The Porch House

The Porch House descritpion

Enjoy a unique blend of beautifully restored English Heritage and exquisite food in The Cotswolds; an area of outstanding natural beauty.
The Royalist is a Grade II heritage-listed building that ranks amongst the top 4% of protected buildings in the country, and is certified as the Oldest Inn in England, dating from 947 AD and authenticated in the Guinness Book of Records.

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Facilities of The Porch House

Pets ：Pets are allowed on request. Charges may apply.

Food & Drink ：Bar

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

Parking ：Public parking is available at a location nearby (reservation is not needed) and charges may apply.

General ：Newspapers | Safe | Non-smoking Rooms | Heating | All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

Reviews for The Porch House

Review 1：The noise of traffic from our room. Would ask for a room at the back next time.

Review 2：Well situated in centre of Stowe. Loved the character. Comfortable bed. Warm. Good breakfast. Nice toiletries.

Review 3：Nothing really.

Review 4：Loved the wonderful furnishings in bedroom, room 7, the delicious food and touches like bottle of sloe gin in our room. Friendly staff too.

Review 5：our first night was a little spoiled by noise from the room above (we were in room 10) what sounded like a herd of sheep was really a dog, even its tail wagging on the floor was noisy, luckily they only stayed the one night, our room on the ground floor would have been more suitable for them, also there was no remote for the tv (not really a big problem).

Review 6：wonderful character property, with lovely warm fires, only ate breakfast in the inn but it was outstanding, staff very attentive. we look forward to re-visiting and will recommend to friends and family.

Review 7：The smell of open fires, a warm and welcoming atmosphere, really high end feel to the hotel and the rooms were cosy and rustic with quality furnishings, such good value for money we will definitely come again

Review 8：The room was quite small and the bathroom was tiny,

Review 9：We received a warm welcome, evening meal was excellent and breakfast was also very, very good. The room itself was nicely decorated with nice bedding and towels

Review 10：Be helpful if they labelled the sauces, jams and side dishes. I put marmite in my porridge by accident thinking it was chocolate sauce.

Review 11：The open fire was nice, friendly atmosphere, great Cotswold location, the bed was super comfortable that my 18 month old didn't want to get out of bed. Friendly staff.

Review 12：The bed was comfortable but the heating was on constantly in our room (the radiator wouldn't turn off) so we were very hot at night even with the windows wide open. We had to take the duvet out of it's cover and just use the outside cover. The availability of a sheet and thin blanket would have been good. Other guests in the party were hot too but had been able to turn the heating down which helped.

Review 13：We were celebrating my parent's Golden Wedding and were given our own private dining room and snug area to use which was superb. The rooms were lovely and the food delicious. The staff went the extra mile and were warm and friendly - always quick to make sure everything was perfect for us. The other guests in the party were very impressed with the venue.

Review 14：The room was just a little to hot but when opened the window the traffic in front road was loud and kept us awake.

Review 15：Great cosy hotel in a pictursque market town, the hotel has a lovely relaxing feel to it with very helpful staff!! Great location for exploring the surrounding area.

Review 16：Awful. Checked in to a dirty room with unmade beds and dirty towels on the floor. To be fair to the young bar man he was very appologetic unlike the manager the next morning who was not bothered and just said "they had 2 house keepers so shouldnt be missed, sorry." After 2 hour journey we cudnt relax and had to go back out. No real appology or discount. Room 10 is tiny and noisy. Breakfast wasnt to our liking but that may be personal preference. All in all i was disgusted with the room and managers attitude.

Review 17：Nothing

Review 18：Bedside light was dusty. Cobwebs in the en suite.no soap provided until the second day. Cooked breakfast not very hot on the 2nd morning.

Review 19：The location and restaurant.

Review 20：Fact we stayed in a room which one of the 2 available for people who can stay with pets and were not told. Shower tray blocked and then flooded when you took a shower. Loo seat was hanging off and coffee maker did not work!

Review 21：Location

Review 22：The Porch House was just beautiful. Fantastic room and had a wonderful meal. Breakfast superb. The location was great and the staff excellent. Would definitely return

Review 23：Heating was far too high in room. Shower did not work - only a very small amount of water and that was also too hot. Insufficient to be able to wash my hair and rinse it. See my email of complaint.

