The Dolphin

Hotels
8.4 (532 reviews)
113 Bartholomew Street , Newbury , gb

Free

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Restaurant
Heating
Garden
Bar
Golf course
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Great location
Clean rooms
Cons:
Noise from outside
Limited breakfast options
Old building with maintenance needs

Categories

Cleanliness
8.05
Clean and serviceable for the stay, but some rooms let in noise, indicating potential cleanliness issues.
Service
8.65
Friendly staff and good service are frequently mentioned across multiple reviews.
Location
8.85
Excellent location near the train station and several restaurants, often highlighted positively.
Room Quality
8.25
Rooms are clean and comfortable but have issues with noise from outside due to single glazed windows.
Amenities
8.55
Standard amenities mentioned, with some areas for improvement in the bathroom facilities.
Value for Money
8.45
Generally regarded as good value, though some reviews expressed concerns over breakfast offerings.
Food and Beverage
7.95
Mixed reviews concerning breakfast quality and variety, especially regarding continental offerings.
Overall Experience
8.45
A satisfactory experience overall, with some notable highs and lows depending on room location.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-20 02:07

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodation and Convenient Location

Garden Oasis and Modern Comforts
Experience tranquility at The Dolphin with its charming garden and modern amenities like free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, and private bathrooms in every room. Enjoy city views and unwind on the sun terrace during your stay.

Culinary Delights and Dietary Options
Indulge in a culinary journey at the hotel's restaurant offering a diverse menu of British, Mediterranean, and Seafood cuisine. Special dietary needs are catered to with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available upon request.

Explore Nearby Attractions
Conveniently located near Newbury Racecourse and Highclere Castle, The Dolphin provides easy access to must-see attractions like Jane Austen's House Museum and the University of Oxford. Book now for a memorable stay!

Important information:

A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free public parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children are not allowed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.4
Based on 532 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.05
Service: 8.65
Location: 8.85
Room Quality: 8.25
Amenities: 8.55
Value for Money: 8.45
Food and Beverage: 7.95
Overall Experience: 8.45
C
Cara solo_traveller gb
7
2026-07-04 via Nuitee
J
Jade couple gb
7
Cons:

Very hot , need better fans

2026-07-04 via Nuitee
J
Julie couple gb
6
The staff were excellent! Location proved to be perfect for train access.
Pros:

Very, very helpful staff. Excellent location for the train station, only 2 mins walk. Beautiful canal side and wharf 10 mins walk.

Cons:

Evidence of time and money injection needed in relation to repairs and decoration.

2026-07-04 via Nuitee
S
Susan couple gb
7
2026-07-04 via Nuitee
S
Stephanie solo_traveller gb
10
Pros:

The bed was comfortable, the bathroom was modern, the overall suite clean and tidy and very pleasant - and there was no noise from the pub either.

2026-07-02 via Nuitee
M
Matilda extended_group gb
6
Pleasant
Pros:

Clean room and quick check in

Cons:

It was unbearably hot in the room, probably got a max of 1h sleep. The bedroom window opened about 10cm and was only provided with a small fan. Also the breakfast was very very basic, and the pastries were stale.

2026-07-02 via Nuitee
L
Lynda couple gb
8
Overnight stay on our way to Southampton,
Pros:

Convenient

Cons:

No air con , but we knew that, it was an extremely hot day/ night to be fair abd ther was a fan in the room

2026-07-01 via Nuitee
J
José Enrique solo_traveller es
8
Pros:

Excelente ubicación en el centro de Newbury, la habitación es amplia. Dispone de parking gratuito. El personal fue extremadamente amable. Y además se come bien en el pub.

Cons:

Entra un poco de ruido y luz por la ventana. Puede ser un poco molesto que salga el sol temprano y el ruido de los coches en la calle principal.

2026-06-26 via Nuitee
V
vincenza solo_traveller it
6
Pros:

La cena al pub

Cons:

La camera era senza una finestra che si potesse aprire, non siamo riusciti a dormire dal caldo eccessivo, nonostante il ventilatore e le temperature in serata più fresche

2026-06-25 via Nuitee
C
Cheryl couple gb
7
Very good
Pros:

Almost everything.

Cons:

Just the walk in shower, it was excellent but very slippery

2026-06-25 via Nuitee
D
Dowle extended_group gb
7
Very comfortable
Pros:

Staff very good. Very clean as well
Breakfast was good and good value for money

2026-06-25 via Nuitee
A
alison solo_traveller gb
9
2026-06-22 via Nuitee
S
Stephen solo_traveller gb
10
A great stay.
Pros:

Great location and very comfortable.

Cons:

Nothing.

2026-06-18 via Nuitee
B
Berry solo_traveller gb
10
2026-06-17 via Nuitee
R
Ross couple gb
7
Pros:

Good central location.

Cons:

Not out of hours number to contact if you had a problem

2026-06-12 via Nuitee
K
Kevin couple gb
2
Cheap but NOT cheerful!
Pros:

Not much - pretty cheap though.

Cons:

Hard to tell if the generally tatty nature of the place is part of a 'grungy' image, or whether it just needs a coat of paint! Our room was small and stuffy - to ventilate it required putting a splintery block of wood (provided) under a sash window, and using an electric fan. The little dining room we used was also windowless and too hot - the alternative being outside seating with a view of the car-park. When we went down to breakfast we were greeted by small pit bull type dog that had to be restrained by a member of staff - very unnerving!
The parking regulations are also very unclear - we had to register twice. The other issue is that the toilets are up one and a half flights of stairs - hard to negotiate if you have any mobility issues (as we have). What is also unfortunate is that the place is located in a bit of Newbury that has become rather isolated from the real centre. This is due to the decline of an awful shopping mall that is scheduled for redevelopment.

2026-06-08 via Nuitee
A
Adam couple gb
9
Very good value for money in a clean and friendly pub. We have already booked another stay.
Pros:

The room was large & clean. The facilities in the room were good - fluffy tails, nice pillows and duvets, decent shower etc. The staff were friendly.

Cons:

Minor point; there is some outside noise from the street below.

2026-06-07 via Nuitee
G
Gemma solo_traveller gb
9
2026-06-05 via Nuitee
E
Ernie couple gb
10
2026-06-01 via Nuitee
P
Paul couple gb
8
Nice hotel in convenient central location
Pros:

Good location. Clean and comfortable bedroom. Good continental breakfast, including cheese and salamis. Good quality tea and coffee making in room. Friendly staff.

Cons:

Car park is small, so I had to (pay to) park at station car park.

2026-06-01 via Nuitee