Alexander House & Utopia Spa, Shelley Suite

Had a lovely stay at this hotel with someone special. We arrived and we're immediately put at ease. Our room Silverburch was absolutely perfect, spacious and a wonderful setting to relax. We hit the gym for a quick session which was perfect before we did the Spa for the evening. The outdoor jacuzzi is a wonderful touch and super romantic and wasn't too busy... we then had dinner nearby for a sunday roast which came highly recommended by the staff and then we returned for a nightcap at the hotel which was wonderful infront of an open fire. We loved our time here and we will 100% return x

My partner and I visited Alexander House this month to celebrate his birthday. We had read great things and were looking forward to the experience, but were disappointed overall, so I wanted to share our experience, especially for anyone considering the morning or twilight/“afternoon” spa packages. These packages consist of the same services, just at different times of day. We chose the twilight version. The package includes a short time in the spa facilities, a treatment, more time in the spa, and then a meal included in the price. We also paid extra to pre-order two glasses of “champagne.” Our main issue was the way food and drink were handled during our visit. Alexander House markets itself as a luxury spa hotel - one of the best in Sussex - so we expected clarity and quality, particularly around something as specific as champagne. However, when I asked what champagne had been served, the restaurant manager quietly told us it was actually Codorníu, a brand which only makes cava. This brand does not appear on their menu at all, and the cheapest champagne they list is Laurent-Perrier. It felt misleading to advertise and charge for champagne but have been served an off-menu cava instead. The website also does not make clear that the included “dinner” is not from the dinner menu shown online. When we arrived, we were given a set menu labelled “lunch,” offering a ciabatta sandwich, pizza, or a salad. When we queried this, reception confirmed that this was the correct menu and that it is used for both lunch and the package dinner. There is nothing wrong with sandwiches and pizza, but if you are expecting a dinner menu - and the online à la carte features dishes such as ragu and venison - this is not made clear at the time of booking. I asked whether we could order from the à la carte menu instead. Reception suggested that we select from the set menu and then request à la carte options at dinner. When I did so, the restaurant manager appeared uncomfortable about us choosing anything outside the set menu. Not wanting to dampen the evening, my partner felt awkward and chose to stick with his sandwich, and I did the same. The spa facilities themselves are really attractive. They have warm lighting, high-quality products, and well-maintained spaces. However, the outdoor unisex barrel sauna was off or not working during our visit, which was disappointing since we had chosen this package specifically to enjoy the spa together. My treatment itself was technically fine, though the therapist did not smile once, which added to an overall sense of disengagement. Overall, this was meant to be a special experience for my partner on a special occasion - his birthday. Had I known that choosing a package with Alexander meant compromising on food quality and clarity, I would have ordered spa access and treatments separately and eaten à la carte. A luxury establishment should not be offering “champagne” and serving cava instead, nor should the nature of the included dinner be unclear. It was a shame the only unisex sauna was not working. As much as I wanted to ignore these issues, they did really undermine what was meant to be a special occasion and we both felt disappointed.