The Volunteer
Location: Station Road, Grove, Wantage, England, OX12 0DH, Wantage, GB
Star Rating: 2 Stars
Property Type: Inns
About this Property
Convenient Amenities
Make use of complimentary wireless internet access, an arcade/game room, and wedding services.
Breakfast available for a fee.
Featured Amenities
Enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant.
Featured amenities include a computer station, express check-in, and express check-out.
Guestrooms
Stay in one of 5 guestrooms with flat-screen TVs.
Conveniences include electric kettles, and daily housekeeping.
The Volunteer, located in Wantage, offers easy access to attractions such as Frilford Heath Golf Club and Millets Farm Centre. Explore the nearby North Wessex Downs and Thames River. Book your stay now to enjoy all these amenities and more!
Important Information
Make use of convenient amenities, which include complimentary wireless internet access and wedding services.
Policies
Check-in: 02:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
Instructions: To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property ahead of time using the information on the booking confirmation. Guests must contact the property for check-in instructions.
Amenities & Facilities
- Express check-out
- Arcade/game room
- Free WiFi
- Express check-in/check-out
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Arcade/game room
- Multilingual staff
- Express check-out
- Smoke-free property
- Wedding services
- Express check-in
- Free self parking
- Computer station
Rooms Available
-
Double Room, Ensuite
1 Double Bed
Layout - Bedroom
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - Digital channels
Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker
Sleep - Hypo-allergenic bedding
Bathroom - Hair dryer
Practical - Iron/ironing board, desk, and wardrobe or closet
Comfort - Daily housekeeping
Need to Know - Towels not available, bed sheets not available
Non-Smoking
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Hair dryer
- Desk
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
- Daily housekeeping
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Free WiFi
- Towels not available
- Bed sheets not available
-
Double Room, Ensuite
1 Double Bed
Bathroom - Partially open bathroom and shower
Practical - Wardrobe or closet
Comfort - Daily housekeeping
Non-Smoking
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Shower
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
- Daily housekeeping
- Partially open bathroom
-
Single-Deluxe-Ensuite with Shower-Street View
1 Twin Bed
Practical - Wardrobe or closet
Comfort - Daily housekeeping
Need to Know - No cribs (infant beds) or rollaway/extra beds available
Non-Smoking
Max Occupancy: 1 (1 Adults)
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
- Daily housekeeping
- No rollaway/extra beds
- No cribs (infant beds)
Guest Reviews
- Jonathan (8/5): - The room was clean and tidy the staff helpful, easy access to local areas.
- Laura (6/5): - Really lovely staff and clean room, just very loud until late at night seeing as it’s over a pub
- Beverley (10/5): - Very friendly and hospitable. Ideal for what we needed.
- David (10/5): Weis beer and dominoes, a great night - The pub does not serve food in the evening, the beer was amazing a chilled German beer on a hot day with a dominoes which they were fine with ordering in food
- dave (10/5): - Bed comfort - slept well
It’s a busy pub - so expect some cheer
Food not an option because of the hours I kept - so check what’s available
Great staff , and guests alike
I will be staying there again !!
- Neill (8/5): - I had a great stay, I only stayed one night. The manager was friendly and helpful.
There were some local regulars in the bar area, where I was made to feel welcome. A great mix, even had a game of pool with them.
Freshly decorated.
Great value for money and I would stay again.
- Nigel (6/5): Roadside accommodation - There was a warm welcome when we arrived and we were given plenty of local details. Originally booked the property as it had a restaurant. Unfortunately, it did not provide any food on Sundays or Monday’s; the two days we were there. This aside, the room was clean if a little tired. There was tea and coffee in the room but no spoons! The other issue was the noise from the road outside. Our room was roadside, and although ear plugs were provided along with the tea and coffee, the constant hum from 6:00 am was irritating with just single glaze windows. Because of this, I probably wouldn’t stay again.
- Matthew (10/5): Recommend - Good affordable room and great staff
- Tracy (8/5): - Only stayed one night for a family funeral ! Very rural on a very busy road, double glazing a god send , staff helpful and pleasant
- K (8/5): - great location if visiting the Williams F1 centre, polite staff, building is tired but that did not ruin my stay
- Mick (2/5): - Noisiest place I’ve ever stayed in, not sure what the noise was but it was loud and constant all night. Seriously needs to be addressed
- MICHAEL (6/5): - Checked in on a Monday around 5pm and shown to the room. Noticed that all the tables were setup for food with cutlery etc. Went down to the bar around 6:30 to be told that the restaurant was closed and only food available was coffee and cake. Ended up fetching a take away and eating that in the bar. On the plus side cider was only £3 a pint!! No mattress protectors on the bed.
- Dave (6/5): - The place itself isn't bad. No dining on the night I stayed but they were more than happy to allow me to order food in. Bar was nice and well priced.
