Guyers House - Wiltshire

I don't normally write reviews but this place is perfect for constructive criticism that would turn a very nice Manor house into a fabulous experience. My wife and myself happen to go there via a dinning experience gift and this place was in a very nice location. Although we couldn't stay there due to no rooms available a very nice local bed and breakfast put us up. On arrival the Guyers Hotel is a large picturesque country building with ample parking and as its December a great Christmas vibe, the set festive menu was as expected with things like turkey and Christmas pudding to put you in the mood. Like I said this experience was a 3 course meal for 2 with champagne, now when you order champagne you do expect a waiter to open the bottle and pour 2 glasses for you but I think the young man was a little wet behind the ears as he left the unopened bottle in the wine cooler for me to do the honors. This was very comical to me but I would think many other people who would be less than impressed. The champagne was very nice and come the food starters was tasty and mains followed with my wife going for turkey and beef for myself. The turkey she said was moist but my beef was well over cooked and the creamed horseradish missing from the plate, the potatoes nice if a little pail but the roast veg (carrots and parsnip) were under done. Then half way through my wife found string on her turkey that the chef failed to notice, dessert was nice I had the sticky toffee pudding and my wife had Christmas pudding with a very well made brandy sauce. So for the cost of this I do think the food needs more attention to detail but it would not take much to put these things right. Not the worst but could be better without too much trouble.

I thought hard about whether to write this, as really, we should have complained properly at the time. But, there was no manager and we with friends on their ‘last night’ before returning to Australia and life is too short. Where to start… The person on the hotel reception seemed bored/ bemused when we asked our way to the restaurant. So we found our own way to the room, which was empty but for one silent family sat in the corner. There was zero energy and no staff in the room at 19.00 on a Saturday night. We went looking for one of two very young, slightly panicked waitresses. When we found her, she told us to sit ‘anywhere’. Again a warning sign of what was to come. The menu was short and £45 for three courses. One of the 4 main course options was ‘burger and chips’, which just seemed weird given the way in which the venue is positioned on its web site and perhaps we should have just walked out when we saw the room and menu. Everything was signalling that this was going to be a very bad experience. We didn’t expect ‘haute cuisine’ but at that price point, we expected good food, well prepared and professionally served. We got none of this. The wine list was laughably expensive, but we chose a cheaper bottle (which they didn’t have). The substitute came and we had to stifle giggles as the poor waitress (surely untrained) managed to dribble it over us/the table on 4 out of 4 pours. The food was average to dreadful. I think the burger van in Corsham town centre would have done a better job with the burgers when they arrived, which looked grey and unappetising. The mashed potato that came with my belly pork was solid, tepid and can’t have been fresh. I could go on but, in short, none of the food was enjoyable. The young waitresses were kind and friendly but totally out of their depth, particularly as the room eventually filled up. There was a whiff of panic in the air and by this stage all we wanted to do was ‘get out’. I have ‘some’ sympathy,as it must have been so hard for a venue like this to ride out the pandemic. But that is behind us now and there is simply no excuse for the amateur circus that we experienced. Sadly, my advice would be to avoid at all costs. Whoever owns/runs Guyers House should be ashamed.

Had dinner here on our first night whilst staying for 3 nights at The Guyers House. Absolutely no ambience! We whispered to each other, so everyone wouldn’t have to hear our conversation. Poor guy on his own trying to silently eat his burger. It was painfully silent in there! Extremely overpriced for very limited menu. Risotto over cooked and tasted like water, small serving. Wine extremely overpriced as well. On day two we tried to book in for dinner. Reluctantly returning, as we were part of a family wedding group staying at the Guyers House. We needed to join our family already booked at 6pm for 9 people, ahead of leaving on a bus to get to a pre wedding cocktail party) Reception would not allow us to book for dinner at 6pm for 3 people to join our family. Apparently the kitchen does not allow more than 9 people at the one time. Told we could come at 6.30, I explained that would be too late as we had to leave for a function and we were in house guests with a child to feed. Still, she wouldn’t do anything for us. I went to the bar and asked if they serve bar food. I was told yes. Ok great I said, can we come back at 6pm? She went to check… then came back with the same answer, no. The chef can only cook for 9 people at 6pm and he has a booking in the restaurant. We picked up pizzas at the local Domino’s pizza to feed ourselves, and we enjoyed them far better than the bland food served on the previous night at The Guyers!!! Breakfast again a very basic and poorly stocked buffet breakfast. I had to go and find a waitress to serve us! Nobody offering coffee. Be warned to check your bill. This place adds service charge for every item! Laughable as “service” at this hotel is not on the menu! I have also written a review for The Guyers Hotel.

Made to feel very welcome on arrival. Tastefully decorated, perhaps a little tired looking but nice and clean. Sufficient selection of starters, mains and desserts on the menu. We all ordered the roast chicken, and we all agreed it was very nice and a good sized portion. Dessert was great, chocolate truffle with salted caramel ice cream, very tasty. Retired to the lounge after dinner and sat in front of the log burning fireplace with a drink. A very nice night out, we shall return.

We stayed at the hotel for a weekend brake . Paying extra we included two evening meals . £35 per person per night for two courses . The portions were measly and the food was bland , the wine was horrendously expensive as were any additions . For this reason we tried to not to eat at Guyers House the second evening but were unable to as the weekend package had already been paid for .