Cotswold Gateway Hotel

Migle and Chris are fantastic hosts. They clearly take pride in the place, and were welcoming, attentive and great with their guests. We had a lovely stay at the Prince of Burford in a huge suite, very spacious and stylish, with comfortable amenities. A lot of thought has gone into the details, from the layout to the quality products, which made it feel special. The public areas were stylish and spotless too, and the cozy fire was perfect for pre-Christmas drinks. Breakfast was excellent, with plenty of choice and friendly service. I especially liked the smoothie option.

Molly & Eira served us at dinner and were lovely, knowledgeable, and happy to help with anything. Both dinner and breakfast were excellent. The room had a comfortable bed and a lovely bathroom, and we got complimentary drinks on arrival, a nice touch. The old building has some lovely features, though parts of the common areas, especially the carpets, could do with updating. It didn’t affect our stay. There was plenty of parking, and while it’s on a busy road, it’s only a five minute walk down the hill into town. Good value, especially with the discounts for Butcombe loyalty club members. I’d recommend it for a central, comfortable stay with good food and service.

Christmas Day lunch was delicious from start to finish, beautifully presented, with generous portions and all the trimmings. It was busy, but the whole team stayed cheerful and focused on guests. We arrived early on Christmas Eve for a three night stay, and were welcomed warmly. The place looked festive, with lots of attention to detail and some lovely touches. We agree with other guests about the condition of the carpets in the public areas, and it’s good to see this has already been identified, with replacements planned for this January. Our Christmas with friends at the Prince of Burford was memorable and special. The whole team were excellent. A special thank you to Caitlin, Ollie, Christina, Amy and Lucy, and hosts Migle and Chris, for their professionalism, warmth and friendly service.

The starters and drinks were great, and the atmosphere and vibe were good. But the mains were well below par. The chef seemed to be stingy with the fish alongside the sauce. I paid £26 for fish of the day and got half a fillet, which was pretty shocking. The menu made it sound like you’d get the whole fish, but it wasn’t even a full fillet. It felt like a total rip-off. They’re trying too hard to be posh for a three star place. Shame, because the starters were very good. Don’t be that guy from the show who sold Gordon Ramsay half a pudding, just serve the whole fillet. 😬