THE LOCATION

Prettily situated just 30 seconds walk from the river one way and a minute to the shops the other, Hotel Du Vin Henley-on-Thames is a dream for local overnight escapees and weekending tourists. Formerly an 18^th century brewery, it’s a quirky but attractive cluster of Georgian buildings, that makes up this elegant hotel, that includes a Champagne bar, large bistro, private dining area and a shady courtyard (a godsend in summer) with original ‘brewery’ signage and brickwork.

georgian brick buildlings on the road side at dusk

THE VIBE

Laid back, relaxed chic. Wood panelling and stained glass in the reception, large chandeliers, leather Chesterfields and deep green walls in the bar, bedrooms that mix heritage and modern (think low beams and higgedly walls with stand-alone baths and hand-sprung mattresses). The Champagne bar was fairly quiet on the day I stayed here – no surprise in dry January – but the bistro was buzzing. I’d brought my children (13 and 15) as my plus two, and though the atmosphere is fairly grown up (I didn’t see any other kids during my stay) they really enjoyed it.

SCOFF & QUAFF

I swerved the Champagne bar – not words I write very often – and headed straight for Bistro Du Vin as we’d only just arrived at 7pm and were starving. The bistro is the heart of this hotel – elegant and inviting with its ceiling foliage and Georgian sage walls, which create atmosphere in the dimmed lights of the evening but also a sense of warmth in the day. The restaurant entices locals as well as guests and for our evening it created a lively atmosphere – an element often missing from the hushed hallows of hotel restaurants.

large open plan restaurant with tables, chairs. wooden floors and foliage with green walls

I’d chosen the sirloin with peppercorn sauce and fries for my main course, and it really was excellent – the meat tender and the sauce silky with a late punch.

For dessert the cheeseboard offered variety, even if it was served a little too froid – not quite enough ooze going on! – but with pink champers on the go, it was easy to forgive.

My son loves to fix a mark out of 10 onto everything (yes, even my parenting) and is particularly brutal with hospitality scores but, having also sampled the sirloin and tested the patience of the maitre’d with questions about ice cream flavours, he honoured the Bistro Du Vin a nine out of 10. Basically, it’s an Olympic gold medal.

Breakfast in the morning was a similar success – a mix of serve yourself buffet with coffee machine, and bespoke cooked options. I always eat Eggs Benedict if it’s on the menu, just because it’s a good measure of a hotel to keep the eggs runny but the white cooked properly (also, it’s piggy and I like it) and it arrived just as it should – no egg ‘jelly’ to upset my morning. My children reverted to toddlers once they’d spotted the chocolate spread and one of those industrial toasters where you feed the bread through the top and it whizzes out the bottom, and basically ate carbs and chocolate in silence for an hour.

PILLOW TALK

two baths next to each other with a big arch window and wooden floors

There are 43 suites and rooms of varying states of size and glam quotient here. With two kids in tow, I was in the Peter Lehmann suite (below) in the courtyard directly opposite the main building. An extra Z-bed drafted in for my son, but even with this there was heaps of room – a leather sofa and ottoman, a feature bath in the bedroom, the huge shower, and king size bed. Gotta tell you, I’m a total sucker for a roll top in a bedroom and it was a total thrill to bubble it up.

modern grey and white bed with window and roll top bath

grey bedroom with wooden floor, bed and roll top bathroom and beams — My room for the night – the Z bed was added to the foot of the bed

All the suites at Hotel Du Vin Henley-on-Thames have their individual merits but, having bent the ear of the manager and reception staff, the Perrier Jouet over two floors with super-king bed, dual roll top baths and chandeliers is your superluxe choice, or the Comtes de Champagne River View Signature Suite with separate lounge and open plan bathroom upstairs, and outside balcony, below.

carpeted room with bed, chair, stained glass window and black staircase

FYI there’s a tidy little deal on suites too, that includes a bottle of Champagne, full cooked breakfast, and a late check-out from £202 if you fancy it.

OUT & ABOUT

market town with church and bunting Henley

Henley is my secret ‘wish I lived here’ town because there’s so much going on – it’s perfect for a night or weekend away. It really comes to life over Spring and Summer, starting with the prestigious Henley Décor Fair (13-16 April), when 180 of the UK’s best decorative art traders descent on the town, followed by Henley Regatta (27 June – 2 July), Henley Festival (5-9 July with headliner Rag ‘n’ Bone man), the 80s-tastic Rewind Festival (18-20 Aug) and the hugely popular Henley Literary Festival taking us through to Autumn from 30 Sept – 8 Oct.

Hire a boat from Hobbs of Henley for town views like this

Quite aside from the busy official calendar, retail-wise there are some lovely indie shops in the town (Fluidity for fashion, The Bell Bookshop, Tiny Gallery and The Ferret for antiques) amongst the high street staples of Whistles and Paperchase. You can hire boats from Hobbs of Henley and cruise around this gorgeous stretch of the Thames, or walk the tow-path and the locks for miles in each direction. Henley has an excellent park for kids too, just outside the family-friendly River & Rowing Museum which is due to reopen this spring 2023.

cliveden heritage mansion with parterrre gardens — Cliveden, Buckinghamshire. Photo by Hugh Mothersole

Greys Court, one of my favourite National Trust properties is just outside Henley (go in the spring for the extraordinary bluebell forest) and 850 year old Stonor Park, with its house, gardens and playground is another great day out. Historic Cliveden is a 15-minute drive (walk from the National Trust car park following the river up to the house for a stunning approach). Reading is your closest city at 15 minutes – you’ll have to go 45 minutes to experience Oxford’s more picturesque charms.

KIDS FRIENDLY?

girl laughing with hand over face — Exclusive! Teenage girl in river walk shock

Henley has something for everyone, so kids are absolutely welcome and the hotel’s location is ideal for reluctant walkers like my two tech-loving teens. Book a suite and add extra beds (£30 per bed) or an interconnecting room – both work well for families.

DOG FRIENDLY?

If you your pooch has been dreaming of Henley’s riverside walks, then Hotel Du Vin is going to cause tails to wag. The courtyard rooms are pet friendly (additional charge £20 per night) and a bowl and bed will be provided. Woof!

ACCESSIBILITY

It’s pretty good. Three wheelchair-accessible ground-floor rooms available via the courtyard, but only one has a wheelchair-accessible wetroom. So get on the blower early to ensure you get the right room for your needs.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Perfect for romantics wanting a sneaky weekend away, bigger parties who can hire the private space or just spread out in the bistro, and I’d say it’s also a smart option for families who will like the relaxed vibe and be out and about a lot. Henley is totally charming all year but hits its stride when the sun comes out over the summer months, and there’s plenty to do both in the town and beyond.

Not for: Toddlers are totally welcome but if you’re looking for onsite playgrounds and messy room high teas you might want to look elsewhere.

The damage: Book far enough in advance and you can snag a Classic room from £149 for room only in May. For the best deals, nose around the offers – Suite Dreams (best rooms, bottle of Champagne and late check out) from £202 or turn your visit into a foodie event with the Deluxe Du Vin from £363 – 2-night stay, dinner, wine and breakfast. Just popping in for a meal? Starters from £7.95, main £12.95 and desserts £7.50. Order from the Prix fixe menu – £17.95 for two courses and £22.95 for three.

Hotel Du Vin Henley-on-Thames. New St, Henley-on-Thames RG9 2BP. Tel: 01491 877579.

Review: Hotel Du Vin Henley-On-Thames, Oxon

You may also like