Bristolandbathintensivecourses Reviews 

Our daughter is autistic and struggles with new situations. We contacted the office before she started and they assured us that they can help and accommodate her needs. The instructor Alan called myself to discuss our daughter and how he would help her. From the 1st day she gained so much confidence from Alan and his calm and professional teaching skills.
Today she passed her test and this was 100% due to how Alan supported and encouraged her driving . Many thanks 👏🏽

I started my intensive course this week and from the very first day I felt comfortable. My instructor, Maruf, has been amazing – patient, supportive, and very clear in the way he explains things, which makes everything easy to understand. The progress I’ve made since Monday is a huge difference. After my first day I was already on the road, and Maruf gave me so much confidence and reassurance. I’m really happy with how it’s going so far.
Thanks to Bristol and Bath intensive course

Had my lessons with Tim who was an absolute delight to learn from, very friendly and funny while making you feel at ease as well as motivated. Also extremely down to earth and fair, can rearrange lessons or move things around for legitimate reasons and works as best as he can around you. Couldn't recommend highly enough!

Did refresher lessons- I passed my test aged 41,in2012, but had really lost my confidence.
The instructor was extremely patient, and lessons were very much individually tailored to meet my specific requirements and needs.
Flexible lesson times were really helpful, and my confidence improved very quickly.

had my week intense corse with Paul who made me feel so relaxed even when I was stressing out we also had some laughs along the way as well,
now passed 3 weeks after couldn't be happier higher recommended

Our driving Instructor, Alan, was absolutely brilliant - instilled confidence, taught so clearly, was super flexible over lessons and made the lessons such an enjoyable experience. Test all passed and my daughter is now a quietly confident and safe driver - could not be more grateful for Alan’s help.

This company is great.Tim was an amazing driving instructor, stayed calm and taught me well, i passed first time learning with him 10/10 man, made my experience great :)

I learnt a lot from my instructor Alan on this course! He was very helpful and very informative, and made sure to push me in things I wasn't as confident in to help me learn them. The title of 'intensive' course is very accurate and it was tiring, but I don't regret taking it as I feel I learnt a lot from it. Before the course started, I also got help a few times from Phil whenever I emailed the company about questions, so I feel the need to credit him as well.

Paul was lovely and he really helped to get me to understand everything I needed to as well as letting me make the mistakes and then helping me to fix them so I can learn from them too

I booked an intensive driving course with BathBristolIntensiveCourses and had a poor experience from start to finish.

From my very first lesson, the instructor asked intrusive and inappropriate questions about my family and relationships. Despite me asking him to stop, he continued to raise personal topics in later lessons. His teaching style was overwhelmingly critical, offering little constructive guidance and often undermining my confidence. He also shouted and pressured me to make manoeuvres I judged dangerous, breaking my concentration. At the end of my course he told me I would “fail spectacularly” if I took my test, without providing any technical reasons — just delivered in a bullying and undermining way.

When I tried to complain, the company’s process only made matters worse. Communication was slow, vague, and inconsistent. Important emails went unanswered until I chased multiple times. I was promised a morning call with a manager, but this didn’t happen until 17:15. I was told I’d receive an email setting out the points to be raised with the instructor before he was spoken to, but this only came after I chased again late the following day. The manager also promised to call me afterwards to confirm the conversation had taken place — this never happened. When I chased, I received a dismissive “yes it has” with a quote from my email saying I didn’t want to know his response, ignoring the fact their own manager had promised me a call. When I pointed this out, the response was essentially “he can call you if you want.”

Throughout, my questions about their complaints procedure and safeguarding processes were ignored. At no point did I feel that the company had a safe, professional, or empathetic way of handling serious complaints.

The package I bought included the company organising a driving test, I chased to have this booked for me and when this never occurred I booked one myself. I then spent three months chasing for a refund. At first they confirmed it would be refunded, then the matter was dropped without explanation. It was only picked up again while I was going through the exhausting complaint process.

I told the manager clearly that I did not want to get into a car with any of their instructors again. Because of the bullying and lack of constructive teaching I received. Subsequently I have had a lesson with an independent driver who has reassured me I am test ready and there is nothing wrong with my driving.

This company is incompetent, and potentially unsafe. The instructor’s conduct was unacceptable, and the company’s complaint handling showed a lack of professionalism, urgency, and safeguarding. I would advise against trusting them with your training.

Alan was a brilliant teacher, very clear and constructive, and a lovely guy all round. Would definitely recommend requesting for him as your instructor. The whole experience was very helpful and enjoyable.

I booked with Bristol and Bath Intensive Courses, paying extra for the theory and practical test booking service. On receiving my login details, I realised the company is affiliated with "My5Day" and "Drive2Us". I had specifically avoided these companies due to terrible reviews and a feature on BBC's Watchdog. Had I known of this affiliation, I never would have booked.

