The Store

The hotel, a beautifully converted historic department store, offers a luxurious urban escape, renowned for its rooftop bar boasting stunning views over the city, a signature feature that captivates guests and provides a memorable setting for cocktails and sunsets. Its prime central location places visitors at the heart of Oxford, making it an ideal choice for sightseers and couples seeking a romantic getaway, allowing easy exploration of the city's charm. Families also find the hotel accommodating, with thoughtful amenities and interconnecting room options that enhance their stay, while business travelers appreciate its convenient position and well-appointed spaces for productive visits. Guests consistently praise the hotel's modern design, attentive staff, comfortable rooms, and excellent dining experiences, which contribute significantly to a positive stay. To enhance your visit, it is advisable to book spa treatments in advance due to their popularity, and guests should be mindful of the off-site parking situation when planning their arrival.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel features a modern spa with a thermal suite including a sauna, steam room, and experience shower, providing a relaxing retreat for guests, though some note it can be busy and requires advance booking. While a few guests reported the steam room being out of order, the overall spa experience is highly praised for its calming ambiance and effective treatments. A well-equipped gym is available, though some find it small with limited equipment. Free Wi-Fi is consistently praised for its reliability, ensuring guests can stay connected. Rooms include thoughtful amenities such as a coffee machine, Roberts radio, and in some cases, a record player, adding a unique touch to the stay. The mini-bar often contains complimentary items like water and local sparkling tea, though some find it poorly stocked with unusual selections. The rooftop bar is a significant draw, offering stunning views and a vibrant atmosphere, though it can occasionally be closed for private events, which some guests found disappointing.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guests consistently praise the cleanliness and modern design of the rooms, often describing them as spotless and beautifully decorated, contributing to a fresh and inviting atmosphere. The beds are frequently highlighted for their exceptional comfort and high-quality linens, ensuring a restful night's sleep, though a few guests found the mattresses to be very firm. Rooms are generally well-appointed with luxurious bathrooms featuring excellent shower pressure and premium toiletries that enhance the bathing experience. Thoughtful touches like mini gowns, slippers, and complimentary chocolates are widely appreciated, making guests feel pampered. While many rooms offer lovely views and some even have balconies or terraces, a notable number of guests mention that standard rooms can be small with limited storage space and small windows, occasionally leading to darker interiors. Noise from other rooms or slamming doors is occasionally reported, and some guests experienced issues with air conditioning or heating, or unpleasant smells in basement rooms.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel's breakfast receives high praise for its quality and variety, offering both a buffet and à la carte options, with popular items like the breakfast muffin and eggs Florentine consistently delighting guests. While most find the breakfast delicious, some guests desire more high-fiber choices or find the buffet selection somewhat limited, and a few noted issues with coffee machine layout. The main restaurant, Treadwell, is consistently lauded for its inventive menu, high-quality food, and excellent service, with dishes like crab tacos, steaks, roast dinners, and duck croquettes receiving particular acclaim for their flavor and presentation. The downstairs bar offers a cozy atmosphere and a good selection of drinks, while the rooftop bar is popular for its creative cocktails and panoramic views. Room service is also available and generally well-regarded for its efficiency and quality, providing a convenient dining option for guests.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel boasts an exceptional central location in the heart of Oxford, making it an ideal base for exploring the city's rich history and vibrant culture. Guests consistently appreciate its walking distance to major attractions, including the university colleges, diverse shops, numerous restaurants, and the theatre, allowing for convenient sightseeing. It is also strategically located near public transport hubs, including the bus station and train station, facilitating easy access to and from the city. However, a significant point of feedback concerns parking, as the hotel does not offer on-site facilities. Guests must rely on expensive off-site car parks, and the surrounding area features many pedestrian-only streets, which can make drop-offs and pick-ups challenging, sometimes requiring assistance from hotel staff to navigate the complex city layout.

Staff & Service
The hotel staff consistently receives glowing reviews for their exceptional friendliness, attentiveness, and professionalism. Guests frequently highlight their willingness to go above and beyond to ensure a comfortable and memorable stay, from providing quick check-in and efficient assistance with luggage to offering insightful local recommendations and accommodating special requests like room upgrades for celebrations. The spa therapists are particularly commended for their expertise and healing treatments, contributing significantly to guest well-being. While the vast majority of feedback is overwhelmingly positive, a few isolated instances mention slow service at the bar or reception, and some perceived unresponsiveness to complaints, but these are generally outweighed by the consistent experiences of personalized service and genuine hospitality that define the hotel's approach.

Additional Information
The hotel is noted for its pet-friendly policy, welcoming dogs with thoughtful amenities like beds and bowls, and allowing them in certain bar areas, which is a significant convenience for pet owners. Guests appreciate the hotel's modern aesthetic and the unique experience of staying in a beautifully converted historic department store, which adds character to their visit. Some reviews mention a destination fee or service charges, which guests should be aware of when booking. The hotel also offers complimentary bicycle hire for exploring the city, providing an active way to discover Oxford. A recurring theme in guest feedback is the hotel's pleasant and distinctive signature scent, which many find memorable and contributes positively to the overall ambiance and luxurious feel of the property.