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We have stayed in over 15 hotels in the past year or so but this is the only time I have felt I disappointed enough to write a review. We stayed in an ‘executive room’. The room needs updating. Pillows are yellow underneath the case. Paintwork needs touching up. The shower head was so full of limescale that water was trying to escape elsewhere. The worst thing though was that the room was so hot. The underfloor heating in the huge bathroom was turned up high and would not turn down with a thermostat in the room. We had to sleep with three windows open which is not ideal or safe when you are at street level. Another guest came to our door to complain that their room was also very hot. Evening meal at the pub was ‘ok’. At breakfast the food was served on hot plates but the food was actually cold. The pub staff were very welcoming though so can’t complain about that. Location was wonderful in a very picturesque village.

Had a one night stay in a stables room. Admittedly the room was on the small side BUT the quality of the hotel staff was first rate. From the receptionist to the housekeeping staff and restaurant staff, everyone was cheerful and polite and their main aim was to make sure the guests had the best experience possible. The food in the restaurant was of good quality and the grounds were a delight to explore.

Sometimes you get a feeling about a place just by looking at it from afar. I'd passed Hartwell House dozens of times on the way to Oxford and always thought it looked very appealing. With my wife's birthday coming up I decided to gather the clans and give it a try. From Mirella who took my booking to the smiley sommelier Pepin everyone was so friendly and welcoming. And I mustn't forget Ellie, the lovely food and beverages manager and the very attentive lady who served our breakfast. My daughter in law, who is a coeliac, was particularly impressed with the attention to detail of her dietary needs. She even had her own gluten free canapés! Hartwell House is in a beautiful setting and steeped in history. My French wife was intrigued to discover that the French King Louis the 18th lived in exile at Hartwell in the early part of the 19th century. The grandchildren loved the pool and spa and the adults enjoyed the warmth of the open fires in all the comfortably furnished sitting areas. I am leaving the best until last. The food was outstanding, the best we have experienced at any of the historic houses we have stayed at for this annual occasion. It was 'Michelin star' quality without the price tag. I unhesitatingly recommend Hartwell for any occasion where the best comes as standard.