Roseate Reading

A superbly stylish hotel needs a spa to match and the Aheli Spa exceeds expectation. The name derives from the Sanskrit for ‘pure’, and the result is a clean, contemporary space that gives a sense of tranquility, while opulent details (a touch of gold here, a cosy blanket there) really make you feel spoiled. There is no pool; this is a space that’s all about pampering. So start with a workout in the gym, unwind in the sauna and steam room and then make sure to indulge in a treatment or two.

The spa has three treatment rooms and deliver a bespoke menu of treatments designed to detox, cleanse, nourish, nurture, heal and rejuvenate. The range of face and body treatments offer holistic wellbeing through wraps, scrubs, facials and massages, but they also include a number of beautifully curated rituals that fuse different treatment elements. Choose for example from a Traditional Bali experience bringing together acupressure, reflexology and aromatherapy, or Yoga Therapy treatment including healing massage and yoga stretches.

In an awe-inspiring red brick building, the Roseate Reading has been described as the ‘UK’s sexiest townhouse hotel’ by the Evening Standard, and with little wonder. A smart historic building on the outside, inside it’s all plush fabrics, swanky wallpapers and elegant design, topped off with an impressive Italian glass chandelier made up of 86,000 beads. With lots of original features including an opulent restored lift and elaborate wood carvings, the hotel has 55 luxurious rooms and suites, all individually designed and all fitted with all the amenities (espresso machine, Bang & Olufsen audio visual systems, Penhaligon toiletries) to make travel easy and comfortable as well as all the style to make it a real treat. Choose from four poster beds in historic grandeur or more contemporary spaces with custom made furniture.

Dining at Roseate Reading is a glamorous affair with breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner all served in the The Reading Room Restaurant. Food is a modern European fusion, all using seasonal British ingredients, while the space is ultra contemporary and pleasingly chic. The Reading Room Cocktail Bar serves a joyful range of fine wines, Champagnes and inspired cocktails. Then there’s The Secret Garden, which is a real treat for the summer months - the relaxed outdoor space is a seductively lit sanctuary where you can relax with a drink by the waterfall feature and under the shade of a pomegranate tree.