Old Swan & Minster Mill





7.1Good
(1,271 Ratings)
"Stunning property lovely and clean"
Verified guestDon't miss out! Price and availability may change
4-Star Hotel
Top-tier experienceA high end property in this area
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Includes essentialsFree WiFi/internet, Bar, Spa and more
Set in 65 acres of gardens, wildflower meadows and woodland on the banks of the River Windrush, the Old Swan and Minster Mill offers accommodations located in the Oxfordshire village of Minster Lovell in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Business facilities
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7.1Good
(1,271 Ratings)
"Stunning property lovely and clean"
Verified guestDon't miss out! Price and availability may change
Ratings and reviews
2.0 / 10.0
Location was really nice
The fire alarm repeatedly went off when we turned the shower on and kettle on
Ridiculously small room and the fire alarm issue was known to the staff and nothing appears to have been done about it and the room is still offered for reservation
10.0 / 10.0
Stunning property lovely and clean
Nothing
3.0 / 10.0
It's in a beautiful location with some really nice walks nearby.
To start, I’m 25 and don’t usually write reviews, but I thought some feedback might be helpful for a place that has a lot of potential but is clearly struggling at the moment.
The staff were not welcoming.
Our first interaction was with the lady on reception on Saturday afternoon. She didn’t get off her phone when we arrived and didn’t offer so much as a smile. She had a similar attitude when we checked out on Sunday.
We had lunch at the pub outside. The food was okay, but we finished eating around 15:00, went for a walk, and when we returned around 18:00 the plates were still on the table.
To give credit where it’s due, there are some really lovely walks nearby and charming villages to explore.
We ate at The Wildling restaurant in the evening, which was a strange experience. We booked for 20:00 but weren’t seated until 20:40. The atmosphere was uncomfortable- lighting far too bright and the general ambiance didn’t match the prices (talking in hushed voices in a barn conversion. The food was okay, but the wine didn’t arrive until after our mains, despite being ordered as soon as we sat down.
The room itself was fine, but it could have been cleaner, and the towels were stained.
Overall, it’s a shame because the place could be really nice. However, it feels severely understaffed, and the service suffers as a result.
5.0 / 10.0
The grounds and building were a very nice cotswolds style setting
My partner enjoyed a massage and spa facilities
Surprises:
I was called the night before our stay to be told it was an additional £25 per night per dog.
On arrival there was a sign saying no WIFi in the rooms although booking.com states this is avaliable.
The rooms were significantly smaller than expected for the price
The "very good breakfast" included for £10 per person is a limited continental option. Would have preferred to pay £15 for the full English
The only facilities avaliable are the spa, there is no option for access unless having a treatment such as a massage.
Most of the above wouldn't have been an issue if it was stated up front at the time of booking.
4.0 / 10.0
The location was stunning
The room they originally gave us was not what we saw online , it was small,dirty,old furniture , loud noises from the pub. When then had to pay 200 pounds to upgrade to the cottage . That was very old feeling and had marks on the roof . And furniture that was old and dirty
8.0 / 10.0
Beautiful grounds and location, the spa was very clean and had lots to offer. Our massages were amazing and the spa staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming
Unfortunately the WiFi was down which made it hard to look up local restaurants / activities and to book them. We also could not contact reception via the telephone in the room
6.0 / 10.0
Locations gorgeous, didn't like walking into the pub to be told were across the road on the main site, that was annoying.
Wifi down, electricians working in the pub at breakfast.
How hard is it to buy a dongle or spare router as a contingency?
9.0 / 10.0
We booked this stay very last minute and felt quite nervous after reading some of the recent reviews. As someone who finds staying in hotels difficult due to past experiences, I arrived feeling anxious, but our stay was actually wonderful.
Set within acres of beautiful countryside and open fields, the hotel feels peaceful and spacious. It offers two restaurant options, a cocktail bar, and a spa, making it easy to relax without needing to leave the grounds if you choose.
We stayed in a double room with a garden view, which had its own conservatory overlooking the river and surrounding grounds. The room was clean, warm, and comfortable. While there are a few areas that could benefit from minor cosmetic updates, nothing detracted from our stay. The attention to detail, such as L’Occitane bath products, a coffee machine, and yoga cards, along with the overall comfort, far exceeded expectations.
What really stood out was the staff. They were friendly, professional, and clearly very hardworking. The food was fresh and enjoyable, and the cocktails were excellent.
It’s a shame to see how quickly negative reviews can build momentum, as our experience was the complete opposite. If you’re hesitant about booking, I would genuinely encourage you to give this hotel a chance.