Just days before my start date, I was informed my original instructor was unavailable. The "backup plan" was to change my 5-day course of 4-hour lessons into a 10-day course of 2-hour lessons. This was a frustrating and unprofessional last-minute change, particularly being allocated a trainee instructor.

Despite paying for them to book my theory test, this was never done. The admin team was incredibly slow to reply to any queries, and often failed to answer my questions directly. My instructor commented on how poor their admin team was and advised me to get a refund for the test booking fees and do it myself, which I did. This process took several days of chasing.

The course details stated I was entitled to free use of the instructor's car on test day. When the time came, the instructor tried to charge me for it, stating he'd never heard of this policy. I had to contact the admin team again to confirm I was correct.

Initially the instructor was friendly. However, the quality of the actual instruction was poor. There was no clear lesson plan or structure; we simply drove around areas near the test centre. I can honestly say I learned more about proper driving techniques from watching YouTube instructors and then applying those lessons myself.

Before my first practical test, the instructor was full of praise, telling me my driving was excellent and I was more than ready. Unfortunately, I made a single, silly mistake on the test and received a serious fault, resulting in a fail. I accepted this was my error entirely. I managed to book a new test for three weeks later however the instructor completely reversed his opinion of my driving. He now claimed I wasn't ready, that 3 weeks was not enough time, and that my "test nerves" were too bad. His assessment felt incredibly unfair, given the nature of my mistake. I tried to reason with him, but he refused to take me for the test.

I was forced to buy my own car to take my second test. I passed with only one minor. This outcome proves that I was, in fact, a safe and competent driver who was ready for the test. Between the disreputable company affiliation, the administrative chaos, and the contradictory and unsupportive instructor, I cannot recommend this company to anyone. Avoid and save your money and stress.

UPDATE in response to the company's reply:
The company claims they have "no affiliation with My5Day or Drive2Us". This is factually incorrect. The student training portal provided by the company clearly features course materials and branding for My5Day. The login they provide you for the "Theory Test Pro" service is covered in Drive2Us branding and features Drive2Us in the URL. A simple search of public records confirms that all three companies are owned by the same person. For the company to claim it has “no affiliation with My5Day or Drive2Us” is a deliberate attempt to mislead customers.

The company's reply also contains several contradictions. They claim to have my records yet state they cannot contact me because I "have not provided details". They claim the instructor "prepared me well," yet also defends his refusal to take me to my second test. They cannot have it both ways. Either I was well-prepared, in which case his refusal was unjustified, or I wasn’t. The response suggests "remedial training" is common after a fail. It's important for readers to know that the instructor offered no such help; he wrote me off completely.

The company attempts to take credit for my eventual pass, so I want to be unequivocally clear about where that credit is due. My strong performance on my first test and my final pass is a direct result of the countless hours I spent studying videos from independent YouTube driving instructors and practicing in my own car with my wife. Essentially, this expensive 'intensive course' amounted to little more than paying for access to a car in which I could practice what I was teaching myself at home. Incidentally, the fact that their own training materials are largely just a playlist of videos from the unaffiliated 'World Driving' YouTube channel only reinforces this point. They are taking credit for a success that was achieved through the hard work of myself and online content creators.
Their response is filled with the same dishonesty and lack of professionalism that defined my entire experience.

My whole experience with this company was pretty disastrous with no clear communicaton on anything. The details of the course were only finalised the day before when the instructor phoned (even though I had been asking and the course had been booked 3 months in advance). After my 5 days, the instructor said the company would get in touch about more lessons and booking my test, but I didn't hear anything from the admin team. I was constantly emailing and phoning but to no avail. I eventually got a refund (3 months after the intensive days) for the extra lessons and driving test that they said would be booked. A course should be booked for efficiency but this experience was anything but, I would not recommend it.
I'd like to add that after moving to another driving school, it is clear that I was not taught the necessary skills and information for my driving test, despite the fact that this course is marketed as all you'll need to pass. There seems to be no clear guidelines for instructors as to what needs to be taught.

