The Store hotel in Oxford has received a very positive response from guests in its first week.

The 101-boutique hotel is on the site of the former Boswells department store on the corner of Cornmarket and Broad Street and opened officially opened on May 7.

One week on from opening, general manager Simon Drake said the reaction from guests and members of the public has been "very positive".

READ MORE: Nightclub in Oxford is expected to close this summer 

Visitors to the city and residents have called in to take a look around the hotel and see the spectacular views of the dreaming spires from the roof terrace.

Oxford Mail: Simon Drake at The StoreMr Drake, a former general manager of The Randolph Hotel, said: "The response from the public has been very positive.

"People are so keen to see what Boswells has become. We are very mindful that we are custodians of the building that many people view as part of their lives.

"They are walking in and saying they are keen to see what the toy shop is now, and so many people are saying they want to see the view from the roof terrace.

Oxford Mail: A view from The Roof at The Store"And once they have come in many of them are staying for a coffee and croissant."

READ MORE: Wallingford is chuffed with new bathing water status 

Mr Drake is keen to stress that the hotel is not just for tourists or paying guests, but is open to everyone, so the front doors are kept open as much as possible, weather permitting.

He wants the hotel's co-working space on the ground floor, where guests can plug in their laptops, to be busy throughout the week.

Oxford Mail: The Roof at The StoreThe hotel's main restaurant, Treadwell, on the site of the former Treadwell's Passage, is already busy, with dishes including The Store steak, bangers of mash, and The Store cheeseburger.

READ MORE: Plans to convert cocktail bar into flats are refused

Up to 60 diners are coming to the restaurant every evening and most of them are not guests at the hotel.

The kitchen is led by chef Andy Robinson, who has previously held positions in multi-Rosette and Michelin starred kitchens in Johannesburg and the UK.

Oxford Mail: Simon Drake, right, at TreadwellThe vast majority of rooms are now booked until June.

"Of course we are getting lots of bookings from the United States and South East Asia coming through," added Mr Drake.

"But I'm pleasantly surprised by the number of inbound UK tourists coming for weekend breaks - lots of guests are coming from London."

On weekdays the roof terrace is open from 6pm, while on Friday, Saturday and Sunday it opens from midday, with last orders between 9pm-10pm.

The hotel now has 88 staff and 75 per cent of them live in the city.

Oxford Mail: Simon Drake at The Bar at The StoreThe Store opened following a number of unexpected delays, which held up contractors Gilbert-Ash.

A number of celebrity guests have already expressed an interest in staying at the hotel.

"I can't say too much but one is a very prominent female politician and her team is now in talks with my team," Mr Drake added.

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe 

As a digital subscriber you will get:      

  •       
  • Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website   
  •       
  • Advert-light access       
  •       
  • Reader rewards       
  •       
  • Full access to our app 

About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.