The Retreat Hotel, Elcot Park - Newbury

Else

Overnight birthday break, the first without children since lockdown for us. Interesting building with warm comfortable decor. Seating areas varied and thoughtfully placed with side tables and much to appreciate. Reception staff friendly, welcoming and respectful. Wonderful to see gardeners walking through with fresh produce. Beautiful flowers in the gardens. Loved the maze and kitchen garden. Restaurant staff helped the spa staff with a pool cover issue- fantastic to see team working play out. Spa facilities were varied and ultimately relaxing. Planning on more couple therapy soon.

D D.

We stayed for three nights and had a lovely time overall. The hotel itself is beautiful, with a calm, relaxing atmosphere and wonderful staff who were friendly and welcoming throughout. Our room was spacious with a large balcony, though unfortunately it faced the car park and the balcony could have been cleaner (spider webs on chairs and windows). Inside, the room was spotless and very comfortable.

The spa facilities were a highlight — both the indoor and outdoor pools were lovely, and the Himalayan sauna was a nice feature. However, for such a large hotel, the sauna was surprisingly small, and with only two hot tubs, we often had to wait. The steam room and floating pool were also out of order during our stay, which was disappointing given that we had chosen the hotel for its extensive spa facilities.

Food was a mixed experience. On the positive side, the artichoke starter was outstanding, and the afternoon tea was excellent with a great selection of teas and tasty vegetarian options. On the other hand, the cauliflower steak was poor, and the hummus dish was so sour it was inedible. Coffee also tasted like machine coffee rather than barista quality. Breakfast was fine but limited in vegetarian options — I’d rate it average.

Other nice touches included a live piano one evening, which created a lovely atmosphere (though a bit loud in the small room), and the staff’s careful attention to our note about allergies, ensuring we were in a dog-free room.

Overall, I’d give the stay 3.5 out of 5. The hotel is gorgeous, the staff are wonderful, and we enjoyed ourselves, but a few details (cleanliness of balconies, spa facilities being closed, food consistency, and communication about restaurant opening days) stopped it from being a truly excellent experience. We would definitely return, but hope to see improvements in these areas.

Wendy M.

The room was one of the quietest we have ever stayed in, a huge relief as we are very light sleepers. A second chair would have been appreciated as would some basic instructions re the coffee machine. The latter was hardly rocket science, it just would have been reassuring to know that I wasn't about to wreck the thing. Instant coffee to go with the kettle would also have sufficed.
The reception staff were extremely pleasant and helpful and we enjoyed our stay.

Angela T.

We booked 2 nights here as a couple and couldn't be happier! The hotel and grounds were beautiful. There were plenty of places to relax! We absolutely loved our daily swim with a view and the hot tubs and spa facilities were a real treat. Everything was spotlessly clean and the all the staff were so friendly and welcoming. There was a lot of variety at breakfast which was both cooked and continental style. Our room was nice and dark for sleeping and the shower was a nice rainfall shower. We enjoyed the piano on the Saturday night with our drinks at the bar. There is a nearby canal which is a nice walk and there are plenty of pubs nearby. We left feeling very relaxed and happy ❤️

Amy N.

My daughter and I had a wonderful stay here, it was peaceful and relaxing, which was just what we needed. I have visited previously for spa days so already knew this was such a fantastic asset and the food was fabulous. So it was great to see that the rooms were just as great. We had a lovely room with a beautiful view over the swimming pool and countryside. The pantry for a treat or two is a great touch. The only couple of downsides which didn’t stop the stay being great but worth mentioning was with a lot of gravel and steps it was tricky to navigate on my own with a toddler in a buggy. I work in luxury travel so have been a bit spoilt and the thing I always compare in a good quality hotel where you expect a great nights sleep is the pillows which let the Retreat Elcot Park down. Unfortunately they are flat and uncomfortable which I would expect to be better in a Small Luxury Hotel. Other than that we loved it.

David B.

My wife and I enjoyed a lovely 2 night stay at the hotel last week and it could not have been any better.

From the moment we walked through the door to be met with a smiley face and glass of wine to the time we left 2 days later, we enjoyed every moment.

The room was amazing with views over the distant downs, the food in each of the two restaurants was very enjoyable and the spa and outside hot tubs were both excellent as was the outdoor heated pool.

The service was top class throughout and wherever you were in the hotel and a special thanks to Joe in the restaurants for his service, conversation and knowledge of the menus.

The hotel is located in beautiful grounds and you could (as we did) go on a lovely country walk.

I found the whole experience very enjoyable and relaxing and will definitely return for another “treat”.

Sarah F.

Had a lovely stay at this hotel for one night. First impressions were excellent and this continued throughout our visit.
Staff could not have been more helpful. Food at dinner was excellent in line with the service. Great having an outdoor pool to dip in and although small never overcrowded.
Breakfast had a good buffet selection. We will be returning!

Sarah V.

⸻

We’ve just returned from our stay at the retreat hotel and we’re still glowing from the experience!
My mum and sisters birthday’s have been made extra special for being at the Retreat.

From the moment we arrived, we were absolutely blown away by the stunning beauty of the place. It truly felt like a hidden paradise. Every single staff member we encountered was warm, friendly, and went out of their way to make us feel welcome and cared for.

Our rooms were spotless, beautifully prepared, and had everything we could possibly need to relax and unwind.

The spa facilities were wonderfully relaxing—just perfect for all of us. It was the ideal way to switch off, recharge, and enjoy some well-deserved pampering.

And the food—wow! Every meal at the restaurant was a treat. Fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented—we looked forward to every bite.

Thank you for creating such a magical and memorable stay. We’re already dreaming of our next visit!