The hotel was experiencing problems with Wifi in hotel rooms but actually being away from our phones for a nice change and it really just elevated the experience for us and helped us relax. Wifi was working perfectly in the communal areas like the cocktail bar and restaurants.
8.0 / 10.0
We had booked Minster Mill on this occasion as I was unable to manage the stairs at The Old Swan. On arrival we realised we had been allocated rooms that were a long walk to the restaurant (for dinner and breakfast). When we mentioned this, reception found us alternative rooms straight away.
I didn’t like the fact that we were told on arrival that was no wifi in the bedrooms. Things can always go wrong but the hotel failed to mention this when they emailed me on the previous day.
1.0 / 10.0
Location is stunning next to the river Windrush.
No wifi or phone signal in the room and in swathes of the hotel.
The bathroom was filthy, shower tray plug hole was dirty aling with the lavatory brush. The celing fan was full of dust.
There was a butn hole in the bed throw.
A hole in the wall next to the bed.
No welcome information pack in the hotel,
We were given a photocopy print-out at check in that you could hardly read due to insufficient print ink.
After speaking to the receptionist who to be fair was mortified, we decided to check-out (as we would never have booked if we had been told about extremely limited wifi and no phone signal.
3 hours there, 3 hours back which was a complete waste of time so close to Christmas as we had to make new arrangements.
On the way home, we checked out the reviews and my goodness, there is no way we would have booked of we had read them, many of which are shocking.
In the past we have had wonderful stay under previous ownership. Things have clearly gone downhill considerably which is extremely disappointing.
3.0 / 10.0
Location
Not the best stay over we’ve ever had, we arrived just after midday on a Sunday to be told our room wouldn’t be ready till after 3, they have over 50 rooms and the hotel was empty, nor could we get a coffee as everything was closed, we booked a bed & breakfast rate but cooked breakfast is an extra. there was no WiFi unless you went to the spa. The bathroom had a bad smell of drains so that door had to be kept shut. If I had been given a pound for every time a staff member said “we’re so sorry’ I’d have had a free stay. Lovely grounds but the hotel is overdue a make over.
6.0 / 10.0
I loved the location and the staff were very welcoming and friendly! 10/10
I didn’t like the fact that certain areas of the room felt a little grubby, stains on the mattress and wet floor as soon as you walk in making the room smell damp.
1.0 / 10.0
The initial look of the property is lovely, the setting is picturesque with thatched roof cottages and a stream flowing through.
We paid £130 for one night plus an additional £90 for spa access, and unfortunately the experience was extremely disappointing and not worth what we paid.
The room was unclean and poorly maintained. The bathroom was very dirty with visible mould, the shower was leaking, and the bedroom itself was not properly cleaned. There was mud on the sides of the bed, the floor was dirty, and the cushions on the bed were stained. Overall, the room felt very tired and in need of significant refurbishment.
Despite free WiFi being advertised, there was no WiFi available at all. This was made worse by the fact there was also no phone signal, leaving us completely disconnected.
The wider property also appeared neglected. The pub was experiencing electrical issues, the car park was flooded, and the hotel generally felt very tatty and in need of a lot of work.
The spa was particularly disappointing given the £90 extra charge. Some facilities were not working, the toilets were very dirty, hooks for robes were falling off the walls, and the pool was uncomfortably cold. For the price, the spa was extremely poor value.
Overall, this stay fell well below expectations and did not reflect how the hotel was advertised. I would not recommend staying here unless significant improvements are made.
7.0 / 10.0
It is a historical building and I loved its unique architecture and quirkiness.
Staff were very friendly and helpful.
It’s a very relaxed atmosphere and not overly pretentious.
It was very cold in the room because the windows are listed and so were naturally draughty. We told the staff and we were given extra heaters which made a big difference.
6.0 / 10.0
The staff were super friendly, the location is beautiful and the breakfast was excellent
Our room was over an hour late. The carpet in the room was dirty, the chairs heavily stained and the shower drain was very slow. We were in a dog friendly room but given there is an additional fee to bring a dog I would expect the cleaning standard to be higher.
4.0 / 10.0
The bed was comfy.
The room was crumbling and in major need of repair. The shower had mould forming and rust everywhere. The walls were cracked and rough from previous patchworks where they clearly couldn’t be bothered to sand it back down. The WiFi was down our entire stay (a week) and there was no signal in the rooms (our phones were SOS the entire time). The staff did nothing to try to ensure guests were compensated for the lack of wifi and offered nothing as a gesture of goodwill to make up for it until we complained. The tea/coffee in the rooms were never restocked and while the bed was made each day the room certainly wasn’t cleaned. Overall incredibly disappointed with the hotel and will not be staying here again which is a shame as just a year prior we absolutely loved it. Standards have clearly slipped a lot since 2024.
