Group Retreats Reviews 

When booking such a large property for so many friends I was nervous that something would disappoint. All i can say is wow. Nothing disappointed. In fact all my expectations were exceeded in every way. It was clear that this was going to be the case from the communication from Group retreats but i was still nervous.

All the details have been thought through properly at the property and our caretaker "Stu" was exceptional answering our silly questions.

I would certainly be looking through there portfolio of properties again if i was booking another weekend for so many friends

We had a fantastic stay at Saham Grove Hall for my wife's 50th birthday weekend. Sleeping over 20 people, the house is huge and rooms and facilities were excellent that catered for all ages with the games room, hot tub and tennis court keeping the children occupied. We self-catered and the kitchen had all essentials required and we wanted for nothing.

The only gripe we had was that a local walkable pub would’ve made the experience perfect instead of the 20 minute car journey to the nearest town. First world problems I know!!

The weekend was made easy to book and I found Nicola at GR very helpful and easy to speak to. Many thanks to GR for your help.

The large group we had are already in discussions to return in future and maybe make it an annual gathering. Highly recommended!

We had the most fabulous time at Ashfield Place Farm. It was easy to book and I was kept fully informed and up to date. The caretaker on site was so helpful and supportive. I truly recommend this place and hopefully one day we'll be able to go again.

The stay was for a church retreat for 3 nights 4 days. The house was big enough for 30 people adults and children. We had self catering and the kitchen was well equipped with all essentials. I am definitely coming back! Thank you to the team for their professionalism and ensuring the stay was a smooth transition from the checkin and check out.

Absolutely sensational stay, cannot recommend enough. The quality of maintenance on the property, from the pool to the bedroom and communal areas, definitely a place I have and will recommend. Great facilities for families, friends and all the above. The attention to detail and maintenance of the place is exceptional, and I really have nothing negative to say about the place apart from I wish I owned the place lol.

A Truly Magical Stay at Fawley Court – A Perfect Family Retreat

From the moment we arrived at Fawley Court, we knew we were in for something special. Our family of thirty—adults and children alike—spent three unforgettable days in this breathtaking country house, and it exceeded every expectation.

The house itself is nothing short of spectacular. Steeped in history yet beautifully maintained, it offered the perfect blend of old-world charm and modern comfort. The rooms were spacious, elegant, and inviting, with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Every detail, from the luxurious furnishings to the warm, welcoming atmosphere, made us feel instantly at home.

The facilities were simply outstanding. The grand dining room became the heart of our gatherings, where we shared delicious meals in a setting that felt like something out of a period drama. The fully equipped kitchen made it easy to cater for our large group, and the staff ensured everything was seamless.

The swimming pool and spa area were a real highlight. there was nothing better than unwinding in the heated pool or relaxing in the jacuzzi. The children were in their element, running freely through the gardens, while the adults enjoyed peaceful walks and moments of quiet reflection in the serene surroundings.

The grounds themselves are magnificent—expansive, beautifully landscaped, and full of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Whether we were enjoying morning coffee on the terrace or simply taking in the fresh country air, every moment felt like a privilege.

What truly set this experience apart was the sense of togetherness Fawley Court fostered. It was more than just a stay—it was a chance for our family to reconnect, laugh, and create lifelong memories in the most perfect setting imaginable.

A huge thank you to Group Retreats for making this experience so seamless and special. If you’re looking for an extraordinary retreat for a large group, look no further. We will cherish our time here forever and can’t wait to return.

The castle is very grand and the surroundings are stunning . We stayed over Christmas so had a lovely time as a family .

