The Great House At Sonning, Exclusive Hire
Thames Street, Sonning-on-Thames, Reading, RG4 6UT -
Up to
150 guests
About Venue
Set on the banks of the beautiful river The Great House offers a sweeping setting, with manicured lawns and stunning scenery, the perfect location for a stunning wedding in Berkshire. Steeped in history, this beautiful house and river views provides the perfect romantic setting. The Great House is in one of the most idyllic wedding venues that Berkshire has to offer. A real ‘hidden' gem tucked away in stunning Sonning on the river
The hotel completed a stunning £7M refurbishment in December 2016 with the Launch of the new Great House Lodge. The Great House Lodge is licensed for civil ceremonies. If you are planning a church wedding, we can recommend from the many charming places in the surrounding countryside. The Hotel is just a few steps from our riverside entrance, so your celebrations can extend out onto the lawn next to the banks of the river.
The Dining Room at The Great House Lodge is naturally lit and surrounded by its own terrace overlooking the river. The Great House Lodge can host a ceremony for 115 and an evening reception for up to 200 people. If you are planning on having pre-wedding dinners or receptions, the private dining room in The Great House Lodge can host from 10 to 150 guests - perfect for “night before” family gatherings or group breakfasts. All rooms overlook the river, the perfect setting and view for ceremonies and receptions.
Minimum numbers 60.
If you’d like more info or have any questions, please click Send Quick Enquiry.
Capacity & Layout
Standing
up to 150
Theatre
up to 150
Boardroom
up to 20
Cabaret
up to 150
Pricing
& Opening Hours
Weekly schedule
monday
00:00 - 24:00
tuesday
00:00 - 24:00
wednesday
00:00 - 24:00
thursday
00:00 - 24:00
friday
00:00 - 24:00
saturday
00:00 - 24:00
sunday
00:00 - 24:00
Location
Reviews
- Macarla AndrewJuly 2025
Loved our night stay here. The room was clean and tidy and the staff were all very friendly. Parking available for free on site, beautiful restaurant and we had a really nice breakfast. Lovely outdoor area, too. Overall, perfect place
- Saira MediaAugust 2025
The staff we spoke to were all lovely and the food was great however the speed of service was massively slow and at times non-existent. We wanted more drinks, we ordered them but they never showed up... ultimately we were going to spend more money but couldn't. There was also a wasp nest nearby so all patrons outside we dodging them. Some empty tables had 15-20 wasps swarming.
- Francoise ReadJune 2025
We only booked in for lunch. The service was poor to begin with as apparently our designated waiter had abandoned us. The next waiter was really friendly and helpful. Sadly the food was a bit of a let down… not awful but not up to scratch. My Caesar salad was poorly presented… two chunky croutons…. Very little lettuce and seeing that’s a very cheap component that was disappointing. One small anchovy and a few cheese shavings…the extra chicken portion was for an extra £5 a robbery…. I think they need to reconsider what they are putting together. My son and his partner weren’t that taken either by the food.
- Nick HigginsJuly 2025
Was attending a wedding on Saturday for some close friends including my girlfriend being bridesmaid. The day was lovely but there were a few issues. Prices! Very expensive £7.30 for a pint of beer £10 for Prosecco £4.40 for small bottle of coke. Room £170 NO BREAKFAST!!! Extremely Average room! Breakfast for 2 £55 To top of all of this I was confronted by staff as I left my hipflask on the table after the wedding lunch, they attempted to refuse me having it back, now weddings 95% of men and some women will have a hip flask. It is a wedding tradition, mine was engraved with groomsmen on and my name yet they felt it was appropriate to say I cannot have it back and they will look after it. Treated like a child at the age of 33. I eventually took it back and put it up in my room and heard from the staff we better not see that again, as it was a friends wedding I chose to ignore it but I don’t take kindly to threats of any sort. Such a shame as Sonning is stunning but let down by unprofessional staff so overall experience very poor!! Being generous for the 2 stars!!
- SARAH CATTLEAugust 2025
Overbooked at the Last Minute – Birthday Weekend Ruined! I booked a 2-night stay at The Great House in Sonning for my husband’s birthday, carefully planning a special weekend with a distillery tour, restaurants, and other activities. I spent hours researching and organising everything to make it memorable. Just three hours after booking — at 9:45pm — I received a call telling me the hotel was overbooked and our stay cancelled. The receptionist said she was “happy to cancel your payment,” offering no alternative or solution. Later, the only follow-up was an automated email saying, “BOOKING CANCELLED — WE INVITE YOU TO MAKE A RESERVATION IN THE FUTURE.” This lack of empathy and personal attention was incredibly upsetting, especially on a bank holiday weekend when options are limited. It caused unnecessary stress and disappointment, forcing me to start planning at the last minute and losing a whole evening. Sadly, based on this experience, I cannot recommend The Great House to anyone seeking considerate, reliable service or a worry-free stay. ------------------ Update: Since posting this review, I noticed that Booking.com currently has multiple rooms available at The Great House for one night over the same weekend. I am genuinely shocked that the receptionist never offered this option, which could have salvaged part of our birthday weekend. Instead, we were left with no alternatives and only an automated email. This further emphasises the lack of consideration and flexibility in their customer service.
