The Randolph has been the grande dame of Oxford hotels for generations and,
since episodes of Inspector Morse were filmed there, it has been a popular
tourist attraction. Sadly, whenever I’ve stayed, the experience has failed
to live up to its glorious Gothic façade. On one visit, I checked in to my
room to be confronted by a bedspread with a bloodstain – a great find for
Morse (after whom the hotel bar is named), but a bit disconcerting for me.
I’ve also had the worst restaurant pudding I’ve ever eaten – a leathery old
choux pastry swan in a puddle of crème de menthe.
The Randolph has, however, recently been awarded five AA stars, after
investment by Macdonald Hotels and the addition of a spa in the basement, so
surely a night of care-free luxury beckoned?
I rang the day before to book a parking space for the night. The 23 hotel
spaces were full so we would need a day-long voucher for the nearest NCP car
park, costing £25.50. We arrived at 11am, picked our way through the throngs
of Russians and Japanese in the lobby and one of the reception staff wrote
out a voucher. Our room was not ready, so we went out for the day.
In the early evening my husband and children went back to the hotel while I
parked. When I returned, my daughter was sobbing and my husband was fuming.
She had gone to the loo by reception, someone had switched the lights off,
and in the darkness she had banged her head. Husband, meanwhile, had tried
to get a table for dinner and was told the restaurant was full, even at 6pm
(curiously, when I went down to look at the menu at 6.45pm the room was
almost empty). We crammed into the one working lift with a bellboy and our
bags and watched, bemused, as he tried to deliver them to the wrong room.
Our “classic suite” was slightly tired and inoffensively decorated. Husband
went off to the bathroom, got locked in and started cursing. I feared I
might start snivelling, too.
Dinner was the answer – I pressed the room service button, but the line was
dead. Could this hotel be any more annoying? At least when I did get
through, via reception, things started to get better.
Our haddock and chips arrived on time, and the chips were great (if too few).
The buffet breakfast in the restaurant the next morning was generous.
But we couldn’t wait to leave. The Randolph clearly couldn’t cope. Why this
hotel has five stars is a mystery worthy of the great Inspector himself.
Bottom line: Julia Brookes paid £278 for a classic suite with
breakfast.
Need to know: Randolph Hotel, Beaumont Street, Oxford.
0870 4008200
www.randolph-hotel.com
Sampling the fare: Room service food was child friendly and cost £80
for four.
Access all areas: First-floor rooms for wheelchair use.
Best thing: The chips.
Worst thing: Holly bashing her face in the pitch-black loo.
Room: 5 out of 10.
Service: 5 out of 10.
Food: 7 out of 10.
Value: 2 out of 10.
Have you stayed at the Randolph Hotel? Do you agree or disagree with our
review?
We stayed at the Randolph overnight. For the price the Randolph did not deliver that extra special something (say compared to The Landmark in London). We had spacious and well decorated contemporary room. Reception was small & dark retaining its initial gothic intent.
Breakfast was good; a great selection of continental breakfast and cooked breakfast. Service was excellent.
The Spa at the Randolph cost guests an extra £15 to use (on top of B&B £224 & parking for £26). At check in they said we had to book the SPA; first availability was 5.30pm.
The Spa "looked" great; its facilities were limited. The MINI gym had about 6 exercise items. Headphones were provided but mine were soaking with sweat!!!
The hotel claim that this spa is one of the top 30 spas in the world, rated by The Independent. Maybe the comment was made in a different context, for its décor, or its treatments or maybe they missed some words out? “One of the top 30 city centre basement hotel spas in the world"?
Last Don, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
We stayed overnight and cannot fault the room or the service although reception might have told us it was a route march to get to it. We had booked car parking and also for our family who were joining us for lunch the next day. The concierege were very helpful.
Our evening meal was passable but the service a bit slow as the restaurant was by no means full.
Our lunch with the family the next day was disappointing. Not a lot of choice on the menu and the main course was extremely dry. In fact I think the venison had been sitting in a heated cabinet for sometime; the 'gravy' was dried on the plate. There was also a lack of green vegetables . The chocolate dessert too was very dry. We didn't order coffee but left feeling somewhat cheated and saddened; what should have been a celebratory lunch with the family was ruined by poor cuisine. We shall not be visiting the Randolph again!
It was not a patch on the Old England in the Lake District!
