Donnington Grove and Country Club

Donnington Grove and Country Club descritpion

On the outskirts of Newbury, overlooked by the historic Donnington Castle, this beautifully renovated 18th-century Gothic house is set in 550 acres of grounds with its own championship golf course.
Donnington Grove and Country Club has a beautiful, secluded position, with easy access to highways M4 and the A34. London Heathrow Airport is less than 50 minutes away.
There are 18 rooms with private bathrooms, all of which have satellite TV and tea/coffee makers.
The new clubhouse has a bar opening out onto an outdoor area for open-air dining. There is also a new restaurant serving carvery meals and delicious European cuisine. The restaurant leads to a southwest-facing terrace with views out over the practice area, lakes and the Lambourn River.
The 550-acre estate consists of a mixture of parkland, farmland and woodland, with the Lambourn River running through it. The championship golf course was designed by the Welsh Ryder Cup player, Dave Thomas.

Recommand

Low rates——No booking fees • Save money!Best price guarantee — enter dates to see these prices!
29 properties in Newbury——Including hotels, apartments, villas and more.
Manage your bookings online——Sign up for a FREE account·View a single booking.
385 independent reviews——We verify all reviews from guests who've stayed at Donnington Grove and Country Club. Find out more about Booking.com Reviews.
The staff speaks English——Donnington Grove and Country Club's staff speaks:Chinese,Vietnamese,Slovak,Russian,Romanian,Portuguese,Polish,Lithuanian,Japanese,Italian,Hungarian,Spanish,English,Czech
Booking is safe——When you book with us your details are protected by a secure connection.

Facilities of Donnington Grove and Country Club

Outdoors ：Grounds

Pets ：Pets are not allowed.

Activities ：Golf Course (within 2 miles) | Fishing | Sauna

Food & Drink ：Restaurant | Bar

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).

General ：Newspapers | Non-smoking Rooms | Facilities for Disabled Guests | Heating | All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

Reviews for Donnington Grove and Country Club

Review 1：We were asked to leave a comfortable in the downstairs of the property to a bar area upstairs because of a function and the bar was not equipped properly and no atmosphere

Review 2：Location and room

Review 3：The hotel was in a delightful setting. We had a choice of rooms and chose a room in the main hotel, overlooking the golf course and river. The staff were very friendly and helpful. There was a very good choice of breakfast and the evening meal was excellent value.

Review 4：It is Christmas time--- where were the decorations? The dining roomlacked any real feel of the Season and so did many of the rooms. Turkeydinner must have sage and onion!!!

Review 5：Hotel was warm Food was very good and well presented.

Review 6：Post code doesn't get TomTom to the door.

Review 7：Fabulous quiet location - enormous bathroom - very comfortable bed - excellent pillows and bedding - large TV in room.

Review 8：Arriving in the evening in the rain, it wasn't easy to navigate the winding long dark drive. With the incredibly mild autumn our room was far too hot, unfortunately the underfloor heating was impossible to control, and the window only opened 6 inches.

Review 9：Lovely location and grounds especially when viewed in the daylight. Room was elegant and clean. Choices at breakfast were excellent, especially at the prepaid rate.

Review 10：How the reception girl didn't believe I'd already paid for my room on check out which resulted in a cleaner going to look for my recept, and when he returned with it I got no apologies.. this was very unprofessional eeerrrrr

Review 11：The room

Review 12：Unbelievably hot room with no option of turning down heat, No hot water first morning due to faulty boiler. Long wait in bar for drink Staff promised to sort out the heating issue for the 2nd night, but issue remained unsolved. No compensation offered for subquality stay.

Review 13：Staff at front desk very helpful and friendly. Spacious room (106) Nice grounds surrounding hotel

Review 14：Tired carpets, tired bathrooms, inexperienced staff. No bar open. Deserted with many corridors that all had open windows. Couldn't open my window more than 6 inches. Plant noise running until midnight under or next to my room.

