Roseate Reading facts for kids
| The Roseate Reading | |
Quick facts for kids  Abbey Gateway, the hotel and The Blade |
|
| Hotel facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | Reading, Berkshire, UK |
| Coordinates | 51°27′22″N 0°58′02″W / 51.4562°N 0.9673°W |
| Address | |
| Opening date | 2006 |
| Architect | Septimus Warwick H Austen Hall |
| No. of restaurants | 1 |
| No. of rooms | 23 |
| of which suites | 5 |
| No. of floors | 4 |
The Roseate Reading is a beautiful hotel in Reading, England. It used to be called The Forbury Hotel. This building has a long history. It was once the Shire Hall for the County of Berkshire from 1911 to 1981. A Shire Hall is like a main office building for a county's local government. The hotel is located next to Forbury Gardens and is a special historic building, known as a Grade II listed building.
Contents
What is the History of The Roseate Reading?
The building that is now The Roseate Reading has an interesting past. It was originally built for the local government of Berkshire County.
Why Was the Shire Hall Built?
Since 1889, the Berkshire County Council had held its main meetings in the assize courts. As the council's work grew, they needed a bigger, dedicated space. So, they decided to build a new Shire Hall. They chose a spot near Forbury Gardens. This area used to have buildings from the Royal Berkshire Seed Establishment.
Who Designed the Original Building?
The new building was designed by two architects, Septimus Warwick and H Austen Hall. They used a style called Queen Anne style. E. C. Hughes of Wokingham built it. The Shire Hall officially opened in 1911.
The building's front has five sections facing The Forbury. The ground floor is made of Portland stone. It has a special entrance with three columns. The upper floors have casement windows with red brick walls. This building was home to the county council's staff. However, the full council meetings still happened next door.
When Did the Building Become a Hotel?
In 1981, the council moved to a new building in Shinfield Park. After they moved out, the old Shire Hall was changed into a business. The Waterbridge Group, a development company, renovated it. In 2006, it reopened as The Forbury Hotel. The old council meeting room was turned into a restaurant called the "Eden Room."
In 2009, the hotel faced some money problems. It was then bought by Von Essen. Later, in 2017, the Bird Group bought it. They spent £3.5 million to turn 17 apartments into 34 more hotel rooms. In June 2019, the hotel reopened with its new name, The Roseate Reading.
