The Master Builder's House Hotel
The Master Builder's House Hotel
Bucklers Hard, New Forest National Park Hampshire SO42 7XB England
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Avg. HK$1,559 /night, 9/11 - 9/12
HK$1,910
per night
HK$1,446
per night
HK$982
per night
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4.0
#1 of 1 hotels in Bucklers HardLocation
Cleanliness
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Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
With its stunning location in the New Forest overlooking the Beaulieu River, this historic hotel at Buckler's Hard offers a relaxing stay of quirky but affordable luxury. Tuck into a pint and a snack in the Yachtsman's Bar & Gardens, or treat yourself to a sumptuous meal in the Riverside Restaurant. Most importantly, relax and enjoy every minute of your time with us.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Free breakfast
Hiking
Horseback riding
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Taxi service
Conference facilities
Parking
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Fishing
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Express check-in / check-out
Laundry service
Room features
Desk
Room service
Telephone
Bottled water
Coffee / tea maker
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Iron
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Hair dryer
Room types
Bridal suite
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Smoking rooms available
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TheAA: The Automobile Association.
HOTEL STYLE
Harbour View
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Bucklers Hard, New Forest National Park Hampshire SO42 7XB England
Getting there
Car recommended
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 40 out of 100
40
220 Restaurants
within 10 kilometers
Reviews
4.0
1,705 reviews
Reviews summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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The Master Builder's House Hotel intrigues guests with its picturesque and tranquil location, offering stunning river views and a historical charm that's perfect for serene strolls and visiting nearby attractions. Cozy and comfortable, the hotel's atmosphere is enhanced by the praise for its well-appointed rooms and welcoming amenities like complimentary drinks and pet-friendly touches. While some travelers find the value questionable due to high prices, others feel the experience justifies the cost.
The rooms, noted for their cleanliness and lovely views, have garnered positive remarks, although there are mentions of size and maintenance concerns. Staff at the hotel receive accolades for their friendly and efficient service, contributing to a memorable stay.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Well-appointed
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Detailed Reviews
This hotel has absolutely gorgeous views over the lovely landscaped gardens and Beaulieu river with all its yachts. There is lots of outdoor seating in the garden and a lovely veranda that all look straight onto the river views. We were seated outside for breakfast a few times and it was just gorgeous. It’s very dog friendly, they’re allowed everywhere except the main restaurant indoors. if you want your dog with you at meal times they can seat you outside or in the lower bar area inside. The staff are very friendly and professional in their attitude. There are a few negatives.... the staff needed to be more organised at meal times. I can only speak for breakfast as we didn’t dine at the hotel in the evenings. Orders were taken incorrectly and you was left waiting for quite a while. Although they apologised it was very frustrating and kept happening. The location of the hotel means you need to drive everywhere if you want to go out out bucklers hard, however this remote location is the reason you get the peaceful beautiful views. The food menu is quite expensive, very limited and a bit posh. If this had not been the case we would have dined there in the evenings sometimes. Our room was quite small, especially having a dog with us, however it was still a modern clean lovely room with a big window to let light in. There was a dog basket, blanket, and treats in the room when we arrived, lovely touch. The reception staff are a credit to this hotel. The lady we mostly dealt with was very friendly, knowledgeable, chatty, professional and efficient. Overall the Master Builders House Hotel is very good and I would highly recommend it. We will certainly stay there again in the future.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kara Birrell, General Manager at The Master Builder's House Hotel
Responded 15 Aug 2020
Dear SPHANNAH Thank you for taking the time to write a review following on from your recent stay with us. We have needed to change our way of service in the restaurant to ensure that we adhere to the Government guidelines. With the hotel being busier than we ever imagined, this has proved somewhat tricky. Please accept my apologies with regards to the confusion with some of your breakfast orders. We are adapting the way we run service next week to find a more efficient, and fool proof way, of doing it to ensure no similar issues. I am relieved to hear that these niggles that you encountered will not put you off returning to the hotel in the future, we very much look forward to welcoming you back. Kara
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We spent three nights in luxury room 19. The room was quite spacious with excellent views of the river.
Covid rules meant the room was not serviced during our stay but full marks to the Reception staff for quickly leaving requested replenishments (milk,water,loo roll, clean towels etc ) outside the door.
