The Old Bell Hotel

We had a one night stay at The Old Bell Hotel and felt it was way too short. It is one of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed at. The service is great, the hotel is absolutely beautifully designed, every little detail has been well thought of. Beds were super comfy, food was delicious. The rooms were a bit too warm and have no AC but it is not usually this warm in England either :). Location is great - would recommend checking when the Abbey House Gardens are open when visiting. Would love to go back!

I’m genuinely disappointed to be leaving this review, as The Old Bell Hotel has been a place I’ve visited and recommended for years. My family and friends have stayed here frequently when visiting Malmesbury — including every Christmas for the last four years — and I had always held the hotel in high regard for its character and service. Unfortunately, following an afternoon tea at the hotel, I became extremely unwell and requiring medical care. After consultation and testing, I was diagnosed with a Campylobacter infection. I had been staying with a family member for several days prior to our visit — we had shared identical meals throughout, except for the prawn and chicken sandwiches served at the hotel, which I consumed and she did not. She remained completely well. I raised the issue privately with the hotel, hoping for a professional and empathetic response. Despite multiple polite and constructive exchanges, I was left feeling unheard and dismissed. While an internal investigation was commissioned by the hotel, I was not provided with any meaningful detail about what was actually reviewed. The hotel ultimately denied any responsibility and closed the matter with only an offer to refund the cost of the afternoon tea (which was initially not offered or suggested) and which was never paid despite following up with the hotel after. For a guest who has supported and championed the hotel for years, I found the tone and handling of the situation deeply disappointing. I am sharing this experience to raise awareness and encourage more thoughtful handling of guest feedback — especially when it involves matters of health and safety. I sincerely hope no one else has to go through a similar experience.

We weren't staying at the hotel, just dropped in - first for coffee which was delicious but at £9 for two should be! We came back for lunch as the hotel is very beautiful and dogs are permitted in various areas....the food was tasty and also very good value. My main point would be about the service. From very first contact, there is no confidence that you will be looked after, things will arrive and the meal kept moving along. My starter, which should have included bread, came without - and when I asked, was told by the server that it didn't come with bread when it clearly says on the menu that it does. Why say no immediately, before checking? Is it too much trouble? Service was slow and no-one came to check what stage we were at with our lunch. We were in no rush, so in itself not a problem but it's nice to feel people are on hand should you need something. Generally, I felt the young staff would benefit from extra training, explaining that it's all about the guests, not about them. Make customers feel welcome and looked after. That's what hospitality is about. The setting itself is truly glorious with fab decor and extremely comfortable. Shame about the service.

This is a quirky hotel right next to the Abbey, so it is perfectly situated to explore the town. Our room was very comfortable and looked out to the front.(The Dyson fan needed a clean!) The bar and bar staff were friendly and served tea in the afternoon and drinks later on. The garden was very lovely in the evening. We ate in the main restaurant for dinner and breakfast. The food was pretty good, but the service was a bit slow. At breakfast I had to sweep food off my chair before sitting down, the wrong tea was delivered and it was hard to get service. However, I would stay here again as it was friendly, charming and perfect if you want a day trip to Bath. I just wish the restaurant staff could be a bit more attentive to detail!

The hotel is full of character and ideally located in a charming village. We enjoyed a lovely dinner together as a family — the food and atmosphere were excellent. A special mention to Robbie, who was on duty at night: he went out of his way to assist us, bringing extra towels and tea around midnight on our first night, and personally offering to look after our cars. His kindness and professionalism stood out and were genuinely reassuring. The rest of the experience fell short, especially considering the expectations set in advance. Despite reserving two car park spaces months earlier, none were available when we arrived. Our three rooms, booked together for a family weekend, were scattered across the hotel — a frustrating surprise. Worse, the master bedroom was clearly set up for a single guest — just one towel, one pair of slippers, and so on — even though booked for two. When we raised this, the staff were largely indifferent, with an unhelpful “it is what it is” attitude. This was especially disappointing given that the hotel had proactively called me multiple times before our stay to confirm all details — dinner, rooms, parking. We truly believed everything had been carefully prepared. Instead, it felt like the hotel’s priorities were more about its own logistics than creating a thoughtful experience for guests.