Review 15：Convenient for Newbury Centre

Review 16：We had a triple room. One bed was very soft, one hard and could feel the springs and one just right.

Review 17：Beautiful property and location. Food was good and breakfast was excellent.

Review 18：We had a terrible experience of our first night stay being positioned amongst a group booking of rooms for guests using function suite and smoking area, directly under our room. No sleep!! Tired room.

Review 19：The beautiful setting of the hotel. The breakfast was fresh and hot.

Review 20：We were placed in the new wing which has underfloor heating. It was absolutely boiling, and the concierge did turn off the heating at our request but it was still very hot. He brought up a fan and some water for us to help us through the night but it was very uncomfortable.

Review 21：The building is beautiful. The grounds are great for walks. The breakfast was really good. The room was well appointed.

Review 22：They had a problem with the heating and rooms were hot and it was difficult to fully open windows - not a major issue though

Review 23：Really friendly staff and nice place to stay plus food was great

Review 24：dinner was not served until 9:30 because the kitchen was busy with another group upstairs. We were tired and wanted a meal but couldn't get it when we went down at 7:30

Review 25：The view from my room and swans on the pond and wild life

Review 26：There was someone banging on the door of the room next to us in the early hours of the morning, which went on for quite some time, we did report it and they said the manager would contact us to apologize for this inconvenience but never did, although this would not stop us from staying at this hotel again.

Review 27：We stayed at the Donnington for its location to Newbury racecourse, its quite a grand place to stay with the look of an old country house, the grounds were beautiful and if you like golf then this is the place for you.

Review 28：The Staff we're incredibally helpful, efficient and proffesional from the moment we arrived until the moment we left. It is a beautiful property with everything you could wish for.

Review 29：Reception staff resolved a booking issue with a great result for us and worked hard to make sure our new rooms where up to standard despite our late arrival.

Review 30：The bar in the older part of the building was lovely and full of character. We were disappointed that this was only used for weddings.

Review 31：Was lovely place. Beautiful surroundings , large room, peaceful. Had a relaxing time. Good value for money. Felt like royalty.

Review 32：No bad experience, but a pool would really be great, and the room was very hot, Windows have restrictors on them. Thermostat needed attention which was fixed immediately. Still loved the place!

Review 33：Loved the location, 15 minute walk to Newbury. Lots of walking on site-although it is a little hazardous at times, as golfers playing around the grounds. Staff all helpful. Food was very good. Rooms spacious. Had a quiet and restful couple of days.

Review 34：- WiFi not available (despite stated otherwise) - Finding the room in the darkness is almost impossible (and you are left alone with your keys and a useless map...)

Review 35：- Surroundings: lake, golf field - Room

Review 36：Not a problem but good to know: you need to have a car to stay here. One of our three beds was more like a box spring with duvets over it. It was OK but not a normal mattress.

Review 37：This is a beautiful location. It is surrounded by a golf course with a lake. The breakfast was excellent. We had afternoon cream tea and it was delicious! I highly recommend this hotel!

Review 38：Rodent ,probably a rat running across ceiling of sons room.moved to a new room.On departure no apology, I asked about the experience to be told its a squirrel. Don't think Sqirrels squeak but does that make it okay anyway.

Review 39：Breakfast and grounds

Review 40：The noise from the TV in the room nextdoor was far too loud. I could hear their conversations and roudines which impacted on my sleep patterns.

Review 41：Room was clean, tidy and well equipped

Review 42：The dinning room and bar areas in the modern block lack charm, which is a shame because the older part of the building really has amazing spaces. I paid £140 last minute booking, maybe a little too much.

Review 43：Big rooms lots of character. Really comfy bed and linen. Service and food at dinner really very good. I can recommend.

Review 44：Our room was away from the main facility and did not have the upgraded amenities, but the value for our price was still acceptable.

Review 45：Absolutely loved the site. Fantastic main facility. Great meals. Friendly staff. Would loved to have had more time to explore.

