Renaissance Reading Hotel - Reading, United Kingdom 

I stayed here for one night as part of a hen weekend. The room was very large with two double beds in it! more than enough for me and my friend. The bathroom was clean and had everything you could ask for (Clean towels, toiletries, power shower, bath etc There was plenty of storage and the room was decorated to a high standard. The location is excellent, 2 mins walk from the station and around 5 mins from the shopping centre and bars. Brekfast was great, fresh, hot cooked food and your usual cerials and pastrys. I would not recommend this hotel for a romanric break, as it's too simple and there is nothing special about it, buts it's perfect if you need a really comfortable, clean room near to all the sights in Reading.

I stay at the Renaissance every year in August for the annual Reading music festival and it's insanely overpriced for that particular weekend, but I enjoy the leisure facilities and the fact that so many people who work at the festival stay here and it's easy to get a lift to the festival site from the hotel with other guests or walk. It's in the city centre, and just a short stroll from all the main shopping centre of Reading. The rooms here are very spacious, but average and nothing special. I first stayed back in the early 1990s when it will still The Ramada and things have improved. The buffet breakfast is actually excellent and there is loads of choice. The health club facilities are the best in any hotel in Reading and the pool is big compared to the small pool at the Crowne Plaza (formerly Holiday Inn) and there is a unisex steam room and separate saunas in the the mens and women's changing rooms. The complimentary tolietries are good here, forget your toothbrush, razor or comb and they are free from housekeeping. Beware of high bar prices! Best to hang out at at another bar in the city centre rather than in the hotel.