Muddy Stilettos


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown"><strong>THE LOWDOWN</strong></h2>



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<p>Welcome to the Berkshire Riviera. A quintessentially English riverside hideaway where you can eat, sleep, relax on repeat. <a href="https://www.coppaclub.co.uk/theswanatstreatley/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Swan At Streatley, Coppa Clu</a><a href="http://The Swan At Streatley, Copa Club">b</a> (fun fact: once owned by Danny Le Rue) has one of the most glorious positions on the Thames, with outdoor deck onto the water, manicured lawns and&nbsp;<em>Wind In The Willows</em>&nbsp;views to die for. Inside it’s interior goals all the way. The hotel underwent a monumental makeover a few years ago that saw every square metre modernised into the stylish beauty it is today.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>Each of the 45 rooms are uniquely decorated making the most of the river or countryside views, there&#8217;s a café/ bar, a beautiful event space for weddings and parties, a boutique gym, yoga studio with river outlook and a beauty treatment room. That&#8217;s not all, you can also paddleboard and hire a boat here too – ahoy!. The restaurant and lounge spaces are decorated in a soothing, palette of sorbet shades, with oversized rattan pendant lights, crittall doors and a house plant collection that borders on an obsession. It’s interior goals a-go-go – although we&#8217;re glad we&#8217;re not the ones keeping all that greenery alive.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe"><strong>THE VIBE</strong></h2>



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<p>It’s fun, stylish and totally chilled. I’d like to say that it’s got a home-from-home feel (it does), but I can only dream of my house looking like this and, living with boys, it’s never&nbsp;<em>this</em>&nbsp;relaxing. The team at Coppa Club The Swan at Streatley (one of three locations in Berkshire) totally get it. To ensure you fully recharge during your stay, they can book yoga or breath-work classes in the riverside studio, a workout in the gym (er, if that’s how you chill) or unwind in the sauna and steam room. Alternatively, they can help you out on the water or help you find the best local walks.</p>



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<p>Then when you’re ready to refuel, pop round to the bar for cocktails, a bite to eat and snap those memories in one of the many Instagram-able corners. When it’s too dark to see the river, saunter round to the cosy snug with its open fire for an intimate one-for-the-road bevvie.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/08/2-3.jpg" alt="Coppa Club Swan at Streatley riverside hotel restaurant and wedding venue Berkshire" class="wp-image-65155"/></figure>



<p>With 45 bedrooms, the hotel is actually pretty big, but by cleverly carving the ground floor space up and using a lot of design sorcery it never feels sterile. Surprisingly, even on a busy weekend, it doesn’t feel so busy that it kills the joy.</p>



<p>Set within 17 acres of countryside and on the edge of the Thames, it also offers a pretty spectacular backdrop to a wedding. You can have the wedding vows by the water, drinks on the lawn and the reception inside looking out over the river.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/08/19.png" alt="COPPA CLUB SWAN AT STREATLEY BERKSHIRE GARDEN AND RIVERSIDE VIEW" class="wp-image-36875"/></figure>



<p>When we visited it was Spring. Still nippy but that river view, the bubbling weir and carpet of daffodils and crocuses delivered the wellbeing tonic we needed. Balmy summers here, with people enjoying cold drinks in deckchairs and drinking in The Swan’s river location must be heavenly.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff"><strong>SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</strong></h2>



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<p>If you haven’t eaten at Coppa Club, they offer unfussy, European food from small plates and snacks to grilled mains, sourdough pizzas, and healthy salads. The food tasted great, service friendly and staff impressively knowledgeable about the menu. </p>



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<p>We kicked things off with fresh burrata with pickled butternut squash, pomegranate, mint and toasted pumpkin seeds, and a colourful looking Loch Duar Salmon Carpaccio with avocado mayo and lemon. Both delicious – the tastes were fresh and summer-like , sitting inside the glass restaurant so close to the boardwalk looking over the river, it could’ve been the Med.</p>



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<p>Next up, Mr M attacked the 10oz rib-eye steak on the bone which was very good and I went for a lighter chalk stream trout, rainbow chard with garlic aioli. The steak was cooked to perfection, no mean feat when the poor waiter scribbles down ‘medium rare, but the rarer side of medium rare. Kind of rare-medium-rare’.&nbsp;Hey, it’s a test.</p>



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<p>The sides were fun too. Roasted squash with chilli and garlic and a seared Hispi cabbage with sriracha and crispy shallots, both super light, full of flavour and low in carbs (big tick from me!). The last hurrah was a deliciously indulgent Crème Brûlée ordered by Mr M who, when asked by the waiter if we’d like to have a dessert, replied: “Not for me, but my wife would like one with two spoons!” Food here is, I’d say, good crowd-pleasing fare.&nbsp;</p>



