Cotswold Bankview

Right in the centre of Moreton-in-Marsh, so the location was great. The service was good too, with directions and plenty of instructions sent ahead, plus biscuits and crisps in the room. The bathroom was the letdown: the shower was tiny and the water pressure poor. The room window also wouldn’t open, so there was no fresh air.

Fellow travellers, beware. I would give this a zero if I could. The host is a pirate. Their 30 day cancellation policy is ridiculous, and they want to charge the full amount if travel plans change, even when you try to cancel well in advance. It feels like they’re counting on plans changing so they can make money without hosting anyone. There has been no customer service at all. My booking is still ten days away, March 13-16. I explained that I can’t travel to the UK because of the breaking war in the Middle East. Our flight from Asia connects in Dubai, and there are no flights. The other hosts for this UK trip have all been gracious and offered full refunds, even though those bookings were closer, in early March. A 30 day cancellation policy with a full charge should set off alarm bells. These people have bad intentions and will steal your money while you’re already in a difficult situation. I’ll warn prospective guests on other platforms too. Do not book.

The property itself is lovely, quiet and private, and we liked the room and the location. The welcome basket on the bed was a nice touch. Management answered our questions and requests promptly, too. Still, the shower floor was so low that water splashed out and soaked the bath mat, leaving a bit of flooding despite our best efforts. I forgot to take photos. The cups and spoons were dirty as well.

I had travelled from Northern Ireland to Moreton in Marsh for a mandatory college course, and the room I’d booked had a broken door needing repairs. On the morning I was due to arrive, I was offered another location, a refund, or a different room. The phone connection was poor, but I agreed to a replacement described as a double. Then I was told it had already been booked, leaving me with a choice of another hotel or a twin room. I stayed because this property was within walking distance of my course. After travelling from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., I arrived to find the room completely unacceptable. The main door wouldn’t shut securely, so there was a constant draft and I didn’t feel safe. The glass shower panel was directly in view when you entered, which was especially uncomfortable with such an insecure front door. The bathroom tap was loose and nearly detached, the water pressure was very low, and anyone outside could see through a small window above the sink into the toilet area. Broken blinds meant people in the shared courtyard could look straight into the bedroom. There was nowhere I felt private or safe from view. The barn-style sliding bedroom door kept coming off its track and had big gaps on both sides when shut, letting in another draft. The room smelled strongly of mold. A dehumidifier had been tucked under the desk, apparently to hide an ongoing problem. The bed nearest the front door and shower smelled worst. The bedding was moldy, and insects, including spiders, were crawling under the blankets and on the pillows. The odor gave me a severe headache, and I couldn’t make myself sleep there. After four hours trying to put up with it, I left at 2 a.m. and booked a nearby Premier Inn so I could have somewhere clean and secure to rest. When I asked for a refund, they offered only a partial one because I’d been in the room for four hours. The manager, Emile De Wet, was unhelpful and unprofessional. His replies seemed automated and ignored my repeated requests for a full refund given the state of the accommodation. Looking further, I found the same person had left a five star review for the property under his own name, which raises serious concerns about how credible the hotel’s ratings are. The room was unsafe, unhygienic, and unfit for guests. No one should have to deal with conditions like that, especially after a full day of travel and at this price. They also described themselves as a “small family owned business”. I do believe a family owns it, but it isn’t small. They own multiple Cotswolds properties and businesses while living in South Africa. If I could give it 0/5, I would. The room is a health hazard.