The runnymede-on-thames, Egham – Reviewed

Looking for a riverside hotel with a spa and great connections to London? If so, you may be interested in The runnymede-on-thames, a 4 star hotel in Egham (surrey), which sits upon the river Thames and is only a short journey to Heathrow.

On arrival we were greeted with the gloriously ornate lobby, complete with metallic reed sculptures designed to mimic the riverside setting. Rooms also come packed with fantastic amenities and extras. For example our room came with fabulous ESPA bathroom toiletries which had a wonderful smell and spa quality feel. Our room was large, spacious and relatively comfortable. Plus, we enjoyed a beautiful riverside view over looking the Thames – which was a lovely treat. Our stay was a comfortable and relaxing one. We felt at home!

The Lock Bar and Kitchen

The hotels flagship restaurant focuses on refined, home style cooking with heart, flavour and fresh ingredients. Concise, but packed full of local influences, the menu reflects seasonality well and offers something for everyone. We visited on a dark, cold evening and we found the restaurant to be homely, warm and cosy. Staff at the Lock Bar and Kitchen offered a great blend of friendliness, passion and strong knowledge of the menu.

To start the meal I went for the beautiful s eared scallops, creamed shallot and gremolata (see below). Scallops came perfectly cooked and the shallots worked well for a dish with high-end flavours. For something a little more rustic my partner tried the crispy chicken and pepper strips, homemade bbq sauce. Packed full of flavour and fun, this was a great start to the meal also.

Keeping it local, I plumped for the grilled Surrey farm rib eye steak, big chips, béarnaise sauce or green peppercorn sauce. Beautifully tender, juicy and packed full of flavour, this steak was absolutely fantastic. For £21 it was also brilliant value for money. I also enjoyed the value of the restaurants wine, which was of high quality and yet you could have a large glass of Merlot for as little as £5. One disappointing dish was the Moroccan spiced chicken and quinoa salad, with rose harissa mayo. The chicken had been sue vide and then grilled; however, the grilling had taken all of the moisture out of the chicken and it made for a pretty dry dish. A shame, especially when we enjoyed the rest of our meal.

Spa Facilities

The runnymede-on-thames has a couple of feathers to its bow and also offers a great range of spa activities. This spa is wonderfully equipped and came with all the bells and whistles. In short, it offers indoor and outdoor swimming pools, whirlpool bath, saunas, eucalyptus steam room
and endless pampering with a very wide range of treatments. I would highly recommend taking a look at the spa if you choose to visit. I would also keep an eye out for the hotel’s vast range of deals which combines the spa, dinner and breakfast.

Our visit was initially intended to find a southern spa hot spot. However, we left with the feeling that the hotel has more of a business friendly atmosphere, rather than a romantic retreat atmosphere. Worth a try and not to be discounted, this hotel offers good food and a great location as its highlights.

Find out more here.