Macdonald Swan's Nest Hotel

Macdonald Swan's Nest Hotel descritpion

Macdonald Swan's Nest Hotel sells fast on our site. Overlooking the RSC Theater, this 17th-century riverside hotel has parking and a bar. The center of town is a 5-minute walk away, and the train station is a 15-minute walk from the building.
Le Bistrot Pierre offers French cuisine and a great view of the river, while The Bear Bar and Kitchen serves traditional English dishes. Guests can also relax in the courtyard at Macdonald Swan's Nest.
The spacious rooms all have a 26-inch Freeview cable LCD TV, a walk-in monsoon shower and free mineral water. Many rooms also feature scenic views of the hotel’s garden.
Guests have free access to the recreational facilities at the nearby Macdonald Alveston Manor, featuring a pool, gym, sauna and steam room.

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Facilities of Macdonald Swan's Nest Hotel

Outdoors ：Grounds

Pets ：Pets are allowed. Charges may apply.

Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar | Breakfast in the Room

Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Parking ：Public parking is available on site (reservation is not needed) and costs GBP 5 per stay.

General ：Newspapers | Non-smoking Rooms | Facilities for Disabled Guests | Heating | All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

Reviews for Macdonald Swan's Nest Hotel

Review 1：Breakfasts were a bit disappointing. Porridge not hot and undercooked. Two courses brought at the same time.

Review 2：Large, comfortable room. Excellent location.

Review 3：It was an outstanding experience. The staff, the ambiance, location everything was excellent. I could not believe the quality of the place for the little amount we paid.

Review 4：We had to move rooms as original was too cold due to poor fitting window. Staff were not the most accommodating although generally pleasant. Disappointed Spa facilities were 'off site' this was one of the main reasons for booking this hotel and it was not made clear at point of booking. Given the impression of a 'traditional hotel' rooms were very Motel like.

Review 5：Good location close to town.

Review 6：The hotel is in a perfect location, the staff are helpful and friendly and Snickers our 6 month pup was treated like a king. It was perfect and we will be staying again.

Review 7：Didn't like to have to pay £5 for parking.

Review 8：The room was comfortable and clean. Bed and pillows comfortable. Reception staff excellent. Pierre Bistro very good. Staff pleasant, friendly and efficient and food very good.

Review 9：Showers could be warmer; they were a little on the tepid side. Interestingly, I had called in advance and asked about this, as I had seen it on another review, and was told they were fine. The room was absolutely fine, but I had stayed at a better Macdonald hotel before.

Review 10：Location good. Food, including breakfast, very nice. Was nice to have the option of using the pool/spa at the hotel over the road, which we did in fact do on our final day.

Review 11：rate included breakfast but reception on arrival said it didn't partly my fault as we did booking on the run on checkout we were told breakfast included but no refund other than some minor charges credited. Will in future confirm details in writing

Review 12：location is great have stayed before at this location and will do so in the future

Review 13：Vegetarian cooked breakfast options were a little disappointing.

Review 14：Very friendly staff, enclosed garden where our Dog could stretch her legs safely. Spacious room. Nice real ales available in the bar.

Review 15：Spent two nights here in December 2015. The location of this hotel is very attractive and great for getting around Stratford. The choice of breakfast was very good and the food in the restaurant was excellent. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly.

Review 16：The attached bar. Bit rowdy and rude language and behaviour of some male drinkers. Spilled into reception too.

Review 17：Wonderful hotel, great location, good price, lovely breakast. Very polite staff. Good facilities in executive room.

Review 18：Bed was uncomfortable. Service of staff was brash and rude. Room was not clean - walls needed painting!

Review 19：Good location in walking distance of the sites in Stratford

Review 20：Location excellent , walking distance for shopping/sight seeing. Breakfast cooked to order, with a good choice, as well as continental buffet. Staff very pleasant, only downside was no Boxing Day evening meal available at the hotel, but staff need their break too,however plenty of places nearby to eat.

Review 21：A big crack in the drinking glass. Told them and a new glass left in room complete with all the stickers still on it, so clearly not been washed.

Review 22：the hotel was in an excellent location for the town, just a stroll across the bridge and you were in the town. Breakfast was very good.

Review 23：I was really disappointed that the twin rooms were merely two seperately made up singles pushed together which was essentially a double bed. We asked for them to rectify and they moved us to an identical room. We ended up having to rearrange the furniture.

Review 24：A lovely reception area and location. Cosy bar attached to the reception.

