The Elephant Hotel in West Berkshire

Really nice rooms and good breakfast

The hotel is very reasonably priced, though reception closes rated early for checking in and you can be waiting for ages for breakfast (which is nice when it comes)

This 4* review could have easily been a 5 but there are certain factors outside their control. The hotel is an old building and the 'boutique' rooms whilst quirky could be a little bit better. They offer free water and posh tea and coffee. The hotel is in a lovely area but on a busy road junction. Parking is free but limited. There is a large car park next to the hotel, free 6pm to 8am. The best bit is the steak restaurant, it's fantastic and highly recommended by moi.

Having stayed here before on a business trip and having a wonderful experience, I rebooked again. The room was lovely and comfy ( if a little to warm despite turning down the radiators.) Dinner was good and a no fault service. Breakfast however was disappointing. They have moved breakfast into the dinning room. On entering I was asked to choose a table. All tables that were empty had places on them that could be used but were opposite uncleared. So I sat for my whole breakfast opposite dirty plates. I asked for decaffeinated tea, they didn't have any. Tea came in a teapot. When I asked for milk the waiter provided it me in a glass, what happened to a jug or little pouring bottle? Next I ordered porridge, no words please see picture. The waiter was no where to be seen to check if I was ok with things. So ate my toast and left. On checking out I discussed breakfast with the receptionist who said “ thankyou” but no sorry. She did say she would pass the feedback on but I sensed no genuineness in what was being said. A tainted experience.

Very beautiful garden and a good stake

Got married here so very special. They gave us a lovely treat for our 10 year anniversary. Very personal touch.

Eat the steak. Please, eat the steak. And watch how an expert cooks it. I had hanger, notoriously the hardest cut to get right, and it was perfect - cooked on an open fire in front of me. It more than makes up for slightly bleak rooms. Please, the steak.

Good bar to drink in. Could do with having cask ale on the pumps though.

Incredible hotel with a unique old world charm. Loved my stay. Should be at least a 4 star.

Five minutes from the station, 50 yards from the absolute centre of Pangbourne, this is a historic building with a distinct atmosphere. There are apparently an array of rooms here, with a number in the annex which look over the gardens. I'd recommend those without looking at them, over the room we had which was on the main road and a tad noisy. The room was quite large, clean, tastefully decorated and modern. The staff couldn't b more helpful and they are a reason to go again. We had Full English breakfast in the sultry (probably a better term for the way it has been decorated) restaurant. The bar is well stocked. There is a surprisingly large lawned garden with plenty of seating. There is also ensure parking but there is the main village car park next door.

Very tasty and generous afternoon tea. Service could have been better. Confusion over our booking on arrival and need to go find staff to order more tea. Seemed to be a party group elsewhere in the facility taking most attention...

Only came for dinner so cannot comment on the wider hotel. Funny place. We were recommended to eat here by locals we had just collected an ebay bike from. Dining room felt grand - interesting decor with some really cool pieces of furniture spoiled by some odd, dark pieces that didn't quite "go". We were really excited by the steak offering being cooked on an open fire in the dining room by chef, but the whole experience didn't quite hit the mark. Steak was pretty good but we think mine and partners were the wrong way round and by the time we realised it was too late to do anything. Service was pleasant enough but uncertainty from young team member and we had to chase our drinks after waiting 10 minutes when the restauranr wasn't even busy. I thought the chips was good but wasn't sure about the sauce. Such a shame as a few little improvements could have made this a 5. Prices were reasonable for food closer London but felt high for a very very weak lime cordial. 4/5.

I was pleasantly surprised at how great this place looked and the interior was lovely and stylish. Unfortunately it took a while to have our order taken, and we had to remind them of our drinks. Food was served quickly and looked amazing. Regrettably the steaks were mixed up, and we hadn’t realised until after we’d poured on our different sauces. We didn’t want to be those people that complained and got new steaks, plus we were pushed for time so didn’t say anything. My partner enjoyed his food however I felt the potatoes lacked the flavour that eluded to on the menu, and I personally felt the red wine sauce was too fruity and lacked depth. Final remark is that the lime soda was very weak, so overall this restaurant had great potential but was let down by a few things that could quite easily be fixed. Good value for money but just missed the mark, and I loved the experience of watching the chef cook our steaks in front of us.

