Theodore House

Mar 6th, 2023

Dec 18th, 2022

Nov 22nd, 2022

OS71, about 20 of us including a few wives, held our 50th anniversary reunion at Theodore House this summer during the College half-term. It was amazing to see the transformation that had been made of the old mill building site and was the perfect venue for us, close to the College and its grounds. It didn't matter that the twin rooms were a bit cramped for two, or that the bedrooms had skylights rather than windows. The communal facilities including, outside, an extensive car park, and, inside, the atrium seating and AV equipment, the dining room with its fridges and microwaves available to guests, all ensured our reunion was a great success. Stefan and Fran and the catering staff were most helpful in attending to our needs. It might have been healthier to have had some salad provided with our meal of sandwiches and snacks the first evening. Although wifi worked, the Stonyhurst Estate seems to have limited mobile phone coverage. Overall, though, we were delighted to have been recommended Theodore House for our reunion and hope other groups will consider holding theirs there too!
Oct 18th, 2022

Didn't have a great stay at Theodore House for a few reasons: I booked this place for a retreat and was told about the stunning rural setting it was in but wasn't told the rooms don't have windows - only skylights. There are apparently a couple of rooms with windows but even these don't have an especially pleasant outlook. I'm guessing this is fine if you're on a course/workshop or out during the day, but I was there for some R&R and felt a little claustrophobic in a smallish room without a window. The bathroom is also extremely small, although nicely fitted. During my stay, I experienced issues with hot water cutting out, poor internet connection and one of the skylights not opening. I advised the manager about these matters but didn't feel they handled the situation well. In fact, I felt the staff were generally pretty lacking in customer service skills. Fortunately, there was one exception to this, her name was Jeanette, and she worked in the restaurant/housekeeping. She was superb and the saving grace of my Theodore House experience. Following my stay, I was contacted by a member of their senior management team to discuss my concerns - as they were clearly aware it hadn't gone well. Full marks to them for doing that! They acknowledged the issues I'd encountered, put much of it down to the fact they'd just reopened after Covid, and advised me they were introducing a dedicated member of stall to look after the guests. So, it sounds like things may improve moving forward. I'm convinced that with the right team in place, Theodore House could be a really nice place to stay. The most impressive thing about this centre, apart from Jeanette, is the building itself, which has been beautifully restored from a Grade II listed mill.
Oct 16th, 2022