Review 24：Atmosphere, decor, meals, staff

Review 25：The bed in room 6 (two singles pushed together). The right hand side bed of the two beds springs are shot in mattress l. Most uncomfortable nights sleep on that side of the bed. Very dusty, cleaning not performed appropriately. The heating in the room is far too hot. Self adjustable thermostat in the room would be an improvement.

Review 26：Great food and location. Lovely old building tastefully modernised.

Review 27：The shower was only adequate (low flow). The room was pricey.

Review 28：The building dates back to the middle 900's! So it's interesting and quirky. In our room, the door opened to steps going down into it. The sink was in the bedroom because it wouldn't fit in the bathroom. Old wood beams everywhere. Bed was comfy.

Review 29：Lovely hotel and pub. Great staff very friendly, excellent food for breakfast and in the dining room. We had the smallest room which is a bit cramped but value for what we paid. Next visit we will book a larger room, and certainly return.

Review 30：The road was quite noisy because we had to open a window because the room was a little too warm for us....it was extremely mild for December and the boiler hadn't realised !

Review 31：Superbly comfortable bed with sumptuous pillows ! Decor was beautiful and extremely well done....comfortable and cosy. The coffee machine in room was a wonderful treat too.

Review 32：At 9:40 on the evening before we were due to arrive I received an email from the hotel informing me that our booking had been cancelled. This necessitated an immediate phone call to resolve the situation however no explanation was forthcoming either in my call or when we were at the hotel. The bedroom was dusty; there was a walk in wardrobe but this had no light and there were no tissues. There was no parking except on road. Breakfasts were variable from good on the first morning to below standard on the last morning where one of us was served with a cold sausage statement.

Review 33：Excellent location and good atmosphere. We liked the way the very old building has been renovated.

Review 34：Difficult to find fault.

Review 35：Centrally located to explore the Cotswolds,the Porch House is a friendly welcoming small hotel. The standard rooms are small but very acceptable for a short stay. The rooms are well appointed and very clean.

Review 36：Unfortunately the food on the day for our celebration luncheon was absolutely dreadful. Each and every dish was awful ?

Review 37：The private dining room for our celebration luncheon was absolutely perfect! ? And the breakfasts were delicious

Review 38：Lack of parking was a bit of an issue after a long drive having to park in a dark lane wasn't great. But the hotel itself made up for this.

Review 39：The double deluxe room was exceptional. Both for comfort and luxury.

Review 40：It was very busy so we had to wait quite a long time to be served at the bar. The bin in the bedroom hadn't been cleaned on our arrival and the bin in the bathroom had a thick layer of dust on it.

Review 41：The staff were friendly, the bed was very comfortable and the coffee machine in the room was a real treat. The breakfast was excellent, a great choice and very tasty.

Review 42：Not being able to eat in the restaurant when there appeared to be space available.

Review 43：The beds were divine. The staff were lovely. There were lots of thoughtful and stylish touches through out the hotel.

Review 44：Noisy extractor fan outside room and went on way past the 9pm cut-off we were promised, not ideal wake up at 07.30 on a Sunday!. Usual bathroom problems - toilet seat broken, basin plug not adjusted right, bath plug off chain. Why can't hotels teach room staff to deal with these issues!!!!!

Review 45：Character building, interesting room, interesting food

Review 46：Last minute change to the room due to our dogs - changed from superior to standard room - room very small and heating couldn't be adjusted - room far too warm

Review 47：Excellent location

Review 48：The room was very nice though we did have trouble sleeping as the room was a little too warm.

Review 49：The hotel is in a great location, close to the village and shops. The staff were friendly and the food was very good.

Review 50：Bedding was put on inside out. Bathroom floor had not been cleaned properly.

Review 51：Staff were very friendly and found us a table for dinner even though they were fully booked. Duck breast was cooked perfectly. Location was very central. Bar area was very comfortable. Breakfast was varied and quality was excellent

Review 52：Space for suitcase would have been great

Review 53：Arrived in evening and got directed to bar to check in. This was quick and efficient. The barman then showed me to my 'porch' room. This was perfect for me but I had to watch my head getting into the bedroom area as the bed was over the entrance porch so the entrence was restricted in height. The only downside was space to leave my suitcase open as room was long but narrow. The bathroom although small was adequate with excellent hot water for shower. The breakfast was very good with hot choices cooked to order The staff were very welcoming I stayed 3 nights and would recommend as a great choice in Stow

Review 54：The bathroom hadn't been cleaned. Toilet hadn't been flushed from previous guest! After complaining, the cleaner still missed areas. Very, very little bathroom space. Sink so small, almost unusable. No apology given.

