Malmaison Reading
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Hotel Details
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Malmaison Reading · Reading, United Kingdom
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Expert Review: Malmaison Reading
Malmaison Reading, a Michelin Key Selected property, consistently receives high praise for its blend of historic charm, stylish design, and prime city-centre location. Housed in a modern reworking of the Great Western Hotel, originally built in 1844, the hotel maintains the ambience of its historic past while offering contemporary comforts and a unique "dark, clubby, and masculine" aesthetic.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
Malmaison Reading generally garners a "Very Good" rating, with an average score of 8.4 out of 10 from over 2,000 reviews. Michelin Guide guests have rated it even higher, with an impressive score of 19.1 out of 20. The overall sentiment is highly positive, with guests frequently expressing satisfaction with the decor, rooms, service, and especially the convenient location.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently highlight several standout features of Malmaison Reading:
- Location: Its unparalleled position directly opposite Reading Railway Station is a major draw for both leisure and business travellers, offering seamless access to transport and city attractions.
- Design & Ambience: The hotel's "stylish/funky decor" and "dark, sexy interiors" with "innovative design, unusual artwork, funky furniture" create a unique and appealing atmosphere.
- Service: The staff are frequently described as friendly, helpful, and attentive.
- Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, a well-regarded restaurant and bar (Chez Mal Brasserie), and 24-hour room service are among the appreciated amenities. Facilities for disabled guests, including accessible rooms with walk-in showers, are also available.
3. Room Quality
The hotel's 76 rooms and suites are celebrated for their comfort, cleanliness, and distinctive design. Rooms are often described as spacious and well-appointed, featuring king-size or super king beds with comfortable mattresses and a selection of pillows. En-suite bathrooms come equipped with both baths and power showers (some with monsoon showers), along with exclusive toiletries. Standard amenities include mood lighting, digital TV, a minibar fridge, tea/coffee making facilities, hairdryer, and an iron/ironing board. Suites are particularly noted for being "unique and lovely". However, some guests have noted that rooms can be poorly lit and dark. One guest also mentioned difficulty in getting the room cool enough with the air conditioning.
4. Dining Experience
The Chez Mal Brasserie and Bar is a central feature of the Malmaison Reading experience. It offers a modern British brasserie menu with a subtle French twist, emphasizing "big flavours" and dishes prepared on Konro and Josper grills. The restaurant boasts an industrial chic style with exposed brickwork, contributing to its "cool" atmosphere.
Breakfast, served at Chez Mal, receives consistently high ratings (8.8/10), with guests praising the "excellent quality, freshly cooked dishes" and variety of options, including Continental, Full English/Irish, Vegetarian, Buffet, and à la carte choices. Specific items like the fried breakfast and Eggs Benedict are often highlighted as exceptional. The bar is also considered a great place for cocktails and a relaxed atmosphere. Some recent feedback, however, included issues with menu items running out and a server's lack of knowledge about a dish.
5. Service & Staff
The staff at Malmaison Reading are a consistent strong point, frequently described as "friendly and fabulous", "helpful", and "attentive". Many guest reviews commend individual staff members for going the extra mile, contributing to a very relaxed and enjoyable stay. While the majority of feedback is positive, one recent review did mention "rude and disinterested" reception staff, although the restaurant staff were lauded as "fantastic".
6. Location & Accessibility
The hotel's location is arguably its most celebrated asset, situated "literally across the street" from Reading Railway Station. This makes it exceptionally convenient for travellers, providing easy access to the RailAir Bus to Heathrow Airport and quick train connections to London. Located in the city centre, guests have "unhindered access" to Reading's shops, bars, restaurants, cultural hotspots like the Reading Abbey ruins, and attractions such as The Oracle shopping centre and local theatres.
For accessibility, Malmaison Reading offers accessible rooms equipped with walk-in showers, handrails, and emergency cords. There is flat access into the building, and a disabled toilet is available near reception and the restaurant. While the hotel does not have on-site parking, a recommended car park is conveniently located directly opposite.
