Hotel review: Fishmore Hall, Ludlow, Shropshire

They say you should never go back – and intentionally or not, it seems to be a maxim I normally follow for travel. If I love somewhere, I’m always tempted to return… but there are still so many other places to discover.

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And if I didn’t love it… well, there are all those new places I’d rather see than try out a destination which left me underwhelmed. Which might be why it’s taken the best part of a decade to head back to historic Ludlow and stay at Fishmore Hall again.

Reviewing the hotel the first time, not long after it opened, we had explored the town in snow and indulged at the restaurant afterwards. This time, of course, we had been invited to retrace our steps with a four-year-old along for the ride…

Fishmore Hall Shropshire: Vital statistics

With just 15 rooms, the boutique hotel is set in a Georgian mansion on the outskirts of Ludlow and has won several awards, especially for the restaurant Forelles.

The hotel opened a new spa in the grounds shortly before our visit – the SpaShell eco spa was transported in ready-made with four treatment rooms (which convert to couples rooms) and relaxation facilities.

Rooms cost from £175 per night with rollaway beds available for some rooms as well as cots if you’re visiting Fishmore Hall with a baby.

The restaurant has three menu options – a la carte for £50 (not available on some days) and a nine-course tasting menu for £79. There are vegetarian versions available and tasting menus are for the whole table, with wine flights to accompany.

Fishmore Hall review: The good

The restaurant

My husband’s main memory of our first visit was of having the ‘best breakfast of his life’ during our stay, a minute steak and accompanying egg. And while that sadly wasn’t on the menu this time, the food is still superb.

The staff adapted the menu to suit a few dietary requirements (and one mistake was replaced instantly with apologies) and when our baby monitor decided to stop connecting half-way through dinner, they moved us to another table without a murmur.

The ingredients, barring seafood and fish, are all sourced within a 30 mile area where possible.

The spa

It’s compact but has everything you really want from a spa; everything I really wanted anyway. My Elemis superfood facial was incredibly relaxing, with a sauna and steam room attached to the little relaxation room afterwards.

I sat in the mint and eucalyptus steam to try to kill off one of 2017’s many many colds, but if it had been a bit less drizzly, I’d have been relaxing outside in the hot tub or the hammock enjoying the views of the countryside. You can visit for a £15 fee if you’re not having a treatment as well.

The rooms

Although the house itself is an elegant Regency building, inside the decor has had a thoroughly contemporary update. Rooms have statement walls in deep rich colours, such as the teal blue in ours, along with glossy black furniture, a huge bathroom with Elemis toiletries, squashy chairs and a massive bed.

My daughter’s rollaway bed at the foot of ours was comfy enough that I’d have happily slept in it as well.

The location

Pretty Ludlow is a great spot to visit, for families, foodies or if you love the historic old buildings. It’s not easily walkable from the hotel but is only a short drive and you can also prebook taxis.

We caught the end of the market on Saturday and even on a rainy Sunday, very happily whiled away a few hours exploring the castle and the twisty streets.

For more things to do in Shropshire with kids, check out my top picks

Fishmore Hall review: The not so good

For families

This is really a hotel for adults rather than families. It’s certainly not a problem to visit with kids – the staff were all perfectly welcoming and there’s the basic facilities you’d need to sleep and eat – but it’s far better for a romantic break than a family getaway.

I felt very aware of my daughter being ‘loud’ at breakfast, just by comparison to the other guests and I know she wouldn’t have appreciated the food at dinner if I’d felt inclined to keep her up.

The little touches

For me, this is often what makes or breaks a hotel. Some were as good as ever – if you want biscuits to go with your hot drink, hand-baked ones are brought up (gigantic chocolate chip cookies for us).

Others weren’t – hot milk for our hot chocolate which was only warm, hot water temporarily on the blink (which we only discovered was a known problem when we left), the service in the restaurant which was incredibly helpful and friendly but not always entirely efficient.

It seems a little unfair to focus on minor niggles when the main things (food, room, spa) were lovely but the little things do add up.

Fishmore Hall review: The verdict

Remembering all the little personal touches which seemed to make our first break so special, we didn’t find them quite as often this time. Is it simply that Fishmore Hall is forever hallowed in our memories as the place of the best breakfast in the world, recalled through rose-tinted spectacles? I don’t think so.

So should we have gone back? And more to the point, should you go? I’m still going to say yes – because in many ways, it’s still a fabulous place to stay.

The spa treatment was blissful, the bed as vast and comfy as you could want, and our dinner was easily one of the best meals I’ve had this year. Besides, I still have to try the hot tub.

For more ideas of things to do in Shropshire with kids, check out this post

PIN FOR LATER: FISHMORE HALL REVIEW

Disclosure: My stay was courtesy of Fishmore Hall for the purposes of review. All opinions and decisions not to brave the January drizzle to test the hot tub remain my own.

Images copyright MummyTravels

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