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Summary of reviewsNestled in the stunning Berkshire countryside, Crab & Boar offers an idyllic retreat packed with rural charm and convenience. It is just a few minutes from Newbury, providing a perfect blend of serenity and accessibility. The hotel is particularly favoured by dog owners, cyclists and walkers for its pet-friendly policies and ideal countryside location. Guests enjoy ample parking, relaxing in the lovely garden and lounging in comfortable beds with some rooms featuring hot tubs that are highly praised.
The culinary experience at Crab & Boar is a major highlight. Guests rave about the breakfast offerings, noting their exceptional variety and quality. The hearty, well-prepared morning meals range from fresh fruit and yogurt to traditional cooked breakfasts. Dinner, too, is celebrated with the restaurant serving outstanding, delicious dishes that many describe as some of the best they've had in the UK. Despite a few minor criticisms regarding the menu and specific dishes, the overall sentiment towards the food is overwhelmingly positive.
Accommodations at Crab & Boar are equally impressive, garnering positive feedback for their spaciousness, cleanliness and comfort. Guests appreciate the beautifully decorated rooms, mentioning features like private courtyards and comfortable, stylish furnishings. While there are occasional issues with room readiness and sound insulation, these are vastly outweighed by the general satisfaction with the warm, homely atmosphere and excellent facilities.
Cleanliness is a hallmark of Crab & Boar with guests frequently commending the spotless rooms and well-maintained premises. The soft towels, cozy duvets and modern furnishings enhance the comfort, making for an overall pleasant stay. The inviting main building and well-kept grounds further contribute to the positive experience.
The friendly and attentive staff also play a significant role in the appeal of Crab & Boar. Guests uniformly praise the team for their welcoming nature, helpfulness and efficiency. The staff's cheerful demeanor and genuine eagerness to ensure a pleasant stay leave a lasting impression, complementing the excellent food and comfortable accommodations.
The hotel's beds receive special mention for their comfort with many guests noting how well they slept due to the lovely, cozy and spacious beds. The presence of amenities like heated rooms and spacious bathrooms adds to the overall sense of luxury and relaxation.
The hot tubs are a standout feature, frequently highlighted by guests for providing a perfect, relaxing experience. Despite occasional issues with availability, the overall sentiment is extremely positive, making rooms with hot tubs highly recommended.
Crab & Boar's boutique experience is characterized by its charming and stylish ambiance, blending modern and rustic aesthetics. The well-maintained property with its posh pub atmosphere and quaint, beautifully decorated rooms, appeals to guests seeking a boutique style stay.
Finally, the hotel's dedication to being dog-friendly is evident in the warm welcome extended to canine companions. Guests appreciate the convenience of accessible walking areas and the overall accommodating atmosphere for pets, enhancing the stay for both owners and their dogs.
In summary, Crab & Boar stands out for its exceptional location, excellent food, comfortable and clean accommodations and outstanding service, providing a memorable and charming stay for its guests. Show more
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Categories
Inn with EV Charging Stations
This inn has an electric car charging point which is part of the Tesla Destination charging network. There are 2 devices available at this location.
Inn with Rooms With Jacuzzi / Hot-tub
Boutique-style Inn
Dog Friendly Inn
Small Inn
4-Star Inn
Room Types
Standard Double RoomThis room includes a flat-screen TV and an en-suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries.
Superior Double RoomThemed rooms with a private garden.
Deluxe Junior SuiteLargest room, featuring fine views and a marble bathroom.
Small Double RoomOffering free toiletries and bathrobes, this double room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers a private entrance, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a carpeted floor and a flat-screen TV. The unit offers 1 bed.
Deluxe Double RoomFeaturing free toiletries and bathrobes, this double room includes a private bathroom with a bath or a shower and a hairdryer. The double room features a private entrance, a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a carpeted floor, as well as a flat-screen TV. The unit has 1 bed.
Guest Reviews
8.5
Very Good
Location
Nestled in the stunning Berkshire countryside, the Crab & Boar boasts a remarkable location that has left guests enamored. Positioned just a few minutes from Newbury, it offers the perfect blend of rural charm and convenience, making it an idyllic retreat. Guests appreciate the quiet, serene environment, which is perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation.
