ibis Reading Centre

For a short stay or business trip, the city centre location and the staff make this a great choice. I stayed at the Ibis Reading Centre for two months, from September - November 2025, and the lack of storage and laundry facilities became difficult over that length of time. There’s no in-house restaurant either. The rooms felt small for the price, and there were no in-room safes or proper closets. The staff were the best part. Mr. Shibin Varghese at the front desk went out of his way to make me comfortable, and Ms. Paula and Melanie in the breakfast area were always prompt, cheerful, and helpful. Breakfast was a tasty, solid English spread. I’d come back for a few nights, and hope they add more conveniences for longer stays.

The hotel’s location is great, and I liked the view from the 14th floor. The bed was clean, warm, and comfortable, and the kettle was clean too, with a nice tea and coffee selection. The soap smelled nice, and there was a nice painting on the wall. Breakfast was in a clean, modern space with plenty of choices, including milk alternatives and gluten free cereal. The staff were very friendly. But I paid 130e for a single room that was really shabby. There were stains on the couch that looked like puke, marks beside the bed and on the bathroom handle, and the bathroom smelled like a drain, so I decided not to shower. The room felt very old and dated, with old AC and a ship cabin feel. It was clearly a wheelchair accessible room, but the bed was so close that getting into the bathroom with an electric wheelchair could be difficult. The toilet handle was hard to reach and not accessible at all. There was also a connecting door to another room that I couldn’t lock from my side, which felt stressful. The desk was in front of it, so I pushed it closer to feel safer. After 13 hours of travel I was too exhausted to complain that night. Next time I’ll spend more on a proper hotel.

I have mobility issues, and the two women at reception on Saturday evening were outstanding. They brought me a chair while we checked in and gave us an accessible room on the first floor by the lift. They had huge welcoming smiles too, though I’m sorry I don’t know their names. It’s those little things that count. Thank you from both of us.

The hotel is right in the middle of Reading, about two minutes from the train station and the airport shuttle bus stop. It was nice and clean, and I’d recommend booking breakfast. The young woman in charge of the breakfast buffet does a fantastic job and is very friendly. Reception staff were welcoming too. Thanks for a relaxing stay.