Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant & Spa

This hotel is where we come for a few days once or twice a year when we feel in need of a good rest. It is expensive, but it really is worth it. It is the kind of hotel where all the staff greet you by name and with a smile... and where nothing is too much trouble. You would like fresh milk for the tea and coffee in your room, you order room service, or a light bulb has blown - within five minutes your request is carried out. The staff are mainly young, often from mainland Europe, and they all know their jobs perfectly. The manager stops to chat to you, not just about the hotel but about what you like to do and where you live. The rooms are luxurious, all the ones we have stayed in (last week was our sixth visit over 5 years) have large comfortable beds, big bathrooms with big baths, seating areas and good lighting. The food is sublime: dinner is a real treat but we also love the lunches, afternoon tea, and the room service menu. Breakfast offers a variety of hot and cold dishes (the Breakfast Split - grilled banana with fresh berries, granola and natural yogurt - is my favourite) - all delicious. The chef knows I am vegetarian and for evening dinner (we try to have one dinner during our stay) he produced a special vegetarian menu for me, plus I was given vegetarian canapés and an amuse-bouche even though we hadn't booked dinner until that morning. The sommelier, who has been at the hotel for several years, really knows his stuff and recommends the best wines - but not the most expensive, and even though we usually only have one pre-dinner drink and one glass of wine with our meal. If all this food is too much, too expensive, or too formal for every day, along the road is the Acorn Inn - also owned by the hotel - which has good pub food at pub prices. Evershot is a picture postcard, golden stone, village in a pretty part of Dorset. There are several local walks but the hotel is also in easy reach of the stunning beach at Weymouth, the Jurassic Coast, interesting towns such as Dorchester and Bridport, and beautiful gardens. This time we visited Abbotsbury Sub-Tropical Garden, open all year round and warm in its own micro-climate even on a blustery November day. The hotel guide in the room has useful information about places to go and the receptionist will always tell you more. The hotel also has a spa, which I have used in the past and felt wonderfully pampered, and a small indoor pool, which we have never found time to use! Our last visit in January was disappointing but the manager had sadly just died and the new managers just taken over. We are glad we gave Summer Lodge another try as this time it was up to its usual superb standard - we'll definitely be going again.

ShirleyF

This is our second visit to summer lodge. We thought it was fantastic first time but were blown away with this time. Peter met us in the car park and informed us he would take care of our bags. We checked in and were shown to our room. We stayed in one of the cottage rooms and it was one of the best rooms we have ever stayed in. It was stunningly beautiful with open fire, cosy decor, massive comfy bed. Then we saw the bathroom it was wow. Peter brought our bags and lit the fire he then went back to the main house and got us a bucket of ice and some glasses. Peter remembered us from last time and spent a little time sharing funny stories. We had tasting menu with wines. Every course was stunning and delicious including all the wines Eric chose for us. We moved to the bar for a cocktail after dinner again beautiful. Breakfast is freshly cooked and plentiful. All staff are so lovely and can't do enough for you. Lovely little touches like homemade shortbread and bottles of water for your journey. This kind of touch sets this place apart. There is very few place we ever go back to. We absolutely love this place it is expensive but worth every penny. Can't wait to go return in the spring.

AlisonD

This is the place to get away from the madding just crowd and take a step back in time for service and personal attention. Tucked away in a small village in the beautiful countryside, this hotel rates top marks for service and cuisine. Nothing seems too much trouble to satisfy the guests and the staff and management always have time to chat and show a genuine interest in the guests. True it is not the cheapest hotel but the little extra cost produces those little extras that make so much difference to your break. The bar and dining room are what you imagine as the cosy, comfortable, restful areas of traditional manor houses. There is an enviable choice of items on the menu, all very tasteful and with little hors d'oevres and extras between courses. The rooms are comfortable with good sized cosy beds and maintenance regularly applied during the day. The indoor pool and spa are comfortable and towels and dressing gowns provided along with poolside beds. There is a small pleasant garden of lawns trees and shrubs and a larger area inhabited by deer. All in all a well recommended 'bolt hole' or haven of rest from the tumultuous world. Thomas Hardy would approve.

SeussicalS

The truth is I have dreamed of staying at Summer Lodge for over 10 years and I finally had the chance to stay for two nights as I was returning from safari. I fell in love with everyone there. They are such warm, caring and unpretentious people whom I simply adore. The room I stayed in was a suite in the coach house and was magnificent! Sitting in the drawing room enjoying high tea was a dream then moving to the library where I enjoyed warming my hands by the fire whilst sipping a delicious cocktail, reading about the history and then on to an extraordinary dinner. The ambiance is hard to compare with any other establishment since it is full of history and glamour. I am so impressed with the Red Carnation brand. I am so glad I was finally able to fulfill my dream. Now I want to go back as soon as I can to enjoy the warmth of caring company where every person truly cares about your stay like no where else I have traveled to. Jack and Alex and their beloved team do an amazing job and I hope to meet the owner some day. I had the chance to read about her. What a life she has created for not only herself but for so many others.

MagictravelnowD

My wife and I took advantage of their three-nights-for-the-price-of-two offer and loved every minute of our stay. Superb service and a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere. The atmosphere is utterly delightful and so relaxing. We made use of the spa which is a minute's walk from the main building and is itself a haven of peace and quiet. We stayed in Room 15 in the converted coach house opposite (10 seconds walk!). It was quiet, secluded and very spacious and luxurious, with its own large balcony which must be a bit of a suntrap in summer. We will definitely return - and we do not say that of many places we stay.

JonathanC

We enjoyed a lovely 2 nights stay recently with secret escapes. over twenty years ago we stayed with our dog & loved it. Still the same, even now the hotel is in a big Group. We received a warm welcome & the staff were ALL so friendly & helpful. We had a classic room which was very comfortable on our deal & we celebrated with 2 wonderful dinners, the food was delicious and we felt very well looked after. My husband had 2 swims & sauna when we came back after discovering west Dorset. we were blessed with great weather which was a bonus. We had a wonderful wedding anniversary treat. it's a special hotel.!!

RedesdaleD

We spent my birthday at Summer Lodge and had a thoroughly enjoyable stay. The drive there was horrendous on an awful winter day but the wonderful reception we got made us soon forget the journey. We had a very large tasty sandwich and a drink on arrival. The staff were wonderful and we stayed in a beautiful room. Dinner in the dining room was magnificent and breakfast in the conservatory delightful. All the staff were incredibly attentive. We would definitely recommend the hotel to our friends and will return one day.

RafaelleW

My partner took me to summer lodge for a long birthday weekend and it lived up to our expectations. From the time we arrived on the Friday afternoon to the time we left on Monday morning we had the most fabulous experience . The staff and service are outstanding attentive but not intrusive, the food, especially breakfast was superb; our room was beautifully furnished and we had lovely views over the gardens. It all ended too soon. We will definitely go back.

PatsyL

We had high expectations given it is a member of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection. Our expectations at Summer Lodge were exceeded in every way. Great atmosphere, superb food, well appointed & comfortable rooms, good spa & exceptional service. One of the most enjoyable stays at a hotel we've ever had.

ChrisT