7. Value & Pricing
Many guests consider Malmaison Reading to offer "great bang for the buck," particularly when taking advantage of available deals and online specials. Prices for a 1-night stay for two adults can start from approximately £84.0, though these are subject to change. Historically, December has been noted as the cheapest month to stay, while August is typically the most expensive. Some reviews indicate that while the pricing can be "a little overpriced," it is generally considered acceptable given its prime city-centre location.
8. Common Complaints
While generally highly rated, some recurring criticisms and issues have been noted by guests:
- Room Lighting: Several guests have commented on rooms being "poorly lit and dark".
- Air Conditioning: There have been instances where guests found the air conditioning insufficient to cool the room to their preference.
- Building Layout: The historic nature of the building can lead to a somewhat confusing layout of floors, with some rooms requiring navigation through multiple staircases even on the same floor.
- Minor Room Issues: Occasional feedback includes issues like toilets not flushing properly or an inability to see out of windows.
- Noise: A recent review mentioned noise from a nearby student bar.
- Entrance Ambience: The presence of people smoking near the hotel entrance has been cited as off-putting by some.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •While generally highly rated, some recurring criticisms and issues have been noted by guests:
- •Room Lighting: Several guests have commented on rooms being "poorly lit and dark".
- •Minor Room Issues: Occasional feedback includes issues like toilets not flushing properly or an inability to see out of windows.
Google Reviews
762 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Fraser Greenwood
Lovely decor - as you would expect from a malmaison (dark and seedy 😉). Mixture of staff I interacted with weren’t rude but not overly friendly either. Main problem was the aircon in the room - so noisy, even when turned off. I did report it on my way out. Breakfast was lovely.
Response from the owner
Dear guest <br><br>Thank you for taking the time to let the hotel have your feedback following your recent stay with us.<br><br>This is very much appreciated.<br><br>Paul Eaves General Manager
Damon Wilson
Malmaison Reading continues to impress me every time I stay. I am a repeat customer and have stayed in several different rooms, all of which have been consistently spacious, very comfortable, and immaculately clean. The attention to detail in housekeeping is excellent and clearly well managed. The staff are professional, welcoming, and efficient, making check in and the overall stay smooth and en...
Response from the owner
Dear guest <br><br>Thank you so much for your FIVE STAR review of Malmaison Reading.<br><br>We are all so pleased to have received your customer feedback.<br><br>Paul Eaves General Manager
Gill W
Visited for Saturday morning breakfast as a non-resident. It was great. Friendly and professional front of house staff; really nice continental breakfast spread; well presented and tasty cooked options. We had the full English Breakfast and Eggs Benedict. Really nice experience and I would come again. I would recommend it if you fancy a hotel-style breakfast.
Response from the owner
Dear valued customer<br><br>Thank you so much for your FAB review of the Breakfast service at Malmaison Reading.<br><br>We are all so pleased that you enjoyed it!<br><br>Paul Eaves General Manager
Kath G
We’ve had a good short stay in Reading. My room was perfect. The evening was started with a great cocktail and meal at Chez Mal. The service at the bar & restaurant stood out. I especially want to highlight the outstanding service I received from Rachel. Thank you
Response from the owner
Dear guest <br><br>Thank you for your FAB review you have written for Malmaison Reading.<br><br>We are all so pleased that you enjoyed your stay.<br><br>Paul Eaves General Manager
Zaran Bandrawala
Visited Reading and Oxford for a weekend trip so decided to stay in Malmaison. This was my first time ever with a Malmaison property and I’m happy to say they are a really good Brad offering a value for money hospitality for their customers and they go slightly beyond what you’d expect which is always great! Their rooms also are cosy and you can connect your device to the television for streaming...
Response from the owner
Dear guest <br><br>Thank you so much for your LOVELY review of Malmaison Reading.<br><br>We are all so pleased that you enjoyed your stay ! <br><br>Paul Eaves General Manager
Peter Clark
The hotel is ideally placed, close to the town centre and train station. Our room 201, was clean, comfortable and large. The bathroom was well equipped with a large bath and separate shiwer. Breakfast was excellent with a good selection of quality items for both the continental and the cooked breakfasts.selections. The only problem we encountered was the noise level outside the hotel at night. Our...
Response from the owner
Dear guest <br><br>Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.<br><br>This is very much appreciated.<br><br>Paul Eaves General Manager
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