voco Lythe Hill Hotel & Spa by IHG

Our family particularly enjoyed the swimming pool and spa area. The bedroom was very clean and generously sized, and the breakfast was of excellent quality.

The only area for improvement was our arrival experience. The receptionist seemed rather tired and not particularly welcoming, which made the check-in feel quite transactional. We also requested an extra towel, but it didn’t arrive and we had to collect it ourselves.

Breakfast was nice and dinner was limited. Staff were kind

The room was a bit dirty, the walls were stained

This week all members had an email about new pool hours for children. The Spa Team wrote and reminded that due to health and safety only 6 children are allowed into the pool at one time. Yesterday we arrived at 3.30 and no where to physically swim. When we left an hour later there were 11 children in the pool, several unsupervised whilst their parents were relaxing outside on the loungers. When you thought it could not possibly be worse today we went for our daily swim later, however there were over thirty people in the pool, 13 children and no pool etiquette what's so ever. I understand both sides of the story however I feel that the spa team failed to deliver what they promised less than a week after they sent the new pool times. There is no pool etiquette and I'm really now beginning to feel they use the members money to keep the business afloat at our own expense.

Lovely location and very quiet with spacious room

Lack of view from our room

Booked a suite through the IHG website for my fiancée's birthday. The online photos showed a large, colourful, well-decorated room. The reality was something else entirely. On arrival we were made "guests of the day" and offered discounts on food and drink. A nice gesture, we thought, until we got to the room and realised why. The "suite" turned out to be two tiny, depressing box rooms connected by a corridor. The specification was below that of a budget hotel, despite us paying the top room rate. To say it didn't match the website is a serious understatement. We were offered a move to a similar spec room and declined. A few minutes online and we'd found a much nicer room at a much nicer hotel for the same price. Then came the worst part. I spent around 30 minutes at reception, first with the receptionist and then with the manager, both of whom refused to refund the room. Their position was that because we'd booked through the main IHG website, it was non-refundable. I showed them the photos of the room I'd booked alongside the one we'd been given. The mismatch was obvious. Still no refund. I have attached the photos to this review, both what we booked on the IHG website and the reality of the room. They then offered to refund one of the two nights. I declined again. More time wasted on what was meant to be a weekend away. Eventually they conceded that because the payment was only a pre-authorisation, they could simply nullify it. I've never been treated this badly at a hotel. Avoid.

Lythe Hill was the absolutely perfect venue for our wedding. My husband and I had viewed almost a dozens hotels before we decided on Lythe and wow im glad we did. The staff went above and beyond to make us feel at home. My family flew in from abroad and were all very happy with their rooms. I even had multiple compliments that it was the best food people have had at a wedding. The team were very accommodating with numerous allergies, food sensitivities, and dietary preferences. I had no idea I was friends with so many vegans, vegetarians and gluten free folks. And not one mistake was made with any of their meals! Which would've been very easy with so many different combinations of people. Communication was amazing and I honestly think the price was a great deal considering the DJ and wedding suite were included. Highly recommend!

Friendly helpful receptionists. The grounds. Affordable. Good sized rooms.

Dilapidated, tired Spa and pool. Old, non functioning lockers in changing rooms. Room needed a good coat of paint. Breakfast choice very limited.

The restaurant. The food was good as were the staff.

The room and spa facilities. We booked a Premium King room for £245 for the night. It was terrible. All rooms supposedly have a view across the South Downs. Ours looked out over some heat pumps and some overflow car parking. When we questioned this with Reception they apologised but said all of the good rooms had been given to the wedding guests who were there that weekend! The room was also tired with most tiles in the bathroom missing their grouting, the extractor fan not working, and the bath’s kick board missing. The ‘power shower’ was just a hand held rose. There was no water in the room, and the mini fridge had been removed. The spa facilities themselves were also shocking. There was basically an indoor pool with a jacuzzi attached, plus half a dozen loungers. I would guess the hotel has accommodation for 100+ guests so woefully inadequate.

Staff, location and after being listened too moving to a bigger room and quieter location were more content.

The first room.