Reading, United Kingdom
Renovated
2019
Price
$$
Rated for
Design Heritage LuxeOutside the door
The house
RoseateRestored Edwardian council hall
The former county council headquarters has traded bureaucratic meetings for overnight stays, complete with a private cinema and courtyard garden.
What it’s good at
Notable
An eighty-six-thousand bead Italian crystal chandelier hangs inside the restored lift shaft.
Notable
The 1911 Edwardian Shire Hall preserves former council chambers and groin-vaulted marble halls.
Listed
Expansive suites have underfloor bathroom heating, walk-in showers, and plush velvet furnishings.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
the Roseate was more thoroughly renovated than most, and its floor plan is entirely modern — the superior rooms are by no means small, and the suites are downright expansive.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Forbury Gardens sits right across the street, and the ruins of twelfth-century Reading Abbey are a short walk away.
The rooms
Rooms in the historic building retain original woodwork and high ceilings. Bathrooms have walk-in showers and heated floors.
The spa
Therapists use Pevonia Botanica products for facials and Balinese massages. The thermal suite adds a Finnish sauna and eucalyptus steam room.
The gym
Technogym cardio machines and free weights sit beside tall windows in the sunlit fitness suite.
The Reading Room Restaurant & Bar
The kitchen cooks modern European dishes with seasonal ingredients, served in a dining room of blue velvet armchairs.
At the table
The Whisky Room pours rare single malts, and the Secret Garden courtyard opens outside beneath a pomegranate tree.
How it began
The building served as Berkshire County Council's headquarters for seven decades before reopening as a hotel in 2006.
Reading
More like this
Malmaison Reading
“Victorian station house”
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.