Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa - Bicester

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My recent stay at Bicester Hotel, Golf and Spa provided a pleasant experience marked by friendly hospitality and comfortable accommodations. Upon arrival, the check-in process was warm and welcoming. However, I did notice a slight oversight when the male receptionist addressed me directly, assuming I was the payee since I am a man, despite my wife being the one who made the booking. This seemingly small interaction highlighted a bit of unconscious bias that, while unintentional, could benefit from more awareness.||Our room was clean, and the bed was incredibly comfortable, ensuring a restful night's sleep. However, the hot beverage facilities left something to be desired. The limited tea selection included only Earl Grey or herbal options, with no English breakfast tea available. The coffee was limited to sachets of Nescafé, which felt inadequate for a hotel of this caliber. Introducing miniature filter coffee machines would be a delightful upgrade. Additionally, the sugar selection appeared a bit chaotic; a neater, more refined setup would enhance the overall presentation.||The Spa, Therapy and wet area was excellent. However it was not so relaxing in the main pool area because of so many screaming kids. The jacuzzi’s could be a little hotter to my taste.||Considering the hotel’s spa offerings, I found the shampoo and shower gel options lacking in spa-like fragrances. A range of calming scents, such as orange and ginger, would add a touch of luxury to the bathroom experience.||The bar did not disappoint, offering a good choice of beers. However, it would greatly elevate the guest experience if a cocktail menu were introduced. I was looking forward to enjoying a refreshing cocktail before dinner, but this was sadly missing from the offerings.||Greys Restaurant offers a charming ambiance that combines elegance with a relaxed vibe, making it a wonderful spot for both special occasions and casual dining.||The staff here truly enhance the experience with their friendliness and courteous nature. Their attentiveness ensures that every guest feels welcomed and valued, a rarity that adds to the overall enjoyment of the meal.||When it comes to the food, however, the experience was a mix of highs and lows. The lamb rump served with mint jus showcased great potential, but the use of peppermint essence instead of fresh mint detracted from the dish. The overpowering flavor of the essence left a mint bouquet lingering on the palate, overshadowing the rich taste of the lamb itself. Opting for fresh mint could transform this dish into something spectacular.||On a more positive note, the starter of coconut-coated deep-fried prawns was delightful. The crisp coating combined with the tenderness of the prawns made for a very enjoyable opening to the meal. ||As for the dessert, a white chocolate blondie paired with strawberry sorbet was presented beautifully; however, the sorbet fell flat, lacking the vibrant flavor one would hope for. This combination, though visually appealing, felt less homemade and more reminiscent of convenience products and did not leave a lasting impression.||Additionally, incorporating table bread as part of the cover charge would be a lovely touch, enhancing the dining experience. Also, stretching out the intervals between courses could allow guests to savor their meals and the surrounding beauty at a more leisurely pace.||In summary, Greys Restaurant has every potential to shine as a culinary gem. With their welcoming service and beautiful setting, a few refinements in their food preparation and pacing could elevate their overall dining experience to new heights.||Breakfast was enjoyable, but it would benefit immensely from the addition of an à la carte menu featuring classic dishes like eggs Benedict. Such an enhancement could turn a standard breakfast into a truly special occasion.||Throughout my stay, the staff were generally very friendly and accommodating. However, as I walked to my room, I could hear the chefs conversing in the kitchen, and if I were the general manager, I would be concerned about the appropriateness of some discussions common in a professional kitchen. ||Housekeeping staff were also friendly, but I noticed some negative conversations about the establishment itself. While it’s natural to share experiences, I suggest they refrain from excessive negativity, as it can lead to guests feeling compelled to fault-find.||Overall, my stay at Bicester Hotel, Golf and Spa was enjoyable. With a few simple tweaks, it has the potential to elevate the experience to something truly exceptional.

Sue K

I booked for a reunion with friends. Staff were extremely helpful, especially James, on reception, who made us feel very welcome. Nothing was too much trouble.|The room was clean, spacious, with a great view over the golf course.|We had food in the bar on the first night , this was well presented and tasty.|The following night, we had booked dinner in the restaurant, which was a delight. The waitresses were very attentive and set an ambient mood.|We all had treatments in the spa, which were all done to a high standard, and made us feel pampered and relaxed. |A special thank you goes to Daoud , who received a number of calls from me prior to our stay . He remained patient and helped change the booking to suit our needs.|Overall the staff are a credit to the hotel for their ability to make their guests feel very welcome , in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. |Thank you

Alexander Davidson

Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa is an absolute gem! I recently spent a weekend here, and I couldn’t have been more impressed. From the moment you arrive, the staff make you feel welcome and well taken care of. The entire place has a luxurious yet relaxing vibe, making it perfect for a getaway to unwind and recharge.

The facilities are top-notch. The spa is a true highlight—beautifully designed, with a range of treatments that leave you feeling completely refreshed. I tried the full-body massage, and it was one of the best I’ve ever had. There’s also a lovely indoor pool, steam room, and sauna, which made for a perfect afternoon of relaxation.

If you’re into golf, you’ll love their course! It’s well-maintained, with a great layout that’s both challenging and enjoyable. Even if you’re not a golfer, the scenic views of the course add to the tranquil atmosphere of the entire hotel.

