Last Updated on October 16, 2023

The Chesterton – a Boutique Hotel close to Bicester Village

 ‘Shop ‘til you drop’ was the name of an American game show from the 1990s. It might as well be the mantra of the customers at Bicester Village, the UK’s premier designer outlet just outside Bicester in Oxfordshire. Just an hour or so away from West London it’s a magnet for fashionistas as well as being ‘the second most visited location in the United Kingdom by Chinese tourists.’ But what do you do when you’ve dropped? 

Just 2 miles from Bicester Village is The Chesterton Hotel, a ‘stunning new boutique hotel exuding style and presence’ perfect for post-retail chillout.

It features gorgeous rooms, a sexy bar with fab cocktails and a Brasserie restaurant with a deliciously intriguing menu, and we’ve been invited to review. The hotel’s exterior still maintains the character of the 16th-century farmhouse built out of traditional Cotswolds stone that it once was. But once inside you can see how the interior of the Chesterton Hotel has been transformed into a glamorous twenty-three-bedroom residence full of evocative black and white photos and smart tech.

With ‘a peaceful water garden, soft green meadows and coppices’, it’s no wonder that The Chesterton Hotel is making a big splash locally and beyond as a go-to wedding venue with an impressive capacity of up to 260 people for events. There are two types of bedrooms, Deluxe and Superior. Our room was luxurious and well-proportioned featuring traditional beams, textured wallpaper and brass and gold accents. The king-sized four-poster bed was extremely comfortable with plenty of pillows, and the room also contains a flat-screen TV, internet and a Nespresso machine.

One of the special features of the rooms is a Juliet balcony looking out on the gardens with the sound of the water garden creating a delightfully relaxing ambience. The bathroom is decked out in black marble and has a definite Milan designer feel about it. It couldn’t have been more glamorous with a powerful shower and a selection of products!

Hard as it was to leave the decadent bathroom, it was time to go down for dinner!  The dining room at the Chesterton Hotel is a glamorous place too, built around an original fireplace. We were impressed by the glistening black tables, black and white chequered flooring and tasteful black and white photos. And of course, dinner means cocktails, a prettily presented classic Gin Martini and a Smokey Negroni that really did smoke!  

To mop up the alcohol we had a selection of warm breads, served with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and moreish hummus and guacamole.   For our starters, we shared a well-constructed beetroot and apple carpaccio with goat’s cheese mousse and candied walnuts.   Pan-fried scallops came with pea and cauliflower purée, piquant black garlic mayo and crispy squid tapioca for added crunch.  

We moved on to a bottle of Pinot Bianco, Tenuta Hofstatter, Trentino 2020 which was full of a lemony minerality and perfect with our main dishes. The corn-fed chicken roulade was served with cauliflower purée, luxurious grated truffle, the sweetness of a Madeira sauce and a crispy potato tuille. Pan-seared hake with king prawns was a beautiful plate of seafood with sauteed new potatoes, miso sauce and crispy tapioca on the side.

When you see a dessert called Magic Mushroom Forest on a menu there is no excuse not to try it. It was a deliciously playful construction combining chocolate mousse with soft fruits and there was even a shot of Bailey’s in an edible chocolate cup. It was great to see such ambition from the kitchen!  

After a great night’s sleep, it was time for breakfast. From a full English – with a vegetarian option – to the luxury of Eggs Benedict and Royale, there is also a selection of fruit, cereals pastries, charcuterie, cheeses, yoghurts and juices to set you up for the day.

The Chesterton Hotel offers a fabulous Shop & Drop Package on request which includes bed & breakfast, a chauffeur-driven car to and from Bicester Village, a cocktail and a 3-course dinner. And if you’ve had enough of shopping the world heritage site Blenheim Palace is just 10 miles away.

The Chesterton Hotel
Chesterton,
Bicester,
Oxon, OX26 1UE   

+44 (0) 1869 326 550

 

Looking for something different? For a more traditional experience, we also recommend The Manor Country House Hotel