We stayed at Channels Hotel in Chelmsford, Essex, booked through American Express for around £160, and it turned out to be a really lovely hotel experience.
The room
We stayed in the Pine Suite, which was spacious, comfortable and felt much more personal than a standard chain hotel room. Room size scored 8/10 and the bed and comfort also scored 8/10.
One little detail I really liked was that each room had its own umbrella. It is a simple touch, but exactly the kind of thing that makes a hotel feel thoughtful.
Breakfast
Breakfast was included and was served in a small, cosy tea room in the grounds. It felt much more relaxed and personal than a big generic hotel breakfast room and suited the character of the hotel perfectly.
The grounds
The gardens and grounds were super nice and really added to the stay. It was a pleasant place to walk around and made the hotel feel relaxed and welcoming.
Dinner with the family
We also ate in the restaurant with a party of 19, bringing together family from England and Norway. The food was very good and the prices were reasonable, which is especially important when organising a meal for a large group.
Food: 8/10 · Service: 7/10 · Atmosphere: 9/10
Value
For around £160 booked through Amex, we had a large comfortable room, breakfast included, beautiful grounds and access to a good restaurant. For what we received, the hotel represented excellent value.
Value: 9/10
A cosy Essex hotel I’d happily return to.
Channels was a really nice surprise. The Pine Suite was spacious and comfortable, the gardens were beautiful, breakfast in the little tea room was cosy, and the restaurant worked very well for our large family gathering. It felt relaxed, welcoming and much more memorable than a generic hotel stay. Final Reeve Rating: 8.2/10.