Review 55：Great location. Beautiful pub, very traditional with high end accodation. Cosy. Very attentive and welcoming staff, along with great food and drink.

Review 56：We stayed at the Porch House for one night. The location is central to the village, the staff is lovely. The room was really well decorated, the bed really comfortable and overall really clean as well. I will definitely come back and recommend it to my friends and familly.

Review 57：The 'standard' room was very small and extremely hot. The bathroom was tiny and we almost had to limbo around the basin to get into the shower. After complaining about the heat, the staff did everything they could to turn down the heating (it was admittedly a very hot day for the time of year). However, we realized that the heating was centrally controlled and therefore couldn't be changed. We had to leave the window wide open all night which meant that it was noisy. We were disappointed that the size of the room was not flagged up as a 'small double' as therefore we would have been forewarned. For £129 per night, we felt that this was expensive. The breakfast was OK although my omelette was poor, but the food in the evening was excellent.

Review 58：The service was excellent. The restaurant and bar were lovely and the food in the restaurant was good, although very expensive.

Review 59：I didn't realize the bar and restaurant were so popular so getting a table for dinner was a little difficult. That said the staff were fabulously accomodating

Review 60：It's a beautiful little inn, beautifully decorated on the edge of Stow on the Wold's town centre. The decor is fabulous and the rooms are very cosy

Review 61：The bathroom was very small and difficult to clean your teeth without banging your head on the glass shelf. I wouldn't left that put me off staying again.

Review 62：Everything was good but the breakfast had to be the best I've had in a hotel in recent years. All freshly cooked with first class ingredients and very pleasant staff. We had dinner on the first night which was very good too.

Review 63：Parking in the area is a "little" difficult due to the centrel location initially to you get the area feel.

Review 64：Location, food quality and staff serivice were of a high standard and value for money.

Review 65：Smell of damp in the bathroom it was immaculately clean and dissappeared when the window was opened

Review 66：The sloe gin in the bedroom the beautiful room and attention to detail the breakfast was 1st class

Review 67：Some problem with water...cold tap ran very hot Basin small, shelf in the way Wall light bracket very loose Food good but pricey

Review 68：Very comfortable bed Coffee machine

Review 69：No hot water on our first evening but ok the next morning. Coat peg hanging off the back of the bathroom door. Tiny sink. Also sloping shelf above sink meant toiletries slid off into the sink.

Review 70：Very helpful and friendly staff. Charming interior and décor. Great location. Excellent food,especially the breakfast!

Review 71：- Service in restaurant was poor - Drainage in shower was bad - Road noise due to single glazed windows

Review 72：- Beautifully presented rooms and building - Great location for exploring Stow and the Cotswolds - Superb breakfast made to order - Room facilities were very good (tea, coffee etc.) - Comfy bed - Would definitely recommend

Review 73：Noise from the very busy road..people fighting until the early hrs outside our bedroom..unacceptable..

Review 74：The cleanliness of the room....restaurant excellent

Review 75：You have to reserve lobster in advance so they were sold out when I dined in the restaurant.

Review 76：Most comfortable bed I have ever slept on in a really cozy room. Great shower with complementary toiletries. Lovely coffee/tea making facilities and an amazing breakfast.

Review 77：I unfortunately chose a room with the ensuite bath room up eleven very steep steps and with deep tub and hand held shower. I'm getting too old for that, but facility was lovely for someone younger and agile! Stow is lovely; bus travel to other villages challenging but workable.

Review 78：Super large room, king bed, couch, great TV, friendly and helpful staff, excellent breakfast spread and in house restaurant.

Review 79：Car parking was a bit of an issue but couldn't be helped given the location. Room was uncomfortably warm, nice September and central heating was on!

Review 80：Convenient location, easy for exploring other places. Comfortable surroundings

Review 81：the check in and out at the bar, while easy in process, was long - as the girls were busy with bar patrons. Perhaps a dedicated front desk would be better suited? Although we did end up staying for a drink or two so all was good :)

Review 82：Loved the decor! The inn was cozy and nicely decorated. Loved the beams and wood floors, all the little nooks and crannies. Loved the use of real candles everywhere as well as the vintage furniture and books. Made us feel like we were staying in someone's quaint home.

Review 83：Quality hotel, well thought through even to fresh coffee maker in room Dining room has a magnificent ambience and good food. Overall blending ancient surroundings with the comfort of a modern "boutique" hotel

Review 84：Nothing at all.

