The Store, Oxford

Why book?

For an easy, laidbaid city break in the middle of Oxford’s hustle and bustle.

Set the scene

Affordable city-centre hotels are hard to find – even more hard when you add in stipulations like a rooftop bar, spa facilities and suites larger than a shoebox. But The Store manages to do all of the above, and more. Set inside the old Boswells department store (which was open for nearly 300 years), The Store nods to its heritage while weaving in modern touches and impressive amenities.

The backstory

Boswells & Co department store had proudly stood on this corner of Broad Street for nearly 300 years before hospitality experts Reef Origin and EQ Group took over. The aim was to join two history buildings and transform the space into a respite from Oxford’s whirlwind of activity outside. Since opening in summer 2024, it’s quickly become a seamless addition to the area, not only providing an easy, no-fuss stay in the city centre, but also luring in locals with its cosy corners for coffees, romantic views from the roof and soothing spa hidden on the lower-ground floor. Quite a few of the guests were business travellers, too, making use of the bright and airy café area with plenty of tables and plugs for remote working.

The rooms

Spread across seven floors, rooms are in keeping with the rest of the hotel’s style – comfortable, smart and polished. We stayed in the Balliol Suite (so named for the view of the college from the windows – other rooms have less favourable views, so request a room at the front of the building if possible), a large double room with a snug living room area. Panelled walls, soft rugs, scalloped headboards and linen curtains added a touch of character to the space, while soothing neutral tones give the bathroom a calm vibe – perfect for long soaks in the freestanding tub with in-room Verden products.

The food and drink

Guests can sit and enjoy a drink and nibbles in the main reception area, but Treadwell, towards the back of the hotel, is the hotel’s foodie hub. Minimalist dark wood, exposed bulbs and teal-coloured banquettes are offset by a vast mural by artist Samme Snow, whose playful illustrations showcase the neighbourhood’s best-loved characters and buildings, from friendly bakers and restaurateurs to imposing clock towers and old university colleges.

Treadwell serves up British classics, with creative twists – think chicken wings with a coronation dip, crab arancini with dill mayo, fish and chips with a kimchi tartar, and hake kievs with an nduja sauce. Each dish is comforting and tasty enough, but I’d advise heading out into the city to get a real sense of Oxford’s foodie scene. Local pubs like The Folly and The Perch are showcasing the best of local produce with flair. After an evening wining and dining across the city, head to the top of the hotel, where you’ll find the rooftop bar. With sweeping views across the city – it’s a great little place to come for a cocktail as the sun goes down.

Wellness

Squirrelled away in the hotel’s lower-ground floor, the spa is a little-known secret. It’s rather diminutive, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in seriously impressive treatments. The reception is in the corridor, turn left for the spa facilities: a quiet room with four day beds, a sauna, steam room and contrast water room. The Store has partnered with Verden and Oskia, and each treatment centres around holistic therapies. I had an hour-long whole-body massage with Alessia, who intuitively tackled any knots and tense muscles, leaving me feeling totally unwound and rejuvenated.

The neighbourhood

At the entrance to The Store, a backlit bar beckons travellers to have a tipple and get their bearings via the comfy sofas looking out over Broad Street. Students hurry to classes or back to dorms – across the road is Balliol College, rubbing shoulders with Trinity College – and tourists snap shots of the Sheldonian Theatre and impressive Radcliffe Camera library further down the road. The hotel is well-positioned for days spent strolling through cobbled streets, getting lost in the maze of colleges and generations-old shops. Grab a hot chocolate from Knoops (just around the corner from The Store) and go for a walk around Christ Church Meadows, before.

The service

Friendly and accommodating – nothing is too much trouble, but staff are not overbearing.

Eco effort

Reef Origin, a real estate and infrastructure developer centred around clean energy, was behind the design of The Store hotel. In merging two existing buildings, the team made sure to carefully convert without disrupting the existing space and neighbourhood, and prioritised sustainable methods and materials throughout the hotel.

Accessibility

Out of 101 rooms, five are accessible for wheelchair users. All of the communal areas, the spa and restaurant are adapted for wheelchair users.

Anything left to mention?

The hotel is dog friendly – we arrived to a dog bed, lots of treats, a bowl with our pup’s name on it, and even a soft toy version of him. Dogs are free to accompany you to the ground floor bar area, but can’t go into the restaurant.