Located in Minster Luvel, Oxfordshire, is the Old Swan and Minster Mill. The Old Swan sits pretty as a historic building with 600 years of charm and character to spare. Couple this with all the modern conveniences you’ll need for your stay and you have a delightful gastropub worthy of a visit.
It's deceivingly large once inside, once in the Old Swan you instantly feel much more at home than you would in a large corporate chain hotel. It's nice to see a lot of the period features still intact, not spoilt by all of the necessary modern updates required to run a hotel.
We stayed in the River Room, an outstanding room lovingly decorated and welcoming. We were visiting the Old Swan in December, and our room had been decorated beautifully in fairy lights and other festive items. The room itself wasn't overly spacious, but this is fitting with the quaint appearance of such a period building.
“We recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable escape in the Cotswolds.”
The highlight of our room was the terrace. It overlooks the River Windrush, and had a wood burner. Guests are provided with complementary marshmallows to roast on the fire, a fun experience for a people of all ages to enjoy. There was something quite magical about sitting outside on a cold festive night, roasting marshmallows and gazing at the stars.
The hotel also has spa facilities and a small fitness room, providing somewhere to relax or catch an early morning work-out. It's a real joy to be a guest at the hotel, we enjoyed the whole experience.
There is a restaurant serving excellent gastropub food, and the staff throughout the hotel are attentive and friendly. I would happily return and recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable escape in the Cotswolds. Especially over the festive period where the hotel comes alive with the festive spirit.
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The Bill: £190 per night