Review 46：Our room has been split in half and not to private as we got asked to turn our tele down which wasn't loud by the people next door. And toilet had a muncher which made alot of noise. And the bath was half a bath not sure how u could have used it.

Review 47：The views and ceanary were fantastic

Review 48：Windows that would not open, so no fresh air. I can live without A/C but not when the windows don't open. Breakfast costs too much. 10 pounds when all you want is coffee, a roll & egg is too costly. Went to the restaurant in the local Waitrose Supermaket & had an egg, toast & coffee for 3 pounds.

Review 49：The country & peaceful setting.

Review 50：One of the beds was past its best, but we highlighted this to reception on checking out and they said it would be dealt with. We didn't like the coffee at breakfast, which had a chicory taste.

Review 51：The location on a beautiful golf course and nearby lake. Lovely big spacious room and nice bathroom. Very welcoming reception.

Review 52：Green, neon lighting in the room (assume to light the way to the exit in case of emergency) kept me awake initially as room never really got dark. Also room overlooked refuse bins so had to close the window. Staff chatting at the bins the next morning. Apparently no other rooms available to move to.

Review 53：Good for an overnight stay. Comfortable bed, spacious room. One of the few hotels to offer a triple room of proper single beds and not sofa/pull-outs.

Review 54：The bath and tiles around it were grubby in the bathroom (201) and hadn't been washed for goodness knows how long. You could feel the grime on it. Also the valance sheets of both beds were filthy. The staff were pleasant and courteous but their approach was all a little casual, particularly in the bar. This was once a beautiful house but now it is rough around the edges and needs investment both financial and emotional. Eg the skirting boards are coming away from the walls! The bar was loud and not in keeping with the hotel. The upstairs bar would have been a little more relaxing had it been open.

Review 55：The outside of the castle and it's original features, eg the staircase and the painted wallpaper, the grounds.

Review 56：First things first: the place looks nothing like the photographs. It isnot a castle like they trick you to make you think it is, but anoverpriced and cheap in quality hotel. For £100 per night someoneexpects to see something more than a boring and with just the basicsroom that in any other case you wouldn't have paid more than 1/3of its price. The room had a feeling of dirtiness , the bathroom afeeling of emptiness , the corridors/whole look of the place afeeling of boredom. You think that you will have a night in a castle asa prince/princess and you end up having a night in a castle as aservant in a tiny room.We regret the money/time we spent on that "luxury" hotel. By the way the beautiful and romantic gardens that you see in the photos, are full of duck-poo so if this ruins your romantic/relaxing walk there don't complain!. You have been warned! :)

Review 57：- Nice parking..

Review 58：The most perfect location if you need to be in Oxfordshire. Close enough proximity to main roads, but still quiet, for easy access throughout the county.

Review 59：Expensive breakfast given small size of 'Full' English. Reception staff who do not know the time of breakfast or that I had called ahead 24 hrs and booked a table in the restaurant.

Review 60：Very helpful lady in the bar when we were moved there instead of the restaurant (golf event ran over). Good service during the meal and she corrected the mistake of the chap on reception who had told us breakfast at 0730; it is 0700.

Review 61：I didn't like how I was charged extra for using a credit card without being told there was a charge (there was a sign that I only noticed afterwards). I was also asked for my card both at check in and check out without an explanation as to why they needed it twice.

Review 62：The location is stunning - very quiet and beautiful. The room was great and kept to high standards of cleanliness and functionality.

Review 63：Noisy there was a BT party on a Monday night. with an early morning business meeting this was insufferable The room and corridors were in a state of "work in progress" with flaking paitwirk

Review 64：Location

Review 65：The wet room type shower flooded the bathroom very quickly. Unfortunately the mushrooms and poached eggs at breakfast were overcooked

Review 66：Received a room upgrade when checking in which was a pleasant surprise. It was very comfortable and the staff were very pleasant

Review 67：Nothing to complain about.

Review 68：Young "intern" man, who checked us in, was exceptional, for his limited experience in hospitality. He was totally concerned about us having a pleasant and comfortable experience. A conscientious manager, in the making!

