The outside of the hotel is beautiful, country style, but the inside is a different matter. Opened in 1999 you expect a more modern looking interior. The reception and foyer area are as you would expect. But as you head on to the rooms it is a different matter. Dark wooden doors and surrounds, yellow walls and green carpet just don't match the exterior. All the furniture was dark and whilst the rooms were of reasonable size, I think it all just seemed very drab. Bathrooms were small and pokey, seeming somewhat tired and in need of an overhall.
We did however get a great deal with dinner/bed & breakfast in a Connoisseur room. The room size we had would be considered small seeing it was an upgraded room.
A nice stroll along the river into the centre of Oxford is appealing and ease of parking at hotel makes for a pleasant location.
We ordered a newspaper for each morning, we ordered the Daily Mail, and received the Oxford Mail and then on the Sunday we received two papers, one of which we ordered the day before!
Breakfast was fine with plenty to choose from, we never really had a problem with getting seated. The evening meals were tasty on the first night, serving staff were great, but having re-heated roast potatoes on the second night was completely unexpected. You have to book in for your evening meal, but as the restaurant was deserted I don't really understand why we had to.
The leisure club was a real let down. We waited 20mins at reception to get a towel (no staff were in site). The gym was well equipped, but as this is a public club, I dread to think what it is like in peak hours.
I would personally try and find a better hotel. But if you can get a cheap deal and put up with its drab interior and poor leisure club, I am sure it will make for a nice stay.