The restaurant also deserves a mention—the food was delicious, with a good variety of options for breakfast and dinner. Overall, Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa is the perfect spot for a weekend retreat or a special occasion. I’ll definitely be returning soon!

Jessica S

Worst afternoon tea ever...fridge cold sandwiches, hard cake and hard scones, with no choice of tea and rudely informed that extra tea costs more (when I mentioned the hard scones, i was informed that they baked them freshly as we walked in!)! Breakfast also a shame with soft hash browns and rude service. Shame as the bedroom was mostly lovely, the reception staff were polite and the spa/pool was fine to relax for a few hours.

Amanda J

We booked this hotel for a special one-night girls' birthday break. Given the high cost, I had high expectations.||There are positives to be had. We each treatment as part of the package which they delivered well. Most of the food provided was ok. ||There are however a raft of things that let this place down.||Service is patchy and at times poor. We (and many others) waited twenty minutes to order food and drinks in the bar. Tables were dirty and full of old plates. There was one poor youngster serving two bars and changing barrels. I headed to the front desk to try and get someone to help. No apology. The bar-man in the evening had problems making the drinks. He probably just needs training.||The pool was always full of kids well beyond the hours suggested and three of the kids were sitting in footspas on Sunday morning. I hate to think. Many of the lockers are broken and the locks malfunction. It's a simple fix as is the gym entry system which is irritating and a lottery at busy times. The gym classes advertised are not available on Saturday afternoon. ||The decor is a dull brown. There are no pictures. Our room TV didn't work. The shower floods the bathroom as there's no curtain. The bed is terribly soft and gives no back support. |Overall the place lacks the finesse that you'd expect with the price tag approaching £380. Many well-known golf hotels and spas charge similar if not less for the same package but can justify this with the service and environment. A smile goes a long way as does the presence of staff and they were lacking many times.

Michael Y

Spa treatments perfect accommodation clean and comfortable. The main thing was the absolutely EXCELLENT staff. From the moment we checked in to the bar to the spa, restaurant and beyond, the one constant was the helpful and wonderful staff. Thank you for a wonderful stay

Beth Ingleston

Booked an afternoon tea and evening spa session. The hotel and facilities were lovely, however the rest of our afternoon/evening was very disappointing. They only provide 1 coffee per person and any additional was charged extra. The sanwiches were dry and the cake selection was poor, scones however were very good.

The spa was very disappointing, even with instruction the lockers are very difficult to use and finding one that works takes time, the spa was very busy and a loud aquafit class was on for an hour of the 4hr spa evening which was not relaxing. We couldn’t use the outdoor hot tub as wasnt working.

Additionally to this we booked a 25 min massage, 2 went down without a hitch however after triple checking a time change prior to the session we was left waiting for half an hour and not until going to the front desk was able to find someone to assist, another half hour waiting to find out the spa had not been updated with the time change. The manager offered a refund and the spa also offered to continue with the message complimentary, no cost.
Once finished and after wasting an hour of only a 4hr spa session on the mess we attended the desk to retrieve the refund however we faced incredibly poor customer service, was told that it was never agreed for a refund even though 3 people had stated this would be complimentary after the booking issues.
This left us all incredibly stressed and upset and we will never be returning.

If you're wanting a relaxing spa evening find somewhere else, there is many other affordable and relaxing options in the area and this is not the place for that.

Isabelle H

Check in is at 15-00. This is strict. I knew the check in time but as we were in the area early I thought that an enquiry at reception at 13-45 as to whether our junior suite was ready would be responded to at least politely. The man on the desk dismissed me as if I was breaking a serious rule and refused to ask housekeeping if our room was ready & could be occupied a little early. ||We sat in our car and I returned at 15-00. The lady was pleasant enough but sent me and my suitcase a long outdoor route to our room where there was no lift. As I have stayed in this hotel in its heyday several years ago I remembered on my way down again the other route much closer to reception and there was a lift. ||The suite overlooking the golf course has a good view and there was a new Costa Coffee machine. The bathroom looked tired with soap dispensers on floor as they seem to have come off the tiles. All was tired. ||As this was a special occasion we had booked a table at Greys and ordered a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape. I chose the lamb rump at £10 supplement. I love mint sauce but this smelled very strange when it arrived. It tasted of soap. I didn’t want to upset my husband who was treating us to a special meal at an hotel where many years ago we had a lovely stay. So I scraped off the sauce and ate the lamb but I told the waitress how horrid the sauce was. The only reply was that they get many compliments on their food so the subject was closed without her even sniffing the soapy fairy liquid odour.||The only nice touch was that chef had written in chocolate “happy anniversary” on a plate with some little cakes that were good.||The next morning breakfast was self service even the tea was a pile of teabags and some hot water. The toaster didn’t work and when I asked if they could make me toast of course the answer was “no” they didn’t have another toaster even in the kitchen! Admittedly we were up early but even last night the hotel seemed very quiet with staff outnumbering guests so why couldn’t they do more to try to make our stay pleasant? They certainly weren’t run off their feet.