The Close, Tetbury

The Close, Tetbury, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently receives high praise for its charming blend of classic Cotswolds elegance and modern country house comfort. Guests frequently highlight the exceptional service, prime location, and delightful dining experiences, making it a highly recommended retreat in the heart of Tetbury.

Overall Rating & Sentiment

The Close, Tetbury, generally garners a "Superb" overall rating, with guests consistently awarding high scores. On Booking.com, it holds an impressive overall score of 9.1 out of 10, with particularly strong ratings for location (9.7), cleanliness (9.5), comfort (9.5), and staff (9.4). The sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with many guests describing their stays as "very good," "excellent," and "perfect."

Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of The Close:

• Exceptional Staff & Service: The staff are frequently described as attentive, friendly, helpful, and exceptional, providing "good old-fashioned hospitality" that makes guests feel special.
• Prime Location: Its central position in Tetbury is a significant draw, offering easy access to the town's shops, restaurants, and antique boutiques.
• Comfortable & Well-Designed Rooms: The individually decorated rooms, blending antique and modern furniture, with comfortable beds and thoughtful touches, are highly appreciated.
• Delicious Dining: The quality and choice of food, especially breakfast and dinner, receive consistent acclaim.
• Beautiful Gardens: The hotel boasts charming walled gardens with fountains, providing a tranquil setting.

Room Quality

The 20 individually decorated bedrooms at The Close offer a mix of antique and modern furnishings, each possessing a unique character. Many rooms provide pleasant views of the pretty garden or the town center. Guests consistently praise the comfort of the beds and pillows.

Rooms are well-equipped with modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, tea and coffee making facilities, and en-suite bathrooms. Luxury Molton Brown toiletries, bathrobes, and slippers are standard in many rooms, adding a touch of indulgence. Specific rooms, like the "Elizabethan" or "Dove," have been noted for features such as freestanding roll-top baths, separate walk-in showers, and four-poster beds, often with garden views and ample natural light. While many rooms are spacious and clean, some, like the "Spire" room, are located in vaulted roof spaces, offering a quiet retreat.

Dining Experience

The dining experience at The Close is a significant highlight for many guests. The Garden Room Restaurant, with its elegant decor, handsome parquet floors, and deep-blue walls, offers lovely views over the hotel's grounds and garden. The restaurant prides itself on its seasonal menus, which showcase locally sourced ingredients, presenting classic dishes with a modern twist. Refined dinner options have included dishes like sloe-gin-cured salmon and pan-roasted duck breast.

Breakfast is particularly well-regarded, with options ranging from a delightful buffet selection (including fresh fruit juices, smoothies, honeycomb, and pastries) to a full cooked breakfast, cooked-to-order dishes, and à la carte choices. Guests have enjoyed dishes like Ham Hock Potato Cake with fried duck egg and French Toast with bacon and maple syrup. The hotel also features a cozy bar with inviting leather seating and a fireplace, perfect for pre-dinner drinks, light bites, or afternoon tea. Room service is also available, offering items from the bar or restaurant menu.

Service & Staff

The service and staff at The Close are consistently lauded as one of the hotel's strongest assets. Guests frequently describe the team as "attentive," "friendly," "helpful," and "exceptional". The hotel manager has been noted for being lovely and welcoming, making guests feel special. Many reviews highlight the staff's professionalism and willingness to go the extra mile, contributing significantly to a wonderful and memorable stay. The hospitality is often referred to as "good old-fashioned hospitality that's so rare nowadays".

Location & Accessibility

The Close boasts an excellent, central location in the picturesque Cotswold market town of Tetbury. Tetbury's charming shops, antique stores, and restaurants are all within a short 5-minute walk. The hotel is an ideal base for exploring the wider Cotswolds region, with attractions like Westonbirt Arboretum, Highgrove Gardens (the home of HRH The Prince of Wales), and Chavenage House easily accessible.

Accessibility by car is good, with excellent access to the M4 and M5 motorways. Bristol is about a 35-minute drive away, and Cirencester is a 20-minute drive. For those traveling by train, Kemble station is approximately 8 miles from the hotel. The hotel offers free on-site parking, though some guests have noted it can be limited and occasionally difficult to find, especially during busy periods.

Value & Pricing

While The Close is recognized as a "quality hotel" and "a cut above" typical accommodation, suggesting a higher price point, many guests still consider it to offer good value, especially for a special treat. Typical prices for a room can range from approximately £103 for a Classic room to £167 for a Double room, though prices can fluctuate. The inclusion of a full cooked breakfast and free on-site parking adds to the overall value for many visitors.

Common Complaints

While reviews are overwhelmingly positive, a few recurring minor issues have been noted by guests:

• Parking: The on-site parking, though free, can be limited and occasionally challenging to find or navigate, particularly when the hotel is busy.
• No Lift: The historic nature of the building means there is no lift, which can be an inconvenience for guests with mobility issues as rooms are located upstairs.
• Minor Room Maintenance: Infrequent comments mention very minor maintenance issues, such as a wobbly toilet seat or a non-functioning flush, though these appear to be isolated incidents.
• Lack of dedicated reception rooms: One guest noted a lack of comfortable reception rooms to sit and enjoy the ambiance, beyond the bar and restaurant areas.

Sources

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17. michelin.com