Cotswold House

Breakfast was lovely, with attentive staff and good service. The rest of our birthday stay at The Cotswold House Hotel and Spa was a real disappointment. We had paid £350.00 for bed and breakfast and two spa treatments for one night, but the room looked tired and the bathroom plaster was crumbling. I had requested a walk-in shower because my friend struggles to climb over a bath, yet the room had a deep bath with a shower over it. Reception offered a different room for another £40, which we thought was too much for one night, so we declined. There were no toiletries at first; after I called, a woman brought small bottles and two tiny bars of soap. Then, while we were waiting for our treatments after breakfast and checkout, the spa receptionist said the hotel wanted every bottle returned or we'd be charged £100.00. We'd opened and used about half of them, including shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion. I was astonished to be asked to return used toiletries after paying that much for a stay. I've stayed in hotels around the world and never had this happen. It put a dampener on what was meant to be a lovely birthday break. I won't visit again and wouldn't recommend the hotel. Appalling treatment of guests.

The village is lovely to wander around, with good pubs, restaurants and cafes, and the location made that easy. We also really enjoyed dinner and breakfast, and the staff were friendly. Our room upgrade was well worth it. We booked an overnight stay with a spa package, and the team went out of their way to handle some last-minute booking changes so we could be as comfortable as possible. The spa is small, but has a lovely atmosphere.

I was pleased with the service, food, atmosphere and location, and would go again. We parked for free in the rear car park at Cotswold House, or on the road leading to it, before having afternoon tea. I was pleasantly surprised by the gluten-free vegetarian option. The bread was soft, the fillings were a nice selection, and I had cakes and two scones. I couldn't finish it all, so they boxed some up for me to take home.

We had a spacious, clean suite and friendly, helpful staff, with the pool and spa adding a bit of luxury. The food at Hidcote Bistro was amazing, and we finished with cocktails in the bar. It's a fantastic getaway, with local amenities right on the doorstep. Highly recommended.