The hotel is praised for its beautiful, atmospheric setting, surrounded by gorgeous views that enhance the overall experience. It's an excellent spot for dog owners with long walks straight from the pub and a pet-friendly approach. Cyclists and walkers find the countryside locale ideal for their activities.
Conveniently situated near major roads including the A34 and M4, the hotel provides easy access while maintaining its tranquil, country feel. It's also a practical base for exploring the local area, visiting nearby attractions or catching up with friends.
Ample parking, comfortable accommodations and welcoming staff contribute to the positive experience. Guests have enjoyed relaxing in the lovely garden after a long day, lounging in comfortable beds and even taking advantage of amenities like hot tubs. The characterful property itself with its charming pub and restaurant, adds to the allure of this rural haven.
Breakfast
Crab & Boar’s breakfast offerings receive largely positive reviews from guests with many praising the variety and quality of the food. Words like exceptional, fabulous and excellent frequently appear, describing the morning meal as hearty and well-prepared. Guests appreciated the plenty of choices available, mentioning that the menu options were diverse, ranging from fresh fruit and yogurt to more traditional items like smoked salmon and scrambled eggs and a cooked English breakfast. The selection is often highlighted as fantastic and generous, ensuring all taste preferences are catered for.
Many reviews commend the attentiveness and friendliness of the staff and the quick service during breakfast hours. Despite this, some guests noted that breakfast service starts later than they would prefer, particularly for those on business trips and there were occasional remarks about specific items arriving cold or about a desire for more fruit and yogurt options.
The overall sentiment from many guests is one of satisfaction, noting that breakfast at Crab & Boar is a delightful start to the day, further enhanced by the comfortable rooms and ample parking the establishment offers. Whether looking for a light meal or a full, hearty breakfast, visitors generally found the breakfast experience to be a highlight of their stay.
Dinner
Nestled within charming surroundings, Crab & Boar boasts a culinary experience that garners widespread acclaim from its guests. Consistently lauded for its excellent food, the hotel’s restaurant serves dishes that are described as outstanding, fantastic and delicious. Both dinner and breakfast receive enthusiastic praise, reflecting the high-quality and meticulous preparation of each meal.
The menu, though sometimes noted as expensive, impresses with its superb food quality and presentation, attracting particular commendation for its evening meals. Guests highlight the diverse and well-executed selection available, often calling it the best they’ve had in the U.K.
A few reviews mentioned minor shortcomings, such as a slightly disappointing steak or a menu that could benefit from clearer vegan options, but these were exceptions rather than the norm. The professional and friendly service, sometimes highlighted by individual staff members like Dave, further enhances the dining experience.
Overall, the restaurant at Crab & Boar stands out as a major highlight of the hotel, offering an enjoyable atmosphere with great food that leaves a lasting impression on its guests.
Rooms
Crab & Boar offers a diverse range of rooms that mostly garner positive feedback for their spaciousness, cleanliness and comfort. Many guests appreciate the beautifully decorated rooms, often noting touches like private courtyards and well-appointed furnishings. The accommodation exudes a homely and warm atmosphere, further enhanced by the friendly staff and inviting property aesthetics.
The rooms are consistently described as clean and well-maintained with many guests highlighting the comfortable beds and excellent facilities. Several reviews compliment the stylish decor and attention to detail, making for an enjoyable stay. The presence of a cozy bar and a lovely restaurant adds to the overall experience with good food often highlighted.
However, there are some areas of concern, such as occasional issues with room readiness upon check-in and minor functional problems like the shower. While sound insulation in some rooms may not be perfect, these instances seem to be in the minority compared to the overall positive feedback.
In summary, the Crab & Boar provides charming and comfortable accommodations with a strong emphasis on cleanliness and hospitality, despite a few occasional hiccups.