6.0 / 10.0
Beautiful, especially with the Christmas lights. The river is lovely.
The spa pool/jacuzzi is too cold.
The breakfast was a shambles.
8.0 / 10.0
The property is beautiful! Stunning views.
The WIFI was incredibly poor, in cut out for long amounts of time and there was absolutely no signal in the area. So it was hard to make plans or communicate with others or use your phone unless you left the property to find signal range.
Also the bathrooms floor was incredibly dirty, very dusty and hadn’t been cleaned prior to my stay. Otherwise it was beautiful so this really let it down.
1.0 / 10.0
Loverly location
Dirty
Rooms small for the price
No WiFi
10.0 / 10.0
We stayed in one of the garden rooms, it was very peaceful and quiet overlooking the water. Modern interior, comfy bed. We had a fire outside which was cosy in the evening.
The spa ladies were very helpful with information in the area, gave us recommendations for food and attractions nearby which was very useful.
Breakfast was delicious with lots of options in the main pub building.
Perfect for a quiet country stay all within good driving distance to popular tourist attractions would definitely return if we was to come back to the Cotswold.
No major complaints other than weekend parking can get busy for guests so be mindful when leaving the property.
5.0 / 10.0
Out the way nice and quiet perfect for a weekend away from work life
The room we stayed in wasn’t very clean, the bathroom wasn’t clean, the coffee pods wasn’t filled up, on our 2nd day we returned to find member of the cleaning staffs clothing in our room, the room we stayed in felt more like a premier Inn room certainly not worth £140 a night for just the room
1.0 / 10.0
Nice staff on reception and the spa
There was a private event taking place with a DJ until midnight which vibrated the whole room and we were unable to get any sleep, I really don’t understand how the hotel can rent the rooms out knowing this event would be taking place. Multiple guests complained and we had to cut our trip short because of this. Clearly they don’t value the hotel guests and just wanted the money from the private events
No WiFi in any of the rooms,
Can only use spa if you pay for treatment,
10.0 / 10.0
The staff here are exceptional and go out of their way to make sure you have an incredible stay. So beautiful and idyllic and the food at both the restaurant and the pub are sublime.
Only issue is the WiFi is very patchy so you end up being unable to get on line… but that was actually quite nice!
3.0 / 10.0
I liked the location hence why I chose it to celebrate my birthday weekend. I liked the restaurant and the pub, not the room.
I was put in room 143 which had a tap that was leaking, the bathroom was steaming and had mould, cobwebs in the room, no products in the minibar however the menu was there stating what the mini fridge contained (not accurate). Disappointing as it was my first time in Cotswold and I researched the best location and property as I really wanted to be memorable for good reasons.
3.0 / 10.0
We loved the historic architecture and warming vibe form the pub next door
Very noisy, uncomfortable, and poor value for money
We were kept up until the early hours because of a loud party the hotel was hosting. The bed was also very uncomfortable, two single mattresses pushed together, causing my partner and me to constantly slip into the middle.
The room itself could really do with some TLC. It felt run down and wasn’t pleasant to look at, especially considering the price we paid. For what it was, the room was definitely overpriced.
We tried calling reception in the evening about the noise, but no one answered. There was also no Wi-Fi in our room and barely any phone signal, which made it difficult to do anything definitely not suitable if you need to work.
When I complained to the front desk the next morning, they apologised, but that was it. It seems like they get these complaints regularly and simply pass them off without actually resolving anything. The front-of-house staff could really benefit from more training on handling complaints, as I can imagine they’ll lose a lot of customers this way.
Overall, I wouldn’t return and wouldn’t recommend it.
1.0 / 10.0
I feel like I didn’t I didn’t like anything about the property, I feel like it was awful from start to end
It was ruined from start to finish by I had the weekend booked for proposing and it was ruined, they didn’t do the room with the upgrades which I asked, they was rude through out
6.0 / 10.0
Some rooms are quite spacious.
As we were a group of 5, it was lovely to have exclusive use of the spa for a couple of hours.
Rooms too spread out. We had booked three rooms and had mentioned in previous communication that it was a surprise 60th birthday celebration. Two rooms were together with the third being at the opposite end of the complex. This spoilt us all being able to be together.
The safe was broken in my room and my room was very compact in comparison.
The whizzer in my milk frother was missing so I couldn’t use the machine.
There were dark hairs on one of the towels in my bathroom.
When using the hairdryer, the tv stopped and only came on again when I turned the hairdryer off.
