The Roseate Reading

The staff were super friendly and helpful, and I'd stay again for that fabulous tub. This is an older, cozy hotel a short walk from downtown Reading, with a nice bar and restaurant. My room was very large and comfortable. The bathroom was amazing, with a claw-foot tub and walk-in shower. There isn't central air conditioning because the building is older.

The restaurant's set menu was lovely, with great presentation and service, and I highly recommend the spa. My partner and I stayed for two nights for our anniversary. The Roseate is beautiful, and the staff were professional and accommodating. We had a wonderful time, and it made our first trip to Reading a lovely experience.

The sandwiches and fancy cakes were nice enough, and the staff kept checking in, maybe every five minutes, to see if everything was alright. But for a special birthday treat, the experience didn't match the fine dining we expected from the price. We'll go somewhere else next time. We'd picked The Roseate for afternoon tea because it advertises a vegan option, and the attractive website had us looking forward to plush surroundings. The room let it down. Though it was mostly empty, we were seated at the far end of a fairly large room by a window on a dull, rainy day. The cold colours, plain walls and tables, and blue chairs felt chilly, not cosy. Our bench seat wasn't clean, and the wall beside us was grubby, with chipped paint. There were also lots of illuminated cobwebs behind the wall lights, which we wouldn't expect from a place like this. We left once we'd finished our tea.

The room was quaint and clean, with a really comfortable bed, and the sauna was a nice bonus. It was my birthday, and I got a lovely surprise. We came for afternoon tea and stayed the night. The tea was delightful, though I'd have preferred more sandwiches and fewer desserts. Maybe they could offer that option. There was a great range of teas, all sounding special on the menu, though I think you'd need to be a real tea connoisseur to pick out the subtle differences. The staff were friendly and attentive. The location is handy, within walking distance of the centre, shops and restaurants, with a nice park opposite. Parking is limited and a bit expensive, and a discount would have helped. The car park is round the back. Take care on Fourbury Rd, as it's one way and access is prohibited between 7-11am and 4-7pm.