Review 25：There wasn't a proper bar, just a hatch shared with the raucous pub attached to the hotel. I've never experienced this arrangement before. We didn't like it.

Review 26：Location, helpful staff, breakfast cooked to order instead of congealing on the buffet

Review 27：They overcharged me by £190.00. They didn't even telephone to tell me or apologise although they knew what they had done. I had to telephone them up and was just told I had been refunded that day. No apology or explanation was given. Terrible customer service

Review 28：Staff at breakfast were excellent. Couldn't do enough. Food was good too

Review 29：The room was like a dowdy old grandmas room with drab curtains and bedding very much needs updating . Smelt like a care home too. So disappointed as it was a birthday surprise Staff were not helpfull and just stayed chatting on the phone

Review 30：Restaurant and location

Review 31：Breakfast was disappointing - I asked for soft boiled eggs and got hard boiled eggs- the cheese was old tasting and the bacon was hard as if it had been standing for some time. No comfortable provision for smokers as my mum is 75 and she had to stand outside the entrance. On checking in the man spoke so quickly it was difficult to understand. Information in the room was poor- nothing to tell you how to connect to wifi or where the spare towels were hidden. There should be a specific place for the kettle - had to remove it from the cupboard to plug it in across the room and then the desk was blocked by a big chair so it was inconvenient to prepare tea there so had to walk across the room with a kettle full of boiling water.

Review 32：Room on a sterile corridor, came in initially through rear car park door and eventually found reception which was some windy distance away. In itself not an issue as well signposted but could be more welcoming from that end.

Review 33：Smart rooms and excellent breakfast thanks

Review 34：Very little seating in the lounge area for hotel guests as non residents use the bistro & bar.

Review 35：Excellent position near to centre but room quiet & comfortable .Pierre Bistro on site was excellent for dinner but overpriced for breakfast.

Review 36：Utterly appalling staff. No manners, No customer service! Constantly having to ask For an update. No one on the case in the restaurant at all. Even when it was quiet!

Review 37：Room was nice, not 100% clean. Bed and pillows fab. Location couldn't be better

Review 38：Staff on the front desk were really unfriendly. Breakfast was ridiculously slow: from entering the restaurant to the hot food being served was 50 minutes!

Review 39：Room was fine with the usual facilities. Good location by the river and opposite the theatre.

Review 40：to be honest ... nothing

Review 41：great location, overlooking the theatre, food at Pierre Bistro was excellent the breakfast very good, great range of real ales in pub attached ( need i say more !) car parking on site

Review 42：Ambiance of hotel was dull, tired and uninspiring. Room was small and dated. Pierre Bistro - breakfast time was in turmoil. Not value for money!

Review 43：Pierre Bistro - good food, menu and attentive staff for evenings ONLY!

Review 44：N/A

Review 45：Very comfortable, clean, welcoming in a brilliant location. The attached restaurant was very good too for evening meal and breakfast. All staff contact was positive too

Review 46：reception staff surly both on check in and out, room average - have slept in better premier inns. Bed terribly uncomfortable with pillows not worth having and no spares. Heating didn't work in bathroom, handles missing on doors, Tea and Coffee making supplies poor

Review 47：location was perfect - easy to find, easy to park, quick walk into town.

Review 48：The bathroom was rather tired & very cold. The noise from the room above did disturb our sleep, snoring, dog barking & heavy footsteps!!!

Review 49：Great location, lovely food in Le Pierre Bistro.

Review 50：Small room size, stains on the wall, no hairdryer in room nor trouser press, had to boil the kettle on the floor, couldn't see out of the window as too dirty, tv channels didn't work, breakfast room was freezing and huge delays getting served

Review 51：Staff were all friendly but failed to follow up complaints. Location was ok.

Review 52：Whole place could do with a face lift, parts are a bit grubby. Also,We arrived back after the play to be told that the bar is closed and when we said we were residents we were told that the bar which they advertise as part of the hotel facilities, is owned by a separate. company.Ordered 1 bottle of beer from the receptionist and had to drink it sitting at a seat just in front of the reception desk.

Review 53：The pillows were very soft but wouldn't stop me using the hotel again.

Review 54：This was a really nice hotel and the breakfast was nice too. The location was probably the best part as you are right on the edge of the river and only a two minute walk to the town centre. All Shakespeare's attractions are in walking distance. The sister hotel was also lovely. Although we didn't have time to use the spa facilities we did have a walk over and they looked nice enough. Good pool and gym. It was a shame we didn't have time to use them. The staff were very friendly and helped with any of our queries.

