Mr & Mrs Smith

I have stayed at the Olde Bell Inn twice now in the last two weeks, and I have to say it has been a delight. The interior decoration and rooms are simply and cleverly done, with a mixture of old and contemporary. The baths in the bedrooms are a must, and the rooms and bathrooms are spacious and immaculate. The staff are charming, very helpful and polite, and really could not do enough to help without intrusion. The main house of the hotel is very inviting, with fires in the bar and restaurant, and that lovely smell and warmth that comes with all that. We dined in the restaurant twice and the dinners were, without exception, simply delicious, creative and accomplished. A continental breakfast brought to my room was generous and thoughtful, and the coffee was excellent. The Olde Bell Inn must be quite something in the summer, with its gardens, lawns and walled vegetable gardens, but for my recent winter cosy visits, I simply cannot recommend it enough. I shall be returning whenever possible. A rare find in every way.

I took my husband to the Olde Bell Inn as a Bank Holiday weekend treat, and what a treat it was. The Mr & Mrs Smith treat of champagne was waiting for us in our room on arrival, perfect for enjoying in the huge roll top bath. We would highly recommend eating in the inn restaurant, it was truly divine. No need to travel to Bray for Heston when this is just downstairs. The service was exceptional, attentive without being too in your face, wine list was huge, I let my husband sort that out, and the food was different, seasonal and so very tasty. Very, very enjoyable. Do not leave The Olde Bell Inn without working off a wonderful breakfast walking through their gardens, the kitchen gardens are so well stocked, every herb and vegetable under the sun. Further afield, we took a walk from Henley along the river to Hambleden, and would highly recommend the Stag and Huntsman pub for a mid-walk drink. They also had a BBQ going, which looked great, although by this point we were too full to consider it. A wonderful break in a lovely countryside location.

A great location and beautiful Olde English inn, but the room was very stylishly appointed with nice touches: complimentary bottled water both still and sparkling, robes and slippers (though one pair between two was a challenge). A second pair was made available of course. As always with our limited Mr & Mrs Smith experience, staff were first-class. Restaurant was maybe a bit too sniffy for an inn but still very good, and breakfast was very good. Bar prices as far as wine by the glass were steep. Overall, again a quality establishment and a lovely stay. Thank you.

During our wonderful stay at the Old Belle Inn in April we visited the picturesque city of Oxford where a visit to the cafe in the vaults of the university church is a must. The food is fabulous and the surroundings, whether sat inside or out, are fantastic.

Our second visit to the Olde Bell Inn, and it was even more spectacular than the first. We stayed in the Main Inn Suite which had the added luxury of a very spacious lounge, complete with armchair, sofa, second TV, dressing table and chair and an outdoor terrace with seating. Perfect for basking in the sun while sporting your gown and slippers. Taking advantage of the glorious sunshine, we asked to borrow two of the Inn mountain bikes. We pottered along the riverbank to the village of Marlowe, where we gorged on ice-cream and greeted the resident river Thames' swans, geese and ducks. All in all, a three-hour long trip which was just right for an anti-gym-bunny. On our second evening, we sampled a restaurant outside the inn. Again, we were drawn to picturesque Marlowe. We had a reservation at the Compleat Angler which I found was also akin to L'Oranger in St James, in that it was outstanding. The tasting menu was delicious and didn't take too long whatsoever as compared to some Michelin-starred restaurants. Other guests at the Olde Belle mentioned the Black Boys Inn as an alternative, which is just outside of Hurley. Nevertheless, we found the Olde Bell Inn menu stunning and their desserts, particularly the pavlova, out of this world. Can't wait to go back.

The Hinds Head in Bray is a must – food was faultless. Take some walking boots or borrow the hotel bikes, as you are surrounded by footpaths, bridleways and towpaths. Barely used the car.

The Olde Bell Inn was our introduction to Mr & Mrs Smith and we were blessed with fantastic weather to top it off. We were desperate for an overdue short break, with chilling-out being the main factor. We stayed two nights and found the hotel grounds and staff all very welcoming. The food was beautiful and we dined in-house both nights – we highly recommend the silky homemade pumpkin ravioli. A rolling, spitting, hypnotic open log-fire was the heart of the bar, and well inspected. We were 'upgraded' to room 6. This was initially very exciting, split on two levels with a roll-top bath downstairs. However, with hindsight I would not stay in this room again and would recommend Mr & Mrs Smith visitors to ask for another if possible. In the dead of night, there was a constant hum of the generator, not really noticeable on arrival. We could hear it all night and I was grateful for some emergency earplugs stowed away in the overnight bag. The stairs leading down to the bathroom from the bedroom were steep and in the pitch black made for interesting 'quick visit' after that essential and thorough inspection of the bar earlier. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay but both laughed on the way home about how lucky we were that no ambulances were called after a rather tipsy visit to the bathroom. I have already booked our next two-night stay away – Stratford Upon Avon this time and recommended MMS to lots of friends. Don't normally complete reviews but love the hints and tips and need-to-know aspect of the hotel pages of this site and feel obliged to share. Highly recommend a quick drive out to The Ferry in Cookham for a lunch or evening meal. We went there for lunch and it was just fabulous.

