Macdonald Bear Hotel

Hotel

Stayed here before but this time disappointed. On arrival found would be charged £10 for overnight parking. As disabled person I thankfully could park outside using my badge. The room was nice 4 poster spoilt by graffiti on bed. Net curtains had stain on that my husband thought to be bird excrement as well as the curtain was in need of repair. Won't be staying again sorry.

Lovely hotel in the most beautiful setting. My room was quite quirky with a four poster bed, modern bathroom, low ceilings. Nice little bar. Really enjoyed my stay. My room was called 'The Black Prince'. I will certainly be back with my family.

Set in the lovely village of Woodstock this hotel is in a great place. Blenhiem Palace gardens is just around the corner. The room was super comfy with a nice shower. The room I was in was in an old building and so was a bit noisy and we had the car park next to us. However I slept well and the staff were helpful if a bit busy, it was a triathlon weekend. I would stay again.

This hotel is graded as 4 stars. In my opinion it is overrated. The hotel offers rooms and a resturant there are no other facilities. There is no outside space save for a few tables and chairs in the car park. Extremely dissapointed with the food and service in the resturant. This hotel trades on being in a lov ely villiage and Blenhiem Palace. Few redeeing features.

I could only see the site which is splendid but for the inside I can not judge… if it is as seductive as out it must be very good. Sorry for not being able to make a review.

On the surface everything is just about adequate but the staff are disorganised. It took 55 minutes to get the bill presented to fit the room rate and items consumed despite previously checking with the event manager and receptionist. Not on my return list!

Really amazing hotel. Confusing for an American to hear "Just pull through the arch to the car park" when the archway is like three inches bigger than the car you are in, at least that is what it felt like, haha. But seriously beautiful hotel and rooms. Loved the Churchhill Room. Really good breakfast and friendly staff.

Nice old English hotel with excellent service. Quirky layout and 500 year old floors and stairs make it a challenge at times to get around but well worth a visit.

We've been coming here on an annual pilgrimage for many years. Unfortunately this year I was disappointed, maybe next year we'll try the other good restaurant in town. Waiting staff were unfamiliar with the menu, and unable to answer even the simplest question without "checking with chef", it may be a new menu but that isn't our problem they should have received training. Wines that were listed were missing from the cellar, so we had to choose again. Lastly the "a la carte" menu has been withdrawn, so this year similar choices to last year cost quite a bit more.

We have stayed in 3 different rooms at this hotel. All have been delightful. The beds are comfortable, the bedding is thick pure cotton. The bath towels are thick and fluffy and we each had a bath robe to wear during our stay. Each room we stayed in had its own Nespresso Coffee Machine and the reception staff happily brought us fresh milk every morning. The reception staff are friendly, helpful and professional. The hotel is a 5 minute walk from Blenheim Palace and a 30 minute bus ride into Oxford (20 minute drive).

Nice rooms in this 900 year old building! Rooms with character. Apparently Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton made this hotel their favorite in the 60s.

It was a lovely hotel, housekeeping were awesome. Shame about the restaurant for breakfast though. Although the cooked breakfast was good once we got it, it took over 45 mins, on both mornings, to get it. The staff in the restaurant were friendly but lacked some common sense and professionalism at times. On one morning, due to mixed up orders, we ended up with three pots of tea, a pot of coffee and two racks of cold, hard toast on our little table. It was like a scene out of faulty towers. It's actually a real shame about the restaurant, because the rest of the hotel and service was great.

Had an afternoon tea in the bar. Was given fantastic service by all the wait staff and it was a comfortable, quiet environment for a catch up. The tea was beautiful and we were provided with a very generous amount of delicious sandwiches, scones and tartlets. Would highly recommend.

Very nice hotel in the centre of Woodstock excellent position to visit Blenham palace within walking distance brilliant service good food recommend upgraded room's in the old stable area at the rear of hotel.

Wonderful hotel in a great location, friendly staff and lovely food. Would visit again.

The buildings and rooms were well kept and well equipped, tastefully preserving the character of the old constructions with everything you would expect for a hotel of this calibre. The staff were friendly and engaging but ill prepared for the literary and arts festival at Blenheim. The bar was short staffed in the evening as they were not expecting it to be so busy! Breakfast was pleasant but not amazing with the staff getting both of our orders wrong. For a quiet stay at other times of the year I would thoroughly recommend this hotel, especially for those wishing to visit the palace.

Fabulous place. I stay in a lot of hotels and this is right up there with the best. Highly recommended.

Two visits, both were poor. The first time I wouldn't put solely down to the hotel, so we thought we'd try again. Second time around staff were rude and unhelpful, service was well below the standard to expect for this price. The rooms are excellent, otherwise would've been 1 star.

Staff are amazing very lovely place. Would stay again.

A nice hotel and very posh but the same as any other hotel in its provisions and so not particularly worth the price. The four poster double bed felt smaller than other hotel beds and the bath too was smaller than other hotels. Very little interaction with the staff. No complaints but not worth what we paid for it.

Stayed here for business, but enjoyed it as if I was on holiday, had a great room, breakfast is very nice and hotel is nicely positioned in the town for local shops and historic points.

Very quaint hotel with lovely character although going up and down the stairs will be a challenge for some as very old and warped. I tripped on them a few times and I'm relatively fit. An older or unfit person could struggle. Only ate a pret ordered buffet but was very disappointed as sandwiches where stale and portions of hot food were meagre. Insufficient to cater for the small number in the group.

I am very disappointed in this hotel. I put the do not disturb sign on our door this morning yet a cleaner still knocked on our door and woke us up! Then to top it off I was just getting dressed when another member of staff just walked in our room! Without so much of a knock!

Very much enjoyed my stay, room was sizable, clean and comfortable. Staff welcoming and friendly. Breakfast the next morning was also delicious. Would recommend.

Impeccable staff and magnificent rooms in a 1200 hotel.

Looks nice, but the rooms were way too hot, have no / broken AC (I was in 2 different rooms) and the staff doesn't really care. Food pretty average too.

Absolutely fabulous meals they served. The accommodations looked great, and very much in line with the older periods. Bed was slightly to soft for me though.

Stopped in for a late lunch after visiting Blenheim Palace. Sat at the bar and had a lovely experience! Cozy atmosphere especially as the fire was blazing, nice staff, and delicious food. Would highly recommend and plan on returning.

We had Sunday lunch here and were sorely disappointed. Although it was very well presented, the beef was devoid of any flavour and the sauce (gravy) was like a sticky gooey mess. We asked the waitress what was in the sauce and was told agar-agar is used. Overall a poor meal at top prices. Staff were very attentive though.

Had an afternoon tea in the bar. Was given fantastic service by all the wait staff and it was a comfortable, quiet environment for a catch up. The tea was beautiful and we were provides with a very generous amount of delicious sandwiches, scones and tartlets. Would highly recommend.

Excellent clean rooms, really comfy bed, food was fantastic. All the staff were really friendly and professional. Beautiful building. Drinks slightly expensive but worth the price for my favourite gin!

Not worth the price. Inattentive staff and there was nothing special about the food. Quite standard quality.

Delightful historic hotel and restaurant. Friendly and helpful staff. Good food.

Always a pleasure and today no exception.

We couldn't fault the service but the food was below par. My wife's pork dish was mostly fat and gristle. Given the price we had expected more.