Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club: Reviews, Golf, Dining

Planning a stay or a round at the Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club? This guide draws on official sources, guest reviews and platform listings to give you a clear picture of what to expect — from the championship golf courses and leisure club to dining at the on-site restaurants. The property sits on Maxstoke Lane in Meriden, roughly 4 miles (6 km) east of Birmingham Airport.

Last checked: 2026-07-01

Location: Warwickshire parkland near Birmingham · Style: Spa and golf hotel · Restaurant: Cast Iron · Leisure: Indoor pool, gym, Leisure Club

Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club Reviews

Guest-review aggregations show an overall score around 3.6–3.8 out of 5 on Google and TripAdvisor, indicating generally positive but mixed sentiment. TripAdvisor reviewers frequently praise the rural setting, golf facilities and breakfast quality, while sometimes criticising room condition, dated decor and service consistency.

What do guests say about the rooms?

Room descriptions from hotel‑aggregator sites emphasise smoke‑free rooms with Wi‑Fi, flat‑screen TVs and tea/coffee‑making facilities, plus 24‑hour room service. Independent blog reviews note that views across the golf course from some rooms are a highlight, but multiple reviewers on TripAdvisor mention that certain rooms feel tired and could benefit from refurbishment.

How is the service rated?

Service consistency is a recurring theme. One reviewer on TripAdvisor described the staff as friendly during check‑in, while others reported slow response times in the restaurant. Because these observations come from individual reviews rather than a systematic survey, they should be taken as signals rather than definitive judgments.

Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club Menu and Dining

Dining at the property centres on two outlets. Fairway Bar & Grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with an emphasis on grill‑style dishes. Zest Restaurant offers a lighter menu for breakfast and lunch, and has a terrace for warmer months. According to the official food‑and‑drink page, the main restaurant typically operates from around midday to late evening, while Zest is open from early morning into the evening.

Breakfast is commonly described as a buffet with continental, full English/Irish, vegetarian and buffet options, consistent with Booking.com listings. Afternoon tea, wedding catering and conference dining are also promoted, although specific menus and prices are not publicly detailed.

The trade-off: The range of outlets covers most meal occasions, but the lack of published current menus means that guests should confirm availability and prices directly with the hotel.

Forest of Arden Golf Club

The country club includes two 18‑hole courses. The Arden course is the championship layout, founded in 1970 and designed by Donald Steel. It has hosted European Tour events such as the British Masters and the English Open, and continues to see professional play — the Farmfoods European Senior Masters, part of the Legends Tour, is held there. The Aylesford course provides a second, longer test of golf; one database lists it at around 7,213 yards with a course rating of 75.7 and a slope rating, indicating a full‑length challenge.

Official sources describe the facility as a “top UK golf venue” that integrates stays with golf, spa and conference facilities. Green‑fee pricing is not publicly confirmed; guests are advised to contact the club directly for current rates and booking availability.

For readers interested in other top‑tier golf resorts nearby, our companion review covers The Belfry Hotel & Resort, another Warwickshire course with a Ryder Cup history.

The bottom line: With two distinct courses and a tournament pedigree, the golf offering is the property’s standout feature — arguably the main draw for many visitors.

Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club Location and Map

The hotel is situated at Maxstoke Lane, Meriden, CV7 7HR, approximately 4 miles (6 km) east of Birmingham Airport and close to junction 6 of the M42. The NEC Birmingham is within a short drive, making the property convenient for exhibition visitors and conference delegates. The setting is often described as rural parkland, though the “10,000 acres of ancient woodland” claim appears only in wedding‑venue marketing and lacks independent confirmation.

Access by road is straightforward via the M42 and M6 corridors. Free private parking is available on site, according to Booking.com. There is no dedicated shuttle to the airport; a taxi takes approximately 10 minutes.

For another Midlands rural retreat that combines spa, golf and dining, see our guide to Lea Marston Hotel Sutton Coldfield.

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