Balmer Lawn

We’ve just returned from three nights at Balmer Lawn and felt compelled to write a review as had a super experience there. All staff were friendly and went the extra mile. The room was large with huge emperor size bed and a balcony overlooking the forest. The breakfasts were also excellent. Highly recommend.

We loved this hotel. The staff were brilliant, the room was great with a huge, comfortable bed and a view over the lawn where we regularly saw groups of New Forest Ponies. It's perfectly located, just outside the centre of Brockenhurst. Beresfords, the restaurant, is superb, so after the first of three nights, we decided to dine there every night. We thoroughly enjoyed trying the excellent dishes on the menu and specials list. The desserts were just sublime. We'll definitely return.

Having stayed at the Balmer Lawn on and off for the last 25+ years, we were looking forward to another stay here, especially as the photographs on the website showed that the outside space had now become more of a drinking and eating area, no doubt an expansion on what happened during the pandemic. We booked 2 rooms, 1 a standard room, another one of their superior rooms. Upon arrival, we were asked to pay in full for both rooms – that always strikes me as a bit odd – do they think we would run off, or worse, leave if the rooms were not as expected? Anyway, duly paid, we went to our rooms. First, the standard room. Room 1, on the first floor, just outside the lift, was very small, the view was of a brick wall, and the room was incredibly hot – and this was not even a particularly hot day. The giant fan did little to help. The superior room was not very superior. Room 25, located on the 2nd floor, at the back of the hotel, overlooks the roof of the spa, and a view to a bit of the outdoor pool. The room is very tired and does not live up to the description or photographs on the website. Stained carpet, worn headboard where guests’ heads have rubbed there over the years (yuk!), cheap Ikea furniture with bubbling veneer, filthy window frames, a useless shower of a small bath, the bathroom shelf over the toilet (watch out in case anything falls off the shelf), terrible scratchy old towels, uncomfortable beds. There has been a change to the carpets in the hotel, drab grey makes the whole place look corporate and cheap. We ordered a bottle of champagne – at £155 a bottle, they didn’t even have in refrigerated. No thanks. We had dinner in the main restaurants on both nights – looking forward to it with their much hyped 2 AA rosettes. Another mistake. A poor bistro type menu, no nods to anything remotely fine dining. Overcooked steaks, undercooked lamb, miserable portions, under seasoned… Awful. Breakfast is another disaster. A bunfight with a buffet for cooked items. Greasy bacon, and those scrambled eggs – like powdered, insipid dust, hardly yellow in colour. Probably the very worst scrambled eggs in the UK. A note to the chef here – have you no shame? In fact, to the hotel owners and managers – try staying here yourselves with a view to being a guest. The spa has an indoor and outdoor pool. Both heated (by a candle judging by the chilliness of the water in both) and the jacuzzi was out of action. Again, horrible tatty towels to use. This 4-star hotel used to be quite good, and the restaurant used to be very good. But now it’s just another flea-bitten hole, trading on past glories, with tired staff, tired rooms and tired facilities. Avoid this place like the plague.

A return visit to Balmer Lawn, when the weather wasn't so good but the welcome was still warm. We had a lovely room overlooking the lawn. The food was excellent as always and the staff were friendly and helpful. This time we made use of the pool, sauna and jacuzzi, fantastic! While it was not cold, the windy weather made it feel cool, but the welcoming fire and comfy sofas and chairs made it a comfy environment to relax in.

Was our 50th anniversary so had a few days there, & it was fabulous the food, service, staff all fantastic nothing to much trouble at all, complementary bubbles & chocolates, with swimming pools, sauna, hot tub, gym, & the most wonderful afternoon tea ever, highly recommended 😎👍

We booked the entire hotel for our big 10yr wedding anniversary bash in August and we couldn’t have been happier with our choice. The staff and especially Ruth our events manager were so attentive and made us feel so special. As an event manager myself I feel that I am quite the control freak and find it hard to relinquish control so well done Balmer Lawn and the entire team. We will be booking our 20yr party with you!

The restaurant, bar and staff are the biggest pull to this hotel. Outstanding care with intolerance and allergies. Such friendly staff- attentive, knowledgeable about menu, highly trained and have a sense of humour building very good relationships with guests. The menu is excellent with a HUGE range of meals and adaptations ( within reason of course) can be made. Congratulations to the chefs and their team. Plated breakfast was lovely. Service friendly and efficient. The rooms need better cleaning and a little colour added to them! Sinks need a good clean around the drainage and overflow. Floors need a good vacuum. Towels are tired and dry and discoloured.

Balmer Lawn is always our “go to” hotel in the New Forest and we try to spend at least once or twice a year here. We had a three night break this time with our little dog and it was really nice to be recognised as a returning guest. The staff, as always, are a credit to the hotel. The hotel is super dog friendly and has access to so many walks. The rooms are comfy and the ambiance of the lounge downstairs makes it a lovely break away in whichever season you visit. Thank you for a lovely stay and see you all again soon!

We booked afternoon tea for my birthday, it was going well until one of the cake stands feet accidentally fell into the table gap and fell over and spilled half of the contents over my daughter who had the jam and cream and tea all over her and the floor. I was very disappointed in the help we got to clear up all the mess. Infact my daughter was so upset and in tears she left to go home. We had to ask for there afternoon tea to be boxed to take with her, we also had to ask for new serviettes a clean tea cup and saucer etc. I feel all of this should have been done automatically with a bit more empathy.