With yet another wet and windy weekend looming, it didn’t seem like the best timing for a trip away.

The windscreen wipers were going full pelt as we travelled the hour and 40 minutes to Sindlesham in Wokingham, Berkshire – the hotel destination for our short break.

Despite the sat nav, the Best Western Reading Moat House Hotel was tricky to find, but all our tensions melted away thanks to the warm welcome and relaxed atmosphere we discovered inside.

Combining the individual elegance of a modern hotel with the charm of a once-thriving 19th century mill house, which used to supply flour to the Queen, the building is in a beautiful location, overlooking the River Loddon.

It is set in 1.5 acres of open land, so there is a fantastic feeling of space, yet situated just a few miles from Reading, Ascot, Windsor, Henley-on-Thames and Legoland – the perfect base from which to explore.

The hotel boasts 129 rooms, two bars and two restaurants, as well as meeting and conference facilities and a health and fitness centre.

We stayed in an executive room, which was full of character, with its dark wooden beams and a low ceiling, and in a separate wing to the rest of the rooms, which made it feel extra cosy and secluded.

Not wanting to venture too far for lunch, with the black clouds still looming menacingly during a break in the showers, we made a mad dash to the next door Poacher’s Pub.

With its roaring fire, traditional pub food menu and footie on the big screen, it ticked all the boxes for both my husband and myself, and we settled down to enjoy home-made chunky chips and lamb koftas.

Reading town centre is just five miles away with, with the rain still threatening, what better way to while away the afternoon that with a spot of shopping.

The Oracle is a large indoor shopping centre and mall, boasting more than 80 shops, riverside cafes, bars and restaurants as well as a ten-screen cinema, and is something of a mecca for the locals.

But if shopping is not your thing, there are of other attractions close by, including horse riding, canoeing and go-karting. For something a little more relaxing, the award-winning Nirvana Spa is just two miles from the Moat House, and offers a comprehensive range of treatments and spa day packages.

After a satisfying couple of hours mooching around the stores, it was back to the hotel for dinner.

The Sindlesham Mill restaurant was rather quiet for a Saturday night, but we were treated to exemplary service from the friendly management and waiting staff.

With an extensive menu featuring grills, salads and pasta dishes, it took a while to make our selection, but we eventually settled on tomato and basil soup and roast field mushrooms with chorizo to start, followed by roast rump of lamb and the mixed grill.

Some background music might have helped to give the restaurant a little more atmosphere, but the food was very tasty none-the-less.

We finished off our meal with Eton mess and the cherry bakewell cheesecake with cherry ice cream, followed by a couple of after-dinner drinks in the adjacent Lounge bar.

After a good night’s sleep in a very peaceful location, we were delighted by the magnificent spread at breakfast.

From a full English, right through to a range of cereals, toast and fruit, there was a good selection to suit all tastes.

Time to check out came all too soon and we were soon on whizzing back to reality, having enjoyed a very relaxing break from the world in this charming and characterful hotel.

Getaway

  • Room rate – from £59 per room
  • Hotel Reservations: +44 (0) 1189 499988
  • bestwestern.co.uk/Reading