Review 55：Communal areas are a bit tired and the hotel has been massively expanded with a modern block 4 times the size of the period building. Macdonald seem to be cutting costs on breakfast which was okay but not amazing, and have an odd habit of charging guests extra to park in the hotel car park.

Review 56：Location for Stratford is superb - a short stroll over the river to the theatre and centre of town. Rooms are (very) clean and comfortable. It's adequate and nice enough for a theatre stopover but not a special occasion destination!

Review 57：Friendly, helpful staff. The food in both pub & Restaurant was very good and the location of the Hotel is perfect for visiting the main Shakespeare sites as well as the RSC Theatres.

Review 58：Arrival reception. Lady not very welcoming. Got up late missed my breakfast 2nd morning 10am cut off... Dust on headboard and pic frames. Room felt like motel not hotel.

Review 59：Breakfast. On first morning.. Shower was great. Bed was comfy. Fridge in room. Ice brought to room.

Review 60：A very minor point. Our Wardrobe doors did not move very smoothly, in fact stuck on several occasions. Hardly noticed the minimal problem though.

Review 61：Our stay could not have been better. Friendly, helpful staff. Comfortable Room. Great dining facilities. Superb location.

Review 62：Had to park at sister hotel across a busy road. Breakfast was chaotic in Bistro Pierre, could not cope with numbers wanting to eat, no egg with full English ??? come on please.

Review 63：great location and room

Review 64：£300 for two nights in a ground floor executive room adjacent a busy road. I expected so much more from this hotel group. I wished I'd saved money with a budget hotel.

Review 65：It is convenient for the theatre

Review 66：Executive double was no better than your average motel room. Corridors reminded mw of an old people's home!

Review 67：Really good location. On the river front but just a short bridge walk to town. Good dining and bar facilities.

Review 68：Room too small with strong smell of chlorine and annoying buzzing light. Hotel more like a Travelodge. Long wait for cooked breakfast and then it was overcooked.

Review 69：Location

Review 70：Dust and cobwebs, very uncomfortable mattress, no staff on reception on arrival, no one to greet in breakfast room and explain what to do. Window not fully closing. Very noisy room. Explained concerns at reception next morning but never heard any more.

Review 71：Great location, shower, decor of room.

Review 72：Pierre restaurant was a bit hit or miss. Sometimes good but not consistent. Some delay in service due to staffing problems when we were there. Some carpets in passage ways could do with replacing.

Review 73：Good location, nice staff

Review 74：water slow to drain in shower. Waited for 20mins for breakfast,Doors on wardrobe wouldn't slide and came off runner.

Review 75：the staff were very friendly.situation excellent for short walk into town. fridge a bonus .Bed firm and comfortable.Good tea/coffee facilities.

Review 76：Not a bad experience but first impressions of your reception area were very poor. The carpets were dirty, the seats etc were extremely grimy and dirty, overall it was a very bad first impression. No tables had been cleared of glasses and bottles.

Review 77：Very comfy beds. We had a very tasty snack in The Bear before going over the road later for a delicious Thai Meal.

Review 78：Long wait to collect key. Previous checking in papers lost temporarily. Only one person on desk at busy time. Another couple at desk allocated occupied room - very disconcerting. Hotel lounge areas like Clapham junction.

Review 79：Good food in restaurant and friendly restaurant staff. Location very good. Room clean and comfortable.

Review 80：The shower heads were not movable. Luckily I wasn't there long enough to need to wash my hair as I would never be able to rinse properly!!! I also found the restaurant quite poor. There was only one exceptional waitress whose name I have now forgotten!

Review 81：Very friendly and helpful staff on the reception desk. Good sized bedrooms.

Review 82：The bathroom needs to be updated. Floor tiles grouting missing. Shower attachment broken. Carpet in room was not hoovered.

Review 83：The hotel was very close to everything.

Review 84：The over cooked black pudding. The noisy extractor fan for the kitchen outside our bedroom and the whole of the rear of the building. The unclean bath.

Review 85：The Scottish speaking waiter and waitress. The efficiency our complaint was dealt with. The breakfast area for eating. The size of the rooms.

Review 86：No where to 'relax' other than in room as the only lounge area was a thoroughfare for the kitchen staff and reception. Very noisy. We were unable to get anything to eat at the hotel after 3pm until the restaurant and bar opened later.

