The Hare And Hounds At Speen
The Hare And Hounds At Speen descritpion
With a great location just half a mile from the A34 road and 1 miles from Newbury town center, the hotel has been refurbished to reflect its 17th-century heritage.
Since 2005, the Hare and Hounds at Speen has been privately owned by Jonathan and Jean Nelsey, who aim to provide the standards expected of a quality hotel. The renovations have put the pride back into this historic inn, while retaining the building’s historic features and character.
The rooms are split between the main house and the cottage mews and all include a flat-screen TV and a DVD player, and guests have access to a free DVD library.
Free Wi-Fi wireless internet access is available throughout the hotel.
With a highly acclaimed restaurant and a traditional pub bar, the Hare and Hounds at Speen is a popular venue for dining out in Newbury.
Free parking is available in the large parking lot.
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Facilities of The Hare And Hounds At Speen
Outdoors ：BBQ Facilities | Grounds
Pets ：Free!Pets are allowed. No extra charges.
Activities ：Golf Course (within 2 miles)
Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar | Restaurant with Dining Menu
Internet ：Free!WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Parking ：Free!Free public parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).
Services ：Laundry | Dry Cleaning | Ironing Service | Suit Press
General ：Non-smoking Rooms | Heating
Reviews for The Hare And Hounds At Speen
Review 1：Only downside would be for late risers - weekend breakfast felt a bit tight being only available 8-9h30. Paid for it in the rate but missed it twice. No big deal; if I'd known in advance I just would have taken the option ex-breakfast.
Review 2：Cosy, charming.. staff were great. Shout out to Claire and the team for being so warm and welcoming. Rooms simple but perfectly comfortable and exceptionally clean. The whole place is clearly managed with pride.
Review 3：Faultless
Review 4：Just of the Miotorway- a hidden gem Superb rooms Beautiful restaurant with great selection Friendly and efficient staff Comfy bed Hot water. Big bath towels Wi fo
Review 5：We felt the starters we had were poor value. Happy to pay the price but portion size was measly. Long wait between courses due to large parties on other tables. To be expected I suppose at this time of year.
Review 6：warm comfortable clean bedroom. good food and lovely dining area. the barn was great. Overall very good though. Friendly owner and staff.
Review 7：The staff were very help full especially the dining waitress who went out of her way to make sure a young guest of ours was made welcome and that he had something to his pallet.
Review 8：Bathroom was teeny, but was nice and clean so not too fussed!
Review 9：Loved that the room had an old fashioned cosy style but still maintained a level of freshness, it felt like a little house and was super cute! Dinner was fab, fish and chips ( and boyfriend's steak) were yum and the waitress was a good laugh. Very unique pub and accommodation experience in a good way.
Review 10：The meal in the restaurant but it was my fault, I chose the curry which you should never do in a non-Indian restaurant. It was awful, I can do better myself at home! I should have gone for the steak, my first inclination.
Review 11：Nothing at all.
Review 12：I was given a ground floor room on request. Room very comfortable, well furnished and nice large bath towels. Breakfast was delicious, freshly cooked. The staff were lovely, friendly and efficient. Would highly recommend to all my friends. And so close to the Watermill Theatre.
Review 13：Room lighting a bit drear but it looked as though they were in process of re-furbishing the rooms when we were there
Review 14：Excellent dinner in very pleasant dining room Pleasant staff
Review 15：Wifi reception very poor. I need this for business and was told it was good.
Review 16：We arrived late in the evening off the cross channel ferry. The bar staff were about to close but welcomed us and were happy to served us with a refreshing beer.
Review 17：TV far to small. Felt like I was watching it from a mile away.
Review 18：On arrival we where welcomed by Johnathan, he was a delight to chat with. Lovely homely feel to our bedroom. Great bar and restaurant. Good breakfast provided in the room rate.
