The Retreat Hotel, Elcot Park

We had 3 nights at Elcot Park and had a really lovely, relaxing time. The rooms are gorgeous and spacious, the facilities are nice, and the communal spaces are peaceful and well decorated. We stayed with our dog and it was great that all spaces were dog friendly. The 4 pm wine was a great touch. We decided to extend our stay another night and the lady who helped us do this was so friendly and nice (sorry I didnt catch her name!). The relaxation room at the spa is great and the outdoor pool is amazing on a sunny day. The breakfast selection was good but when I stayed a few years ago, the offering was a cooked breakfast ordered off a menu as opposed to the self serve so that’s disappointing. The pantry also used to be much better with a variety of drinks and snacks - it’s mostly just boiled sweets now so doesn’t seem to add any value to your stay. It was also frustrating that they had no space for us in the restaurant on Monday due to their 50% off food deal. I understand it was their busiest day but they could have served us in the lounge or applied the same deal to room service - I think hotel guests should always be prioritised in these situations. Overall, the value you get (especially when using the 2 for 1 deal) is great but with a few small changes, it would become the perfect getaway.

Booked here last minute for a one night stay with my husband as we wanted a night to spend some time together after the Christmas chaos. As soon as we stepped into the hotel I felt relaxed, the decor was beautiful (all tied up in a big bow for Christmas). What made this place for me was the staff. I only got Kate’s name (thank you for showing us round) but every single member of staff we encountered was genuinely friendly & helpful. You could see how hard they were all working to make everyone’s stay a good one, it really made this place feel special. Being able to use the spa facilities from 2pm on the day of arrival was as amazing and allowed us to decompress before check-in at 4pm. The spa never felt too busy. Loved being able to use the outdoor pool in December. There were some welcome complimentary surprises in the evening to make us feel a bit special. Enjoyed the piano music in the bar where I ordered my fave cocktail which wasn’t on the drinks menu& it was crafted to perfection. Rooms were comfortable & nicely decorated with tea choice & coffee machine. Ate in Yu and really enjoyed our meal. Breakfast was buffet but loads of choice and had the dining room to ourselves. I wished we could have stayed longer & would definitely go back, especially at this time of year, everything you need in one place to relax.

The hotel is lovely and has a great level of service and amenities. We really liked the 'extras' they did like biscuits at 11am and a glass of Bordeaux at 4pm. The treatments were great, quite expensive but service was brilliant and I can understand the price. Unfortunately the Spa was a little grimy, especially the hydro pool, steam room and changing rooms. Food in the Asian restaurant and Brassier was brilliant and Monday 50% was a great bonus.

Beautiful, stylish hotel with genuinely warm service. Joe and Maria were especially helpful, polite, and understanding. The spa is in excellent condition. We did a full body massage and the salt floatation and both were amazing. Outdoor pool and cold tubs have great views, even though our stay was more overcast than sunny. Food is fine (not phenomenal), but the events were great. We saw a live local musician (One Eyed Man). Nice lounge space to work, plus a snack room with fizzy water, crisps, and candies. The nearby farms/fields are perfect for a relaxing walk, and the Watermill Theatre nearby is worth a visit. Getting to Newbury from London is easier than Hungerford for taxis.

A super relaxing stay at a small spa hotel in the countryside. The near-perfect escape from the chaos of the 9-5! I booked The Retreat for my partner’s birthday after a hectic few months. It was exactly what we hoped it would be - quiet, relaxing and memorable. The staff were all helpful and friendly but at times service was slow or not available. For example we would have liked more drinks in the bar but waited over 30 mins with no result. Another time I went to the bar to order and service charge was still added to the bill, which I think is unreasonable. The rooms were spacious but needed a few touch-ups and thoughtful touches eg a full length mirror and more hooks - nowhere to hang wet robes and towels after a spa day and no dry robes available from the spa reception. The in-room coffee machines need to be replaces as they’re unbelievably loud - we were woken daily but neighbours using theirs. The pillows could also do with refreshing as they were flat. We loved the thoughtful touches like the 4pm and 9pm pours and lots of board games. We ate in both restaurants and on the whole the food was very good, with the exception of the sushi which had very sticky, starchy rice. The tataki was excellent though. The spa was good, particularly the sauna and hot tubs. The hydro pool was high-chlorine and stung our eyes after less than 10 mins. The steam room was closed unfortunately. My partner had a full body massage which he said was excellent. We both did the salt float which was very good but earplugs should be provided and the room should be fully dark for a total sensory deprivation experience. We’d definitely return despite the small niggles - I’m sharing them here in the hope that they improve.

A super stay - everything was perfect. The rooms were good and loved having access to the pantry! The spa facilities were lovely to relax in and were well maintained and not too busy. Dinner and drinks were excellent along with a super pianist - very talented. Breakfast the next morning was tasty and hearty with plenty of choice. We loved our stay and will definitely be back!

My partner and I had a wonderful time at The Retreat at Elcot as part of the Sunday Best offer, which was great value! As soon as we arrived, we were transported into a completely relaxing escape - it was truly a combination of bliss and elegance! Everything was so utterly charming and all the staff were super helpful and made us feel really welcome. We loved our meal at the Brasserie, enjoying a Venison Wellington, and the breakfast was also equally delicious. We will definitely be back to enjoy more of the countryside, some padel and to try the Asian restaurant. Thank you so much for the stay! 🫶

Our second visit to Elcot Park (first in April 25). We noticed a couple of changes, with some of the more personal/ in room touches gone. It was very busy, with lots of children & also large groups celebrating. We were unfortunately placed next to some of the large groups rooms, despite asking the staff to ask them to keep the noise down at 23:00, this didn’t happen and ruined a bit of our stay. The restaurants are always amazing with seamless staff. Spa is excellent, however you now need to pay for the hot tubs. We still enjoyed our stay, but we might try another one of the Signet locations next!

My husband and I spent the weekend here as a Valentine's gift to each other. The room and common areas were average, but the spa was fantastic and the restaurant was first class. We stayed on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis and the dinner was way beyond my expectations for an inclusive deal. I enjoyed a steak which I asked to be booked medium well and it was one of only a handful of times that I have received what I asked for - it was pink in the middle without being bloody and very tender. The grounds of the hotel are a lovely place to stroll and we went scrambling about trying to spot rabbits and partridges. I must admit that I didn't have huge expectations as this is a fairly pedestrian hotel chain, but what it may be lacking in terms of originality, the restaurant, spa and general surroundings make up for any shortcomings.