Guests say
The Old Sweet Shop in Banbury is a well-equipped, cosy cottage praised for its ample space, well-stocked kitchen, and pleasant garden. Guests enjoyed the local amenities, including pubs, a village shop, and a brewery, all within walking distance. The property serves as an excellent base for exploring the Cotswolds, with many noting the thoughtful welcome pack upon arrival.
Most guests found the cottage to be clean, with only a minor suggestion for more dusting. The overall impression is of a well-maintained property.
The location is highly praised for its convenience to local amenities and as a base for exploring the Cotswolds. Proximity to pubs, shops, and a brewery, along with good walking trails, contributes to its high rating.
Guests found the cottage comfortable, with spacious rooms and good-sized beds. The presence of en-suites and a cosy atmosphere added to the comfort level.
The property is well-equipped, especially the kitchen, but some guests noted minor maintenance issues like loose fittings and unusable electric showers. The games room and garden were positives, though some TLC was suggested.
Guests frequently mentioned a welcome pack, which included scones, cream, jam, and Prosecco, adding a thoughtful touch to their stay. However, it should be noted that such gifts are a kind gesture and may not be provided on every occasion.
About this property
This charming, Grade II listed cottage is perfectly situated in the heart of the village of Hook Norton.. 3 steps to entrance.
Ground Floor:
Living/dining room: Freeview TV, DVD Player, DVDs, Woodburner
Kitchen: Breakfast Area, Electric Cooker, Microwave, Fridge/Freezer, Washing Machine, Tumble Dryer
First Floor:
Bedroom 1: Zip And Link Double Bed (2 x Singles On Request)
Ensuite: Cubicle Shower, Heated Towel Rail, Toilet
Bedroom 2: Zip And Link Double Bed (2 x Singles On Request)
Bathroom: Bath With Shower Over, Heated Towel Rail, Toilet
Second Floor:
Games Room: Games, Toys, Playstation 2
Bedroom 3: Double (4ft 6in) Bed
Ensuite: Cubicle Shower, Heated Towel Rail, Toilet.
Oil central heating, electricity, bed linen, towels and Wi-Fi included. Initial fuel for wood burner included. Travel cot and highchair. Welcome pack and doggy extras. Enclosed pebbled garden with patio, sitting-out area and garden furniture. Barbecue. On-road parking. No smoking.. This charming, Grade II listed cottage dates back to the 17th century and was formerly a sweet shop. Now having been lovingly restored to a good standard, the cottage still retains a wealth of character, with an inglenook fireplace, beams and stone walls but boasting comforts to give you that home from home experience. There is also a games/playroom with a games console to keep the younger guests entertained. The property will be decorated for guests staying over the festive period.
Perfectly situated in the heart of the picturesque village of Hook Norton, on the edge of the beautiful Cotswolds, with superb walks right from the doorstep and excellent local amenities, all within walking distance, including a local parish church, library and well-stocked general store. There are two public houses within walking distance, both serving food and where you can sample the locally made beer from Hook Norton Brewery. The Victorian brewery is also a lovely day out for guests with guided tours being offered, free beer samples and a visitors centre. The village is just a short distance from the market town of Chipping Norton where you can explore several antique shops, and a wide selection of coffee shops, restaurants and pubs. A short drive will take you to Blenheim Palace at Woodstock, Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford, known as the ’city of dreaming spires’. There are plenty of opportunities for guests to travel a little further and visit one of the many Cotswold towns such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water or Morton-in-Marsh. Whilst in Stow pop into the gorgeous Daylesford farm shop owned by Lady Bamford. The designer outlet village at Bicester is also worth a day out for those guests who enjoy some retail therapy, and the cottage is also only 8 miles from the exclusive soho farmhouse in Great Tew. Shop and pub 500 yards, restaurant 5 miles.
There are open, steep, spiral or narrow stairs at the property.
Free WiFi
Two of the bedrooms has zip&link beds which can be made up as singles or double, please request at time of booking. The initial supply of fuel for the woodburning stove is included.
There are open, steep, spiral or narrow stairs at the property.
Suitable for up to 2 pets
Nearby points of interest
- Blenheim Palace
- Cotswold Motoring Museum
Reviews (16)
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Confirmed Guest
This is one of the most well equipped places I have ever stayed in. The kitchen has everything you could possibly want, apart from a full size dishwasher (there is a small one). It has a Tassimo coffee machine if you want to bring pods from home, or you can buy them from the local shop, which is only a couple of minutes away. The heating wasn’t working at first, but this was promptly fixed when I notified the host. Great en-suites to two of the rooms, and a welcome pack of scones, cream, jam and Prosecco. There are two pubs in the village, but the pavements are very uneven (I fell once). We ate twice in the Sun Inn, and it was good. It is worth taking the Hook Norton brewery tour, even if you don’t like beer, as the building is amazing! It’s a good base to see places like the arboretum, pottery and other Cotswold villages. Parking is on the road, but we always got a spot. The garden is also nice for an outside chill. I would recommend this house.
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Confirmed Guest
Very nice house. Beautiful location. Great for walks and visiting Hook brewery ( almost next door!) . 4 stars due to a number of defects around the house, loose fittings and poorly hung curtains etc, all minor stuff but several in each bedroom etc. overall lovely and would recommend.
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Brian Smith
It was the ideal place for us to base ourselves. We were there to walk for a cure for Alzheimer’s that started at Ditchley park only a few miles away.There were 5 of us and the cottage was big enough to handle us all.The two flights of stairs to the top room and the low beams it has may put off some people, but was no bother to us..The bedrooms were a good size with good sized zipped together beds.The en-suites were lovely and one had a bathroom to use off the landing.The kitchen was more than ample size and was well stocked.The welcoming pack was brilliant which included amongst other things freshly made scones… Delicious!!A bit more dusting would not have gone amiss. But it’s a lovely historic place with everything you need for a really enjoyable stay. I would not hesitate to book it again. In all it was lovely experience.