Review 19：The room was far too hot and being on the ground floor it was a concern to keep the only window in the room open. There was no security catch on the window but we had no choice but to keep it open - the alternative was to bake!! It was a very uncomfortable night. Overall, the room was pretty basic and at nearly £90 for the night it was very poor value in my opinion.
Review 20：The breakfast was good and the service in the breakfast room was good.
Review 21：The staff were friendly and 1 in particular went out of her way to help me with a future booking. The room was lovely, well decorated, clean and cozy! It was so quiet especially as it was over a pub/restaurant. Would definitely recommend
Review 22：Very squeaky bed. (Room 31 - management advised, & they were unaware & will sort) Bit of generator noise and road noise - but we live in a quiet rural area, so probably more sensitive than most people.
Review 23：Receptionist in morning - lovely lady. Clean & efficient property. Lovely room with lounge area - which was totally unexpected. Good breakfast.
Review 24：n/a
Review 25：Location, room size & comfort, on-site facilities. Staff were extremely helpful, nothing too much trouble. They're aim to ensure our stay was good. Will return.
Review 26：The wifi wasn't really strong enough except in the lobby, the lights weren't working in our apartment area.
Review 27：Beautiful venue- I can see why they do parties and receptions. Very handy to have such a nice restaurant on site.
Review 28：Evening meal was very enjoyable .very good service and friendly staff.restaurant layout was excellent and spacious and the adjoining garden lit up was very nice .
Review 29：Staff were not very welcoming, we stood at reception to have 2 members of staff walk pass and not even acknowledge us.
Review 30：The room was beautiful and clean.
Review 31：Would prefer a walk in shower. Not the most comfortable of beds but appreciate difficult to suit everybody.
Review 32：Friendly staff fabulous evening meal and good breakfast. Good location
Review 33：I wouldn't call this a pet friendly hotel, yes pets are accepted but there is nowhere for the dogs to run around. I had to put them back in the car and find a different location to walk them, which was inconvenient but necessary. The food in the restaurant was above average but overpriced for the quality, and the service was below what I would expect of this type of establishment. My bill was incorrect in the morning and had other guests food and drink added to it! It was resolved by a very helpful receptionist, however it all seemed very disorganised.
Review 34：The room was fabulous, excellent size and well laid out. The location was spot on for my business needs. If I hadn't had a dog the grounds would have been perfect for my requirements
Review 35：We booked three rooms and were rather disappointed. We had to change one of the rooms booked due to a bad smell and no water pressure. The water pressure was also an issue in one of the other rooms booked. In addition we were not able to get the free wifi at all in any of the rooms.
Review 36：if I had to say one thing the bathroom in our room was a little compact. the space that was there was well used, but still could have done with a bit more room.
Review 37：Everything, Good value for money, staff extremely friendly, food brilliant, room clean, decently priced and had everything that we needed. we paid only just over a hundred pound all in all for our dinner, drink, bed and breakfast, and it couldn't have been more comfy and a nicer evening.
Review 38：room up 2 flights of winding stairs. cramped washing area. stuffy room, abrupt welcome by male member of staff, room grubby. Restaurant food grossly overpriced, small portions, even had to pay extra £1.50 for 'a tomato & flat mushroom' on my steak. 3 of us dined and none of us were happy with the food. also limited parking
Review 39：The Barn, a fabulous room. Female staff very polite & helpful. Breakfast very nice.
Review 40：We booked a 'small double' and it lived up to its name! Very cramped en-suite. Very uncomfortable bed.
Review 41：Well located on main road just outside Newbury. Helpful, friendly staff. Pleasant bar area with good range of ales. Fabulous dining venue.
Review 42：We had the misfortune to collide with a wedding party, which made a quiet night in the bar an impossibility (just one of those things) Breakfast good, except for over cooked poached eggs, as I like runny yolks.
Review 43：Staff were attentive and friendly. Liked the idea of staying in a mews cottage away from the main building.
