After the best part of two years spent under a forced travel ban, the staycation has never been so popular. Compared to other European countries, the UK has always catered particularly well for its at-home audience, with high-quality luxury options available the length and breadth of the country.
The competition is fierce, with staycationers vying for exclusive membership to hotel groups that cost thousands of pounds before you’ve even stepped inside the property. It’s a thriving industry and one that any new players will find challenging.
Somehow, The Retreat at Elcot Park has stormed onto the market and almost instantly received the sort of acclaim enjoyed by hotels that spend years building their reputation. Still, the hype is relatively modest and the prices even more so. Something tells us that this won’t be the case for long.
Blink and you’ll miss the entrance to The Retreat at Elcot Park, along a lane in the middle of the Berkshire countryside between Reading and Swindon. It opened as The Retreat in spring 2022, having previously operated as part of the Marriott group before being bought over and completely reimagined by the Signet Collection group.
It’s a mini staycation paradise built around the original 18th century manor house and its sprawling grounds. Monkey puzzle trees cast shade over croquet lawns and candy cane striped awnings frame the entrance. When we visit in early October there are already hints of Christmas dotted around the lobby, but this is the sort of setting where Christmas decorations in July wouldn’t seem at all out of place.
The hotel’s rooms are spread across the original building and a newer 90s-era wing. They vary in style, from suites with four-poster beds and standalone baths to the Classic rooms, where small touches create charm. ‘Charming’ is the perfect descriptor for The Retreat. Everything feels very personal – almost homemade, as though someone downstairs prepared it for you – and it exudes a laidback ambience that contrasts with the stuffiness of many British country estates.
The bedrooms contain a treasure trail of small treats waiting to be discovered. The hand-written welcome note from the team; water (still and sparkling) on the bedside table; a stack of magazines; and a bottle of homemade ginger liqueur with an Alice and Wonderland label inviting you to “have a tipple on us”. It feels like staying at a friend’s house.
The attention to detail that has gone into the whole experience at Elcot Park is impeccable. Guests have access to a shared pantry where they can help themselves to a complimentary supply of crisps, soft drinks and biscuits whenever they feel like it. It’s like living inside a child’s fantasy.
A corridor of cupboards display welly boots, raincoats and umbrellas in sizes big and small to protect guests against the inevitable British staycation weather.
There’s an onsite café and shop located in the hotel’s courtyard, complete with wine shop where guests can pick up a bottle to enjoy with their meal. The same courtyard hosts live music every week, and there’s even a hair salon in case you feel like dressing up for the occasion.
The Retreat is very family-friendly, offering children’s swimming hours, a play zone, and dedicated rooms with brightly-coloured bunkbeds for children. The whole family is welcome – including the dog.
The Retreat is surrounded by hectares of sprawling countryside just waiting to be explored. A stone’s throw away you’ll find Highclere Castle, Blenheim Palace, and a smattering of quaint villages and country pubs with real ale and roaring fires.
And despite providing the means to leave (electric bikes are available for rent) the team at The Retreat has made it very compelling to just stay put. The leisure and wellness wing has a gym, spa with jacuzzi pool, steam room, salt flotation chamber, and sauna, and a relaxation area with a variety of available treatments.
A special feature is the outdoor pool – heated, of course – with views over the expanse of countryside beyond.
The Retreat at Elcot Park is a feast for the eyes, decorated in a mix of stripes, pinks, florals, and offset with moody corners and ambient lighting. While the suites bring together bold patterns and antique furnishings, the classic bedrooms have a more subtle country cottage feel. The hotel doesn’t feel brand new and shiny. In fact, there are parts – particularly in the newer building – that almost feel a little shabby. The brown carpet in the Classic bedroom feels like a remnant of the hotel’s past life. But the whole experience is so endearing that you’re more than willing to pass off any imperfection as part of its charm; It’s certainly not enough to detract from the overall luxury.
There are several dining options on offer, from a laid-back family dinner with board games in the Atlas Room to a full private dining experience.
We opted for the latter, hosted in one of the grand dining rooms. The dining room offers complete privacy and a special menu of varying tastes and influences. Between us, we feasted on such delights as teriyaki popcorn cauliflower, truffle chicken Milanese, tamarind pork chop, and roasted Cornish hake.
Dessert is a Willy Wonka experiment of flavours; nutella bombolini and dark chocolate “nemesis” tort served with caramel popcorn.
After dinner, the bar offers a relaxed space to retire for one last night cap before bed.
And if you’re in the mood to stay up a little later, the bar has an extensive and well-selected wine list to choose from. Wine plays an important role at The Retreat, and the team is currently working towards accreditation as an approved programme provider for Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Levels one and two. Wine-related activities on offer include guided tastings and visits to local vineyards. The ‘house’ sparkling is Crémant.
It’s no surprise that The Retreat at Elcot Park has already generated such buzz and is fast becoming an influencer favourite. This could easily have been another manor house hotel offering average food and haughty service with an extortionate price tag. It’s refreshing to see that its management has bucked the trend and instead chosen to offer something friendly, accessible and fun.
We can only hope that the success inevitably coming its way won’t tarnish the charm, and that in years to come The Retreat at Elcot Park will still feel like visiting that friend who leaves treats in the guest room.
We stayed
in a Classic room, priced from £150 per night including spa access and breakfast (low season)
We ate
Private dining menu, priced at £45 per person, not including wine.
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