The Duke at Clifton

No clear instruction of how to check in. No water in the water bottle to wash your hands in the toilet room. No water in the Thetford toilet either. Fridge leaked all over the floor so rug was wet through. Garden area was over grown with nettles!

We stayed in one of the shepherds huts via Buyagift, it exceeded expectations. Lovely and warm with the log burner, comfy double bed, toilet inside, towels + blanket + shower gel etc provided, use of the shower facilities 24/7 in the pub on the campsite. We ate at the Duke at Clifton in the evening, very friendly staff and nice food. We visited Bicester village the next day which is 20 mins away. Really recommend for a romantic getaway, thank you!

I stayed here for one night on the 23rd August. On arrival the staff were very pleasant, got me checked in, and ensured I had the door code and lock box code for the room. I then had dinner in the pub. The pub is really pleasant, wooden beams and flagstones give it a lovely country pub feeling. The food was simple but tasty, and the service was good. I then retired to the room about 8.30pm. Now the room was very hot, but it was a hot day so this was sort of expected. I watched a little tv, and the tried to sleep. This is where the issue I had with this stay began. The room is small but entirely adequate. With the en-suite too it should be perfect for a short stay. Firstly, while the room and bathroom looked clean, there were two long dark hairs in the bath (see pics) On a white bath they’re very visible and not hard to remove. The blind on the window was also not very fit for purpose. The main issue: Outside the room they’ve installed what I think is a walk in fridge, and they have placed the heat pump for this on top, so it’s around window level with Room 6 where I was staying. This unit is noisy. Due to this I shut the window and tried to sleep. I possibly managed a few hours at most but it was just too hot and I had to open the window. Doing so meant the noise was now the main issue. And my night was spent just resting rather than sleeping as the heat pump kicked in noisily for about 30s, EVERY FEW MINUTES. In the end I got up early and left feeling like a zombie. Surely someone must know about this? It was like torture. If I was staying for 2 nights, I would have asked to move or leave, if I’d realised earlier how bad it was going to be I’d have asked if they had another room. It’s a shame I wasn’t able to feedback in person. My advice is to avoid room 6 if you do stay here. Anyway, safe to say I won’t ever stay here again. I would however stop for food or drink as stated earlier, the actual pub was quite nice.

We went here for dinner on a Saturday evening and we were really impressed. We all chose from the specials board and between us there was all 3 courses. The staff were really friendly and helpful. The pub itself is really nice and the tables are all spaced apart nicely so you're not all crammed in. Will definitely return.

Stayed in one of the shepherds huts. Scruffy,needs a good refurbishment, kitchen unit looked like something off the scrap heap, no washing facilities even when you use the cassette toilet, one gas ring and small microwave, two odd metal mugs, two odd glasses, little cooking equipment or plates, water bowser turned out to be a large glass jar with a tap which you couldn't get the kettle under , kettle dribbled, door had big splits and gaps round the frame. Didn't feel clean. Didn't stay for second night. Pub closed so we can't comment. Showers ok but could do with shower mats as very slippery.

Check in was easy and the staff were friendly. The food in the pub looked very good but I did not eat there. The shepherd's hut I stayed in was warm & cosy, in a field behind the pub. I needed the radiator as it was a chilly night. There was wood for the woodburner but I didn't attempt to light it as I got in quite late. The large bed was comfortable with decent pillows. There was a kettle on a gas ring in the hut, along with a microwave and some cutlery/crockery. Towels and a tea towel were provided. There was a caravan type loo in a small room, but there was no handwashing facility. There was a large water jar but I guessed this was just to provide water for the kettle as it was not over a basin. No TV although it was mentioned on theh booking details. The proper loo and showers were in a room behind the pub a couple of minutes walk, which felt a long way in the rain. I was going to take a shower in the morning however it was a very chilly April morning (about 7 degrees) and there was no heating in the shower room. All in all this place is in a lovely part of the world with scenic canal walks locally.