Hotel Meeting Rooms Reading
Get a tailored shortlist from an expert
Your Questions, Answered
The 27-minute fast train from Paddington transforms Reading into London's most practical satellite meeting hub. Malmaison Reading sits literally opposite the station exit, while Novotel Reading Centre manages just a 2-minute walk. Companies save 40-60% versus central London rates whilst gaining free parking at venues like voco Reading and Holiday Inn Reading South. The Roseate's Eden Room delivers five-star polish at regional prices, and with Crossrail now connecting Reading directly to Canary Wharf in 55 minutes, eastern firms increasingly book here for neutral-ground meetings. Thames Valley's tech corridor means venues already cater to Silicon Valley standards without Silicon Valley pricing.
The Roseate Reading leads with its 30-seat Upstage Mini private cinema, complete with luxury screening facilities for product launches or immersive presentations. Market House Reading repurposed a former bank vault into an atmospheric meeting space holding 70 seated, retaining original steel doors for dramatic effect. Malmaison's Work+Play concept includes glass-walled pods from £225 per half-day for ultra-private discussions, whilst their MAL suite handles 80 theatre-style with mood lighting controls. voco Reading connects internally to Reading FC's stadium, unlocking 32 additional suites including pitch-view boxes. Even pentahotel breaks convention with 11 ground-floor rooms featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, eliminating that basement meeting room feeling entirely.
Reading's range spans from Premier Inn Central's 4-person interview room to Hilton Reading's 500-capacity Windsor Suite. The sweet spot sits around 40-80 delegates, where you'll find The Roseate's Eden Room (50 theatre), Malmaison's MAL suite (80 theatre), and Novotel's combined rooms (110 maximum). For training formats, Holiday Inn South's Academy offers 10 purpose-built rooms sized 6-100, whilst pentahotel provides 11 naturally-lit options up to 350 theatre. Boutique properties excel at flexibility: Market House shifts from 40 seated to 120 standing on their rooftop, perfect for presentation-into-networking formats. The Cedars at University of Reading unlocks academic spaces during holidays, including the 241-capacity Meadow Suite at Park House.
Reading's DDR structure reflects clear market segmentation. Budget options like Premier Inn and ibis Styles start around £25-35, covering basic room hire, refreshments and simple lunch. Mid-market players including pentahotel and Novotel range £40-65, adding upgraded catering and technical support. Malmaison publishes £45 per person for Work+Play packages including their signature food offering. Premium venues like The Roseate command £60-95 DDR, justified by five-star service, exceptional F&B from The Reading Room restaurant, and character spaces like their Whiskey Room. voco Reading and Hilton Reading float around £45-75 depending on season, with both offering corporate account discounts for regular bookings.
The Cedars Hotel on University of Reading's Whiteknights Campus specialises in residential programmes with 36 ensuite bedrooms connected to dedicated meeting facilities. Hilton Reading combines 210 bedrooms with 10 meeting rooms plus leisure facilities including pool access for delegates. voco Reading's integration with the stadium provides 140 contemporary bedrooms alongside those 32 conference suites, ideal for multi-day events. For boutique residential experiences, The Roseate offers just 49 rooms ensuring exclusive atmospheres, whilst Malmaison's 75 rooms include their signature snug bedrooms perfect for late-night working. Holiday Inn South's Academy setup works particularly well for multi-day training, with 174 bedrooms and that dedicated 10-room conference centre keeping everything under one roof.
Malmaison wins outright at 1 minute from Reading Station, literally facing the main entrance. Novotel follows at 2 minutes, whilst The Roseate manages 5 minutes through Forbury Gardens. Central cluster hotels including pentahotel, Market House and ibis Styles Duke Street all sit within 7-12 minutes' walk. Reading Green Park station serves southern properties: voco Reading needs 15-20 minutes on foot but offers free parking compensation. Reading West helps western hotels like ibis Styles Oxford Road (15 minutes). The 17 bus route connects the station to University of Reading's Cedars Hotel every 10 minutes. Heathrow Airport sits just 40 minutes via rail, making Reading viable for international delegates avoiding London entirely.
The Roseate's The Reading Room restaurant elevates delegate dining beyond standard hotel fare, with their Eden Room packages including bespoke menus from the kitchen brigade. Malmaison's signature Chez Mal brasserie provides French-influenced working lunches and dinner options post-meeting. Market House disrupts traditional catering through their ground-floor food hall concept, offering everything from sushi to sourdough pizza for informal delegate dining. Hilton Reading's Windows on the River restaurant adds Thames views to coffee breaks. voco Reading leverages both hotel dining and stadium hospitality kitchens, scaling from boardroom platters to 500-cover gala dinners. For budget-conscious bookings, both pentahotel's Pentalounge and Novotel's Gourmet Bar provide reliable all-day dining without premium pricing.
Market House Reading's rooftop terrace accommodates 120 standing or 40 seated, with retractable covering for weather insurance and views across Market Place. The Roseate overlooks Forbury Gardens, offering delegates manicured parkland for breakout sessions or lunch breaks. Hilton Reading's riverside position includes outdoor terracing, though primarily for dining rather than formal meetings. voco Reading's stadium connection provides pitch-view terraces attached to certain suites, memorable for summer workshops. The Cedars Hotel sits within University of Reading's parkland campus, with extensive grounds for team-building activities. pentahotel's ground-floor rooms open to small patios, whilst Malmaison's Station Square location offers urban outdoor seating for informal networking.
The Roseate's Upstage Mini cinema includes full projection and surround sound for 30 delegates, unmatched for multimedia presentations. Malmaison's Work+Play rooms feature 55-inch screens, ClickShare wireless presentation systems, and integrated video conferencing. Hilton Reading's Windsor Suite handles full production events with stage lighting and PA systems for 500. voco Reading leverages stadium-grade AV across their 32 suites, including LED walls in larger spaces. pentahotel provides standard projection and screens across all 11 rooms with dedicated tech support included. Budget options like Premier Inn and ibis Styles offer basic projectors and flipcharts, sufficient for training but requiring external suppliers for sophisticated setups. Most venues now include high-speed WiFi as standard, though capacity varies from 50-500 concurrent connections.
Southern Reading hotels dominate parking provision: voco Reading offers complimentary parking for all delegates at the stadium complex, whilst Holiday Inn South includes free parking with their Academy bookings. Hilton Reading provides 200 spaces (charges apply). The Roseate maintains limited valet parking in Forbury Square at premium rates. Station-adjacent hotels prove problematic: Malmaison delegates use public NCP facilities at around £15 daily, whilst Novotel offers limited spaces at £10-15. pentahotel includes 11 spaces, first-come basis. Market House lacks dedicated parking, directing delegates to Oracle multi-storey. The Cedars provides extensive free campus parking, a significant advantage for equipment-heavy training sessions. Western properties like ibis Styles Oxford Road include modest free parking, typically 20-30 spaces.