Mercure Thame Lambert Hotel 4 stars

Even taking into account Covid-19 restrictions, this was a very poor experience. The hotel seemed to have only two members of staff on duty; breakfast was served in a paper bag with plastic utensils but nothing to eat off of – so we had to crowd round the occasional table in our room and try not to make a mess. There was no fresh tea and coffee offered with breakfast, and no extra supplies in the room – we had to ask at the bar before heading to bed. We had to move from our seats in the bar area due to the presence of several small flies buzzing around our heads. And before going to bed I discovered a disposable contact lens on the bedside table – this in a property which is meant to be subject to ever-more-stringent cleaning, according to the hotel's website. We barely saw any staff during our stay. And on check-out there was no-one in reception and no way of attracting attention. I left, having had my credit card checked when I checked in the previous day. Only a hunch convinced me to return to reception (still deserted). Only when I heard noise coming from the kitchen did I manage to attract the attention of the receptionist. Guess what? My credit card had not been approved. Good job I went looking for a member of staff or I expect I would have received a fairly pointed request for payment, at the least. Overall, this was a thoroughly dis-spiriting visit to a hotel I've used before. Even taking into account the limitations placed on hotels by the government's Covid-19 restrictions, this was a very poor experience. At no point did I feel welcome or that my custom was valued. The hospitality industry cannot survive if this is to be the standard guest experience. A week earlier, we had stayed at the Doubletree hotel in Newbury – a property of a similar size and layout. There the experience, although hampered by Covid restrictions, could not have been more different. There were plenty of staff, and they were friendly and welcoming. And they managed to offer fresh tea and coffee and the option of eating the (similarly bagged) breakfast in the reception area. While still not an ideal experience, it was considerably better than what was offered here. And £20 cheaper.

General state of hotel room not very clean. Carpets not cleaned store rooms opened and showing bedding etc on the floor and looking untidy. Breakfast in a carrier bag not what I would have expected form a Mercure hotel.

I would ask that housekeeping increases the amount of teabags, milks and coffee sachets as between two people we only received two teabags per day of our stay and each night I had to go and fetch some more milk and teabags as we could only have two cups of tea per day if we had used the rations that housekeeping were providing us with? Also I found underneath the beds a Lucozade bottle which was not ours! The light in our room was not the best either and one of our lamps didn’t work either but I mentioned it twice that someone was supposed to be changing it as we had Marcus come and look at it on the first night he unplugged it and said that it would be changed on Saturday morning when housekeeping came to do the room but all that happened was it was plugged back in and I mentioned it again to reception and they said that they would pass on the information and it would get changed on Sunday morning but unfortunately it was not! I did mention it again and clearly there was no other lamp to replace it with! Also the breakfast was not the best as we received continental breakfast as I said before the teabags were not enough to go around other than me asking for more teabags the night before and some more milk we would have been struggling to get tea in the room, breakfast was a mishmash as we received a porridge oats bar on the first morning and then the second morning we received extra croissants as they must have ran out of porridge oats bars! Also we were supposed to have a cream tea but we never received this. Apart from little niggling things we were fine and the property was comfortable and obviously because of the mitigating circumstances that we find ourselves in, we felt safe in the environment that we were in.

Room was fine, replacement continental breakfast was awful, stodge! We were not told in advance of our stay that the hotel was not serving a full English breakfast. The evening meal was not well balanced, even with a reduced service I think they could have done better. Breaded chicken served in a bun with chips and hash browns!!! The final bill was difficult to understand, there was not a clear breakdown.

Even taking into account Covid-19 restrictions, this was a very poor experience. The hotel seemed to have only two members of staff on duty; breakfast was served in a paper bag with plastic utensils but nothing to eat off of – so we had to crowd round the occasional table in our room and try not to make a mess. There was no fresh tea and coffee offered with breakfast, and no extra supplies in the room – we had to ask at the bar before heading to bed. We had to move from our seats in the bar area due to the presence of several small flies buzzing around our heads. And before going to bed I discovered a disposable contact lens on the bedside table – this in a property which is meant to be subject to ever-more-stringent cleaning, according to the hotel's website. We barely saw any staff during our stay. And on check-out there was no-one in reception and no way of attracting attention. I left, having had my credit card checked when I checked in the previous day. Only a hunch convinced me to return to reception (still deserted). Only when I heard noise coming from the kitchen did I manage to attract the attention of the receptionist. Guess what? My credit card had not been approved. Good job I went looking for a member of staff or I expect I would have received a fairly pointed request for payment, at the least. Overall, this was a thoroughly dis-spiriting visit to a hotel I've used before. Even taking into account the limitations placed on hotels by the government's Covid-19 restrictions, this was a very poor experience. At no point did I feel welcome or that my custom was valued. The hospitality industry cannot survive if this is to be the standard guest experience. A week earlier, we had stayed at the Doubletree hotel in Newbury – a property of a similar size and layout. There the experience, although hampered by Covid restrictions, could not have been more different. There were plenty of staff, and they were friendly and welcoming. And they managed to offer fresh tea and coffee and the option of eating the (similarly bagged) breakfast in the reception area. While still not an ideal experience, it was considerably better than what was offered here. And £20 cheaper.

