Old Thorns Hotel & Resort Reviews
Reviews
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Alexandra Sent on 06/01/2026Perfect wedding
Just want to say a massive thank you to all the staff at Old Thorns who helped make our wedding day so special. From the very beginning right through to the end of the day, we felt so well looked after. The organisation was amazing, communication was always quick and clear, and every member of staff was absolutely lovely, making us feel completely comfortable and at ease.
We had to move our wedding forward due to our second baby on the way, which meant a very quick turnaround and we ended up with the most magical Christmassy wedding in the Hampshire Suite. The team made everything happen so smoothly and without any stress, and we genuinely felt listened to and supported every step of the way. The food was absolutely delicious, setting was beautiful, and everything came together perfectly.
We honestly couldn’t have asked for more and are so grateful to everyone involved. A huge thank you to the whole team - we would 100% recommend Old Thorns to anyone planning their wedding. -
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Tyler Sent on 30/01/2026our Wedding experience
There isn't a bad word i can say about this venue or any of the staff at old thorns. nothing was ever too much trouble for them, i kept asking to change things last minute and was met with nothing but helpfulness. all the staff and the wedding team couldn't do enough for us and i would highly recommend this venue -
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Elisha Sent on 18/10/2025Incredible venue with attentive staff
We cannot thank Old Thorns enough for the amazing wedding day that they allowed us to have, everything ran so smoothly and the staff were all on top form. A special thanks to Ellena, who was our coordinator for the day, she went above and beyond to make sure that everything went to plan and checked in with us at multiple points throughout the day to check if we needed anything. Chloe then took over for the evening and was just as fabulous! -
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Emmy Sent on 28/09/2025Amazing!!!
We had our Wedding reception at Old Thorns in the Hampshire Suite on Friday it was absolutely fantastic and all our guest had a wonderful time from start to finish. Everyone has been commenting on how great the food and team were and they were so accommodating to our guest who had allergies.
I just wanted to say a special thanks to Izzy and Eleanor who organised and ran the day perfectly, as we both work in hospitality we have quite high standards but they completely exceed these with the excellent service and food they have at Old Thorns, and we could not have asked for a better Wedding venue or team who planned and ran the day for us.
We would definitely recommend Old Thorns!
Mr & Mrs Briggs -
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Jen Sent on 08/06/2025Old Thorns, absolutely amazing venue!
Old Thorns was just amazing. The space was perfect, the staff were so friendly and incredibly professional, the food was out of this world too! The wedding team were just so on point with everything, the day could not have run smoother! No request from us was too much for them. Right from the start of our planning they were polite, helpful and so responsive. The venue is just so beautiful and we really did have the most perfect day. The team were wonderful, we asked, they beyond delivered. Special thanks to Izzy in the wedding team who was just so lovely and patient with us during planning, to Alice in the wedding team who looked after us on the day, a great calming influence and to Dan on reception who is always wonderful when he looks after us! We really could not recommend Old Thorns highly enough. The effort and care put into every task was top notch, right down to the little details. Perfect. Thank you Old Thorns! -
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![Erin]()
Erin Sent on 31/05/2025Amazing Wedding Venue
Wow! We are still buzzing from our wedding here 4 weeks ago , everyone is still speaking about it . It truly was a magical day , there wasn’t anything the wedding team wouldn’t have done for us and it was an amazing location for our photos . The day went perfect and everyone was happy . Thank you again , Erin& Damian xx -
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Nicole Sent on 29/04/2025
Magical day
Could not thank Old Thorns enough, especially the weddings team! Izzy was great with her correspondence via email and helping with our details meeting and Chloe was absolutely amazing the day off! Everybody commented on how much of a star Chloe was! She made our day so special and was there for us for anything we needed.
If you are still deciding on a venue I would recommend Old Thorns every single time!
Thankyou to everyone who was involved in our special day,
Mr & Mrs Brough❤️
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![Holly]()
Holly Sent on 14/04/2025Beautiful Location, Horrible Communication
Reception: Excellent
Venue: Excellent
Food: Excellent
Communication: Poor
Wedding Staff: Poor
Old Thorns was a dream venue of mine. The Hampshire Suite provided such an intimate charm—we loved the natural light and how beautifully it connected to the outdoors. The food was delicious, and the bridal lounge was elegant and calming. However, I cannot overstate how disappointing the communication with the wedding team was in the lead-up to our day.