Booked an intensive course and chased a large number of times, before the course was confirmed the evening before it started. The instructor was good, but the whole process and communication was an absolute joke.
Following the course, I chased up approx 30 times to arrange the test, but they completely failed.
Unfortunately the company is a total embarrassment - avoid at all costs

i done a week intensive course with alan , he was a great instructor super easy to learn from him. taught every lesson with a laugh. really appreciate his support through the week.

jack

This company are totally unreliable and do not provide the service they suggest. As per the others here rating it low I had a course booked for my son a month in advance of his Easter holidays. The week before I had no details from them so emailed and called them. I was assured an instructor had been allocated and would be in touch shortly. Of course I heard nothing until the Friday (course due to start on the Monday) when I was informed the instructor was no longer available.
They said they could provide another for the week after. My son could do that so I agreed but on the basis that they put me directly in touch with the instructor straight away. I was assured I would hear from him urgently. I heard nothing for 4 days - despite my texting and calling them regularly. Eventually I realised that they were bluffing me. Stupidly I cancelled the course and now they won't return the money even though I have a text saying 'I'll ensure this is processed and funds are sent to you'. I was given a name for the 'instructor' and did some research on line. I could not find this instructor - doesn't mean he doesn't exist but is odd..
Don't get taken for a ride like I was.

I have to give that score my honest opinion. I booked for my daughter, the 1st time the driver had personal problems but I wasn’t told until a few days before the course started. Rescheduled, and the 2nd driver didn’t turn up. Wasn’t aware of a problem with him. It was his car but he neglected to tell the school or me. I paid extra for the test. That never happened and was not refunded. My daughter ended up doing 2 days. For that price that is a joke. A man called Phil tried his best, but unacceptable. You can’t call the company either just voicemail. Wouldn’t recommend

Plesse see my previous reviews for the history on this.

Since my first review there have been a number of people giving 5 * reviews and they have passed their tests. The reviews indicate that the company sorted their tests.

Despite numerous emails and texts to my son, a test is still to be sorted. Please can this be sorted this week? You advertise that you can access fast track tests, which was the main reason my son choose your company. Is this correct?

Based on the other reviews it appears that tests have been arranged for other people. If this is the case, then please arrange my son's driving test asap.

I will post an update next week.

Unfortunately not a great experience…
I booked a Five day course in February 2025 for April 2025, so TWO months notice.
Several texts asking to take the week course earlier than booked but due to having to work was unable to reschedule
On the Thursday before the week I was due to start I hear from the instructor that was allocated informing me that he had been booked but had told this company THREE weeks earlier that he was unable to do this week….. however they continued to allocate him
I contacted the Instructor personally and he read the email that he sent to them. I understood the message and meaning…… however they say that they didn’t understand and blamed the instructor for all the errors…. Wtf…
Several emails and text messages later, “we are trying to find another instructor “ was the repeated messages and emails ….
On day two of the supposed driving week and still no instructor arranged I asked to speak to the manager….. well. I think it was easier to get blood from a stone. Two hours of text messages repeatedly asking to speak to manager, and several phone calls that they refuse to answer btw,………
Explained that customer service is non existent and just bad manners and eventually they agreed to call me….
This eventually resulted in a full refund…
Please do not use these guys.
Feels a lot like a con tbh…

Not well organised. Not very responsible. Not worth it. You could find an alternative service that is more reliable and cheaper—taking into account the extra time and effort you spend to get what you pay for.

I have recorded my experience below for reference. I rated it 2 stars instead of 1 because the lesson partially took place, and they responded to some of my inquiries.

I’d like to point out that most of the 5-star reviews come from reviewers with only a SINGLE review.

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update on 03/04/2025:

Had to chase them for many days to reschedule the lesson, and I was finally given a slot for today (April 3rd, which is three months after the initial plan). However, the instructor did not show up. The name of the instructor is Al*n.

Asked for a partial refund (in fact, I had already asked for this several times feeling hopeless about actually having the lesson).

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update on 06/03/2025:

After 2 months and 49 emails + n calls, they haven't rescheduled the lessons that were canceled by the school.
Interestingly, their reply below asks me to email them—something I have already been doing for weeks.

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update on 14/02/2025:

Haven't been able to reschedule the cancelled lessons after 33 emails and 6 calls. There are several times they said the instructor is available next week but never book the lesson for me.

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update on 04/02/2025:

I had booked a 10 hours semi-intensive course. They cancelled the last few hours' lesson on 0 notice. I have contacted them multiple times in the past 3 weeks to reschedule the lesson. Still waiting for that to happen.

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update on 22/12/2024:

Finally, there was an instructor who called me for the first time 1 night before the planned start date (19:00 on 22 December) to confirm dates and time.

Before that point, I had to contact them around 15 times (online chats, emails, phone calls) to request an instructor.

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on 18/12/2024:

The course hasn't started yet, but I am a bit skeptical about them now based on the initial experience with the customer service (they did reply to my emails etc so far). The issue is that they haven't been able to confirm an instructor after the booking, although I have approached them many times. Every time I received an answer like "we will arrange an instructor and let you know the details shortly", but now it is nothing but only a few days before the course starts.

Looking at the reviews, almost all the positive reviews are from "1 comment reviewer". I am a bit worried.

Let's see what happens. I will keep updating this comment.