There are alot of positives and unfortunately a few negatives .
We were charged 3 times the price of a normal stay with a cost of £9036 for 5 days. Therefore at this price are expectations were pretty high.
The castle needs alot of TLC , whilst most of the rooms were wonderful . On arrival there were dead flies ( or dying flies ) in all the rooms on the first floor . It appears there was a issue with cluster flies . This was consistent throught the stay . Room 9 was filthy, stains on floor and walls , badly maintained and the mattresses were old and springy . Room 5 mattress sloped down and had another one underneath that was broken. Enamel on the lovely baths had peeled off and 3 of the showers weren't working . One leaked out , one never got hot and the other needed the head replacing . The downstairs was freezing but upstairs super hot . we had to buy my mum and electric blanket to stay warm downstairs !! The Microwave wasnt working
, the food in the fridges froze some if the food which was a nightmare trying to cook on Christmas day !! No washing machine as advertised and the sauna didnt work although we chopped wood to use it that way. The hot tub and sauna are outside , there is a door that leads from the conservatory which was also unuseable due to the roof falling in . This meant you had to walk outside and around to access these . Unfortunately it was pitch black as no lighting ! The caretaker was lovely and tried his best to support . He replaced the Microwave and washing machine a few days later . Although it wasn't the best as one if the kids had been sick on the first night so I had to wash the sheets in the bath. The pool table had no working cues so we had to go out and buy some . The tv and Xbox didn't have leads so the kids couldn't use those . Only one TV throughout and WiFi is terrible . We raised all of this mostly on the first day and the caretaker advised that group retreats advised us to flip the mattresses and there nothing they could do . They flatly denied this when I spoke to them . Whilst the castle has some great features and is huge , the response re a complaint was why I give them 2 stars . Whilst they acknowledged some if the issues , the response was condescending and implied that we were making it up as no guests before or after have had these issues . Customer relations needs alot of work , I don't ever complain about anything but it was duely warranted on this occasion ..I sent in videos and photos to reflect my concerns . I was worried as I have seen other reviews where they have refused to give deposits back . To be honest we left the castle cleaner than when we arrived.
We didn't have any issues with this being refunded .
In a snapshot group retreats need to work on there customer service skills and take some accountability instead of reacting it back when there are issues . Although the team leader who I spoke to about the response to the complaint was lovely and tried to be as accommodating as she could .

Sorry it’s taken so long to write my review of Glentworth Hall.

Wow what can I say? Truly amazing!

We had a late family Christmas get together 3rd Jan - 6th Jan. I was a bit anxious about what I might be missing in the kitchen to cook the Christmas dinner. I contacted Group retreats and the lady I spoke to reassured me that I did not need to worry the kitchen was fully equipped with everything you could imagine, and she had first hand experience of staying there. She was right I didn’t need to worry at all.

We were a party of 14 range of ages from 20’s to 70’s. All the facilities suited our needs from the lovely quiet lounge to the cinema and games room. The hot tub was so big it was amazing.

We hosted our own murder mystery and the dining room was the perfect setting. I cannot express how much everyone of us loved Glentworth Hall.

A special mention to Stuart who was extremely helpful and friendly. Thank you

I have since recommended group retreats to my work colleagues who loved my photos.

We felt like royalty in such a wonderful setting. Keeping up the Christmas trees was a wonderful touch. Would definitely look to book again.
Thank you

Fantastic and direct customer support. Fantastic and smooth checkin instructions. The place was wonderful clean and as advertised. Very professional!

What a weekend!
We had a fantastic weekend celebrating my wife's 40th birthday at a Group Retreats location (Fawley Court) just south of Hereford. The property was exceptional - everything that it was advertised to be and worked perfectly for our large group (40 people). The swimming pool at Fawley Court was particularly great for everyone.
Group Retreats made it so easy to book and worked with us on specific details for our stay. The onsite caretaker was excellent and made us really feel at ease during check out. Thank you so much - we will definitely be using Group Retreats again!

We had amazing weekend away in Country side, the place was very clean, well presented and had everything we needed, having a Jacuzzi was a bonus. Would definitely stay again

Fantastic accommodation and fantastic service.

Our extended family group had a wonderful time staying at Abbey House on the Audley End Estate. This is a beautiful historic house set in the even more historic and fascinating Audley End Estate. Everything was provided to make our stay comfortable and the house was cosy and warm despite the snowy weather. The customer service from Group Retreats was very good too so I recommend booking with them, and staying at Abbey House in particular.

