Memories of Reading Lake Hotel abandoned after fire

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Members of the public have shared their memories of an abandoned hotel near Reading, recalling anniversaries, parties and their experiences there.

The Reading Lake Hotel suffered severely from a fire on November 21, 2015, which destroyed part of the roof of the hotel.

While an Expedia review from 2018 implied part of the hotel was functioning at the time, it is understood to have closed shortly after that.

People have shared memories of marriages, anniversaries and the facilities of the hotel in Pingewood on Facebook.

Nick and Roxanne Devereux stayed at the hotel when they got married.

Angela Catt said: "Our friends arranged our 25th wedding anniversary there. They booked us a suite. It was a really lovely weekend. So sad to see it now."

Sunset at the abandoned Reading Lake Hotel in Pingewood, near Reading, that suffered a devastating fire in November 2015.Sunset at the abandoned Reading Lake Hotel in Pingewood, near Reading, that suffered a devastating fire in November 2015. (Image: James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporting Service)

Christine Heath said: "A company I worked for had their Christmas Party there, we had a great time. Such a shame it's been left like this ..."

The hotel also served as a venue for work events and had a health club. Before being rebranded the Lake Hotel, it was called Kirtons Farm Country Club.

Richard Rik Johnson said: "They used to do corporate 'team' days amongst other things. What a pity it's been left like that."

A look around abandoned Reading Lake Hotel a decade after devastating fire

Health facilities urban explorers discovered at the hotel included a swimming pool with a hot tub and a dance area that was previously used as a squash court. 

Sue Wisdom said: "I had a Health Club membership when it was Kirtons Farm. It was a lovely place. So sad to hear that it's gone to rack and ruin."

 A former employee also shared her memory of the hotel. 

Paula Marie O'Connor said: "So sad. I worked in the French Restaurant there in the early 90s. It was grand at that point.

"Loved that job!"

 

But not all memories of the hotel were glowing. 

Felicity Paterson said: "Only from this report did I see that it had a fire, however can't really say I'm surprised.

"We stayed there in 2013 and it was the worst place I'd ever stayed.

"Health and safety was lacking in the room we stayed in and the cleanliness was far from satisfactory. I'm pretty sure they were struggling for business."

It was run as a Copthorne Hotel before it was taken over by an independent operator. 

Looking to the future, Jordan Victor Carter pondered how the hotel could be brought back into use. 

He said: "I think new laws should be brought in that abandoned properties left disused for more than five years can be claimed by the government and used for social housing.... We need to stop destroying land for houses when we have loads of properties like this all over the country."

No application to either fix the roof or change the use of hotel is visible on West Berkshire Council's planning portal. 

Next door, the Hi5 water activities centre continues to run activities on the lake. 

Susan Langford said: "It’s a brilliant place for open water swimming, the staff are really friendly. Please give it a go.

"It holds the Reading Triathlon there every year, we’ve had so much fun in the past."

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