TripAdvisor Traveler Reviews
“Delightful B&B”
    (5/5)Bob05401 4 contributions Burlington, Vermont Jul 27, 2010 | Trip type: Couples
Located in the city but away from the center bustle, this gives the feel of a lovely old English manor home, very nicely appointed. The public rooms and the guest quarters were all very large and comfortable. Shirley was especially attentive to our needs. She hosted us and the other guests for drinks and snacks before dinner and then helped with dinner reservations. Very nice breakfast.
- Date of stay April 2010
- Visit was for Leisure
- Traveled with With Spouse/Partner
- Member since April 28, 2010
- Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
“Wonderful NZ hospitality”
  (5/5)bobbiehpvb 30 contributions Coastal northeast Florida Jun 23, 2009 | Trip type: Couples
The Hadleigh is a grand historic home that has the feel of an English manor house. It is situated in a beautiful garden setting, located a few miles from the city center. Parking is available only on the street, but we never had a problem finding a spot as it is in a quiet residential neighborhood. We were greeted by our hosts John and Shirley upon arrival and given a tour of the house and its features, including a kitchenette area with stocked refrigerator available to guests and a computer with free internet access. We stayed in the Goddard Suite, which was very spacious and beautifully appointed with comfortable bed and pillows. The bathroom was spacious and modern with full amenities (shampoo, bath products, hair dryer). Bedroom and bathroom were immaculate and refreshed each morning and evening. Shirley also left some sweets (freshly baked cookies, chocolates) in the room each day.
John and Shirley host a guest gathering in their lounge in the evening and provide wines and savories. It was great to have a chance to talk with them and the other guests and share experiences and advice before going out. Breakfasts included cereal, fruit, coffee, tea, toast and a gourmet selection cooked by Shirley that changed every day.
We stayed in many beautiful places on our month-long trip to NZ, but the graciousness of John and Shirley put Hadleigh House among the best. Since we were there for 3 nights, Shirley offered to do laundry for us and it was such a blessing to come back from a day of sightseeing to find it done. We had a minor issue with our rental car and John helped us set it right. My husband is interested in car racing and he got a tour of John's garage and racing Porsches. Every request for information or help was handled with care and deliberation over how to ensure we had the best result. When we left, they walked us out to our car to say goodbye.
We highly recommend Hadleigh House as a place that represents the best hospitality NZ has to offer.
- Date of stay February 2009
- Visit was for Leisure
- Traveled with With Spouse/Partner
- Member since May 06, 2006
- Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Yes
“Excellent "
(5/5)
Chenies, Chenies, Bucks April 09, 2009
An outstandingly beautiful house. Shirley the owner is delightful and welcoming and most hospitable. The rooms are superb and everything has been thought of there is nothing more that one could want. Breakfast was a feast. Thoroughly recommended, can't wait to go again. Colin and Lynda, Chenies, UK
“A real find -- charming and comfortable”
(5/5)
Cal_Prof Los Angeles Mar 18, 2009
We spent two nights at Hadleigh and they were all we could have hoped for. Hadleigh is an early 20th Century house that has been lovingly and elegantly restored with period pieces. It is charming without being uncomfortable or inefficient. It is surrounded by a lovely garden and is located in a quiet residential area 3-5 minutes' drive from Cathedral Square. Shirley and John Warring are wonderful hosts. They have thought of everything and never stop trying to make sure you are enjoying yourself. Our room (the Kempthorne Suite) consisted of a large comfortable bedroom, a smaller bedroom with a desk (and Internet connection) and a bathroom. The room was quiet and the bed was comfortable. The bathroom was well equipped and the shower was fine. The cooked breakfasts were excellent. In the evening there were cocktails in the parlor with the other guests (optional). There was a decanter of port in the room and Shirley left little muffins and things which we happily ate as snacks during our touring. Our first night, John drove us into the city centre to have dinner. (We ate at Annie's Wine Bar and it was excellent.) John was very helpful on places to eat, things to see, roads to take, etc. We paid $300 NZ per night. All around, it was one of our best accommodations during three weeks in New Zealand.
“Location Location Location”
(5/5)
eniss Carlsbad, California Jan 13, 2009
This boutique house is lovely. The Rhododendrons were in bloom and the grounds were beautiful. We had a very spacious bedroom and spacious bathroom. The hosts: Shirley and John are adorable. They provide you with a wonderful happy hour before dinner. It is so nice to relax in their lovely home and have a drink and eat Shirley's delicious creations.
The home is walking distance to downtown which makes life really simple. John also will drop you off at your dinner spot.
Shirley's afternoon snack is a treat too. The friendliness and hospitality can't be beat.
“Charm and comfort in Christchurch”
(5/5)
jrwood4oph Roanoke, VA Jan 6, 2009
Jon & Shirley Warring, owners of Hadleigh, will make your stay unforgettable. The magnificently restored house is set in beautiful gardens in a residential area. The location is very quiet yet convenient to downtown. We were greeted warmly with libations and hors d'oeuvres by Jon & Shirley. The bedrooms are sumptuous with very comfortable beds. A glass of port and evening sweets awaited us upon returning from sightseeing. Our hosts were very helpful with directions and information; Jon was kind enough to drive us to dinner and to pick up our rental car. A guest computer and lounge gave us convenient access to the internet. Breakfast was scrumptious, relaxed,and very filling. We highly recommend a stay at this beautiful Bed & Breakfast and hope to return ourselves.
