
Activities = Draw, as they're very similar, although Coworth has the stables on site and I don't believe Chewton does.
Rooms = Draw, but our suite at Coworth was clearly of higher spec than Chewton, but Chewton treehouses are really beautiful
Spa = Chewton
Food = Chewton
Room setup = Coworth. One of the best and thought thorough stay lists I've seen
Service = Coworth