I was recently given the chance to stay in The Orange Tree Hotel in Richmond in one of their beautiful boutique rooms for the night. This was really convenient as we were due to attend an exhibition the following day and Richmond station was literally just over the road.

We checked into the beautiful – and rather cosy – reception. Wall-papered with a view from Richmond Park, I felt instantly at home. Plus, there was a table next to the reception area with spare rugs inviting you to help yourself should you feel cold.

Claire showed us up to room 9. I really liked the fact that the hotel doors were only accessible by the staff or the people holding a room card.

Upon reaching the room, Claire also went that bit further by showing us around the room and all of the amenities it offered.

The Room Layout

As you entered the room there was an interconnecting door to your right (useful if you were there with your family and needed another room) and straight ahead was the very modern bathroom. This consisted of low level toilet, basin, bath with large fixed shower head and smaller removable shower. The bathroom was also extremely well stocked with toothbrush and toothpaste, shoe shine kit, sewing kit, manicure kit, shampoo, (separate) conditioner and shower gel.

 

To your left as you entered, the room stretched out before you with the bed on your right, wardrobe on your left which also incorporated the tea and coffee making facilities and mini bar and a desk with a wall-mounted flat screen tv which included Sky channels.

What I also liked were the little touches of vintage mixed with modern. A tiled fireplace, little vanity unit and old-fashioned telephone and a DAB radio with docking station for your iPod or phone.

Room Specifics

• The fridge/mini bar was of a standard size and was well stocked. It included coke, vodka, red and white wine, milk and water.
• The bathroom had a good supply of towels, tissues and cotton wool.
• The hairdryer was hanging in a bag inside the wardrobe. There was also an iron next to it and I really liked the added extra of the wardrobe lighting up inside when you opened the doors.
• The safe was a standard size and easy to use.
• The tea and coffee making facilities were excellent. There was even a coffee machine.
• They left a couple of bottles of wine out for us and hadn’t forgotten the cork screw!
• The shower was very powerful and I liked the fact that there was an extra shower head which you could take down
• The bed was huge! It was comfortable with just the right amount of sheets and pillows – and big enough for Ross and I to have some space.

The Breakfast.

The breakfast choice was outstanding. There was a full English which included Dingly Dell Wiltshire cure bacon, cumberland sausage, black pudding, grilled tomato,hash brown, portobello mushroom, beans and your choice of egg. This was served with a basket of rustic toast. The Continental was a choice of cereals, rustic toast, croissant, fruit, yoghurt and jams. There was also Kings cured smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, your choice of egg on toast, eggs benedict, florentine or royale, waffles with syrup and bacon or berries and honey, traditional porridge, and either an egg, sausage, sausage and egg, bacon or bacon and egg bap! All of these served with tea or coffee and fruit juice. Phew. Ross went for the Full English and I chose the smoked salmon and scrambled egg.

Any issues?

Yes, a couple. I slipped over as I got into the bath to take a shower in the morning. I would recommend that some non-slip coating or pads be added to the bottom of the bath. I also noticed a lot of road noise – but that is just me! Ross didn’t hear it at all.

Any thing missing?

A car park. There is a car park nearby where you can stay overnight but you would have to pay from 8am (although, conveniently, you can pay via phone quoting the car park reference).

Overall Thoughts

This is a room suited to a single traveller or a couple. As there is an interconnecting room, it also makes it suitable for families. It was spacious, well-appointed and comfortable. I loved the decor of the whole hotel. It had the theme of Richmond and Twickenham running throughout. It is also extremely conveniently located for transport into the centre of London, Kew Gardens and Twickenham stadium. I was a little concerned that the pub might be too noisy when we retired to bed but it wasn’t. We didn’t hear a thing! We would certainly stay here again.

Disclosure: A one night stay at The Orange Tree Pub and Hotel in Richmond, Surrey costs from £109 per night for a twin room including breakfast.