“Quiet warmth in historic home”
(5/5)
NAD_Newton Newton, MA Nov 17, 2008
Spent 2 delightful nights at Hadleigh house. Owners Shirley & Jon Warring not only provided wonderful lodging in their beautiful home, but helped us fine good places to dine and good things to do. Their historic home is surrounded by magnificent gardens. Every night they invited us for cocktails. They were perfect hosts and we felt like family
"A Wonderful Find"
(5/5)
mary_gregoire
Marseille, France
Feb 26, 2008
During a 3 week visit to New Zealand, we stayed at 8 different B&Bs. The Hadleigh was the best!! The house and garden are lovely. It is very nicely decorated and very clean. Jon and Shirley are very warm and welcoming hosts. Their attention to detail and the little extras was outstanding. Each day Shirley baked a little sweet and it was waiting for you in your room when you returned from the days adventure. Coffee, tea, water are all available in a small guest kitchen, free of charge. One night it was raining and when we returned from dinner, the heating pad was turned on to warm up the bed for us. The roomed was cleaned once a day and then tidied up at night while you were out to dinner. Each day breakfast consisted of a buffet of cereals (including home made musili), fresh OJ, homemade bread and muffins and a cooked breakfast of eggs etc. Jon and Shirley enjoy their guests. There was a "happy hour" each night to sample New Zealand wine, nibble on some of Shirley's home made appetizers and get to know the other guests in the house as well as our hosts. Jon was especially resourceful in helping us to plan our day and suggesting restaurants. He will also shuttle guests to restaurants if you wish. Hadleigh is, without a doubt, a great place to stay.
"Wonderful Home Away from Home"
(5/5)
nic0e
Upstate NY
Feb 18, 2008
I cannot say enough good things about Hadleigh and the owners/hosts Jon and Shirley. Of all of our NZ accommodations (about 6 places) Hadleigh by far exceeded in ambience and service. They will provide same day laundering and also have free wi-fi .... these are 2 things that NONE of the other places have, all of which were 4 and 5 star. Sometimes it's the little things that put a place over the top and make it special. Breakfast included fresh peaches straight from the tree in the lovely garden. We spent 3 nights, one at the beginning of our journey and 2 at the end and it was so nice to know while we were travelling about that we had something so comforting to look forward to. Christchurch is not a huge city so there is no disadvantage to not being right smack in the center of town. Plus we found some very nice local neighborhoods nearby where we could shop and dine w/o the tourist prices. Highly highly recommended!!
“A highlight of our trip”
“A highlight of our trip”
(5/5)
Mgt2 East Yorks Dec 12, 2007
We stayed with Jon and Shirley on the recommendation of Russell Wenn of DesigNZ on Travel New Zealand and our stay was everything he said and more. The house was the most charming that we saw during our visit-a lovely Arts and Crafts home with a real ambience of a previous time in New Zealand's history.
But the main reason that our stay is remembered with such affection is the kindness and care that Jon and Shirley took of us. In a country where everyone that we met was welcoming and pleasant, Jon and Shirley still stood out as exceptional. We might have been visiting friends or family. Nothing was too much trouble. Because it was a special anniversary trip, we had been staying in 5 star Asian hotels so we had got used to impeccable service but Hadleigh felt like more of the same.
I would like too to recommend Russell, mentioned above. I don't usually use travel agents but was having difficulty booking at Christmas, New Zealand's busiest time. Russell really knows his country and I would recommend getting his advice if you are a first time visitor.
- Liked — The hosts and the very beautiful old house
"Home From Home"
(5/5)
GibboTours
Ponsonby, Cumbria
Feb 25, 2007
We really enjoyed our stay at the Hadleigh. Jon and Shirley treated us like part of the family for the 5 days we stayed there. There were so many lovely personal touches and the house was an absolute delight. Jon even took time to show us photos of the house before and during its renovation. Breakfast was cooked to order with fresh fruit from the garden and delicious home made jams. Shirley also did her daily bake of lovely cakes and biscuits which we enjoyed each night after a hard day touring!!! The set up was excellent, we stayed in the Kempthorne Suite where we had a suite of rooms, beautifully decorated and with original fireplace. We liked the informality and friendliness of the Hadleigh B&B with hosts who really care about the quality of service they provide.
"Historic and Charming Ambience"
(5/5)
A TripAdvisor Member
Moraga, California, USA
Apr 4, 2006
Listed among the Historic Arts and Crafts Home Registry in New Zealand, Hadleigh exudes old world charm. The home is built of polished native kauri and rimu timbers, its lattice bay and stained glass windows looking out into a romantic garden. There is a billiard room/library with a dedicated computer for guest use. It truly is an oasis within easy walking distance of Cathedral Square. Breakfasts were deliciously made to order, abundant with fresh fruit, and featured Shirley's outstanding home made granola. Owners Jon and Shirley Warring went out of their way and their gracious and warm hospitality made us feel like old friends. Their tradition of hosting a daily wine and cheese gathering to introduce guests to each other added a special touch to everyone's stay.
Discover more about Hadleigh, our 5 star luxury accommodation in Christchurch.
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