Review 44：Stairs quite difficult for someone with mobility problems. we had requested ground floor room if possible, but request not ackowledged
Review 45：Location. Friendly staff
Review 46：Relaxed atmosphere. Some fine ales to sample. Nice meal in the pub with a good bottle of wine. Friendly staff. Then a decent breakfast to top off a very enjoyable stay. Very handy for the A34/M4, just don't take 1st exit south of MRe4 like I did as you end up having to go through Newbury, D'oh.
Review 47：You had to keep logging on to the internet with trouble. everywhere else we stay this happens automatically over a number of days. Staff was helpful though.
Review 48：Breakfast was great. Helpfulness of the staff was also great.
Review 49：Not all channels available on tv Cooked breakfast - local bacon very tasty, baked beans tasty -other items not good at all - tinned mushrooms, watery scrambled egg and bland sausages. Evening menu needs more healthy options - salads/pasta
Review 50：Evening meal great value for money, good service on a busy night
Review 51：Booked this hotel as a stop off point on our way down to Southampton and although we had one of the smaller rooms it was clean and comfortable. The staff were very friendly and accommodating and we had a lovely meal in the restaurant. Will definitely book again next time we are travelling down to Southampton.
Review 52：We chose Hare and Hounds at Speen to be within an hour's drive of Stonehenge (well, almost) and with good railway access to London. It worked out perfectly. The staff could not have been more helpful. We would stay here again.
Review 53：Couldn't connect to the wifi. Not enough staff at breakfast who were very rushed leaving customers waiting for tea and toast, I had to ask 3 times for our toast and sauce and in the end felt like I was being a pain.
Review 54：Lovely venue, bar and accommodation, lovely breakfast also.
Review 55：Menu was quite good but only quoted for a minimum of 2 courses. We only had 1 course but still charged for 2. A steak pie with chips was a little expensive at £19.
Review 56：great place to stay. Nice friendly bar. Room was clean and comfortable.
Review 57：Wifi a reception was a bit up and down..
Review 58：Everything about the place was excellent.. The staff were amazing and the price for everything swam some. They even provided room service to us although it's not part of the normal practice. I WILL be back. Thank you..
Review 59：third bed very hard and narrow; duvets too narrow; no heating in bedroom
Review 60：friendliness and helpfulness of staff; excellent breakfasts; pleasant and picturesque location and surroundings
Review 61：Not ideal for business travellers, not close to the city center, heater is switched off during the nights, breakfast us slow
Review 62：Lovely hotel in a old Manor, near the highway Lots of space and greenery all around
Review 63：Hated pretend 'library' wallpaper - really bad, other than that enjoyed the meal but not remarkable.
Review 64：Bed comfort, luxury hard pillows, free DVD's, easy too find and convenient location very accessible from M4.
Review 65：no wi-fi coverage in our room at the back of the site, so if we'd been hoping to use it for work I guess we'd have had to go into the main building
Review 66：the welcome the staff the room the breakfast the location
Review 67：There was nothing I was dissatisfied with.
Review 68：Very nice independently run hotel. I was made very welcome on my arrival and the room was nice. I spent a while in the bar before going out for the evening, it was very welcoming and the bar staff extremely pleasant. It was a good location for me because I was visiting friends who live opposite.
Review 69：Rooms where good but looking a bit tiered.
Review 70：Nice in the pub area Very good food, but expensive for a pub. Staff where very helpful Nice and quiet
Review 71：We couldn't get the wifi to work very well in our room which was in an outside building.
Review 72：The location and the look of the hotel were lovely. The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. The room was cosy and warm on a really cold night and there were plenty of drinks and nice biscuits. The breakfast was excellent and the staff and surroundings excellent.
Review 73：The only slight thing was a faint sound of whirling from what we think was the maintenance room outside but this didn't stop us having a great night sleep.
