Mercure George Hotel Reading

I was looking for somewhere to have coffee and perhaps breakfast. I am writing this as I don't think this is what I would consider a normal hotel and recommend that anybody interested in booking investigates further beforehand. My reasons: a) The courtyard between the street entrance and the door marked hotel entrance is packed with bikes. b) What should be a welcoming reception is now occupied with 2 rows of tables being used as desks by some people. c) Behind this almost office-like area were several fridges and a row of microwaves adorned with laminated signs/instructions. I have been in hostels that have a more welcoming entrance area! I did have a lovely coffee in the Workhouse Coffee Shop to the left of the entrance. The coffee shop is well worth a visit if you are interested in coffee from different parts of the world. For the toilet was I was told that the Coffee Shop was part of the hotel and directed to the Hotel Entrance. Hence my observations above. I never actually stayed in the hotel.

We just tried to go in here for a coffee and before we could even open the door, a scowling man dressed as a security guard opened the door, said "yes?" and when we asked if we could have a coffee, he answered abruptly "No." You get a warmer welcome at the Job Centre. This used to be a very welcoming Hotel. Not now.

Small rooms, but when you are there for a night out, all you need is a bed. It has a crazy lay out very easy to get lost on the corridors of the hotel. But, it comes with a kettle, tea, coffee, etc, all the things you need. Great location, very central and great price.

Allocated THE most noisy room in the hotel (Rm120) with the stairwell outside the door and a very very noisy thoroughfare outside the windows, which were fully closed! Staff were delightful. Hotel is poor even with the cheaper room rates.

Today I saw the demise of a lovely old grand lady of Reading. Closed it doors. I do sincerely trust and hope it reopens very soon. Has so much charm charisma and history. But, moreover, the people make it special from the endearing welcome of the GM to Philip on reception showing true Canadian Hospitality. Rico was a charmer full of the joys of life on reception as too our Albanian Bar tender. As I was sadly leaving a kindly housekeeping lady petite with ginger coloured hair wished me a special Bon voyage and carrying my luggage down to reception. Special memories indeed. Out of the Phoenix will rise the ashes!

Just been e mailed to say our booking has been cancelled in favour of housing Afghan refugees. Very condescending e Mail telling me how we should al look on in horror at what is happening in Afghanistan and we must all do our bit to help. No mention of the extra money they are taking from the home office for housing refugees . Just be honest your taking the dollar and cancelling lower revenue bookings . Avoid unless your happy to have your plans cancelled last minute

On arrival like other reviews there is an overwhelming smell of indian cuisine which is a joined to the hotel and is was present our whole stay, on check in we was greeted by a gentlemen on reception checked in an then was told it was a cold grab and go breakfast on website did not say change in breakfast know its covid but resturant are now able to have people in safely i think it was an excuse to be honest. We went up to our room and was a vey basic small double room that smelt musky we had booked through buy a gift and it was ment for 2 night luxury break for including cooked breakfast and we paid additional cost for an upgrade to a superior room there was nothing superior about that room so my husband and i went to reception to speak about our booking as that was not the room advertised as superior. We explained all this to the gentlemen on reception an he basically wanted to argue with me about our booking telling me its not on his system i said i called this morning to check everything was ok an that the room was right etc he then said well i was hear all day i didt take a call i said it was a lady he continued to say he has been hear all day so basically im a liar great customer service. He then when on to say he doesnt like *********** cos they dont do the same rates we should have booked direct i explained an showed hom my email confirmation of upgarde stating SUPERIOR he continued to make me feel like i was wrong and kept saying it doesnt say it on his system he bot going to argue so i enede this back and forth with well whats happening he reluctantly said well i will upgrade up as if he as doing us a favour when in fact thats what we had paid for he then went on about how we booked again amd told us that we are getting a £129 a night room well thats pretty much what we had paid with upgrade on the buy a gift well he gave us the key and sent ys on our way, through out our stay he was there an not once spoke to my husnad or myself even when we was polite and said hi he literally looked through us an made me feel me very uncomftable. Well our 129 a night room was not an upgrade only in size it was dirty smelly i had to go an buy cleaning products and anti-bac to clean before we done anything as i did not feel comfortable to go an approach the receptionist about our concerns the same man!! Well i will attach pictures to this and i will never be using this hotel again an will not recommend an im really not a fussy person iv stayed in all sorted of hotels caravans etc and happy to go basic but cleanliness should be a priority wherever you stay will add other staff that came on shift was more friendly.