- Grahame (8/5): Pleasant stay but tired room - A friendly welcome was provided at this Oxfordshire pub, I was checked in and shown up a back staircase to my room.
The pub itself is small with a beer garden at the side. It’s very close to a main road and also a main line railway.
The room (room 4) was a reasonable size, containing a double bed, a desk and a wardrobe with iron etc. Tea and coffee was provided. The bathroom was small and housed a toilet, sink and shower.
The condition of the room was quite tired, the carpet had seen better days and the walls needed painting. The bed itself was very comfortable although there was no beside table, which would’ve been a cheap and convenient improvement.
The noise from the road continued in to the early hours and meant you couldn’t leave the window open, the trains were less intrusive, although very audible from the room.
Parking was ok, 3 spaces at the front of the hotel with maybe another 10 shared with the neighbouring car wash business.
- peter (10/5): - I stayed here for two nights this week on business, its the first time i have been to the pub ever. I have just booked in again for next week. A really friendly little pub, cracking food, and charming staff. A big thank to Cathy & Blake for their great hospitality. i thoroughly recommend a stay here. Peter
- Przemyslaw (2/5): BOOKING SCAM - I have booked the room for one night after 9pm done the online check in then email arrived that I can only check in until 9pm. Tried to rase this issue with hotels.com but only been told this is policy and there will be no refund . Proper scam . Website allows you to do the booking even if you can’t stay in hotel. SCAM zero help avoid!
- Claire (6/5): The Volunteer - Nice friendly check in. Only 1 x large and small towel for 2 people. No shower soap at all. In a pub so nobody on site but contact numbers on door if anyone is needed. I think overpriced for this property.
- Ian (2/5): Left after just 1 hour - I booked a 'deluxe room' it was tiny and shoddy. There was damage to the plasterwork, a rusty radiator with the paint peeling and the shower/toilet was tiny. I decided to check out within an hour even though it meant I lost my money as it was non-refundable.
- Chris (10/5): - Friendly staff and clean
- Deborah (4/5): - Kitchen was closed so no food available at all
- Toni (2/5): Don’t volunteer to stay here - Having phoned to check latest check in time we arrived at 2045, having been told latest was 2100, no problem we thought, then we were told that we’d have to wait, no reason given, so we waited and we’re taken to the room that smelt of musk and damp, there were holes in the walls and damp on the walls, the bed creaked, bathroom was clean , and the carpet was damp, no actually sodden, I raised these points in the morning and apparently the roof had leaked, it was an old building etcetera etcetera, none of this information was passed to us, we were pushed for time as we were attending a funeral so I left my number and asked them to call after 1400, they said they would and of course didn’t, Young inattentive staff more interested in playing darts
- Susan (8/5): Friendly pub stay - Just the one night in this friendly pub, they serve a very good breakfast
- Andrew (10/5): Great stay - Absolute pleasant stay service was impeccable staff are a credit to this establishment
- Neil (10/5): - All staff were very friendly welcoming and helpful.The pub was cosy and the food was excellent.The room was clean warm and nicely decorated.The shower was brilliant.If we are in the area we would definitely stay again
- T L (8/5): Great Stay at The Volunteer. - No problems at all. Friendly staff, warm welcome, rooms nice and clean. I would have no problems staying hear again.
- Verified traveler (6/5): Welcoming, basic and with a little road noise. - Staff (Vicci) was really welcoming and helpful. For example I was leaving before breakfast we served and Vicci made sure I could help myself to cereal.
The room overlooked the main road and the night I stopped was it was a tad noisy. The shower is compact and little tight for larger people like myself.
- Verified traveler (6/5): One night in Wantage - We stayed for one night our room backed on to the car park (which is also a car wash ) next to busy road but as there was double glazing we did not hear any noise so had a good nights sleep
I would recommend that the shower is fitted with slip protection and is a bit high when you get out
The breakfast was hot and filling and the staff were nice and were very helpful
- Andrea (8/5): Lovely stay and great staff - Really clean and comfortable room and the land- lady was super helpful and friendly; nothing was too much trouble 😊
Only small suggestion: lovely clean bathroom and shower but either an anti-slip bath mat or textured surface on the bath would be good as was very slippery.
- Ian (10/5): - Brilliant food
- David (4/5): - There was a trickle of water in the shower told to use empty bedroom next door but was just as bad gave up and washed in the sink
- Lesley (6/5): Stayed for Air Show - I was disappointed with this hotel. It did not live up to what it said in the information. It is over priced and the stairs to the rooms give a very bad impression. There is a horrible musty smell and the carpet had seen better days. The room itself was nice and clean and well appointed. Just getting there was enough to put you off. The staff were really nice and helpful especially the lady that did breakfast.