Review 87：Excellent location to walk to main town.

Review 88：small rooms no bath long queuing at reception cold breakfast limited room service menu noone picks up the phone if you call reception from your room not enough staff - really lets hotel down

Review 89：location

Review 90：location is excellent and our executive room was spacious, very comfortable and spotless. Breakfast was delicious and really well organised by the staff.

Review 91：Only French wine available in the bar. Not a big deal but we do prefer the New World.

Review 92：I liked the bar with lots of real ale on offer. Breakfast was very good and served well.

Review 93：The hotel overall is very nicely decorated but the rooms are looking a little dated, could do with a little modernising.

Review 94：We loved the location and the on site bar and bistro were excellent. For the price we paid it was a bargain. The bed was very comfortable.

Review 95：Our room was a little tired. I think we might have been in an older part. We came in through a few fire escapes that would not close properly afterwards which meant anyone could have entered the hotel without going past reception

Review 96：The location was fab. The staff were friendly and helpful, I think it's fantastic way to have bistro Pierre within the hotel....great restaurant.

Review 97：Hotel room above bar smoking area Loud drinkers beneath my window until midnight with increasing volume and swearing Turns out the last to depart were staff members

Review 98：Had large suitcases and hand luggage, room on the second floor with no lift or assistance. Very difficult for two women in their late sixties and mid seventies

Review 99：Handy to Centre of town, convenient for walking, site seeing

Review 100：After 35 mins of waiting for breakfast to turn up walked out. Asked a few times what the hold up was but nobody interested. Did get a refund for the breakfast and sent in a complaint but no response. Will not stay or recommend again. Felt very awkward and uncomfortable as I had asked several times.

Review 101：Good location

Review 102：Would have liked more control over the room temperature.

Review 103：Location was brilliant. Restaurant and bar were good. it was quiet. Room well appointed and comfortable.

Review 104：No comfortable area to sit and have a relaxing drink in warm surroundings. Bedroom - tired and dusty. Bathroom dusty- looked like it had been in a talc shower!

Review 105：position excellent for walking into town, restaurant staff friendly and helpful on Friday 16/10/15, food delicious, breakfast good delicious black pudding, but staff very different on the 2 mornings we were there.

Review 106：Hearing other people going to the toilet when we were in our room (number 9) and knowing they could probably hear us just as clearly. The noise from the corridor too with people coming and going and banging their doors. Generally the bedrooms need to be more sound-proofed. Parking can be an issue at certain times of the day.

Review 107：The location - so near to the town and theatre, yet far enough away to escape noise. Liked having a safe in the room. The food was very good, breakfasts and dinners.

Review 108：We hoped the parking would be included for hotel guests. We sat under the skylight for breakfast and it could do with a clean.

Review 109：Amazing room in a great location. Breakfast was great.

Review 110：We booked an ecex double with yourselves. When we arr we were given a feature double room no 61. We forund out on the first night this room was directly over the bar. Rugby and football was on all over the wwekend and the bar had two TV screens with very loud commentries during the matches after which loud music. After this the staff started moving tables ready for the following day We did complain and were moved to another room no 43 in a quieter part of the hotel. I would suugest that nay further booking you make, advise guests that room 61/62/63 are noisy.

Review 111：We will give Stratford a miss for a few years.

Review 112：Poor shower facilities, low water pressure plus cold water not a good combo!! Should have to pay an extra cost for car park considering the price of the rooms Breakfast ok but limited

Review 113：Location was good

Review 114：The Rugby World Cup was on & the pub was packed with TV watchers. We were RIGHT over the pub & the floor was not soundproof: It was like we were in the pub ourselves!! Otherwise, completely lovely!!!

Review 115：We were with our daughter & grandson, age 2, & the location was superb: away from downtown but within easy walking distance of EVERYTHING!!! And a lovely walk to the other side of the river!

Review 116：Found it difficult to get through on the phone,couldn't understand the person who answered for the restaurant and he kept interrupting when I was explaining it was my mums 80th birthday celebration and would have been nice to offer her a glass of something!

Review 117：The location was fantastic! The food was lovely.everyone very friendly

Review 118：We were called 24 hrs before our stay to explain there was a problem in the hotel however we could stay at the Holiday Inn for the same price. I explained it wasn't a fair transfer as we paid for the spa etc which would not be available and the lady was more than happy to just cancel the booking. So 1 day before my wedding anniversary I'm left with nowhere nice to take my wife and they didn't seem to care.