Review 69：Be aware that if you book, you may not be staying in the main lodge that you see in the picture. We were in a row of cottages a little way down the road.

Review 70：The room service was quick. The location and view of the golf course was nice. The breakfast was ok.

Review 71：Wifi was poor on lap top in the room, but worked via phone. Guess due to being top floor, as worked fine downstairs.

Review 72：Much better value than you would ever get from a 3*. I would have preferred a gym, but booked on location, setting and price and not disappointed. Great early morning walk around the golf course when sun was rising. If gym etc is not important, skip all the 4*'s in the area and go here instead.

Review 73：Amazing grounds, super helpful staff, and our room was a dream. It felt like a luxurious vacation, but it did not break the bank! I will 100% come back here again the next time I am in the UK.

Review 74：Bathroom very small and noisy. Could hear macerating toilet from adjacent room as well as our own which made for a disturbed nights sleep. Reception a bit disorganised - didn't book our taxi as requested - and when reports noisy toilet response was "yeah they are a bit old!" Wifi didn't work in the room and the TV wouldn't hold the station.

Review 75：Great views from the room which was well equipped except the TV. Easy parking outside front door. Good breakfast with attentive and flexible service.

Review 76：Only wish we could have stayed longer! :-)

Review 77：We stayed in the honeymoon suite and it was fit for a king! Probably has more square footage than my entire home. It was beautiful, the staff was wonderful! We ordered take out from the resturaunt and enjoyed it in our room. Absolutely perfect stay!

Review 78：Stark public rooms, looking as if not yet rearranged from a last-nights function (presume it's a popular wedding venue)- no charm, decor bleak, not a flower in sight, but lots of celebrating golfers. Fair enough, it's a golf club. All inside and gardens look jaded - golf facilities look pretty neat to this non golfer. A disappointment.

Review 79：External appearance, approach and grounds. Some staff tried really hard. Easy parking

Review 80：the shower drain was almost blocked - made the "wet room" style shower unusable. Rather spoilt our first morning. The hotel did fix this the same day - but their cleaning staff should have spotted the problem before we arrived. rather short dinner menu which didn't change during our 3 night stay. We dined on two nights. Any more and we'd have run out of choices. no way of controlling heating in room (it was May but unseasonably cold) We could only use the "conservatory" when it was sunny. no proper hotel lounge, though there was a fairly comfortable bar. Dinner on our last night was spoilt by two extremely noisy all male golfing groups - with another one monopolising the bar.

Review 81：we liked the room - worth paying extra for a summer house room. Ours was one of two with its own little conservatory (worth asking) friendly staff problem with shower rectified the same day good choice at breakfast dinners nicely cooked & presented a decent choice of lighter bar meals pleasant grounds - nice for a stroll as long as you kept clear of the golfers

Review 82：The cooked breakfast was poor, the bacon and sausage was well over cooked and the egg was like slime. No toast. Our evening meal was average and we were disappointed that we weren't told of the bar menu.

Review 83：Loved the location and the appearance of the hotel and grounds, the room was clean, tidy and had everything we needed

Review 84：Cold bathroom Modern restaurant rather like a motorway cafe

Review 85：Beautiful, peaceful 550 acre setting. Elegant historic building Friendly welcome Space! We went for a refreshing walk. Would stay again

Review 86：I arrived at night, and there was very minimal signage. I was given a map to direct myself to the rooms (which was a good 5-10 min walk away), was not offered any help with my luggage. The lights on the road to the lakehouse rooms were motion-activated, so the road was very dark and had to find the rooms. The bed was very soft (you could feel the springs).

Review 87：The greenery and lake around the manor.

Review 88：Restaurant facilities and menu options limited, needs a refurb.

Review 89：Room 1 is a great spacious room, with a lovely modern bathroom a lovely view of the gardens and lake from windows.

Review 90：Cleanliness was really poor. We found lots of rubbish when we enter the room, the glaces were smelly and there were about four spiders on the ceiling.