It's ok. Stayed there twice now and some of the staff are really nice others don't seem interested and cold. Rooms again are ok, first night didn't get much sleep due to some teenagers playing loud music in the middle of the night but not the hotels fault. Lighting in the bathrooms needs improving as very dark.

Bedrooms and bathrooms a fair size but the whole room was full of stains, ripped furnishings and unclean in appearance. There are 2 massive bulky chairs in the room that are so uncomfortable that they were impossible to sit in. TV reception was non existent and just stressful to try and even work out how to use it. Bathroom was fine with plenty of hot water. The traffic outside is SOOO loud but that was to be expected but what wasn't to be excepted was the 2 guests outside getting pissed until 3am on a Thursday outside our window. I got no sleep and didn't want to spend any time in the room as it wasn't a comfortable room. I think we were probably given the worst room! TV selection was impeccable 👌 The bar was nice and the restaurant seemed nice but we didn't want to stay for breakfast. Reception and bar staff friendly and helpful

When I arrive I couldn’t park in their carpark. It’s very small and no one left the whole time I was there. I drove up and down the high street several times hoping someone would leave. There is a public carpark next door, charges apply at certain times. The reception was closed when I arrived at 6pm ish so I was looking around for someone to check me in. However, once checked in the room was nice, the bed was comfy, there was noise from I think the kitchen below until about 9:30pm. The water was fast and hot for a nice bath.

Great staff and wonderful place

Excellent place. Would certainly come again.

Cannot comment on accommodation as I only ate there, and didn't stay. Service was slow and inattentive - we were never asked if our food was OK, for example. I had the poussain. Odd combination with a lump of stuffing, thin jus which was strangely sweet and soggy chips. Just average. Chicken was fine but tending towards dry and overcooked. All agreed that the food was average and overpriced, and the best thing about the break was the wine. As for the decoration, the whole aesthetic is tired and needs ripping out. Describing itself as "Indian Empire" is at best cringeworthy and at worst downright ignorant. This place needs a complete revamp with proper investment, new staff and chef, with fresh ideas.

Had a lovely Sunday roast lunch here today as a birthday celebration. All the lunches were freshly cooked and very large! Starter boards were tasty too and 2 more than satisfied our party of 5. Staff couldn't have been more helpful - even brought in a cake for the celebration on our behalf. Reasonable price too.

Happy to say this is one of the nicest small hotels we've stayed in for ages. Charming staff, super-comfy bed, something different for dinner and breakfast, EV charge point in carpark. On the map it looks like a busy road junction right next to a railway line but our room was quiet and we slept well. We'd stay there again.

A little gem of a hotel. The staff were friendly, the food was very good and the rooms comfortable. Great value for money.

Utterly awful, once pleasant, hotel with very little to recommend it other than its location in Pangbourne. Unless you absolutely, positively, have to be in the centre of Pangbourne, stay anwhere else. Small bedrooms are over-stuffed with oversized furniture, bathrooms are tiled in black with dim lighting to conceal whatever lurks there, windows open onto rooftops viewed through dusty, torn curtains, the bar/restaurant features furniture with ripped upholstery or which has been abandoned in a corner with other random detritus, and the staff - other than housekeeping who were just lovely - seem to want to be anywhere else too. This was our fifth stay in the last decade or so. Never again.

Food and environment were top notch! Atmosphere lacking as we and one other table were the only ones occupied when we dined, but maybe that is normal for a wet Wednesday evening. Loved having a great steak cooked well on a fire right in front of you! Would definitely highly recommend it and go back my only gripe was the lack of confidence and knowledge of the waiting staff, not knowing what beers were currently available, and what dessert came accompanied what on the menu. But other than that a truly great evening!

Room was clean and well equipped, only bad point was road noise during the night. Hotel in general was quiet and relaxed with a nice bar and steak restaurant (I didn’t visit this though). Breakfast spot on. Location right next to main road and loud the only thing that lat it down, I needed ear plugs.