Review 119：Nothing really, not sure what all the rooms are like though, the one we stayed in at the main part was lovely

Review 120：Lovely little hotel if you have one of the rooms in main building overlooking the river. Good staff, nice bar and restaurant and excellent location, couldn't be better for Stratford U Avon. Would definitely return at the money paid.

Review 121：Breakfast Buffet not replenished in a timely fashion, on one occasion they had no milk for cereal,no fruit or Danish pastries, so I asked for toast, after a 25 minute wait I gave up and left. Some Common areas looked worn and tired.

Review 122：Location, parking, quality of breakfast, it was handy to have the informality of the bear pub attached for casual dinning, butterfly farm next door worth a visit.

Review 123：Onsite parking but very limited as staff seem to use it too. Huge public car parks just outside but expensive & no spaces at 2pm on a Saturday. Would have helped to know before we arrived that we could also use the car park at sister hotel. Breakfast was chaotic with buffet refills very slow & repeated requests failed to get toast for my poached eggs before they went cold.

Review 124：Great location

Review 125：We've stayed here many times before, however we were left disappointed this time, the shower barely have any water and was very weak and the room wasn't very clean, also we were kept awake by a very load fan noise. Although we received an apology letter, we were also woken by fire alarms at 6.50-7am

Review 126：Very good breakfast and short walk to Stratford upon Avon center

Review 127：The towels were frayed and had holes. The breakfast in particular was a great disappointment.It took 25 minutes to arrive and it was the wrong order. When it was corrected it was served on a dirty plate.

Review 128：We liked the location and the look of the hotel.

Review 129：Breakfast .... It was awful on both days. In fact day 2 was unedible. Not freshly cooked and most of it had obviously been standing for a long while.

Review 130：Room & bathroom comfortable & very clean.

Review 131：Surprised there was no lift, although staff offered to help with luggage.

Review 132：Great spot for an overnight stay. Reduced price for an executive room - lovely. Excellent breakfast.

Review 133：Food at the 'French' restaurant was only average, I had farm chicken from Normandy, but to be honest, it would make more sense to buy locally - can anyone tell the difference by taste between a Normany chicken and a more local one? However, breakfast good, despite having to wait

Review 134：Convenient for Stratford Centre, easy to find, rooms good, didn't try spa and gym or pool

Review 135：We stayed here 2 years ago and that time breakfast was a total shambles!,this time was no different,not enough staff,hard to get their attention because they were rushed off their feet!,toiletries in bathroom were very stingy,coffee in the room,1sachet each!,and when we asked for more we were given 1sacheteach!!!.this may be down to cost cutting but I think maybe customer satisfaction should come higher on the list.

Review 136：Stratford is a wonderful place,the bathroom was good but the room a little poky,very clean.

Review 137：Small things make a difference. Surfaces in the bedroom, especially around the TV not dusted properly. Water marks down the wall under the aircon.The bed seemed a bit 'tired' saggy!. Taps on basin not secure. Everything functioned but!. Given all that I would return and recommend it to others. (Room 26).

Review 138：The Hotel is very well placed for a relaxing 'mooch' about Stratford. Interaction with the staff great. The bill, when I read it properly, was over charged. Mixup with meal charges. But I have been credited straight away with the overcharge. So good.

Review 139：We arrived 8.30pm after a 2 hour drive, checked in to our Club Classic double room! The room was small, the step down room where the wardrobe was had no light, the restaurant didn't have our booking, having said this the meal was ok and the manager was very frendly shame his staff were not. Breakfast on the first day was good although we seemed to be on top off one another, second day, waited a long time, this time full English had no black pudding, when the waitress went to find out why I noticed there was no bacon, so she then had to go and get the bacon. I have never been in a restaurant where so many people were asking for so many things that were missing from the tables. This was our second time at this hotel and we said then it was in need of a make over, nothing has changed. We have stayed in 3 hotels this year and this was the worst Deffently Not Worth the money. We did hear the Hotel was up for sale, I wish we'd know that before we booked!

The Fine Print

Children under 14 years old sharing a room with adults are accommodated for free. Meal are charged when served. Children under 16 years old occupying their own room are charged 75% of the adult price.The credit/debit card used to book an Advance Purchase rate must be presented to the front desk upon arrival at the hotel. Please note that failure to do so will result in an alternative payment method being required.Pets can be accommodated for GBP 15 per pet per night.