Review 91：Staff, WFi and location

Review 92：The place (taxi costs the same like to any other hotel in town but it is all placed in lovely nature. Fells rather like holiday than sleeping over for business. Great and helpful staff. The rooms being actually small cottages outside with terraces and view to the nature. Free and reliable WiFi Very good food and drinks (also much cheaper than other options like Hilton or regular Donny).

Review 93：Rooms were half a mile away from reception! Driving at night is difficult as it was dark, very narrow road and not properly sign posted inside the golf course. Lake view rooms have glass front door - so if you are leaving, inside of your room is viewable from outside!

Review 94：Good view if you are on a leisure trip. Room was clean. Wifi was good.

Review 95：room was basic, unfortunately for such a wonderful location there was so many rooms wasted and the hotel isn't run for actual guests just for the golf course users, but even that bar/bistro was a little bland. such a shame

Review 96：gorgeous location, beautiful building and grounds, staff are very nice and helpful,

Review 97：the building looks great from the outside, however its tired inside. Set up for golfers and corporate events. Room was a lake view bungalow and the bathroom was a huge wet room designed for disabled use. Felt a bit like being in a hospital.

Review 98：the location was close to the m4, stunning grounds - great for golfers.

Review 99：The staff were warm, friendly and very helpful with my daughter and I. Out room was lovely - huge with lots of character - very special. The original building is full of character - we loved it.

Review 100：Hotel needs a complete re fit. The rooms are large but in need of updating. A shame as a great location.

Review 101：The Staff were friendly and helpful, excellent breakfast

Review 102：Staff were lovely but not all understood English. Dining room could do with a refurb especially the carpet.

Review 103：The location was excellent for visiting Highclere. Very comfortable rooms with patio area, perfect for sitting out on lovely sunny evenings. Excellent breakfast.

Review 104：Underfloor central heating on full blast making room too hot for me and only way to call room was to open all windows, night life then kept me awake for ages.

Review 105：Quality hotel with attentive friendly helpful staff, food great, in stunning grounds

Review 106：There wasn't anything to dislike

Review 107：The grounds were amazing It was peaceful with big birds on the river which flows through the grounds The staff were eccellent the room was lovely and spacious for the 3 of us I would say this was our best accommodation for our stay I would happily go bsck

Review 108：Atmosphere in the bar was cold, not very welcoming, maybe some music would help. Quality of the food served in the bar was of poor standard for the prices charged.

Review 109：Location was stunning Room was beautiful, spacious and clean Breakfast was excellent and the staff were very friendly

Review 110：The food was fair at best. The pub staff well intentioned but not well trained or knowledgeable. Tough walk up countless flights of stairs.

Review 111：It is a very old manor home of a wealthy family going back hundreds of years. It is in an amazing setting. This is Upstairs Downstairs.

Review 112：Absolutely stunning hotel, gorgeous location! The view from out room was amazing! Sat outside for hours enjoying the sunshine with a glass of wine! The dinner was amazing an our waitress was so friendly an lovely :)

Review 113：Staff was unfriendly and unavailable. The breakfast room staff was poorly trained. Shower was hard to work, and the bathroom and room needed more light.

Review 114：Size of room was large, and they actually gave us washcloths. Room was clean.

Review 115：We have no complaints what solver about the DONNINGTON GROVE ,

Review 116：Went down to Newberry to see where Downtown Abbey was filmed, Loved everything about it, its just as it says on the website in fact even better, and the scenery was fantastic. Would definitely go there again even just for the privilege of staying in this lovely building, the food was excellent, the staff wonderful especially Mario who checked us in, shame we only booked one night, would definitely recommend this hotel to my friends

Review 117：Limited internet (none in room, good in the upstairs pub), breakfast a bit expensive, room décor a bit simple.

Review 118：Staff friendliness, quiet, early check-in, golf course, breakfast, manor house.