Review 74：We arrived early due to the time of the first race at Newbury races. From the very start the staff were friendly, they booked us a table for the evening meal which was really good. Our room was number 17 it was a good size and comfortable, the room was seperate from the Hotel but that really wasn't a problem the Hotel back entrance was right opposite and well lite. There was a slight misunderstanding with the breakfast time being the week after Christmas but the staff where fantastic really accommodating and friendly. The breakfast was really good and service was fast. My overall opinion of this Hotel is that its a great place to stay and certainly the best place we have stayed in when we have visited Newbury for the race meetings,
Review 75：poor service in restaurant , long wait between ordering drinks and being served them , and staff forgetting our order ,however they did rectify this by not charging us for a bottle of wine.
Review 76：food was excellent in restaurant, good selection of all drinks and coffee in bar.The new conservatory was very nice as was the bar, has a nice ambience could have sat there all day.
Review 77：Accommodation to a high standard. The food (both evening and breakfast) were plentiful and well presented. The location was also good. The staff were most helpful and friendly. Would certainly return and stay again.
Review 78：The noise of traffic as it's on a busy road but we used the double glazing and this did block out the sound of cars.
Review 79：Our evening meal and breakfast were excellent. The price for the accommodation and breakfast is very good value.
Review 80：I think it's not a good hotel for a tall men (more than 190 cm) because the room had a low ceiling. the reason of that - this is an old-styled hotel. I have 184 cm and this is fine.
Review 81：1) good food 2) good sleeping 3) good location
Review 82：There's nothing I didn't like
Review 83：They were very friendly and welcoming , service was efficient and quick and food delicious a real cosy homely feel :)
Review 84：I felt that there wasn't enough milk or teabags for the three of us in the room We also would have liked the breakfast to be on a bit later at the weekend although I understand that probably wouldn't have been feasible. I would have liked softer pillows.
Review 85：The manager gave us information about the clubs and which ones to go for. The breakfast was very good although I only had the bacon and toast, my friends had the full english and said it was very tasty. We also liked the fact that we could come back in the evening no matter how late it was because we did not have to go through the main entrance.w
Review 86：Our room was a bit noisy, sounds coming from the street as well as other guests in the same building going in and out.
Review 87：The room was clean and the bed was very comfortable. Loved being able to soak in the bath tub! The free traditional English breakfast was good and plenty. I especially loved the old charm of this quaint B&B, like the old exposed beams in the ceiling of our room and the dining room. I wanted something very old and British and I got it.
Review 88：Customers dog in an area where there was food being served....for me personally........ a very BIG no no!!! While we were there Wi-Fi was 'down', (quite a few commented about it).
Review 89：Liked the apartment rooms, especially with them having ground floor access and also being of very good size. ALL meals we had were of excellent quality...especially the evening meal we had was superb. Staff were all polite and helpful.
Review 90：The room was decorated in mid 60's modern. It was clean but nothing fancy. The dining room served poor food and there was nowhere within several miles to eat.
Review 91：It was the end of our vacation and we could laugh that this was the only accomodations I picked out by my self!
Review 92：Low ceilings, friendly, but uninterested and a bit slow staff.
Review 93：Basic, bit old fashioned rooms, but spacious and clean. Great base for Oxford and the Cotswolds. Decent food in the restaurant.
Review 94：Busy road. Unpleasant odour in the room, but we were given a discount and apology. Disappointing choice of fruit for breakfast.
Review 95：Friendly staff. Good food. Good parking.
Review 96：The staff in the morning clearly did not share the managers enthusiasm or good customer service skills. Room was lovely but the bathroom was tiny with nowhere to put soaps or toothbrushes etc the shelf itself was above the toilet which was odd.
Review 97：Was greeted by a lovely lady who turned out to be the manager who made us feel very welcome. Food was delicious that we had at lunchtime. Breakfast was lovely. Room very tidy and the bed comfortable.
Review 98：Can't think of anything - we'll be returning!