<p>News just in, from the 3 May <strong>The Lobster Bar</strong>&nbsp;– a stunning outdoor bar and BBQ – will open on the lawn. This is hotspot on sunny days, for beaming sun and pretty views – now with the added bonus of a frozen margarita and perfectly grilled lobster. We can&#8217;t wait to try it.</p>



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<p>It also ticks boxes beyond lunch and dinner. The breakfast is very good offering pancakes, full English or avo on toast – sourdough natch. Although its style aesthetic will appeal to couples, Coppa&nbsp;Club caters well for kids who have their own menus, including veggie options.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pillow-talk"><strong>PILLOW</strong> TALK</h2>



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<p>Each room is individually decorated and you have the option of a river or countryside view. Choose the river every time. Even from your window, watching people pootle down the river is entertaining and totally relaxing. The rooms are elegant with pops of colour and cool retro touches like the old-fashioned dial phone, Roberts radio and a super-slouchy sofa. </p>



<p>The bathrooms are a masterclass in luxurious simplicity with rain shower, classic taps, metro tiles, super-soft towels and lush Natural Spa Factory products. You can slip them into your case when you leave, but expect to see them charged to your bill. My only niggle was the depth of the bath, so luxurious and enticing to sink deeply into, but almost impossible to get out of!&nbsp;</p>



<p>The Biggy River Suites are the best in the house – each with their own balcony. Sundowners on your own terrace? Now you’re talking. Taking your kids? There’s one family suite which features bunk beds, bean bags and a few choice games to keep little ones entertained.&nbsp;Dogs are welcome too – some rooms on the ground floor are four-leg-friendly, with doggy bed and treats are available from £110 per night with two people sharing it with their furry friend (remember to pre-book). It’s a location that offers riverside walkies on tap and The Ridgeway is nearby for an epic countryside stomp.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-amp-about">OUT &amp; ABOUT</h2>



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<p>Head over the bridge and into Goring for a mooch around this pretty village. George Michael fans can make a pilgrimage to his riverside home Mill Cottage, and saunter around the independent shops, cafés and pubs. We popped into The Miller of Mansfield to watch the Six Nations and a pint of Guinness. Whether you’re walking, running or boating – this is beautiful stretch of the river and Basildon Park National Trust (just a couple of miles away) is worth exploring  – a country estate that has starred in many bodice-ripping films and TV shows, including <em>Pride &amp; Prejudice, The Gentleman </em>and<em> Bridgerton</em>. Beale Wildlife Park is a great day out with the kids. For grown-ups, The Royal Berkshire Shooting School is an option if you want to go all lock, stock and two smoking barrels during your break.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kid-friendly">KID FRIENDLY?</h2>



<p>There is a family room, kids menu in the restaurant and lots of things to do nearby. The river location may give some parents some concern if you have very small children.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-friendly">DOG FRIENDLY?</h2>



<p>Absolutely. There are rooms, with dog bed and treats, just call at the point of booking to ensure a dog-friendly room is reserved for your stay. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accessibility">ACCESSIBILITY</h2>



<p>It&#8217;s very good with disabled parking, loos and lifts to access the hotel and restaurant.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict"><strong>THE MUDDY VERDICT</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong>&nbsp;Anyone looking for total escapism in a modern setting. Just the view alone will drop those shoulders whether you’re eating, drinking or sleeping at this stonking riverside spot. The laidback, countryside cool vibe with the option to exert yourself with a session in the gym, yoga studio or on a paddleboard.</p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong>&nbsp;Those looking for a traditional hotel or if you have a fear of water, Coppa Club The Swan at Streatley won’t be your vibe. It’s also the opposite of an urban weekend break. For that kinda stay, alight at Oxford.</p>



<p><strong>The damage:&nbsp;</strong>Double rooms from £108; and the Biggy Riverside double we stayed in is from £180. Breakfast is £17.50pp and Dinner £35pp not included. Free Wi-Fi.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.coppaclub.co.uk/theswanatstreatley/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Swan At Streatley, Coppa Club</a>, High Street, Streatley-On-Thames RG8 9HR. Tel:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=swan+at+streatley+address&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB726GB728&amp;oq=swan+at+streatley+address&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30.3495j0j7&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8#">01491 878800</a></em></p>


Muddy stays: Coppa Club The Swan at Streatley, Berkshire

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