Par for the course with most UK hotels. Last weekend I was at Fawsley Hall in Northamptonshire after walking around Ann & Michael Heseltine's incredible garden about 10 miles south. Fawsley was once in Lyn Middlehurst's Ultimate Hotel Guide. Our deal of £350 included a cream tea which took 45 minutes to arrive and when we went down to the spectacular Tudor lounge for pre-dinner drinks there was no staff anywhere but the crumbs from afternoon tea service were all over the floor. On check-in we were asked if we wanted a turndown in our top-end suite. Yes please, we said. It never happened. Dinner service was amateur night.

Richard, I'd check out and go to Gravetye.