The Bell (Hotel) — Hotel in Cotswold District

We booked up for two nights 8th - 10th October with friends. We were given rooms Squirrel on the downstairs floor and Fox which is upstairs. Both rooms were very small and Squirrel is so small our friends had difficulty in such a confined area. Squirrel had no cupboards or draws for storage and the only hanging facility was several hooks along the wall at the end of the bed. Our room was Fox and was upstairs. When I say upstairs the staircase is a step, narrow spiral affair with a banister going around at hip height and a vertical banister going top to bottom. Some people would obviously find this difficult but we were both ok. Fox was slightly bigger than Squirrel and did have a hanging built in area for clothes but like our friends we lived out of our suitcases. ||||Our Shower area was excellent but again there was nowhere for you to put your personal items. A few shelves or a wall mounted cupboard would really assist. The one thing we never liked at all is having an obscure glass door especially one with the toilet immediately behind it!! Anyway it is what it is, but although the glass is obscure you can still make out quite clearly things you would rather not see. The glass door is also not a snug fit and on the hinge side you have a 10mm gap from top to bottom which is off putting. Anyway apart from that we loved the shower room which was very clean and tidy. Also the bedroom has all you require with an iron, coffee and tea facility and they even have a fridge with drinks and snacks you can buy if you want.||||Breakfast at Stuart House is taken at The Bell Inn which is literally only 10 minutes walk away and this was simply perfect. You also pick up your keys from the Bell Inn when you arrive but you can leave them in a secure key deposit area when you check out. Stuart House has a great parking area off the main high street through a narrow archway. ||||All in all we loved staying here although you may think my review flagged up a couple of negative comments. The Cleaning staff and Bell Inn staff were simply superb and extremely helpful. Our friends in Squirrel room found there room far to hot on the first night and they immediately turned off the towel rail power as the valve on the towel rail was not working. There second night was much better for sleep quality. I would just finish off by saying Stuart House has in the main block four bedrooms downstairs and three upstairs. Some guests may find the upstairs a challenge with the staircase and I have attached some pictures to assist...

We stayed at the Stuart House (standard double room) that belonged to The Bell. It's a 2-3 min walk from The Bell Inn. The room was meticulously clean, beautiful and cozy, the bed comfortable. Big, clean, lovely bathroom. The water pressure is not the best but I think that's more of a Cotswolds thing (or so it seemed to us in the many other villages and hotels we stayed at in the Cotswolds).

The breakfast was delicious and very generous: a selection of different cooked breakfast, including Full English Breakfast but also other options, and while you waited on your order (which came out the kitchen quite quickly), you could have toast, croissants, jams, granola (different types), Marmite (!! I wanted to try it but didn't want to buy a whole jar...so this was a great opportunity! It's terrible but you gotta try it, it's very a very English thing to try! Lol), etc!

The service at check-in was prompt (you just go to the pub and ask someone to check you in...), when I needed extra stuff the staff was super helpful and quick! Yes, they were busy with the gazillion other things going on in the pub (which some people may misunderstand for rudeness) and yet they sorted out anything I needed help with promptly and nicely.

We also had the Sunday roast when we arrived - delicious (although I should have asked for a better knife than the provided butter knife). The restaurant part seemed busy so it's worth booking ahead ..

Parking: Stuart House has its own private (but included in price) parking just by the rooms in a big courtyard. It would be nice if everyone was considerate and parked closely to each other to make room for everyone. But there's also free street parking (for the night) outside of the gate which is easy for the night because by late afternoon the day-trippers leave Stow-on-the-Wold (but be mindful of the time limit during the day!).

The price was a bit steep if I'm honest. Yes, we could always say "it's the Cotswolds" but still....).

Yet, we loved it and we highly...

The Bell : A Cozy Spot with Room for Improvement

The Bell is a quaint little pub that has its charm, but misses the mark in a few key areas. It's worth a visit for a casual night out with friends or family, but don't expect anything extraordinary when it comes to the dining experience.

The Food

The food at The Bell is good, but not exceptional. The menu offers a decent selection of classic pub fare, and the dishes are well-prepared and flavorful. However, considering the prices, one might expect more creativity or refinement in the presentation and taste. While the food is enjoyable, it's hard to justify the expense for what you get.

The Ambiance

The atmosphere at The Bell is welcoming and cozy, with friendly staff who are always eager to help. However, during my visit, the front door was consistently left open, which made the pub uncomfortably cold. It's a shame that the ambiance was marred by this oversight, as it detracted from the otherwise pleasant setting.

Service Charge

One notable downside is the 12.5% service charge that is automatically added to the bill. While I appreciate the friendly service provided by the staff, I believe that customers should have the option to tip based on their personal experience. The imposed service charge may leave some patrons feeling like they have little control over their dining expenses. Overall

The Bell is a charming pub with friendly staff and decent food, but it falls short in terms of value and overall experience. The high prices, lack of extraordinary dishes, and the added service charge may deter some customers. Additionally, the management should address the issue of the open door to ensure a comfortable dining environment. All things considered, I give The Bell 3...