Review 85：Loved this hotel. Stunning. Breakfast is amazing, so much choice. Rooms are lovely. Brilliant little touches that make it so welcoming. Definitely stay here, you won't be disappointed.

Review 86：We had a double room which is snug and not much surface space to put things. Sink is ridiculously small to the point of unusable. Shelf above it inhibits use further and wasn't attached properly so things tended to slide off. The superior or deluxe rooms look much better so probably worth paying the bit extra. We would have had one been available.

Review 87：Beautiful property in good location. Room decor excellent. Coffee machine and slow gin in the room a nice touch. Staff very friendly and helpful. Breakfast was excellent.

Review 88：Because the building is old the windows are very thin, so outside noise in our room (7) was an issue.

Review 89：Lovely old building, excellent breakfast & good value for money. This is the second time we have stayed this year & will be back.

Review 90：When we arrived the road outside was very busy and noisy, although it quietened down considerably into the evening. In the bedroom i became aware of a loud whirring sound rather like a noisy fan which continued all evening and right up until 23.45. I couldn't trace the origin and even went down to the kitchen to see if it was an appliance there. The staff were friendly but couldn't identify or resolve the problem. We stayed in room 2 or 3 on the first floor. It was very chilly in the breakfast room. When we arrived we were shown to a double room although I was travelling with my elderly mother and had requested a twin. However, the room was changed quickly and the staff eventually transformed the double bed into two singles and changed the bedding.

Review 91：Rooms were very nicely furnished with items that were in keeping with the character of the hotel. Lovely old building. Loved the roll top bath and beams in the bathroom. Also loved the deep windowsill you could sit on.

Review 92：Not enough vegetarian options in restaurant. The room was warm at night so we opened the window but the road was pretty noisy. More tea/coffee options in room would've been great, eg mint tea, earl grey, decaf coffee.

Review 93：Lovely bedroom and bathroom, beautifully decorated. Comfy bed. Friendly, accommodating staff.

Review 94：A luxurious clean and spacious suite in a hotel that provided everything you could need. The staff were friendly and helpful and food excellent. A great base for exploring the Cotswolds

Review 95：Very helpful and friendly staff, food was excellent (particularly the full English breakfast), lovely room with lots of character. We would definitely return.

Review 96：We had a fantastic weekend , staff , hotel and food was brilliant . It was my husbands birthday and they made it very special and nothing was too much trouble . We will be back .

Review 97：Nothing to report.

Review 98：Our friends had recommended this accommodation and it certainly didn't disappoint. Loved everything about the Porch House. Nicely renovated rooms and had everything we needed, even a bath. We left our dinner booking too late and couldn't get into the restaurant for dinner so that was disappointing however the food must be good as a lot of locals eat there.

Review 99：Asked for quiet room and allocated room overlooking main road. High level of traffic noise experience all through the night.

Review 100：Wonderful very characterful old inn with good facilities and cheerful staff.

Review 101：If you're at the front rooms can be quite noisy.

Review 102：Combined all the old world charm of a traditional English inn with modern comfort. Rooms were beautifully and imaginatively appointed.

Review 103：Nothing! We loved it!

Review 104：Staff were super friendly and accommodating. The place had such a wonderful feel to it, homely and cosy yet luxurious at the same time. The food in the restaurant is superb, we couldn't fault it!

Review 105：There is no real hotel car park and street parking near hotel is very limited. Our room,whilst very large and attractively furnished, was up three steep flights of stairs...OK if you are young and fit but a bit difficult for us. Also the heating in the room was inadequate..although the weather was bitterly cold and windy when we were there in January.

Review 106：Very good location, bang in the middle of Stow. Good restaurant. Comfortable bar with good choice of local beers.

Review 107：Service very slow during check in and at the bar, it was very busy, seemed like they could do with more staff or an allowed reception area. The room was lovely, well styled and furnished but housekeeping was poor, filthy window panes, thick dust on window sills and glass lamps. Bathroom mirrors covered in toothpaste and water splashes from the previous occupants. Spent the first half hour cleaning!!

Review 108：location and character of building.