The tables in the dining room were well spaced apart and all the staff were very respectful of keeping their distance especially when serving you. The food was freshly cooked with a reasonable choice from the set menu. We were a little disappointed that the set menu was the same for two of the three nights.
Overall we would be very happy to stay again
Covid rules meant the room was not serviced during our stay but full marks to the Reception staff for quickly leaving requested replenishments (milk,water,loo roll, clean towels etc ) outside the door.
The tables in the dining room were well spaced apart and all the staff were very respectful of keeping their distance especially when serving you. The food was freshly cooked with a reasonable choice from the set menu. We were a little disappointed that the set menu was the same for two of the three nights.
Overall we would be very happy to stay again
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Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Luxury rooms on first floor in main house have nice views of the river. Narrow old stairs to get...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kara Birrell, General Manager at The Master Builder's House Hotel
Responded 3 Oct 2020
Dear Antony L Thank you for taking the time to post a review following on from your recent stay with us. I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time with us. My apologies that you were disappointed with the set menu not changing, we are currently having to limit the chefs we have to ensure social distancing in the kitchen. When Covid is over then we will be in a position to offer a far more varied food offering. I do hope that we might have the chance to welcome you back to the hotel in the future. Kara
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
60th Surprise Birthday
Food was delicious and service was great
Well priced
Staff very attentive
Views and location were beautiful and sitting on the terrace over looking the river was wonderful
Our room was nicely decorated and spotlessly clean. Shower great.
We stayed in a dog friendly room, they even provided dog basket, towel and bowl.
Would love to come back again and stay longer
Food was delicious and service was great
Well priced
Staff very attentive
Views and location were beautiful and sitting on the terrace over looking the river was wonderful
Our room was nicely decorated and spotlessly clean. Shower great.
We stayed in a dog friendly room, they even provided dog basket, towel and bowl.
Would love to come back again and stay longer
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Date of stay: July 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: All rooms appear to be excellent.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kara Birrell, General Manager at The Master Builder's House Hotel
Responded 6 Aug 2020
Dear Monkeygreen123 Thank you for taking the time to write a review on your recent stay with us. I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time with us, and that you plan to come back for longer next time, we very much look forward to welcoming you back. Kara
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was our first trip away from home since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis. Normally we travel a lot but as we are both over 70 and I have asthma we have been very nervous about what to do. We decided to spend a couple of nights at the Master Builders because we had already visited the hotel about 10 years ago and felt that it was the type of establishment where they would take things seriously and implement the necessary precautions. We were delighted with our choice. They had thought of everything. Rooms are sanitised between guests and no one enters your room while you are there - this means you have to make your own bed but it’s well worth it for peace of mind! There are hand sanitisers everywhere. At breakfast and dinner clients are booked in so that there are never too many people in the restaurant and tables are several metres apart. All staff wore masks. You can also book a picnic lunch so that there is no need to visit any risky venues during your stay. The gardens are beautiful and the view over the estuary delightful so that we felt the stress of the last few months fall away. It’s the best thing we could have done this summer!
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Date of stay: August 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Some rooms have views over the estuary
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kara Birrell, General Manager at The Master Builder's House Hotel
Responded 24 Aug 2020
Dear angelaiG2323HN Thank you for taking the time to write a lovely review on your recent stay with us. I am very pleased to hear that you felt really safe during your time with us, we are doing our very best to not only ensure the safety of our team, but also our guests. I am delighted to hear that your stay helped to relieve the stress of the last few months, very much needed I imagine. I do hope that we might have the chance to welcome you back to the hotel in the future. Kara
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We were impressed with almost everything about our stay. We were called prior to our visit to arrange times for dinner and breakfast. The hotel is in a fabulous location, our room was beautiful, clean, modern, with a view of the river. The comfiest bed ever! The staff were lovely and friendly, we felt very safe considering the Covid restrictions..... everyone wore masks where necessary and hand sanitisers were available everywhere. The evening meal was very good but quite pricey. Breakfast was excellent. We ordered a picnic which was okay, quite expensive for what we had, and the quiche was a big disappointment and we couldn’t eat it. Apart from that we had a fantastic time, and we would definitely recommend this hotel. Superb location and we had a wonderful time.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kara Birrell, General Manager at The Master Builder's House Hotel
Responded 25 Sept 2020
Dear H3322LWjane Thank you for taking the time to write a lovely review following on from your recent stay. I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time with us, and that you felt safe during these unprecedented times. Please accept my apologies with regards to the quiche in your picnic though. I do hope that we might have the chance to welcome you back to the hotel in the future. Kara
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed at the hotel under Covid restrictions, which made a difference to the expected level of service in both accommodation and meals. However the hotel generally coped well with the conditions and I came away with a positive impression of the customer-friendly ethos of what is quite a pricey establishment. The location is the main reason to stay there: Bucklers Hard is now a couple of terraces of period houses facing each other leading down to a peaceful yachting mooring. Imagining it when 50 sailing ships were built there on 3 slipways is inspiring. The oldest part of the hotel occupies the grandest of those former houses. We however stayed in the new wing (in the rooms called "posh classic") which were comfortable but relatively ordinary by comparison, and with no view of the estuary or the old buildings. If you book one of these rooms try to get one on the first floor, which seemed to be much brighter than those on the ground floor. The New Forest can easily be explored using the hotel as a base, and there are a number of attractive seaside towns to the southwest.
