Exclusive Stories - Royal Berkshire

From the moment you arrive, it's clear that Royal Berkshire's connection to the outdoors runs deeper than simply having beautiful grounds. The gardens are part of the story.

Long before the estate became a hotel, they played an important role in everyday life here. The Horlicks family (yep the ones behind the infamous malted drink!), who once owned the house, were passionate hosts, renowned for entertaining and bringing people together. They were equally passionate about the gardens that surrounded them, creating a landscape that could be enjoyed as an extension of the home itself.

Sir James Nockells Horlick was a passionate gardener, grower and rhododendron breeder, so much so he bred and named one Mrs James Horlick and Lady Horlick, and there is a wild species named after him by other botanists - Rhododendron horlickianum. His lifelong botanical achievements eventually earned him the Victoria Medal of Honour from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1963. He was also elected Honorary President of the Sunningdale & District Gardening Association (SAGDA) when they set up in 1936, with his Head Gardener as one of the co-founders and key figures of the association. SAGDA returned to life after the war and had its moment in the limelight when BBC's Gardening Question Time came to the association in 1981 and a few years later Alan Titchmarsh was campaigning with them to save allotments from development. 

Today, the connection to gardens and preservation remains. Guests wander past rhododendrons planted by the Horlicks family, through the walled gardens and around the lavender fountain pond before dinner. Families play lawn giant games and indulge in ice creams from the horse box. Wedding parties spill out onto the lawns in summer months. Morning coffee is enjoyed on the terrace, accompanied by birdsong rather than busy roads. Across every season, the gardens provide a sense of calm that feels increasingly rare.

For Guest Services team member James, it's one of the first things visitors notice. Many arrive expecting a hotel and what they discover feels more like a hidden retreat. Once they come down the driveway, he explains, the outside world seems to disappear. The pace slows. The surroundings soften. Suddenly, there's space to breathe.

Royal Berkshire enjoys one of the most enviable locations in the country. Positioned between Ascot and Windsor, surrounded by world-renowned golf courses, historic attractions and beautiful countryside, it serves as the perfect base for exploring one of England's most celebrated destinations.

For some guests, that means a day at Ascot Racecourse, or a big family day out at Legoland. For others, it's a polo match or a round of golf at Sunningdale or The Berkshire or going all out regal with a trip to Windsor Castle. Just look at the signpost in the gardens to see the great many reasons to take a trip whilst you stay here.

The hotel's strong equestrian connection is reflected throughout the property. From its horse emblem in the logo, to the bronze horse statue in the grounds and the interiors which have been designed to celebrate the area's rich racing heritage. The Polo Suite is a great example of this, one of most-loved suites at the hotel with wallpapers and artworks celebrating equestrian life and enough space to prance, canter or trot if you like!

Yet despite being so close to these world-famous experiences, Royal Berkshire somehow manages to be a place of respite. That's part of its appeal. Guests spend their days discovering the local area, then return to somewhere calm, peaceful and reassuringly familiar.

And as homes naturally do, this house has a history of being a place of refuge, once a countryside retreat for recreation, it was then donated by the Horlicks family as the second World War broke out to The Barclay School for Blind Girls who were evicted from Brighton during the bombings. Visually impaired girls and young women were taught vital life skills, crafts and academics, and though now hidden beneath the tennis courts, the grounds remain the final resting place for many of the school’s faithful guide dogs.

If the walls of Royal Berkshire could talk, boy would they would have some stories to tell. Stories of family celebrations and distinguished guests, the house's history is woven with notable names.

Politics and power are where things began. The Churchill family were the ones who built the property in 1705, the estate was a grand Queen Anne mansion meant as a high-society power statement. It was built for Charles Churchill who served as an MP, supported by his father-in-law, Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole. Charles and his wife Lady Mary Walpole named the house The Oaks, and it played host to influential figures of the 18^th century, including the political elite and famous writer Horace Walpole. Charles Churchill would have been first cousin (though a fair few times removed as there was 62 years between their lives!) to the Sir Winston Churchill we all know from leading Britain through the war, as they both shared lineage to the original Sir Winston Churchill who passed in 1688.

While the Horlick family left a more party than politics mark on the estate. The multi-millionaire dynasty behind the famous Horlicks malted milk drink changed the name to Little Paddocks and made the home legendary for its lavish, high-society entertaining. Every summer the house would be filled with elite guests enjoying lively house parties, with the family regularly hosting international royalty. Queen Alexandra of Yugoslavia wrote in her memoirs about being bewildered by the scale of the parties and the endless sea of guests and staff. Enjoying her visits as a child, when she and King Peter later married, they rented a cottage on the grounds for their honeymoon.

For generations, guests have gathered here for parties, celebrations and social occasions. Sales & Revenue Manager Lindsay sees this first-hand during Royal Ascot week. Familiar guests return year after year, often greeted by the very same team members who welcomed them on their first visit. Conversations pick up where they left off. Relationships continue to grow. And more stories and secrets are whispered into our walls.