Review 109：No carpark. Feels like 30% hotel & 70% pub. Service at restaurant lacking. No Prosseco! Not an awful lot to do in the town. Cleaning staff waiting in hallway for you to check out! Noisy at night (well it was when we stayed)

Review 110：Rooms were nice Bathroom lovely Breakfast was nice

Review 111：The bedroom (being on the top floor) was too hot overnight and we couldn't turn radiator off/down

Review 112：Friendly, helpful staff, warm cosy atmosphere. Antiques and old books scattered around the different rooms, and books left in the room. Very clean and very comfortable bed, my only criticism is that there isn't any hanging space. No room for a wardrobe, but one or two coat hangers would be useful, they could then be hung on the door hooks.

Review 113：The room keyring was too big to go in my pocket! Lol

Review 114：Oldy worldy charm, fab room, great atmosphere, superb breakfast & friendly staff....what more could you want?!

Review 115：I am just a bit dissapointed for £149 a night I wuld have expected a bigger room (the room was bearly bigger than the bed), a bigger sink (the sink was impossible to have a wash in), and a nicer temperature (it was stuffy and hot), oh and a nice mirror (not one that was like a fairground comedy mirror that distorts your face)! The price was hard to swallow having these dissapointments.

Review 116：I loved the old building and the pub downstairs and the location and the real fires

Review 117：Couldn't find anything I didn'y like

Review 118：The Porch House was warm, friendly , exceptionally clean and tidy and will most certainly stay there again, food was excellent and probably the freshest cooked breakfast with locally sourced produce I have ever had, and a good choice of real ales.

Review 119：Nothing to dislike. Only parking for two plus a disabled bay but street parking available so not a problem.

Review 120：Welcoming staff on arrival taken to a clean and well proportioned room. Very comfy bed, perhaps the room was a little too warm but this could have been because we were in the eaves. Central location

Review 121：We had been last the porch house on previous trips and decided to stay there as a bday treat. Glad we did, it was fabulous! Superior room was lovely with a fab roll top bath! Very cosy - ate in the restaurant which was also delicious!!!

Review 122：No car park as such but there are car parks nearby.

Review 123：Just about everything.Good location,comfortable accommodation,excellent food & friendly staff.What more could one ask for!

Review 124：Our room was much smaller than I had thought it would be, I booked after seeing a review in Telegraph magazine( by Fiona Duncan) which showed the bigger bedrooms in the main house.Also the radiator in our room hardly warmed up at all, and it was a very cold evening and night.

Review 125：Very comfy bed, great breakfast and nice evening meal in bar

Review 126：The standard rooms are comftable and nicely turned out, however, don't pack the cat !!! Rather on the small side !

Review 127：The public areas are a delight, with little nooks here and there ! The food is always good, with breakfast being a highlight of the stay!

Review 128：Staff were friendly but could have given more. Disappointed in dessert choices but personal taste.

Review 129：Atmosphere. Welcome. Quality food. Great selection of drinks. Cosy seating and dining area. Free morning tea and toast in bed! Feature furniture/décor. REALLY comfy bed. Location. Manager listening to and accepting feedback.

Review 130：Heating in bedroom not adequate , and lighting in bathroom very poor . Slightly overpriced for the double deluxe room Didn't seem to have enough staff in the bar area

Review 131：Layout and room very good . Bathroom was big with shower and bath . Food very good .

Review 132：Size of bedroom was very small & we couldn't even use the basin in the bathroom because it was soo small! Wasn't worth the £200 a night!!

Review 133：Decor of room & pub was nice. Enjoyed the open fires.

Review 134：I'm allergic to feathers, the duvet and pillows are feathered.I didn't say as I fell in love with the room.. I didn't know there was free wifi& I couldn't get the coffee machine to work in the room..I should have asked maybe.. Cleaners had blocked the stairs to the rooms with their gear..on check out day; 11 am which was great..so I just stepped over the mess. Not many channels to choose from on the tv. As a single traveller I'd like a better selection of movies to choose from. I'm picking now..the sink in the bathroom was way too small I had to brush my teeth side on as not to bang my head on the glass shelf above.

Review 135：The location.The rooms. Ambience. Breakfasts to choose,not the norm at all, the interiors. Lovely friendly staff. Really pretty village.

Review 136：To be super critical.. The room was a tad on the small side, but it is an old building, so for me it all adds to the charm!

Review 137：Cosy room, friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere, superb food both in the more formal restaurant in the evening and at breakfast. Everything you could want for a night away in the Cotswolds! Would definitely recommend and return.

Review 138：We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here at The Porch House. It is an exceptionally stylish, friendly and excellently maintained haven perfectly situated in the hear of the Cotswolds!