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Great Expectations Hotel & Bar

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Traveller (122)
Dining (12)
Room & Suite (9)

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About

#25 of 34 hotels in Reading
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value

Everyone needs a place to lay their weary head. For travellers visiting Reading, Great Expectations Hotel & Bar is an excellent choice for rest and rejuvenation. Well-known for its quirky environment and proximity to great restaurants and attractions, Great Expectations Hotel & Bar makes it easy to enjoy the best of Reading.

Great Expectations Hotel & Bar is a quirky hotel offering a flat screen TV in the rooms, and it is easy to stay connected during your stay as free wifi is offered to guests.

Plus, guests can enjoy free breakfast, which has made this a popular choice among travellers visiting Reading.

Given the close proximity of popular landmarks, such as Chestnut Walk (0.2 mi) and The Berkshire Yeomanry and Trooper Potts Memorial (0.2 mi), guests of Great Expectations Hotel & Bar can easily experience some of Reading's most well known attractions.

When you’re feeling hungry, be sure to check out Cosmo, Coconut Bar & Kitchen, and The SOJU, which are some Asian restaurants that are popular with locals and out-of-towners alike.

Reading is also known for some great ancient ruins, including Silchester Roman City Walls and Amphitheatre and Reading Abbey Ruins, which are not too far from Great Expectations Hotel & Bar.

Whether you’re travelling for business, pleasure or both, Great Expectations Hotel & Bar is sure to make your visit to Reading one worth remembering.

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Property amenities
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Free breakfast
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Non-smoking hotel
Room features
Coffee / tea maker
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
4.0 of 5 stars
HOTEL STYLE
Centrally Located
Mid-range
267Reviews6Q+A51Room tips

