Premier Inn, Bicester

 

Bicester - Premier Inn 

Oxford Rd, Bicester OX26 1AN 

April 2022

 

Bicester used to be a small, quaint, country market town, with two railway stations. Then someone built the shopping village, and while the quaint part of town still exists - and is about a mile’s walk from the Premier Inn - it's clear that the target clientele of the Premier Inn fall into two categories: shoppers, and road travellers, heading along the M40. 

The hotel is beside a busy road - actually the A41, just north of the M40 junction - and within a quarter of a mile or so of Bicester Shopping Village. Perhaps understandably, the entrance to the hotel is on the side away from the main road, but this does make it difficult for pedestrians who wish to leave the hotel and wander along into the town itself. 

Reception seemed to be well organised, check-in being smooth and efficient. Access to the first and second floors is via a lift or stairs in a fully glazed bay, making a change from dark hotel stairwells. The corridor to our room was, however, gloomy.

Our room was large, and (generally) clean. As with many PI hotels now, the window didn’t open, heating and (supposed) ventilation being via an aircon unit. Personally, I like fresh air, and, certainly in the day, might want to have the window open even if there is some noise from the adjacent road. 

The large, flat screen TV was well up to the job, as were the tea and coffee options, and the bed was the usual high quality PI offering. There were also some instructions for the aircon, but, even with them, I was unable to simultaneously make the room quiet and a comfortable temperature.

The ensuite featured an over-bath shower which worked well, with no problems with hot or cold water or loo. Unfortunately, as with most PIs, there was no shaver socket - I was glad I had my adapter with me but had to plug it and my toothbrush into a socket near the TV. Use of the facilities did reveal the basin to be rather slow-draining.

Our sleep was ok, no better. I couldn’t get the temperature right, there was the noise from the aircon, and the guest in the room above ours had, perhaps I might say, rather more audible footsteps than I would wish. 

***

Breakfast required a timed booking; I’m fine with this, it does prevent scrums around the buffet. It was, however, served in the Brewer’s Fayre fifty yards away, across a car park with no proper footpath access: in winter you’d need a coat to go over to breakfast, and it might be uncomfortable if you’ve not dried your hair after a shower.

We had to wait a couple of minutes to be seated in the restaurant, which provided the usual PI buffet fare. Muzak was playing and was, for me, rather intrusive, and the lighting more appropriate for a romantic evening meal with an ugly woman than a serve-yourself breakfast. The restaurant, like many, lacked an essential item needed by business travellers: a clock on the wall showing the time. 

The food was of acceptable quality, and there was enough of all options available for us to have what we wanted, rather than what was there. Cereals were mostly in dispensers - so of unknown vintage and heritage - but there were sealed packs of Weetabix and muesli. There was full fat milk too, I was pleased to find. The large plates for the hot selection were only just off-cold, I would have preferred them a little warmer, after all, PI breakfasts aren’t cheap - I think we paid £9.50 each - so I don’t think a warm plate is too much to expect.

***

During our stay we did leave the hotel to explore the old town of Bicester. It's not an easy walk, for, as with access to the restaurant, the designers of the hotel area seem not to have considered that guests might wish to get some gentle exercise during their stay, and in places there is no proper footpath beside the main road, just a well-worn verge. That said, it was well worth the walk, there are many interesting shops, pubs and restaurants in Bicester, as well as some very attractive historic properties.

***

We did, just before leaving, find something that made nonsense of PI’s ‘CleanProtect’ policy: a worn sock (not ours), under the sofa in our room, which should have been found by the cleaners. Personally, I think hospitality businesses need to come clean about covid, and just advise guests that they clean rooms as best they can but cannot guarantee them to be 100% germ free; potential guests who have developed anxiety about infection, and can’t go anywhere without masks, hand gel and the like, should seek mental health treatment, and not expect every business to sterilise the environment in which they will stay.  

I’m unlikely to need accommodation in the Bicester area very often, but, if I do, I’ll be happy to stay at the PI again - although I do wish they would give guests a window that opens.