Hotel is well placed to junction 6 on the M40, rooms are a lovely size and some are dog friendly, and have air conditioning. Nice and quiet too so windows can be opened. Plumbing in bath a bit suspect and mixer tap came off in my wife’s hand. Also it looked as if there used to be a mirror on an adjustable arm by the sink . One bedside light did not work and bed seemed rather hard. The biggest disappointment ( not due to the hotel but Oxfordshire council) was the breakfast. Something you’d expect to get in a travel lodge not a Mercure hotel. A selection of cold items in a paper bag, no plate to eat in your room. Missed the cooked breakfast we were so looking forward to. Two weeks earlier at a Q hotel near Warwick they were providing a lovely hot breakfast, as is our local Greene King hotel in Birdlip Gloucestershire. Glad in a way because of this we were only stopping one night which is a shame as it did spoil our visit. Perhaps you should be bringing this to guests attention before we actually arrive at the hotel?? So it’s too late to make other arrangements . We would certainly stay here again though as previous visit last autumn was smashing. Just the fault of COVID-19 and an over the top council

From beginning to end we had a terrible visit and receiving appalling service. They got the booking name wrong for a start so when my husband arranged for the local florist to deliver a bouquet of flowers to our room. We nearly didn’t get them as they had no booking in our name. The hotel had booked the room in my maiden name, even after being corrected and explained we’d got married at their hotel. The flowered were left in the room where they had fallen over and the water split over the carpet. Our table was booked for 7.15pm but they never came to take our order until 8.30pn when the kitchen was due to be closing. On selecting our table time we were told they were only serving food from 7-8.30pm. We said we were happy for them to deal with the influx as we were there for the evening and to keep us topped up with drinks. They were short staffed and the manager had to step in as chef to provide a basic menu which was mediocre, shop brought, and tasteless pate and soggy toast. They never brought my husbands main course out as the ‘chef’ hadn’t cooked it and were told it would take another 20 mins, at which point they had closed the kitchen. A substitute curry was brought out for me, but as neither of us eat spicy food it was sent back half eaten. Despite asking for a drink to go with our meal it never came. We were not offered a dessert. When we asked for a drink we were told the bar was closed but we could take a drink to our room. On getting back to our deluxe room, Room 201, we found the bathroom had flooded. When my husband went to the reception to inform them. His reply was, what now? We were given another standard double room which was dirty and thick with cobwebs. Our breakfast, despite would be a continental breakfast, served to our room, at 9am as the preferred time to those offered, instead was a brown paper bag, left outside our door before we went to bed. On checking out we were told that the staff was not authorised to give refunds and someone would call me. It is now Thursday 27th August and we have heard nothing. I have telephone The Mercure today to be told there is only the receptionist working and the manager is on annual leave! Very hard to believe given the service we have received.

My stay was disappointing for the following reasons 1. The booking in and reception was very good. 2. There were very annoying flies flying around while I was eating they kept landing on the table,glasses and cups. 3. The bathroom door wouldn’t shut and an annoying noise from the vent woke me a few times. 4. There was an annoying low pitched noise from the ceiling above.

lovely friendly helpful staff, restaurant evening meal was very tasty.... room was very noisy through out the night like a fan was buzzing so not a good night's sleep.

Staff very efficient and friendly. Hotel itself looks tired. Towels in room thin ..small ..and very old. Breakfast was served to the room in a paper bag and due to Covid was continental with a choice of bacon/egg, sausage/egg or egg sandwich. Turned out to be cold processed sandwich with cold fillings. Cold bacon fat is revolting. Plus no extra tea or coffee. To add insult to injury we were charged the same amount for breakfast. Suggest you drop the cold sandwich.. add more tea/coffee sachets if you cannot deLiver fresh coffee/tea to room (there was only enough for two drinks each so one when you get there... one when you get up)..and half the price.

Arrived to find one of the rooms had not been cleaned. Reported reception to report and there was no apology, was just given another room. One room had holes in bed sheets Breakfast was appalling. was supposed to turn up fresh at 7:30in the morning but actually turned up at 10pm the night before so didn't eat the egg sandwich as would have made us ill. Was told it was continental and then would be able to order hot food but received a very poor bag of food stuffs that were not fresh Only received breakfast on one day eventhough it was included in the price for both days Had nobody at reception when needed to check out and was completely locked up so nowhere to leave keys or anything. Overall a very poor stay for a fair amount of money. Have stayed before for work and would tend to stay here yearly however will not be staying again after this time

I have been staying at the Lambert Hotel a few times a year for the last 10 years for business reasons. I have always enjoyed the stays, Rooms are clean and spacious, Bar\Restaurant have a really nice ambiance with a great selection of drinks and excellent food. Staff are always helpful and always try to make your stay as enjoyable as it can be. Great place to base yourself weather you are away on business or pleasure.

A nice hotel that tries hard to keep visitors happy Staff very helpful in these difficult days. Every effort was taken to deal with these difficult times. All rooms were pleasant having stayed here in the past

2 night stay with a very nice evening meal. Breakfast superb and room very comfortable allbeit not in tha main hotel.

Ran out of most of the menu, internet impossible to access ran out of most drinks.