Reviews
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PeterG wrote a review Feb 2023
Oxford, United Kingdom7 contributions6 helpful votes
Positive Excellent location close to city centre, bars and cafe Recently renovated bar Friendly staff Price Negative Tired rooms in desperate need of updating Paper thin wall so can hear neighbours No staff in attendance for an early morning check out
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Holly C wrote a review Jul 2022
Defford, United Kingdom16 contributions6 helpful votes
Room comfortable but not as clean as it could be. Carpet dirty and has stains. Also mildew around shower and tiles. Toilet not clean either, not been flushed properly or cleaned. Hotel under renovation at time of visit. At first unsure how to check in. Rang all numbers on notice but no joy. Luckily noticed door was open slightly so was able to get in and was able to speak to someone and check in
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Gazzanorfolk wrote a review Mar 2022
Norfolk40 contributions8 helpful votes
Spent 4 nights here very recently, loved the layout of the bar and how it had different little sections. Staff fantastic , our room had a marvelous 4 poster huge bed , and the breakfast was top notch . Thurs nights host a quiz which is very interesting and competitive not to be missed if staying there . Will certainly be back again
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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LauraKerr26 wrote a review Feb 2022
Glasgow, United Kingdom38 contributions57 helpful votes
Didn’t expect much from this hotel for the price but we were pleasantly surprised. The rooms are very basic but were clean enough and had everything there we needed for a short stay. Everything is on your doorstep and the pub in the hotel is a great place to start your night off. The staff were all really friendly and very helpful and there was a good atmosphere, we seen a few meals being served and they all loooked nice. The breakfast was outstanding, we had the full English and didn’t have one complaint, there was plenty on the plate and the bacon especially was fantastic. I honestly feel we got more value for our money, If you want to live in luxury then this isn’t the place for you but if you want somewhere cheap and cheerful then we would 100% recommend.
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Date of stay: February 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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F00Di3S wrote a review Sept 2021
Essex, United Kingdom60 contributions46 helpful votes
Stayed here whilst in Reading the corridors smelt dusty..The room had marks and chipped walls, stained carpet and you could hear the pipes rattle at night. Ripped reception carpet ect… I think if you visit expecting a 4 star hotel you will be disappointed. But if you are looking for a cheap place to sleep for the night £45 is very reasonable. And the staff seemed friendly. Location is second to none.
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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DENISE V wrote a review Sept 2021
London, United Kingdom48 contributions57 helpful votes
Stayed for 2 nights in a three bedded room at the rear of the hotel on the second floor.Our room was a good size,clean and looked refurbished.The beds were comfortable and the bathroom modern.It was however annoying that a external fan could be heard running throughout the night and no toiletries were provided except a small bar of soap.The hotel as a whole is very nice with an old Dickensian theme.The location is good and we enjoyed our stay.We did not take breakfast at the hotel.
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Date of stay: September 2021
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Michael T wrote a review Aug 2021
London, United Kingdom138 contributions49 helpful votes
+1
Paid for by my care agency. I arrived late in the evening. It was booked through click travel so it took them a while to find my booking. The reception monitor was very flickery which didnt help. I was shown to my room. All the room doors were blue and had brass numbers. Corridors lit with footlights. My room was clean and the single bed was comfy. Pillows were new. The bed wasnt flush with the wall because the wall was an odd shape..The room had a wardrobe and good lighting. Carpets were clean and nice The curtains blacked out the outside light well. My room overlooked a car park. The windows were dirty as were the fan blades of the fan in my room. There was a TV but it didnt havr a signal. It wasnt until the morning that I tuned it. Reception on TV was good.The en suite had a shower basin and toilet. There was a hair dryer in the bathroom. Dowmstairs is a Dickens themed pub and reteraunt. There are lounge areas and a pool table. I had a nice juicy burger and fries and a cold beer. A major issue I had was the weak wifi and phone signal. I slept well and the hotel was quiet. In the morning I had a nice hot shower. I went down to breakfast. There was a selection of cereals and coffee and apple juice. I had nice poached eggs and toast with marmalade and a pot of tea. It was spoiled by the tv being on loudly showing paralympic table tennis when i wanted peace and quiet. I reccomend the hotel despite its flaws. But perfection is hard to obtain. Thank you team. You are a credit to your company. Keep up the good work
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled solo
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juliarodman wrote a review Jul 2021
Aberdeen, United Kingdom286 contributions203 helpful votes
We had a couple of nights to fill in waiting for our house boat in Reading, so decided to book Great Expectations for the good price and the location. We booked 2 rooms for myself and my husband and a twin for the teenagers. The rooms were a wee bit tired, but clean and serviced their purpose. The staff were all super friendly. Breakfast was included in the price too.
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Date of stay: June 2021
Rooms
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Mark W wrote a review Jun 2021
63 contributions18 helpful votes
Great place to spend the night!! Staff were courteous and accommodating and breakfast was good. Cheap and cheerful, would stay again! Close to lots of life in the form of other places to eat in a pleasant environment!! Close to secure parking facilities.
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
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Darren D wrote a review May 2021
6 contributions
Paid for a four poster bed and had two singles pushed together. Mattress was lumpy,bath curtain had mould and plumbing rattled so loud all night every 30-40 minutes that sleep was impossible. Complaint was totally ignored DO NOT pay to stay here
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Date of stay: December 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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PRICE RANGE
$123 - $176 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
great expectations hotel and bar, great expectations hotel bar
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandBerkshireReading
NUMBER OF ROOMS
29
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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GREAT EXPECTATIONS HOTEL & BAR - Reviews & Price Comparison (Reading, England) - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Great Expectations Hotel & Bar
Which popular attractions are close to Great Expectations Hotel & Bar?
Nearby attractions include TimeTrap Escape Rooms (0.5 km), Escape Hunt Reading (0.2 km), and Be At One Reading (0.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Great Expectations Hotel & Bar?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Great Expectations Hotel & Bar?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Great Expectations Hotel & Bar?
Conveniently located restaurants include Buenasado Argentine Steakhouse - Reading, Miller And Carter, and The Lyndhurst.
Is Great Expectations Hotel & Bar located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.2 km away from the centre of Reading.
Are there any historical sites close to Great Expectations Hotel & Bar?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Mapledurham House (6.2 km), Reading IDR (1.8 km), and Greyfriars Church (0.7 km).