George Hotel

The shower was barely working, and breakfast was a letdown. There were just four tables occupied, yet the room looked as if nobody had cleared a table for an hour. No one offered more coffee or even asked how breakfast was. When I mentioned the shower at checkout, a staff member just shrugged. At handover, someone wrote it on their hand and agreed the showers are old. On arrival, though, The George looked gorgeous on a sunny day, and our room seemed clean and quiet. The bedding and pillows were good quality, even if the interior decor has taken away much of the Coaching Inn charm.

The afternoon tea was a disappointment, especially the sandwiches, which another customer called stale. We agreed. Of the eight scones, only two were fruit, and four plain ones looked and tasted gluten free. We’d phoned at 11am that day to confirm our booking for 10th March and let them know about one guest’s food allergies, but on arrival we couldn’t find staff and had to wait. Our table for four hadn’t been reserved, and with no table for four available, they eventually pushed two round tables together. It wasn’t a good setup for conversation. We also had to ask for crockery and cutlery. They had no decaf tea, which was unimpressive for a hotel. This was a return visit after we’d really enjoyed it in 2024.

My room had dust all over the floor, and clothes were still hanging in the closet from a previous guest. Some rooms are newer than others, which is understandable, but the rooms and bathrooms need to be cleaner.

We chose The George Hotel in Wallingford for our mum’s birthday, and the afternoon tea made for a lovely, calm treat. Everything was attractively presented and looked fresh. The room was peaceful, so we could enjoy the occasion without feeling rushed or crowded. Service was friendly and efficient throughout, and we felt well looked after. We’d happily come back.