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Summary of reviewsDog House by Chef & Brewer Collection enjoys positive reviews across several key aspects, particularly in its location, breakfast, dinner, rooms, cleanliness, staff and bed comfort, despite facing criticism predominantly around its Wi-Fi and some maintenance issues.
Situated in an excellent location, the hotel is praised for its convenience with easy access to Oxford, Abingdon and various local attractions. Guests appreciate the tranquil and picturesque setting, which offers a quiet retreat enriched by a traditional ambiance and a charming old pub with a lovely garden. The strategic location appeals particularly to those traveling by car and attending nearby events.
Breakfast at the hotel garners high marks with guests lauding the variety and quality of the offerings. Descriptions of the breakfast experience often include words like fantastic, amazing and delicious. Freshly prepared options and outstanding service contribute to a positive start to the day.
Dinner experiences are also highly regarded with the food described as well-prepared, well-presented and delicious. Standout dishes like fish and chips and pork belly specials receive specific mentions and diners appreciate the friendly and efficient service.
The rooms are frequently praised for their spaciousness, cleanliness and comfort, including big TVs and cozy beds. The hotel's traditional architecture contributes to its charm, although some guests note that the decor might benefit from updates. Nonetheless, these observations do not significantly detract from the overall appeal.
In terms of cleanliness, the hotel often receives positive feedback for maintaining clean and airy rooms. Guests appreciate the clean bed linen and towels. However, some inconsistencies in maintenance and meticulous cleaning are noted, suggesting areas for improvement.
The staff stands out as one of the hotel's most significant assets, consistently described as friendly, helpful and attentive. Specific staff members receive highlighted commendations. Their politeness and readiness to assist enhance the guest experience, contributing to a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Comfortable beds are another highlight with many guests reporting a good night's sleep thanks to the super comfortable and clean bedding, despite occasional mentions of the beds being too soft or in need of renewal.
However, the hotel’s Wi-Fi and connectivity draw considerable criticism. Guests frequently complain about the poor internet service, which is slow, unreliable and often inaccessible, adding to the inconvenience when coupled with a weak phone signal.
In conclusion, Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection is highly recommended for its location, breakfast, dinner, comfortable rooms, cleanliness and exceptional staff. Addressing the Wi-Fi issues and continuing to update and maintain the facilities will further enhance the guest experience, solidifying its reputation as a charming and comfortable English country pub/hotel. Show more
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Accessible Inn
3-Star Inn
Room Types
Double RoomFeatures include a TV and tea and coffee making facilities.
Twin RoomFeatures include a TV and tea and coffee making facilities.
Family RoomFeatures include a TV and tea and coffee making facilities.
Guest Reviews
7.7
Good
Location
Situated in a prime location, the Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection has received glowing praise for its convenience and charm. Guests frequently commend its excellent proximity to Oxford and Abingdon, making it a superb choice for both relaxation and exploration. The hotel’s easy parking is another significant perk mentioned by many visitors.
The tranquil, picturesque setting provides a quiet retreat, enriched by the hotel's traditional ambiance and character. Whether travelers are there for the countryside or business purposes, they find the surroundings ideal. The hotel is especially noted for being an excellent spot for those with a car, facilitating visits to Oxford, Bicester Village and Millets Farm. Its suitability for those attending events such as funerals or airfield visits in Abingdon further underscores its strategic location.
Guests also appreciate the friendly and welcoming staff, which complement the beautiful location. The character of the old pub, complete with a lovely garden area, adds to the overall appeal. For those looking to spend a weekend exploring Oxford or simply enjoy a comfortable stay in a country pub setting, the Dog House emerges as a highly recommended option.
Breakfast
The breakfast experience at Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection receives high marks from guests with many praising the variety and quality of the offerings. Words like fantastic, amazing and delicious are frequently used to describe the breakfast, noting that it is freshly prepared and cooked to perfection. Several guests highlighted specific staff members, particularly Andrew and James, for their welcoming service and culinary skills, contributing to a positive start to the day. The breakfast menu includes a range of options beyond the full English, catering to diverse tastes and preferences with an emphasis on freshly cooked and beautifully presented dishes.
The service is noted as efficient and friendly, further enhancing the dining experience. The setting is also appreciated for its comfort and ambiance, providing a cheerful start to the day. Guests enjoyed the plentiful and well-prepared food with choices like scrambled eggs with salmon and the farmers mash breakfast gaining specific mentions. A few constructive comments mentioned a desire for more fruit options and occasional issues with order accuracy, but overall, the breakfast is considered excellent value for the money.
In summary, breakfast at Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection is highly rated with outstanding service and a broad selection of well-prepared dishes making it a memorable part of the stay for many guests.
Dinner
The 'Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection' receives largely positive feedback for its dinner offerings. Reviews often highlight the quality of the food, noting that it is well-prepared, well-presented and delicious. Dinners were described as excellent, superb and exceptional with specific mentions of standout dishes like fish and chips and pork belly specials. Most guests found the evening meals to be good value for money, backed by a wide-ranging and extensive menu.
Service also gets commendable mentions with staff described as friendly and efficient. Special nods went to individuals like Andrew and the chef Big Steve for enhancing the dining experience. While the dining room is spacious and pleasant, some guests pointed out occasional inconsistencies with their meals, such as overcooked pie or undercooked vegetables. However, these concerns were generally addressed appropriately, sometimes with refunds or menu adjustments.
