Shillingford Bridge

Well, first off the receptionist was lovely and helpful, along with the other staff. Joan was lovely, 100% to her, she made us feel welcomed. We were there for afternoon tea. Which was absolutely amazing, thank you 😊. She showed us to our table, and brought out the tea to us as we were a little early. The location is beautiful, right next to the river Thames. Watching boats sail by on the water. All in all, a lovely experience and thank you all for everything 🙏

Attended a wedding and stayed in the hotel. Exceptional food at the wedding, beautiful venue, fun atmosphere right on the bank of the Thames. Staff were excellent, very friendly and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble, especially Bettina (wedding organiser, not sure if spelt correctly). She worked a very long shift and even when half the guests wanted the football on, staff obliged. The wedding couldn’t have gone better and the stay was very comfortable. No air con in the rooms but fans were provided, rooms are clean and nicely decorated and the breakfast is good.

Wanting to explore somewhere we’d never visited before, we decided to make Shillingford our next stop. Cruising along the river, we spotted the Shillingford Bridge Hotel and, if we’re honest, weren’t entirely sure what we’d found. Was it a hotel, an activity centre, a camp site, business conference venue… or perhaps all four? The mooring signs (which could do with a bit of a scrub and clean) suggested visitors were welcome, but the first impression was a little confusing. There were several boats that appeared long forgotten beneath well-weathered tarpaulins, along with a couple of floating lodges or containers sporting “For Sale” signs. We actually cruised straight past before deciding to turn around and take a chance. As we tied up, we got chatting to a lovely couple from the Netherlands who were sitting on a bench overlooking the river. They couldn’t speak highly enough of the hotel and their stay, which certainly encouraged us. We found a table outside by the main entrance and popped inside to ask about coffee and a light snack. From the moment we walked in, the welcome was exceptional. The lady on reception greeted us with genuine warmth and enthusiasm, making us feel as though we’d been expected all morning. It’s amazing how much difference one person can make. There weren’t any pastries or light snacks available, and the choice of decaffeinated drinks was a little limited, which was a slight disappointment, but the outstanding service more than compensated. The building itself is an interesting mix of styles. The older section to the left of reception looks to be full of character and charm from the outside, while the extension to the right looks as though it arrived courtesy of the 1970s and never quite left. It’s not the prettiest addition, and once inside the décor continues that time-capsule theme. It feels rather dated throughout and could certainly benefit from a refresh, although everything appeared clean and well cared for. If we were judging purely on first impressions of the exterior and interior décor, we’d probably have awarded one star. Based solely on the drinks, perhaps three. But hospitality is about people, and the welcome we received was worth every one of the five stars we’ve given. The lady on reception is an absolute credit to the hotel and left us with a smile that lasted long after we’d cast off. Judging by the glowing comments from the Dutch couple we met, it’s clear that genuine hospitality is something this hotel does exceptionally well.