i've been three times before, can definately recommend it, not had any bad experiences personally and had fish to 53, last aug had 20+ fish out of the channel swim, biggest 40 and plenty of upper thirties.
in three years going only had one fish with a badly torn mouth and only managed to lose 6 fish last year (out of 24 landed) so don't really get the comments about brutality
If your fishing to pads and weed then as with fishing in the Uk you fish sensibly regardless about what advice you get.
first time I went i'd never used a boat and only lost 2 fish whole trip, you can always fish to open water rather than tight to weed.
if your not used to fishing to lillies or weed then probably not place for you, weed growth was a lot less last year and the lillies have been reduced back a lot
i've only gone in august when it's quiet, so can't comment on how busy it gets or what is like when the place is packed.