Overall, the evening dining experience at the 'Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection' is highly regarded, making it a favored part of the guests' stay. Despite a few hiccups, the combination of great food, efficient service and a welcoming atmosphere makes for a satisfying dining experience.
Rooms
The Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection offers a pleasant stay with several noteworthy positive features. Guests frequently highlight the spaciousness and cleanliness of the rooms, noting that they are comfortable and equipped with everything needed, including big TVs and sofas. The beds receive high praise for their comfort, ensuring a good night's sleep.
The hotel, set in a lovely old building in a rural location, exudes charm and character, contributing to a welcoming atmosphere. While some guests mention that the decor is a bit dated and in need of some updates, this does not seem to significantly detract from the overall comfort and appeal of the rooms.
Staff at the hotel are generally described as polite, helpful and fantastic, enhancing the overall guest experience. The pub that is part of the establishment adds to the charm with good food, decent facilities and a real fire.
Though there are minor drawbacks such as occasional noise from fans or cisterns, cold draughts from old windows and the need for some rooms to be updated, the general consensus indicates that it is good value for money. The establishment combines comfortable accommodations with the picturesque appeal of an English country pub/hotel, making it a nice choice for a getaway.
Beds
Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection offers a generally positive experience when it comes to the comfort of its beds. Many guests have found the beds to be very comfortable, contributing significantly to a good night's sleep. Descriptions include statements like super comfortable, incredibly soft, clean and comfy and large and comfortable. Guests also appreciated the spacious rooms that come with comfortable beds. However, not all reviews were glowing; some guests pointed out issues such as beds being too soft, having a big dip or needing renewal. Despite these occasional drawbacks, the overall consensus leans toward the beds offering a pleasant and restful stay.
Cleanliness
The 'Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection' offers a mix of experiences in terms of cleanliness, comfort and upkeep. Several reviews commend the hotel for its clean and airy rooms with many guests noting the comfort and size of the accommodations. The hotel staff frequently receive accolades for their friendliness and helpfulness, enhancing the overall guest experience. Positive mentions abound regarding the clean bed linen, towels and well-maintained rooms, creating a comfortable stay for many visitors.
However, the critiques reveal that the property has its share of shortcomings, particularly regarding maintenance and attention to detail. Some rooms were described as dated or tired with specific complaints about the state of the bathrooms, including issues like mould, soap scum and cleanliness problems. The decor appears to be a common point of contention with several guests indicating that it could use a refresh to eliminate the scruffiness and dark ambiance in certain areas.
The hotel’s public areas, including the pub, receive praise for being clean and adding to the pleasant atmosphere. Yet, issues like visible damp, dirty carpets and blocked appliances hint at inconsistent cleaning standards.
In summary, while many guests find 'Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection' clean and comfortable with attentive staff, the hotel could benefit from upgrading its decor and addressing detailed cleaning in certain areas to ensure a consistently high standard of cleanliness throughout.
Staff
The staff at the Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection consistently receive high praise from guests. Descriptions highlight their friendliness, helpfulness and attentiveness. Many reviewers note the warm and welcoming atmosphere created by the team, which includes efficient receptionists, chatty and professional restaurant personnel and exceptional individual staff members like Lena, Katie B, Adam, Dave and Lewis. Across various interactions, from check-in to dining, the staff show a high level of courtesy and are quick to accommodate guest needs, often going above and beyond expectations. Some critique suggests a need for etiquette training and improvements in attentiveness at times, but the overwhelmingly positive feedback depicts a team committed to providing a pleasant and comfortable stay, underscored by clean facilities and excellent food offerings. The welcoming environment appears to be a standout feature with many guests eager to return.
Wi-Fi
The Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection faces substantial criticism regarding its Wi-Fi and connectivity issues. Guests consistently reported the absence of Wi-Fi in the rooms with many describing the network as slow, unreliable and difficult to connect to. Some reviewers mentioned struggling to maintain a connection, while others highlighted the inconvenience of re-entering login details repeatedly. Poor phone signal in the area further compounded frustration for those who needed internet access for work or leisure. Despite the hotel's claim of offering free Wi-Fi, several guests noted the service was practically non-functional. Problems extended to other amenities with some unable to use TV services due to the lack of internet. Overall, connectivity emerged as a significant downside for visitors at this establishment.
3 Star
Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection offers a mix of experiences for its guests. Many reviewers talk about a fantastic hotel stay and express intentions to return, highlighting a great experience with friendly staff. The hotel garners high recommendations in various aspects with some guests describing their stay as very good. Despite these positive remarks, there are noticeable areas for improvement.
The property and rooms are often described as tired and in need of updating or refurbishment. Several comments suggest that maintenance and cleanliness are below expectations with rooms appearing dark and occasionally lacking comfort. There are instances where the use of air fresheners was overwhelming, adding to a perception of poor upkeep.
Dining experiences received mixed reviews. The food quality was noted as adequate but not exceptional and occasional issues with breakfast options and availability were mentioned. Some found the absence of items like wine and marmalade disappointing.
Overall, while the hotel’s ambience and service are appreciated by many, considerable attention to maintenance and dining options could enhance the overall guest experience.
No, Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection.
No, Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection.
No, Dog House by Chef & Brewer Collection doesn't have a gym.