The Bell Inn — Restaurant in Cotswold District

I have just spent 1 night at The Bell. My booking was through a Groupon deal. Here are my comments: PROS Nice room with extra day bed/sofa which was useful Room was upstairs with pleasant outlook Comfy bed & good bedding Ensuite with bath Tea tray with nice touch of home made cookies in a jar TV Wifi - I was able to pick up the wifi reception but note that other rooms couldn't - maybe it was because I was upstairs? Nice location in a hamlet near to Broadway in the Costwolds Free parking which was only a few steps away from my room CONS Really bad attitude of owners - Louise & Sue. I am in the hospitality industry myself (over 30 years) & have never come across anything like this. I bought my Groupon deal in March. I 'phoned the Bell immediately to fix a date before the end of June which was when it would expire. I spoke to Louise. She said every date was fully booked. I asked if I should contact Groupon for a refund. She said I should ring back a few days later as more dates would be released into July. When I phoned back to make my booking for 1 night (as per my Groupon voucher), she said that she couldn't take 1 night bookings as 'it just wasn't worth it'. I pointed out that Groupon had sold the voucher. She sounded very angry & said she would have to accept the booking then. She said she would have to contact Groupon to get this stopped in future. I felt very unwelcome at this point. I then wanted to double check with her that breakfast was included. She said definitely not, 'it was just too cheap'. I pointed out that it was clearly included on the Groupon deal. She said that she would have to accept it then. I was feeling even more unwelcome at this point. I spent a lovely day in the Cotswolds & arrived at the hotel at 4.15 pm. All doors were locked. The opening hours for the pub were stated on the door & showed that it wouldn't be open until 6 pm. I couldn't believe that I'd have to wait outside for nearly 2 hours to get into my room. I checked my paperwork to see if I had missed something about check in time. The Groupon paperwork stated clearly that check in was from 12 noon & check out was by 10.30 am. I phoned their number but just got an answerphone. I managed to find a neighbour who had a different number for Sue. Luckily, she came down & checked me into my room. I queried the check in time & she just said that it was 'Groupon's fault'. They should have notified me that they were closed from 3pm to 6 pm. I asked her what time breakfast was & she said I wouldn't be getting any breakfast as I was just staying 1 night. I explained that I already had this conversation with her daughter, Louise, & that breakfast would be included. It would be at 9 am. I am Coeliac (strict gluten free) & vegetarian so I didn't need much in the way of breakfast - just some coffee, hot water for my own instant porridge mix & butter/marmalade for my own gluten free bread. The breakfasts for other guests looked good & fresh. I didn't eat in the restaurant for dinner - mainly because of my dietary problems. Needless to say, I won't be visiting again & I can't...

Stayed in March 2020 during bad weather.

Positive: Check in was quick, pleasant room with tea and coffee and lush mini flapjacks. We stayed in downstairs room with two single beds, close to the road, window overlooking side road. Very clean. I found the bed reasonably comfy. Heating was adequate and warmed up quick. The best bit was the bath, especially after I got wet and cold in the rain. Nice Mason & Miller soap in the bathroom- lovely smell. Lush food on dinner menu although not so cheap. Gorgeous Malbec wine (Finca La Colonia from Argentina) £5.95 or £7.95 or a bottle.

Negative: Electric sockets were loose and I didn't dare using one of them. Gaps around doors, allowing draft and road noise in, thus not the best sleep. Very limited breakfast choice (as the cooked breakfast was not enjoyable and also not the 'Full English' the next day I asked for a toast and some cheese- this wasn't available despite the pub serving cheese platters. I had toast with jam which I hardly ever eat.) Also staff didn't really join in any pleasant conversations (just quick and short answers to questions from guests) and were constantly in and out tidying away which made me feel awkward at breakfast time, despite other visitors quietly eating in the same area. Additionally I think vegetarians would really struggle with breakfast options. If I was to stay again I'd have breakfast elsewhere or just get something from the shop in next village).

No instructions for checkout. I was standing in the breakfast area for about 20 minutes, young lad in the kitchen saw me waving at him but ignored me. After walking around front and back I finally found a bell at the bar, someone came from upstairs and told me I could have left the key in the room (it would have been nice to know...

Sadly I have to give this visit a poor rating. I know The Bell as we used to live in Broadway, and, so was expecting better. No welcome, on fact it was closed, even though it says open all day, I had to ring them from the car park and was told "we don't open till 6pm" it was 4.30pm. We're we expected to remain in the car park until then? They reluctantly opened up and thrust a breakfast menu at me before handing me the key to our room. Upon reaching our room I was delighted with the decor, cleanliness and view to the village duck pond. Breakfast was excellent, freshly cooked, plenty of hot coffee and the landlady was very friendly, afterwards, as there wasn't anyone near I mentioned the non existent welcome and suggested she had a word with her employee, as this could reflect badly on their reputation. But worse was to come, when my husband asked to pay the bill he was charged£160, we had been quoted £110, as he wasn't absolutely sure of the amount he was quoted he didn't make a fuss. Of course back home written in the diary was the figure £110. As you cannot book via a website there is nothing in writing, so your word against theirs,...