Shirley Boulton, Lutterworth, Leicestershire
On a recent visit to see our son who is studying at the University of Oxford, my wife and I took the opportunity to sample the Randolph, having passed by many times before. All I can say is what a superb hotel. Excellent service and accommodation. The staff could not have been more helpful and polite. We had a meal with our son in the restaurant on our second night -t he quality and presentation of the food and service exceeded our expectations. At breakfast the following morning, I noticed my cup was badly cracked - no sooner had I pointed this out than both our cups were replaced and a fresh pot of coffee provided too! I can't agree with Julia Brook's somewhat over-critical review. I had no problems with the valet parking service nor making a dinner reservation. I would give the hotel a nine out of ten.
Roy MacGregor, Stockton-on-Tees,
The Old Parsonage is a much better bet when staying in Oxford. The rooms are comfortable and well decorated, the roaring log fire welcoming all year round, and the food scrumptious - no curling sandwiches as the Randolph would have you eat.
Isabel, London,
At last, a well-balanced and genuinely thought-provoking piece on travel to Burma. The arguments for and against have been one-sided for far too long - well done. I was in Burma four years ago and grappled greatly with my conscience before going. I am so glad I did. Apart from the fact that I have seen a unique and wonderful country, I have become engaged in the struggle of the Burmese people and the plight of the brave and heroic Aung San Sui Kyi - and feel I can now talk with some knowledge far beyond the black and white. I don't defend any of the actions of the Burmese regime but It is too simplistic to say "don't go". Apply that maxim and you can easily challege why so many of us are going to China. The Burmese want us to visit - that is plain to anyone who goes and who has the chance to speak to these exceptional people. Anyone who wants to visit should. The alternative is the further isolation of a people who crave - and who deserve - outside contact.
David Leck, Bexley, Kent
I agree with the comments about the Randolph being poor on enjoyment but high on price. Having met my wife there some years ago, when we returned to the UK after 4 years in South America I thought for a treat we would spend our first night at the Randolph. Having sent an email requesting an a car parking space, I then had to deal with a bolshie porter for 20 minutes who made a big deal of not receiving my email - Welcome to the Randolph! The restaurant was fully booked for dinner, even though we were staying in the hotel. In the morning we went down to breakfast to find the breakfast room was full and we had to wait 15 minutes in the bar for a table! I filled in the customer questionnaire in the room and a couple of weeks later received a follow-up letter explaining to me that my experience was clearly wrong as they pride themselves on customer service, they may pride themselves on it but they should experience it as a customer - I know what I experienced! I will not be spending +£240 for disappointing night’s accommodation and breakfast at the Randolph again.
julian Morris, Execter, Devon
My family and I have also stayed many times at The Randolph Hotel in Oxford. I personally have to say that it has improved ten fold over the last 5 years. The team are a credit and I am always amazed by the friendliness and always willing to assist attitude of each and every member of the staff I have come across. From Concierge through to Chaimber maids nothing is too much trouble. If you have a problem during your stay, then inform someone, it is delt within in minutes and with a smile. I have to say I think we are a nation that moans behind peoples backs..... If I had the money I would stay every night of the year. The Spa is a haven and the restaurant especially in the evenings is just magical. The 5 star is well deserved as far as I am concerned
A happy cutomer that will return, London,
I stayed at the Randolph with colleagues a few years back. Horrible hotel - tired, dated decor and poor service leading to the overall conclusion that this was a highly overrated establishment
Nadine, Manchester,
Thank you from all residents of Oxford for this brilliant review. Would all potential visitors to Oxford please note that all Oxford hotels are like this. It's a boring old place, anyway, full of old buildings. Best to go to Newcastle or Milton Keynes and have some fun.
Nigel Clarke, Oxford, UK
My husband and I have stayed at the Randolph Hotel many times while our daugther studied at Oxford University. Over the years, however, the hotel has changed in service and atmosphere - and not for the better. We loved the bar area, especially when (the late) Ailish was in charge, and always found a warm welcome there. The lifts, however, were always a running joke as there was always one out of commission and both were tiny. We do love the position of the hotel in Oxford - close to colleges and to the shopping. The last time we stayed at the Randolph we expected the service (and the lifts ) to have been improved as it had become a 5 star hotel. We paid over the odds for a room that seemed about a mile away from reception via the over land route to the rear entry. We could have done with a map in order to reach reception, which is always draughty and crowded. This also means the wonderful bar is also draughty and crowded as it is more or less the same area -what a shame!
Linda Thompson, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
It is not specifically the Randolph that is the problem, but Macdonald hotels generally.
We booked a stay at the 4* Macdonald Hotel in Cheltenham, to celebrate our son's birthday. Upon arrival we were told that they had double booked us and they had reserved rooms at a 3* hotel around the corner!
I think every Macdonald hotel I have been in has looked completely worn out and in need of a severe overhaul-and that goes for the management too!
David Baxter, Southampton, Hants,UK