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Date of stay: July 2020
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Ask for first floor room if in "Posh Classic"
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kara Birrell, General Manager at The Master Builder's House Hotel
Responded 6 Aug 2020
Dear GC53 Thank you for taking the time to write a review following on from your recent stay with us. I am pleased to hear that out covid restrictions didn't mar your stay and that you enjoyed the fascinating history of our location. I do hope that we might have the chance to welcome you back to the hotel in the future. Kara
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was a great hotel for a short break in the New Forest. The hotel was clean and we felt was very well organised to manage Covid, with plenty of hand sanitiser, staff with masks, a request to guest to wear masks in common areas and the room was sealed after it was cleaned for our arrival. The staff were all very pleasant and helpful.
The location is very quiet, on the water front, a little off the beaten track. There's a pleasant walk through a woodland to Beaulieu village (just over 2 miles).
The restaurant has a lunch menu and set menu in the evening, which unfortunately doesn't change, so worth a check if you're staying more than one night.
The location is very quiet, on the water front, a little off the beaten track. There's a pleasant walk through a woodland to Beaulieu village (just over 2 miles).
The restaurant has a lunch menu and set menu in the evening, which unfortunately doesn't change, so worth a check if you're staying more than one night.
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Date of stay: September 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kara Birrell, General Manager at The Master Builder's House Hotel
Responded 12 Sept 2020
SuzanneM6595 Thank you for taking the time to post a review on your recent stay with us. I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time with us, and our tranquil location. I do hope that we might have the chance to welcome you back to the hotel in the future. Kara
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had fond memories of this hotel from a visit several years ago. So it was disappointing to find some of the best aspects had gone. The location is still beautiful, but the lovely light filled lounge has been turned into a 'dog-friendly' rather bleak dining area. And the main dining room also lacked atmosphere - furniture stacked up at one end of the room, fairy lights left over from a wedding, and very chilly. The bar would have been cosier if the fires had been kept going and candles lit. The staff did their best but they were woefully undermanned.
All this might work in the summer but don't come expecting the cosy country house experience in winter months.
The food was actually quite good pub type grub.
Our room in the main hotel was a nice one with lovely views, but was again quite cold. We had to ask for an extra heater. It's also annoying that the hotel is still not servicing rooms daily when other hotels are. A token reduction in the price, and a more generous supply of shower gel, tea bags etc to last us through our stay would have helped.
All this might work in the summer but don't come expecting the cosy country house experience in winter months.
The food was actually quite good pub type grub.
Our room in the main hotel was a nice one with lovely views, but was again quite cold. We had to ask for an extra heater. It's also annoying that the hotel is still not servicing rooms daily when other hotels are. A token reduction in the price, and a more generous supply of shower gel, tea bags etc to last us through our stay would have helped.