Review 119：The choise of vegetarian meals

Review 120：We were a party of six three generations of a family ages ranged from 87 to 50. We all enjoyed the courtesey of all the staff the rooms were excellent and the food in the restaurant was superb. will visit again for sure if we are in the area. a great stop over for Downton Abbey

Review 121：We stayed on a Wednesday night and there was quite a bit of noise from people outside on the patio.

Review 122：Nice place to stay, beautiful scenery, quaint castle-like, easy parking, wifi.

Review 123：The toilet in room 301 makes an awful noise when you flush, so avoid that room! Traffic noise is constant but far enough away not to be a major issue.

Review 124：Being in the middle of park/golf course meant there were trees all around and a lovely lake at the front. Breakfast was good. We didn't have dinner as we were at a "do" at The Watermill, which is an easy walk from the hotel. The staff were helpful.

Review 125：No airconditioning, poor cot for 4th child although staff tried to accommodate with an extra flimsy mattress, no screens, ceilings filled with bugs, spiders, no air flow on hot summer nights.Note, we stayed in the main house.

Review 126：The country beauty, the grounds, the historicity and beauty of the building, proximity to the motorway. Also excellent breakfast with excellent choices and variety. Size of room was excellent and nice large ensuite bathroom. Loved walking and jogging through the property.

Review 127：I was told there was an ensuite bathroom but it was a wet room with only a shower.The beds were very poor.

Review 128：Helpful staff and the food was very good - breakfast and dinner

Review 129：My girlfriend and I stayed here for one night mid week for a short staycation. The staff at the hotel were extremely friendly and helpful and arranged for a beautiful bouquet of flowers, champagne and chocolates to be in the room when we arrived. We stayed in room 303 which was amazing and would recommend to anyone. Mario was particularly helpful and went out of his way to make sure we had the best stay possible. We will definitely be back!

Review 130：The only complaint, and it is a minor point, is the hotel could do with an update. It is a rather grand hotel in lovely grounds, but it feels like it needs a good clean through.

Review 131：Close to M4, great location, views are awesome. Very polite and friendly greeting, gratefully received after a long day travelling.

Review 132：We were very tired on our arrival and we had to climb three flights of stairs before reaching our room. We are both in our seventies, and that should have been taken into consideration when allocating a room. We were asked if we wanted to change rooms and go to an outside block, which at the time we thought too tiring. As for the bed it was much too soft and I could not sleep all night. We had to go and get our own bottles of water, which meant having to climb three flight of stairs, because they would have charged us 2.50 for them to bring it. upstairs. I thought that was quite preposterous!!!

Review 133：The Location, the room size was excellent and the view was also very good. As for the price I was a little disappointed when they asked me £3 for using my credit card. The price quoted on the internet did not include VAT and that was not mentioned when I made the booking.

Review 134：Few more directional signs around the hotel, particularly towards bar/restaurant areas would have been helpful, however one can always ask

Review 135：Very pleasant Hotel set in beautiful grounds, which makes for a most relaxing stay. I found that the staff in the breakfast restaurant were most friendly and helpful particularly with children who were also staying.

Review 136：Bathroom needed domestos- the bath mat had perished into the bath & black mould around bath sealant. It was also loud as was lovely old building but you could hear everything in the corridors! Also breakfast finished at 9.30 which I thought was too early.

Review 137：Extremely comfy beds, good, friendly & helpful staff & nice food quality with regards to breakfast options. Lovely old building with original features set in beautiful landscape.

Review 138：We had no hot water in our room (4). A problem with the boiler apparently. Room rate didn't include breakfast which was a bit poor.

Review 139：As we arrived early, we were upgraded to an executive room - lovely large room overlooking the golf course and lake. Super comfy king size bed and large walk in wet room shower. Would definitely stay here again if we were in the area.

Review 140：It was all down to the weather as it was a hot day. The bedroom was therefore extremely hit and we weren't offered a fan or anything. A very uncomfortable stay due to this, lack of sleep!!!

Review 141：It was in a beautiful location and very tasty breakfast.