My room didn’t have a full length mirror like the other rooms and, overall, I felt that my room was not good value for money when compared to the other rooms of the guests in our party.
1.0 / 10.0
Location the only plus
No WiFi, dirty rooms, staff awful. Hairs in fridge, stains on bed, no water, incorrect menus, dirty shower, stained floor
9.0 / 10.0
The property was beautiful. Set in an idyllic location with plenty of walking grounds and accessible to other areas surrounding the Cotswolds. The staff were lovely and the food within Old Swan was outstanding.
There wasn’t anything we didn’t like but we stayed in the Garden properties and would just note that the conservatories could have been cleared from dead leaves and debris.
1.0 / 10.0
The setting was lovely but that was it left to two hours later.
staying above the pub up some very narrow skinny staircase the room was dirty the coffee machine didn't work the room was very small and you couldn't get any Wi-Fi even though this was falsely advertised you could only use the pool and jacuzzi if you paid for a treatment and even then it was for a limited time of 90 minutes this was one of the main reasons we stayed at the hotel many other people have complained about the same problem if they made it clear you could not get internet and you can't use the swimming pool or jacuzzi without having to pay extra and then for a limited time which is lying and misleading in the advertising then I doubt no one would book it we certainly would not have which is why we left two hours later and did around trip of 180 miles! While booking.com were very quick to refund us as I said on the phone they need to cease doing business with this hotel as it will just kill the reputation which until this point was absolutely excellent if it was my first time using I would not use booking.com again.
8.0 / 10.0
Beautiful old building with traditional features. Staff were very friendly
WiFi was poor.
3.0 / 10.0
Hotel part where the accommodation was is reasonable
The dining experience in the “ pub”. Understaffed and overpriced food I would expect to find in a Witherspoon not a luxury pub dining experience. Staff were rude and had no interest in looking after their guests. Eating area was soulless, no atmosphere and cheap and tatty. My wife ordered a gin and tonic and I a Guinness.
Was brought a can of Guinness with no glass and two double gin and tonics. When we tried to explain to the waitress, due to her limited English, couldn’t understand what we were saying. In the end I said leave it and we will drink them. The food was poor quality. Frozen fries you would see in McDonalds, my pie was ok but ultimately disappointing.
Went and had a drink in the bar which was ok but the night had been tainted for us. Paid the bill and was amazed that a pie and mash, burger with fries, 1g and t single that turned into two doubles , can of Guinness and a pint of Hawksone came to £138!!!!!
I questioned this to be told £57 of this was Gin. Paid the bill and felt completely ripped off. Oh and they had all our room details when we walked into the pub. Roll forward to the morning when asked if we had enjoyed our stay I explained no and why. This I did also on our return to our room the previous night.
They very kindly said they would refund the entire cost of the meal. As I know how hard it is running a Buisness, I refused and said jus
T refund the cost of the gin. This was done by the helpful guy on reception, not wanting to have any hassle we left not having the breakfast we had paid for.
9.0 / 10.0
This is a beautiful quintessential timber and stone building in an idyllic thatch cottage hamlet. There is a good bar with excellent ales. The breakfast is perfect, excellent bacon , eggs and salmon. The staff are enthusiastic and helpful, we really enjoyed our stay.
The wifi doesn't stretch well in this 16th century building, so take some old fashioned print if you want to be a culture vulture before sleep.
7.0 / 10.0
breakfast was ok. not a fan of sour dough bread, which is abundance everywhere.
the weather
7.0 / 10.0
Location perfect for quiet weekend away
Chefs Choice option disappointing - we expected small plates testing menu - simply given 4 menu starters and main courses to share - perhaps needs explaining better - although the food was tasty.
Room very warm no means to control temperature
Old Swan Hoped for a selection local real ales rather than mass produced offering
8.0 / 10.0
The location and history
Bathroom very small , shower very week and water Luke warm
6.0 / 10.0
Staff were very helpful and welcoming
The food was very average for the cost
7.0 / 10.0
Hotel was lovely room was fantastic spa fantastic
i have read complaint after complaint about no wifi THIS IS A HUGE PREOBLEM There is zero cell phone service here not offering wifi in this day and age is ridiculous and for £400 a night its not good enough and on top charging £25 each for a bike rental ..They say go to the pub across the road for wifi so I did was terrible there as well wont go back till this issue is guranteed fixed spoilt our stay
FAQs
Is parking included with this hotel?
Parking is not specified as an available amenity at Old Swan & Minster Mill. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this hotel?
We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this hotel. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.
Is Old Swan & Minster Mill pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this hotel is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Old Swan & Minster Mill?
We found 1 amenities for this rental. This includes , and business facilities.