Our stay at Group Retreats' property has been nothing short of amazing. The entire experience was incredibly effortless and stress-free thanks to the thorough care and attention provided by the Group Retreats team. It was clear that every detail had been carefully thought out to ensure our comfort and enjoyment. The property itself was beautiful and well-maintained, making our stay even more delightful. We are extremely pleased with our experience and grateful for the exceptional service we received. We can't wait to book with Group Retreats again in the future.

We booked a stay at Glentworth Manor over new year and we had a fabulous time! Group retreats were great in their communication and customer service, Stuart the caretaker was extremely helpful and attentive during our stay. The only thing that could possibly be improved were the showers but the jacuzzi bath more than made up for it!

Good stay at Glentworth Hall, a couple issues like any place but were resolved immediately.

We stayed in caer beris manor for the new years celebrations with family , we all had a fabulous time and have rebooked for next year , couldn’t fault anything at all fabulous manor in beautiful grounds.
Everything was there that we needed for a Enjoyable stay , big shout out for Andy the caretaker he made sure we happy and was always on hand if we needed him , but left us to enjoy ourselves . Thank you

I booked a trip to Stables Cottage between Christmas and New Years. Easy to follow instructions got us there without and problem. The house is compact, but very comfortable and we all enjoyed a couple of days in the cosiness by the fire and in the hot tub.
It is proper old-fashioned customer service at Group Retreats; there was always someone to speak to at the end of the phone when booking. Very good, many thanks.

Disrespectful

Just to clear up some issues with Group Retreats! Before anyone says they don’t understand the negative reviews. Please read the entire review.

They do not email back after sending numerous emails with proof was not caused buy us. Fact
They have retained full deposit when they said they will check the ‘damages’ cost yet they have ghosted every email and kept the full amount. Fact
When asked for extra duvets we was rejected however the manager mentioned in a call after that they have enough available all we have to do is contact the care taker! When we said we did he backtracked saying oh you should have mentioned it before. Yet other reviews mentioned how they were provided with extra bedding. Maybe it was just our name we don’t get the special treatment?
Also worth mentioning reviews all of sudden highlighting how good is the caretaker? Funny how we complained about him, they’re positive ones maybe we don’t fit the profile to be helped.

The manager also mentioned they never had any complaints about pressure of showers however the caretaker said on text the pressure is low! Again lying and a Fact!

They posted the same generic reply on reviews yet they can’t email back?? Also funny enough they replied some reviews who weren’t even part of our group. I guess if the shoe fits for them or shall I say the name.
All of a sudden there in an influx of positive reviews all at the same time. These are not organic! Don’t believe the positive reviews. There is a pattern watch out.

This is not the first time booking with them. We went to Fawley court where the Wi-Fi was shoddy the house was cold. We didn’t leave any reviews with it being a small business but overall the stay was good. Hence we booked again as we didn’t think they should have be held accountable for things out of their control (questionable now).
They claim 0.28% is the only time they took a full deposit yet they failed to mention the times they have deducted £100 for a wine stain or when they took extra £250 for cleaning charge from a deposit. That’s the one you know about on these reviews!
Watch out for the careful wording on their replies.
For a family gathering I guess this ‘family owned business’ who is worth probably millions won’t bat a eyelid when they take £2000 it’s probably pocket change for them yet they quick to penalise the smaller person.
When we raised the complaint the Manager was dismissive of when we protested about the alleged damage.

If you do book with group retreats we strongly recommend to capture any damage ASAP and let them know before they pin it on you. That’s the sad reality.

Overall experience has been shocking. Seems as though the only reply we get is through trust pilot. We tried to resolve this before any reviews were put on. But with their denial and lack of response, people should be warned.
We will not comment on the matter further all it is had done is caused mental anguish and stress and dampened the whole experience, I just hope they do the right thing.

Absolutely great experience

I stayed at Timberley Farm for a pre Christmas get together, it was the best weekend we could have had. Amazing house with everything we needed including fabulous Christmas decorations with a super large tree!
I’d love to return some day.