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| Barceló Oxford Hotel |
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Max Mason went to the Barceló Oxford Hotel to find out whether it was a hotel for suits or suited to families and a quiet getaway.
I have always wanted to know what lurks behind the doors of what used to be the Oxford Paramount Hotel, sitting off Wolvercote roundabout, always with a packed car park, it must be doing something right. Recently purchased by international hospitality firm Barceló Hotels & Resorts, owning 20 hotels across Britain, 160 worldwide, I thought it time to give it a go.
Described as modern and contemporary, it does what it says on the tin. Arriving in a reception hall bustling with business types, conducting meetings with a Costa coffee bar providing caffeine, we viewed their water menu boasting 8 different choices, including my favourite tipple, the sublime but elusive Badoit, which feels like feathers
tickling your throat as it goes down.
Warmly welcomed at reception, we were given all the standard details and a card which opened a variety of doors, then were directed towards our room, along a corridor lined with meeting rooms and conference facilities.
We entered a superior room, which carried a £30 additional charge, for that you get fluffy towels and smashing robes which you could lose yourself in, after enjoying the most powerful shower the body could withstand. Free internet access and what is reportedly an impressive hairdryer (according to my companion, it’s a regular complaint from the fairer sex that hotel hairdryers have less power than an exhaling
weasel).
A couple of minutes after settling, the phone rang, as the duty manager enquired needlessly whether we were happy with the room. Bathrooms are well equipped and the beds are delightfully comfortable, with heavy sheets and blankets fitting closer than sardines in a can. The unobtrusive television in the corner offered a range of terrestrial as well as satellite channels to allow you to keep touch with news from the outside world. They also employ a rather natty system which allows one to adjust finance as you devour room service and other expenses, keeping track on the bill from your television.
I am embarrassed to say that we didn’t do our duties as reviewers, the beds were too comfy and breakfasts too welcoming – but the newly equipped gym and pool looked quite perfect, if you really needed to raise a sweat.
I personally prefer to eat, in their large but well catered restaurant, then enjoy breakfast which was unusually good – even breaking my golden rule eating hotel sausages, which turned out to be tasty. Barceló are adding to their breakfasts by making more of a continental feast, but I find it difficult to see how they could add any
more food without making it a hedonistic feast.
The only thing that I would like changed is that the water in the rooms isn’t local. Other than that, the Barceló is superb, even better if you are able to avoid the business hordes and dine at other times than 7am or 7pm, you’ll have an even more splendid time.
Review by Max Mason |
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