Review 99：Friendliness and helpfulness of all the staff Quiet ground floor room, excellent with dog Lovely food (dinner and breakfast) Very easy to find, just off A34
Review 100：Unfortunately the matress was not of a good standard - rather thin and uncomfortable so didn't sleep well. We did tell the girl at recepetion when we paid and she was terribly sorry to hear it - but didn't offer any kind of recompense or assure us she would pass it onto the owners!
Review 101：The proprietors are obviously trying hard to get things right and had made a lovely job of renovating the pub itself. We stayed in one of the stable rooms which wa clean and furnished like a Premier Inn rather than old world charm, which may have been more in keeping. Nice and quiet away from the road, which is what we requested. The meal was very nice and the staff were pleasant and polite.
Review 102：Our room had one small window and felt like a cell whereas the one next door had a lovely bay window as well as a large window but were priced the same. Wouldn't actually stay in either room again however!
Review 103：the restaurant was OK
Review 104：Evening meal was very average. Pork belly crackle was very tough and could not eat. Appeared the have been heated in microwave, definately not fresh.
Review 105：Excellent location for overnight stay. Friendly staff.
Review 106：Crowds coming out the pub woke us up but thats out of the owners control.
Review 107：Staff were very friendly and helped where they could. Lovely pub with lots of character. Nice cottage room.
Review 108：Dog being sick in bar area!! Not hotels fault but should dogs be allowed in the hotel/bar?
Review 109：Simple food, good breakfast, easy location for Heathrow etc.
Review 110：There was nothing I didn't like . It suited our long W/E perfectly.
Review 111：Instant attention to a minor issue, was dealt with by the owner and carried through by front line staff.
Review 112：The owners try very hard to provide an outstanding experience and they succeeded. I am very critical but genuinely thought they did a super job. Quiet light airy room so close to A34 and M3 and yet couldn't hear traffic. I booked at less than a day's notice and they made up spare bed in the room. Hottest day of the year and a fan already in room. Excellent breakfast cooked to order inc mushrooms and fried bread plus usual bacon, eggs,sausage, toms etc. |Home made yoghurt, loads of fruit etc. Lots of parking.
Review 113：Some traffic noise noticeable from some of our rooms. The wifi was weak in areas of the inn.
Review 114：Loved that the inn was in country and near walking paths. We in Speen as part of a family trip to visit area where ancestors lived befor immigrating to America in the 1920's. The Hare and Hounds was very close to where we wished to visit. An added nice surprise was Donnington Castle being within walking distance of the inn. Rooms were large and comfortable. The staff was really friendly and accomodating.
Review 115：Stairs dangerous and room dirty and need of redecorating
Review 116：Good location warm and quiet
Review 117：A little isolated on the location front
Review 118：Great staff and excellent food
Review 119：Nice friendly pub, good restaurant
Review 120：The actual place. Wonderful breakfast and very good staff.
Review 121：I had to work for part of my stay and the WiFi was unpredictable
Review 122：Warm friendly staff. Lovely room with a bay window. Good place to stay with a dog
Review 123：we were given an upstairs room which we found difficult to access but was soon sorted
Review 124：everything perfect as on our previous stays
Review 125：A very nice place to stay (a quiet and clean room) and an extremely helpful and friendly stuff. Thank you!
Review 126：Some bar staff could be a bit more friendly . But I still enjoyed the bar area
Review 127：staff were amazing nothing was a problem
Review 128：small tv
Review 129：£8.75 for two pints i thought i was in newbury not dubai.
Review 130：Breakfast area. Language of the staff
Review 131：Convenient location
Review 132：Breakfast on Sun am was slightly chaotic: hardly anyone got the exact meal they had ordered. Service was also rather slow.
Review 133：Shower barely worked
Review 134：Friendly staff, busy traditional pub with good food, close to Newbury town centre
Review 135：The homely feel of the Hotel and friendly staff