Invited to an evening birthday party celebration on a very warm day. The venue setting was very appealing. However, the small bottle of beer I ordered on arrival, was warm. Not a good start. The served canapes were stale. The bar which did serve chilled beer was under staffed, leading to long waiting times for service. The grass was embeded into a plastic lattice framework. Three children suffered skin injuries from metalwork securing it. There were disputes about served food for children which was inedible for them. The personal service I received on one occasion was “snootily” abysmal. |The hostess was charming and carried the evening through despite, not helped by, the staff. |Personally, I will not return under any circumstance.

We regularly visit Malmesbury on a Saturday and almost as regularly drop in the Old Bell Hotel for lunch. The £20 two course lunch|Menu is pretty much the best value lunch I know of anywhere.||Don’t expect huge portions. The emphasis here is on something tasty and interesting, not quantity.||I frequently have the market day fish option. The chef clearly knows his or her fish. He or she buys the cheaper fish and presents it very nicely for the diner. Sometimes with a risotto or with some light vegetables. In recent weeks I have enjoyed whiting, megrim sole and skate.||Starters are also very good, today the prawn toast. And on the snacks menu, the Korean fried celeriac is a treat.||All round very impressed.

Stayed here with three friends and we had a great time. Our rooms were lovely - modern, quirky decor, and very clean. We had dinner in Abbey Row and the food was excellent. Breakfast the next morning was also delicious. Would recommend for a special stay.

Location is in the hilltop town of Malmsbury. We ate at the Abbey Row restaurant inside the hotel. Reservations recommended. Very British menu. There is a set menu or large plates. We were able to mix and match. Good portions. Hotel itself is decorated interestingly with unusual artifacts . Parking outside restaurant is limited if you're lucky to find a spot or park in public parking nearby.

We stayed here and dined here on a Saturday night. I was actually very impressed with this hotel restaurant. We've been to a few country hotels around England and find the restaurants to be of very varying standards. The building is beautiful (claims to be the oldest hotel in England) but it is right next to Malmesbury Abbey - so picturesque. The actual dining room isn't anything special - a mix of modern and old but actually quite sparse in terms of decor etc. Not something I minded. It was pretty busy on a Saturday night but we got a nice seat by the window. Service was a bit grumpy at first but efficient. We had an avocado salad to start which was fresh with very generous portions of avocado. My only criticism would be not quite enough dressing. For main I had a delicious piece of sea bass but the best bit was the lemon and chilli linguine that accompanied it. So tangy and I'm pretty sure it was fresh home cooked pasta. Really delicious and something I will try to recreate at home. Service was a bit grumpy at first but efficient. It gets 4 stars vs 5 because of the service and also it is on the pricier side (15-20 per main) As an additional aside, we had breakfast here the next morning and my eggs royale was perfection. Rich and plentiful hollandaise sauce and tasty salmon. Good croissants and pastries too.

Firstly, this is the oldest hotel in England and is situated right next door to the beautiful Malmesbury Abbey. I haven't stayed over night at the hotel but have eaten there a few times now. The service has always been fantastic and the staff are open to you sitting where you please. There is a more formal dining area with a fire place and stained glass features. On the other side there are more cosy cubby rooms with comfy chairs and sofas. The daytime menu is very reasonable for the quality of food - the smoked salmon sandwich is delicious. Well worth a visit if you're in the area for the history and charm alone.

I have been at the Old Bell for dinner as well as high afternoon twice. Dinner: The food and service was good, but nothing special. High Afternoon tea: The first time was really good and I was impressed therefore I decided to visit a second time. The second time was VERY disappointing. It was very poor, it even lacked scones and clotted cream. In both cases the service was very slow and unimpressive. We needed to chase the staff to serve us. The decor is beautiful. It has a warm and homey feel to it, especially during the winter when the fireplace is up and running. It is well worth visiting once, but that is about it.

Claims to be the oldest hotel in England! if this is true then the fact it's next to a 12th century Abbey, and it"s apparent ghost should make it a place to visit. The current owners/chain have failed to keep it's history and vibe, and are more focused on attracting a certain type of clientele and their money!! It's to expensive, too cold and full of goons!