Malmaison Oxford - Oxford

OD100

We had a wonderful Valentines night stay! The location was great, hotel a great experience, very well done! The service from the staff was exceptional, nothing was too much trouble. A special mention for Adrian on breakfast service, very friendly chap! ( who collects football scarfs btw and I’m sure would appreciate a few more to add to his collection! )

DashCam U.

Great location, fantastic building with stunning architecture and a great experience to actually stay in an old jail. All the staff very friendly and helpful. There are however a few factors that make this a 4 rating.
1. We were in the newer part which is above the slug and lettuce, on a Saturday night there's a lot of noise, shouting, music, general arguments and you will probably get woken up by this I'm the small hours of the morning.
2. Our room wasn't ready til nearly 4pm, when it should have been 3pm.
3. The room wasn't totally clean. Floor dirty

The good parts:
1. Amazing location, very close to train station and to Oxford city.
2. Staff very helpful and friendly
3. It's dog friendly
4. Drench shower is amazing, so much power.
5. Beds are comfortable.

Ben J.

Probably the best hotel we have ever stayed at. We had a 'cell' in the main wing, which was absolutely amazing, and totally unique. The bar was great. Breakfast was first rate. But most importantly, the staff were impeccable. Right from the person who greeted us at the door, to receptionists, bar staff, waiters and even the cleaners. I would give 6 stars if I could.

Jamie S.

I booked the hotel for my wife's birthday and it's an unusual but remarkable place. Given its history it lends itself well to being a hotel. They have done just enough to make it luxurious but keeping the old prisons history. Our room was in A wing which is 3 stories and other than the nice lighting and carpets looks very much like how it used to.
The staff were kind, helpful and very welcoming from the moment we pulled up at the front doors.
The room was clean, tidy and kept in with the prison theme from the carpet to the cushions, nicely laid out with plenty of space, if I had one criticism, it's that our room has a constant noise which sounds like it could be an AC unit running, this didn't bother us too much but if you're a light sleeper or like the sound of complete silence while you sleep it may be an issue.
The on-site restaurant is on what you could call the lower ground floor along with one of the old cells they have left which was nice to see and experience, the food was really nice and the service was good with just the right amount of attentiveness.
Would I recommend The Malmaison Oxford...
Yes completely, not only for its unique side but the staff and the overall experience.

Thank you for making my wife's birthday extra special.

Gabby H.

Very central location but very quiet. Rooms clean and cosy, comfortable bed. The room we stayed in fully carpeted but room above half hard floor and could hear footsteps but that was the only noise. Helpful, friendly staff. Would definately stay again . Loved the conversion from prison to hotel, makes a difference from standard hotel.

Dave B.

The room was possibly the best we've stayed in. Great bedroom and luxurious bathroom. Every detail had been considered. All the staff we met were faultless. Nothing too much trouble from parking the car (great guy) to checking in (super helpful) to swapping pillows for more firm ones ( took 2 minutes). Didn't want to leave it was so enjoyable.

holidaylover67

We stayed again at the Malmaison in Oxford on the 12 January just for a weekend away. We again stayed in a double club cell overlooking the exercise yard which to us are far the best rooms. Can we please say a great big thank you to Adrian who was our waiter for our evening meal and also served us for breakfast if the management read this please thank him for making our weekend very special. But all the staff are great from the moment you enter until you leave. I spoke to a few people who stayed there because of the history of the building. I know there is the museum tour but why not do small tours of the actually hotel as there is still thing to see? |Again to all, many many thanks and see you very soon!!

Iain H.

My husband and I stayed here for one night and considering what the building used to be, they have done an excellent job of converting the old prison into a rather quirky hotel. When you go into the main wing it still looks very much like it used to and one can only wonder at those who were incarcerated here. Your room is actually three cells. The main bedroom is two cells knocked into one with a door being put into the dividing wall of the third cell which becomes your bathroom. This layout provides for a surprisingly spacious accommodation with room for a full size double bed, desk wardrobe and storage. The bathroom is equally as spacious with a full size bath at one end and a walk-in shower at the other with wc and wash basin in between. The only thing you don't get is a view but remember, these places weren't built with that in mind, there are windows but these are set high in the wall. There is a small car park available (valet parking) but be warned, they don't tell you how much it is until after you've parked your car and handed your keys to the attendant and then the receptionist tells you that the nightly charge is £39!

The on-site restaurant and bar offer some great food and drinks and the quality of the dishes that we ordered were really top-notch and prices were fair. However, when we got the bill, not one, but TWO separate service charges had been added, one for food and one for drinks! We queried this and was told that the drinks service charge was because the bar tenders "are not there to make and bring coffee but just serve other drinks" I have never heard of that one before and was quite shocked. This practice of adding on a service charge has got to stop, this is not the USA where even self-service tills seem to be entitled to a tip. Try paying your staff a decent wage in the first place and not expect your clients to make up the shortfall. I will always refuse to pay any service charge that has been automatically added to my bill and this establishment is no exception. If I want to add a gratuity for exceptional service, then that is my decision and mine alone.