The Great House At Sonning (Berkshire) Reviewed

The Great House at Sonning is a fantastic haven for those looking to escape this Autumn & Winter. Located on the banks of the Thames, the backdrop is both charming and wonderfully idyllic. For those City dwellers looking for a rural break, the location is ideally placed, with only a 30-minute train ride separating Sonning from London Paddington. There is also an onsite Coppa Club restaurant with bar and stunning outdoor seating. What more do you need?

Accomplished accommodation with an eye for detail

The Great House, which already boasts a stunning Thames-side location, has also recently been expertly renovated to a luxurious standard. With 49 superb rooms, the extensive refresh of this Grade II listed, former Elizabethan coaching inn has been delivered with aplomb and the rooms have a true high-end feel.

We were lucky enough to stay in one of the Riverside Deluxe rooms with the most beautiful views over the Thames. Ranging from 15 square metres to an impressive 24 square metres in space, they really have an expansive feel. The décor is dark, retro in places and refined across both the bedroom and en-suite bathroom.

But that’s not all, our room came complete with a full-sized fridge, free wi-fi, a retro-style radio, 43-inch flat screen TV, in-keeping retro phones and some serious soft bedding.  We were also treated to a roll top bath and large walk in shower. Everything we could ask for and more could be found in this room (and outside, with the view).

Dining at the Coppa Club

Nestled on the bottom floor of the building, you will find the Coppa Club, where breakfast, brunch, dinner and cocktails are all served. The centre piece of the Coppa Club is a long pewter bar, which is then surrounding by retro touches such as velvet sofas and original fireplaces.

According to the restaurant, their menu “focuses on thoughtful, unfussy, European food from small plates and snacks to grilled mains, sourdough pizzas and healthy salads.” This certainly appealed to our senses and we couldn’t wait to get tasting.

The fava bean & mint hummus with charred flat bread, labneh and extra virgin oil was simple, yet delicious. Fresh, vibrant and full of European flavour (as promised), this dish was a hit. Once again treading the European path, we also opted for the hand cut bresaola and a drizzles of olive oil. Light, yet rich with a refined salted beef flavour, this was certainly a cut above your typical bresaola (excuse the pun).

Embarking on the mains, we went for the corn fed chicken lemony rosemary juices, house slaw & skinny fries. The chicken was superbly succulent, flavoursome and enjoyable. However, the fries and slaw needed a touch of seasoning. Unfortunately, this was a slight trend with the main meals. As one dish that let us down a little was the daily special slow cooked lamb ragu with gnocchi and parmesan. Unfortunately, the ragu and the gnocchi both lacked a little punch and seasoning. This was quite disappointing compared to the other dishes on offer. Both dishes were so close to perfection, but lacked that little extra twist of pepper or salt to elevate them.

When it came to dessert the menu returned to the success of the starters, with the classic pecan pie particularly hitting the spot. On the whole, the Coppa Club offered up some great food and style-wise seems to fit the rest of the building particularly well.

Final words

A beautiful location with a new lease of life thanks to a wonderfully executed renovation. This is a great getaway option for any season of the year, owing to a plethora of Summer friendly outdoor seating options, riverside walks on the doorstep to take in Autumn or Spring or plenty of warm nooks for the coldest Winter nights.  Plus, and this is something we haven’t touched until this point, service at The Great House is also of the highest standard. In fact, the only thing warmer than the welcome is the roaring fires dotted throughout, giving a true sense of comfort for the colder months to come.

To book your stay, please visit here.