Beds
Guests of Crab & Boar consistently praised the beds for their comfort with many describing them as lovely, cozy and super comfortable. Several reviews highlighted the large size of the beds, adding to the sense of luxury and relaxation during their stay. A common thread among the feedback was how well guests slept due to the comfortable beds and pillows. Despite a few remarks about a small double bed and one instance of noise during movement, the overwhelming sentiment was that the beds significantly contributed to a restful experience. The comfort of the beds, complemented by amenities such as nicely heated rooms and spacious bathrooms, helped create an inviting and satisfying environment for guests.
Cleanliness
Crab & Boar impresses guests with its commitment to cleanliness, offering a spotless experience throughout the property. Visitors have consistently praised the rooms for being impeccably clean, spacious and beautifully designed. The soft towels, cozy duvets and modern furnishings further enhance the comfort and appeal of the clean, well-appointed rooms. Both bedrooms and bathrooms are well-maintained with toiletries provided and finished to a high standard.
The hotel's main building and premises are described as clean, well-lit and welcoming. Guests have appreciated the tidy and well-maintained environment, finding it to contribute positively to their overall experience. Despite a few isolated comments about outside noise and minor maintenance issues like flaking paint or the need for bathroom upgrades, the general sentiment towards cleanliness remains overwhelmingly positive.
Staff service also gets high marks for complementing the spotless surroundings, creating an inviting and pleasant stay for guests. Overall, Crab & Boar's focus on cleanliness leaves a lasting impression, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable visit.
Staff
Nestled in an enchanting countryside, Crab & Boar boasts an exemplary team that has left a lasting impression on its guests. Review after review highlights the remarkably welcoming and friendly nature of the staff, creating an inviting atmosphere from the moment of arrival. The consistent praise for their helpfulness and cheerful demeanor stands out with guests noting that every staff member seemed genuinely eager to ensure a pleasant stay.
The personnel at Crab & Boar go above and beyond with many guests specifically mentioning that the staff couldn't do enough for them and were always happy to assist. The welcoming gestures extended by team members, such as personalized greetings at Reception and thoughtful touches, contribute to an overall sense of hospitality and care.
Efficiency and attentiveness are also common themes with reviews pointing out that the staff were not only friendly but also highly knowledgeable and efficient in their service. This excellent service is complemented by the fantastic food offered at the venue, making the culinary experience just as memorable as the hospitality.
Overall, Crab & Boar stands out not just for its picturesque location and excellent facilities, but fundamentally for its wonderful team who are praised uniformly for their friendliness, helpfulness and unwavering attentiveness, making every guest feel truly welcome and valued.
Rooms with Jacuzzi / Hot-Tub
The guest reviews highlight that the hot tubs at Crab & Boar are a standout feature with multiple mentions of them being fab and amazing. Many guests view the hot tubs as a significant highlight of their stay, noting that they are lovely, very good and perfect for a relaxing experience. Some reviews also specifically mention the appeal of private hot tubs accessible via French doors or located in a courtyard attached to the room. Though there were occasional issues with availability, the overall sentiment is extremely positive, making rooms with hot tubs a highly recommended option for future stays.
Boutique-Style
Crab & Boar offers a delightful boutique experience, characterized by its beautiful character building that is both well maintained and stylishly furnished. The ambiance successfully blends modern and rustic elements, contributing to a sense of luxury throughout the property. As guests approach, they are struck by the charming and stylish appearance starting from the car park, reflecting the boutique style that defines this inn. The interior continues this theme, offering a quaint and cozy atmosphere with wonderfully decorated rooms that guests find both charming and quirky. It can also be described as a posh pub with rooms, exuding a boutique style that is consistent and appealing.
Dog Friendly
Crab & Boar shines as an exceptionally dog-friendly hotel nestled in a scenic location. Guests consistently commend the warm and accommodating atmosphere extended to their canine companions. The staff's friendliness stands out with many noting how their dogs were not only welcomed but also cherished and even spoilt during their stay. The facility boasts easy access to dog walking areas, including a lovely path directly from the car park, making it convenient for guests to take their dogs for a stroll. Overall, the hotel is well-catered for dogs, providing ample space for them to run around and ensuring an enjoyable stay for both pets and their owners.
No, Crab & Boar doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Crab & Boar.
Yes, Crab & Boar welcomes dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Crab & Boar.