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Date of stay: January 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Chris Garrett, General Manager at The Master Builder's House Hotel
Responded 22 Feb 2022
thanks for the review. We are currently beginning a refurbishment of the public areas and rooms to build on this atmosphere. recruitment although a challenging area in most of hospitality is being worked on as we speak. with our new menu change and refurb, expect a fresh change coming in the near future. from your review are rooms are now serviced daily, along with increasing the additional extras we provide. We look forward to hopefully welcoming you back in the near future. Kind Regards Chris
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We didn't stay in the hotel but had lunch at the restaurant (pre-booked) having just completed the round walk from Bucklers Hard to Beaulieu. There were lots of hand sanitisers at the entrance and the toilets and the tables were well spaced so social distancing was easily maintained. We had a table for 4 and there was an extra small table attached behind which the staff stood to take orders, leave food and collect the empty plates. The food was good and the staff were very friendly. We had a lovely view in a relaxed atmosphere as it rained hard outside! A very peaceful location.
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Date of stay: July 2020
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kara Birrell, General Manager at The Master Builder's House Hotel
Responded 6 Aug 2020
Dear Graham P Thank you for taking the time to write a review following on from your recent lunch with us. Such a shame that the typically unpredictable English summer weather didn't allow you to enjoy your meal from our terrace in the sunshine, but pleased to hear that you still enjoyed the view from inside. I do hope that we might have the chance to welcome you back in the future, hopefully with better weather! Kara
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We stayed for two nights with three rooms. The location is absolutely wonderful. The facilities and accommodation are good, not great. The grounds are fantastic. The organisation and service is shambolic. The rooms are small but ok, but they provided one small bit of soap, a minute shampoo bottle and one toilet roll in each room. Both breakfast orders, handed in the night before were wrong and not what was ordered and the staff were miserable about helping to change things. The picnic lunch we ordered was missing items and despite asking a member of staff to resolve this which they promised to do, we never saw them again. Come 10pm, the staff are not interested and the bar is unmanned, then they are desperate to close it at 11pm and you’re not even allowed to sit in a communal area inside or outside. A real shame given the wonderful location and history. Needs proper management. Not somewhere I’ll recommend.
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Date of stay: August 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kara Birrell, General Manager at The Master Builder's House Hotel
Responded 15 Aug 2020
Dear AJ14363 I was disappointed to read your review following on from your recent stay with us. We are limiting the toiletries available in guest bedrooms, as these need to be disposed of after each guest. Your welcome letter does state that we are very happy to provide more on request. We have had to completely change the way we run the hotel when it comes to restaurant service, and had never anticipated being as busy as we currently are. Please accept my apologies with regards to your experience at breakfast. Rest assured that this issue is being dealt with and a new style of service implemented to ensure that there are no repeat occurrences. My apologies again that you found the staff to be disinterested, I imagine that they are just extremely tired as there has been no let up since we reopened 6 weeks ago. I am currently in the process of recruiting more staff to enable my team to have some much deserved time off. I do hope that can understand that this is a very trying time for us, and that you might consider giving us another chance in the future. Kara
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Thank you for asking but as a visitor I am not in a position to say. You would have to confirm with the hotel reception. All I know is that several families with toddlers (and dogs) came in while we had lunch and were seemingly catered for very happily and efficiently. Form the outside, the accommodation looks very suitable, too.
It is provided
No. The hotel has its own parking. Take the signed turning before you reach the public car park. And the museum is well worth a visit.
Ask the hotel!
"Free parking but not always easy to get close so drop any disabled visitors off first before parking"Read full review
"You only get a view of the estuary from rooms the main house, but the rooms are much more expensive."Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
HK$1,185 - HK$1,793 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
master builders hotel
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandHampshireNew Forest National Park HampshireBucklers Hard
NUMBER OF ROOMS
26
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about The Master Builder's House Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to The Master Builder's House Hotel?
Nearby attractions include New Forest Activities (3.8 km), Beaulieu National Motor Museum (3.7 km), and Beaulieu Palace House (2.9 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The Master Builder's House Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at The Master Builder's House Hotel?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at The Master Builder's House Hotel?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Master Builder's House Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include The Thai Corner Restaurant, The Beaulieu Bakehouse, and The Terrace Restaurant.
Is The Master Builder's House Hotel located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.2 km away from the centre of Bucklers Hard.
Are pets allowed at The Master Builder's House Hotel?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Does The Master Builder's House Hotel offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers meeting rooms, a banquet room, and conference facilities.
Are there any historical sites close to The Master Builder's House Hotel?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Beaulieu Palace House (2.9 km) and Buckler's Hard (0.05 km).
Does The Master Builder's House Hotel have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the harbour view available here.
Is The Master Builder's House Hotel accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.