I know that I am meant to be recommending a pub or restaurant close to the Olde Bell but quite simply...you won't want to leave your room. We stayed in room 9 - totally stunning. Beautifully furnished huge room + fanastic roll top bath by the window + Mr & Mrs Smith chilled bottle of Champagne waiting for us on arrival = total bliss. Oh and the bed was the stuff that dreams are made of.
When check-out time sadly arrived we did make the pretty 20 minute drive over to Bray and had a delicious meal in Heston's pub - The Hinds Head. 3 delicious courses for £27.95. Unpretentious food with a twist. Also found a really beautiful boutique shop across the road called 'Story in Bray' - owned by a very friendly stylish woman - it was a cozy Aladdin's cave of beautiful, surprisingly fashionable trinkets, luxurious women's clothes and wonderful French candles and furniture. She has invited us to the opening evening of her new shop just down the road...what a perfect excuse to return to the Olde Bell Inn. A wonderful wonderful stay. Thank you Mr & Mrs S x

We have a three-month old baby. We are very tired. We also have a two-year old and a four-year old. We are exhausted. Having managed to persuade Grandma to look after the two older ones we escaped with our baby. The Olde Bell is a mere 33 minutes from West London and its suitability for new parents cannot be overstated. No-one minded as we had baby Wilf with us for breakfast, lunch and supper. I think, had we encouraged it, the waiters might have rocked him to sleep for us. He loved the enormous bath in our room and the bed was big enough for all of us. We are suckers for Babington House but our room here was comparable in every way bar the price, which was considerably more favourable. And we didn't have to drive three hours. And what with catching up on sleep and admiring our little darling, there wasn't time for a spa or a swim. This is little Babington...

Spitting distance from Henley on Thames where there are some great walks along the riverside.
Cookham and Marlow are also worth a visit. Try the Inn on the Green in Cookham for a great dining experience. http://www.theinnonthegreen.com

We went to the Hinds Head for dinner in Bray, about 10 minutes' drive away. Absolutely amazing; food and service were spot on. Will definitely go back there if in the area.

Hurley Lock is a short walk away - head past grand mansions to the river. There is a little tea shop next to the Lock. Perfect for an ice cream or a cold drink to sit on the grass and watch the boats. Idyllic spot!

Loved every minute. On summer weekends, the hotel has a BBQ in their lovely garden. Picnic hampers are pricey at £15 a head, however, the food in hotel is great. Our room, Room 9, was delightful! Nearby Henley is a perfect spot to sit by the river and watch the day go by with a good book.

The Olde Bell Inn is the perfect base for a gastronomic adventure. Whether you seek an internationally renowned establishment or an intimate character-filled country pub you will be spoilt for choice. This time we opted for a mixture starting with lunch in nearby Marlow at The Hand and Flower which offers what must be the best value set menu locally, alongside their extensive à la carte choice.
By way of contrast dinner was taken at Danesfield House where it must be said presentation triumphed over substance – despite the five page water menu – and we left grateful for the generous portions we had enjoyed earlier at lunch.

Saturday was "pub day" with lunch at Heston Blumenthal's Hind's Head in Bray followed by dinner at Nick Parkinson's Royal Oak in Paley Street both of which are on our list for a return visit.
On Sunday, following a leisurely stroll along the nearby Thames, we lunched at The Olde Bell Inn and it could certainly be said that we had left the best to last, so much so that we felt we just had to steal a further night in its oh-so-hospitable embrace – certainly a weekend to remember!

We needed a gorgeous getaway within a 30-minute taxi ride from Heathrow and The Olde Bell did not disappoint. Not that I want to give the wrong impression, this stylish coaching inn is the antithesis of an airport hotel and therefore just what we were looking for. From stylish sleek earthy interiors; think Farrow & Ball complemented by old chairs with personality and finished off with pillar-box red accessories; to discreet yet friendly service and fantastic rustic food. Don’t forget to admire the waiters’ cool aprons! In the morning we explored the tiny village of Hurley, a hotspot for sleepy old England charm. We strolled to the river past the church and then returned for The Olde Bell’s fabulous communal-style breakfast, where its not unusual to share a large breakfast room table with fellow guests and put the world to rights over the papers and scrambled eggs whilst looking out over the inn’s lawn, which was sprinkled with frost when we stayed. After breakfast we were whisked away in a taxi in the most effortless dash to the airport. Oh, and PS the bathroom products and showers are great!

If you are staying in one of the Standard Inn rooms, plump for Room 3 which seems to be one of the larger rooms and has a view of the garden. We enjoyed a lovely walk along the river (only about four mins from the inn – go out of the front door, turn left and follow the men with rods!) and met some friendly goats and llama(!?) along the way. Top Tip: take your own 'do not disturb sign' as the inn doesn't seem to provide them and housekeeping can call in the morning rather unexpectedly!