It was also quite difficult to find. It is actually Grove but is advertised as Wantage.
- Tim (10/5): The Volunteer great place to stay - Great price. Nice, tastefully decorated room with en-suite facilities. Amazed by the quality of the food. My Partner suggested trying the Tapas-stylee menu items. . Totally blown away!! Great taste and quality
Awesome. Thanks for a great stay.
- Verified traveler (10/5): - Good Hotel very nice stay
- richard (2/5): Not happy bunnies - we asked for a quite room.. We got the room overlooking the main wantage oxford road. No sleep much to noisy. No ambience having to pass the kitchen to reach our room, and the public bar. We left early, not happy.
- Emma (8/5): Nice pub near Wantage - The bar staff and chef were very polite and friendly. Made us feel welcome. The food was really nice. The bedroom was in need of some repair and only 1 of the lamps was working but the bed was comfortable
- Verified traveler (8/5): Don't judge the book by its cover. - Difficult to see the black sign in the dark, tight entrance to the car park. Unattractive passage to bedrooms but rooms very clean, comfortable and good double glazing to block out road noise. Excellent food cooked fresh. Try the cider soaked apple strudel. Just opposite Williams F1.
- Pamela (8/5): Two from Wantage who downsized to the Seaside! - Very clean room - shame the en'suite was so small, my husband had to stand outside to dry himself! The staff all very friendly - Tom the barman even gave us a lift to Wantage - I did suggest they kept a bus time table at the bar as bus stops outside the pub! Brilliant cooked breakfast. A small armchair would have been good in the room. Don't think the very LOUD quiz night will encourage diners tho' we were dining with friends and found it difficult to hear each other. We wish the volunteer every success they deserve it.
- Verified traveler (6/5): - Ok but needs updating. Nice people
- Dan (10/5): Would definitely go back. - A very nice hotel, with very friendly staff in a great area. Wish we had a chance to try the food but will try to get back to do that another time.
- Norman (8/5): one night stay for a wedding nearby. - Very clean and tidy, excellent bar and a good breakfast
- Elizabeth (4/5): Never staying again - Although it was close to where I needed to work, the bed was uncomfortable, the room was really hot - no fan provided. Leaving the windows open was a bad idea as you could hear all of the traffic. For breakfast the lady only asked if I wanted cooked breakfast and went off - I am vegetarian! I had to go to the kitchen to ask what she was making and told her I was vegetarian. Anyway, never staying there again
- John (8/5): Nice country style pub - Good atmosphere, friendly staff, good food
- Andi (8/5): GOOD VALUE BUDGET HOTEL - Just what you need from a no frills hotel - clean, modern and cheap. Menu is limited but the quality of what is served is very good and once again at a price that all can manage. Don't get me wrong, the room is basic and had to keep window closed because of the main road but if you compare the prices of nearby Oxford or Abingdon and it is less than half the average price quoted.
Want the Ritz - pay Ritz prices
Want good clean and honest room at an affordable price - stay at the Volunteer Inn
- Tony (8/5): work trip - ???
- Colin (10/5): Good location and clean hotel - Basic but very satisfactory, very pleasant and polite staff, will use again...
- Joseph (8/5): Loverly weekend - Nice friendly people willingly go back and stay again
- Verified traveler (4/5): Last option. - Overall nice room, terrible staff at the bar not sure about the guest visitors policy, even night they bother me when my daughter come with me..no place to bring your visitors, no sitting area, you have to back at hotel before the bar close to reach to your room,
, you have to walk through the bar to reach your room very awkward , on the weekends bar is too noisy with live music, no permanent point of contact, to address the concerns of the guest. Bar stuff changed almost every night , that's why they are least concerned people living on the top floor.
- Tony (10/5): Walking distance to Williams F1 - Pleasantly surprised, last minute booking just by location but the pub was great and rooms clean and modern. Very close to the Williams F1 building
- Verified traveler (8/5): Nice hotel - Hotel served our purpose as we needed a place to stay for one night close to Wantage, food was very good.
- Mark (10/5): Great potential - Overall a good experience and would stay again
Pros ... Room cleanliness and shower was excellent
Breakfast outstanding we'll run bar with good food.
Negatives ... On check in young guy behind bar was not very confident and a bit of road noise in the morning.
With a few tweaks would be a gem.
- Di (2/5): What a joke :/ - I would love to tell you about our stay, but as we had to get last minute reservations at the Premier Inn as the Volunteer is not at the address we were given and according to hotels.com (when we phoned them) is actually NOT even a hotel that's a pretty difficult thing to do :(
- Verified traveler (10/5): - We here while visiting grand children in Grove. It has great access points for what we needed and had a nice breakfast. It's brand new and lovely right now and though there are tricky roadworks outside, it was a great stay overall!
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