Communication Issues
Unfortunately, the communication from the wedding team fell far below expectations. We dealt with three different wedding sales team members over the course of planning, and much of what was initially communicated to us was lost with each transition. Whether this is due to high staff turnover or the sheer volume of events hosted at Old Thorns, it created a lot of unnecessary stress for us.
Room Setup Confusion
We were told we would be informed six weeks in advance whether we could access the Hampshire Suite the day before the wedding to set up. Instead, we were only notified two days before—despite repeated follow-ups. This uncertainty caused me a great deal of anxiety, which I tried to communicate clearly and respectfully in an email, but none of my concerns were addressed or even acknowledged in later conversations. I didn’t feel listened to or valued as a bride, and instead felt like I was being handled as part of a military operation. I typically consider myself a very relaxed person, and I was a calm bride until it became clear that many key details were being mismanaged.
Setup Issues the Night Before
Despite sending detailed instructions and images well in advance, the room setup was still incorrect the night before. Specific tables I requested were not available, as they were being used for another event—something I was never made aware of. Thankfully, two kind receptionists and a waitress stepped in and went above and beyond to source the tables we needed. They were incredibly kind, and it was the first time I truly felt seen and supported during this whole process.
Reception Staff
The general reception staff were outstanding. They treated us and our guests like royalty and even addressed me by my new married name the next morning, which was such a thoughtful touch. However, my laptop was put behind reception the day after the wedding, and we weren’t informed of where it was. So we had to drive back an hour there and back to collect it —without any apology or acknowledgment of the inconvenience.
Additional Communication Issues
• Pre-wedding Dinner: We booked a restaurant table for 20 guests a month in advance, only to be told two weeks beforehand that the restaurant would be closed for maintenance. The alternative offered—the sports bar—was not a suitable setting, so we had to scramble to book a nearby pub instead.
• Guest Room Bookings: Many guests experienced problems booking discounted rooms. Some were told the venue was full, while others had no confirmation at all. My own room was accidentally booked twice, and we never received clarity on who had actually received the discounted rates.
• Pre-Wedding Visit: We arranged to visit Old Thorns to pay our deposit, ask questions, and receive another tour. We waited over an hour as no one was available, and the person who did eventually speak to us was unaware of any of our details. The room we were supposed to view was also unavailable. We were offered a complimentary hot drink, but the experience was frustrating and a waste of time after travelling over an hour to get there.
• Menu Confusion: At the tasting, our server couldn’t answer any of our questions, and we were initially told we could offer guests three meal choices. Later, we were told it was limited to two. The inconsistency was unhelpful and confusing.
• Venue Space Change: We spent a year preparing décor for a specific room we were told we could use, only to find out weeks before the wedding that it would no longer be available. It was an upsetting and unnecessary last-minute change.
Wedding Day Experience
While the wedding day itself ran mostly smoothly and the morning was peaceful, there were still issues that took away from the magic. We were promised champagne in the bridal lounge and it wasn't there until later—and only brought after we followed up. The tone changed when the coordinator arrived; it felt cold, rushed, and overly regimented.
I was spoken to in an abrupt tone, as though I was being micromanaged. For example, my photographer had to take care of last-minute details that the coordinator was meant to handle, including arranging the frames for our guest display—something I had spent days preparing. Those frames didn’t make it into the room until after our pictures were taken.
I was even shouted at to “stay there” before walking down the aisle and was asked “is everything okay?” repeatedly, but not in a calm or comforting way—it came across as impatient and disingenuous. My dress was not straightened as promised, resulting in it getting muddy and looking worn very quickly. My maid of honour could have helped, but I was assured it would be taken care of. Sadly, it wasn’t.
Final Thoughts
It’s disheartening to say, but I don’t believe our wedding ever felt like a priority to the staff coordinating it. I understand weddings are busy events, and February is a difficult month weather-wise—but the level of disorganisation and lack of care, especially after I voiced my concerns in writing before the day, is not acceptable.
Old Thorns is a stunning venue with potential for excellence. But unless the communication systems are improved and the wedding team receives better support, I fear other couples may have similar experiences. I hope this review encourages the team to reflect on the importance of not just the venue and food, but the care and attention every couple deserves when planning one of the most special days of their lives.
The cost of the venue went up £2000 within the space of a couple of months, because of the cost of living, and we do not feel this was worth it.
Holly & Ben Newton
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