The Bell - Chipping Norton

Shannon F

I can't conceive why this would be a four-star rating overall! This place is fantastic -> here's why:||Hotel|* We have spent 2 weeks in the UK and this hotel & restaurant was by far the best value & experience based on similar "pub style" hotels. |* The simple room we booked was small but delightful. In typical Daylesford style, the decor is fabulous, everything is comfortable, clean, and feels bespoke. (The robes are a fantastic touch)|* I can not overstate how clean, warm, and well-designed the space was. After staying in many similar places with old carpet, outdated bathrooms, and lumpy pillows this place is a gem. It was the first place we stayed and still at the top of the heap!|* The price was a great deal for what we got.||Restaurant|*Come hungry! Breakfast is lovely and worth every pound. Local food and prepared perfectly!|* Dinner was our favorite Gastropub meal of them all (and we had many). Every dish was delightful and surprising. I felt we were getting a much better meal than we even expected.|*While it may seem trite, their french fries/chips are the best I've had in ages (the last best was at a Thomas Keller restaurant in Miami - yeah, they're that good)|*The small bites are great - love the bread and olives - and the pasta main was outstanding.|* All of the servers (evening & morning) were lovely and the staff in general were kind, helpful and accommodating. We felt cared for <3||While the city is small, this is a great base for exploring the Cotswolds and I can not recommend it enough. We stayed at their sister property the Wild Rabbit, but I have to say the Bell is equally as good (and the restaurant better for what you get).||Cheers to them on a 1 year anniversary and I hope they have many more wonderful years ahead!!

Clare W

Overall, we had a good stay in Charlbury. The pub was refurbished last year and it's beautiful. We had a fabulous evening meal - I think it was worth the money - I had humous and flatbread to start, cod and gnocchi in a pea sauce and a frangipani tart for pud. Breakfast too was good for a pub. Dining spaces are a bit small and we were a bit sad as a couple to be put in a tiny room dominated by one other large family table. When we arrived, we’d been told by Helen we would be able to eat outside on the terrace (it was a very hot evening) but the waitress said this wasn't possible. There was a party in the garden in the evening and it was locked (though empty) the following day so we didn't get to enjoy that. We did book last minute, which also meant we could just book for Saturday night rather than the obligatory whole weekend which turned about to be a good thing! Given the beautiful pictures on the website and the price, £327 for one night (including breakfast), I was expecting so much more of our "Classic" room, "Teasel", and I would recommend avoiding this if you're staying. I think the Bell should reconsider their pricing structure - this room cannot be considered more than "Cosy", it was in the eves with restricted head height and so minimal usable floor space (of which there was very little anyway beyond the bed). It didn't have proper windows (just roof-lights so we unable to see any view) and I certainly think you should be forewarned about this - I wouldn't knowingly book a room without windows! There was no wardrobe (just an alcove with a curtain) or chest of drawers which would have been an issue if staying longer and we would not have wanted to stay another night in this room. We certainly didn't see any evidence of "antique pieces" or "vintage fabrics" spoken of on the website. The shower room was also tiny but very attractive, with lovely smellies. The village is pretty and the surrounding countryside beautiful and we did 2 very long walks on the 2 days we were there, "Charlbury No.1 (Wychwood) " and "Charlbury No.2 (Oxon Way) ". Helen was lovely when we arrived, and I would have spoken to her about the room if I could. I did have a chat with the lady on reception when we left, and she said my comments on the room were helpful feedback - I hope they’re acted on!

Nina T

This was our second visit to The Bell in beautiful Charlbury. Having visited in May for a fabulous Sunday Lunch with family, we returned in August for an overnight stay, dinner bed and breakfast before heading to Blenheim Palace the following day. From the moment my husband and I arrived the staff could not have been more charming. Our room was located on the second floor overlooking the rear terrace with complementary Bamford products and Daylesford biscuits. Dinner was the right blend of casual chic with delicious ingredients forming a curated menu. Every course delicious with great wines and cocktails to match!! We had pre drinks on the front terrace and coffee on the rear. What struck us was how peaceful it was. We were already fans of the Wild Rabbit in Kingham and Fox at Lower Oddington - also in the Daylesford Group. Now The Bell joins our list of places we love and look forward to returning to! Thank you for a simply lovely stay. You are our new happy place!

Carol Minshall

A lovely place. Great service.
The Sunday lunch: the beef was a strange texture we think it had been brined, veg over cooked, roast potatoes hard not fluffy/ we could’ve done ourselves better. Gravy poured over the Beef not good. On positive side generous portions.
The sticky toffee pudding glorious.

Aiden Twomey

- Delicious beef roast. Cauliflower cheese is a must.
- ‘Spacious’ bedroom beautiful with roll top bath.
- Roaring fires.
- Slightly small bar area (with the best table in the house).
- Attentive staff.

We would like to thank the team at The Bell, Charlbury for their exceptional service. My wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary and upon arrival to the beautiful “Beech” bedroom, there was a bottle of Daylesford fizz awaiting us. A lovely thought & much appreciated. A special thank you to Sam & Amy for making us feel so welcome. A very comfortable stay - we will be back.

R H

A quick heads-up for disabled people.
While making a possible lunch booking I enquired if the downstairs had a disability toilet and about wheelchair access. After checking (!) the member of staff said they don't have a downstairs disability toilet. And he didn't know if the other GF toilets would be in any way suitable. End of conversation.
I say only this: just imagine if they offered no 'able-bodied' toilets either. And it seems that we'd need to check ourselves whether other toilets might do at a pinch.
Wonderful.

Helen

Exceptional food. We had courgette flowers, followed by minute steak and chicken. It is quality ingredients prepared simply and it's utterly delicious. Very accommodating staff. We loved it and can't wait to return.

Ellen Quinn

What a gorgeous place! I’m so surprised that the Bell isn’t five stars. From the moment we arrived and in all the small touches, we felt truly welcomed. Food/drinks/bed/bath were all amazing