大西灣賓館(The Great Western Arms)

Disappointing. The room was not as nice as pictured. The bathroom door did not have a working catch (it was missing so no excuse they didn’t know). The tv had sporadic signal - no excuse in these digital days. The mattress was old and soft. There was no wardrobe. Just hooks for clothes. The courtyard view was of the bins. The whole lot needs a revamp and to charge £85 without breakfast is criminal when it was worse than a budget hotel. There was constant noise from banging doors and beware, they allow dogs which bark every time someone comes into the building. The staff are the best part of this place - very friendly. Upgrade the rooms and it would be lovely.

This is intended as a neutral, purely factual review. Good points - the one meal we had during our 2 day stay was excellent and the room was basic but comfortable. Bad points - closed for meals on Sunday evening even for residents, closed all day Wednesday and no cooked breakfast until 10am on any day. We were on a boating trip on the Oxford Canal, needing a room and meals on the Sunday and Tuesday evenings in that location, where there’s nowhere else to stay. Some things had gone wrong during our stay and we appreciated being offered in compensation wine and desserts free of charge with our evening meal on the Tuesday. However, we had to spend £37 in taxi fares to find a Sunday evening meal in Deddington, only 2 miles away and we were unable to have cooked breakfasts during our stays, as we had to depart before 10am on the Monday morning and the hotel was completely closed on the Wednesday morning. For us, cooked breakfasts are a big part of the pleasure of staying away, as we never have them at home. Overall we found this hotel unsatisfactory and we would not recommend it as somewhere to stay. When it’s open, the restaurant is good.

Visited for the first time, at lunchtime, we were given a warm, friendly welcome and seated immediately. The choice of food from the main and lunch menus were excellent, plus options for a specials menu. Duck chips are a thing and are delicious. My steak was easily one of the best I’ve had and they serve rhubarb crumble which is a personal favourite. All 3 courses for my wife and myself couldn’t be faulted. Highly recommended and will visit again.

We stayed one night here as a couple. I understand the accommodation has recently opened here and we were pleased with the room which was lovely, with a good size bathroom, hot shower and comfortable bed. We didn’t have breakfast here but ate in the restaurant in the evening and had a few drinks in the bar during the day. The staff were very welcoming, the food and drink was great and overall we were really pleased.

Staying in the area, so Googled and found this place, and gave it a try. Staff were pleasant and helpful, and the pub is a nice atmosphere. However, we order the sirloin steak. It was decent and the drink were ok too. But Very expensive, and certainly not worthy of what this establishment charges. Two drinks, one nachos - £79! And the cheeky sods put a 12 % service charge on. It was ok, but nothing more than pub food. Have to be honest. I felt like we were taken for a ride, so will not be visiting again.

Visited in June 2023 for an evening meal. Walked from our nearby campsite. The food was good and fair portions. The beer (Hook Norton pub) was excellent. The 12% service charge (although optional) is bit unnecessary for a table of 2 pub meal. Chances are we'd have left a tip anyway!