Rawdons Hotel & Brewery

A fabulous experience...beyond delicious food...excellent friendly service...great beds with crispy white bed linen...fluffy white bath towels...beautiful gardens and a warm welcome by the attentive two new managers...superb location..

On our trip through the Natal Midlands we stopped for lunch at Boar's Head Pub for lunch. Besides a stunning setting they offer a wide variety of home brewed beer and Gin. The grilled trout was delicious. They handled our large group well.

I have had a love affair with Rawdons since it opened in 1956. Through many changes it is still my go-to place whenever means and circumstances permit. This time my husband and I celebrated a birthday and a wedding anniversary and stayed for 3 nights. Our room was simply gorgeous, looking out onto the velour lawn and the lake in front, rose bushes to the left and fuschias to the right. We didn't want to get up off the padded seat in the bay window. My husband would have liked to take the shower back home! The staff were unobtrusive, dignified, competent and obliging. The grounds are in immaculate condition and an unending joy in every direction. We loved the 'private' pool area. Breakfast was indeed the proverbial fit for a king. I got the impression that the maintenance of the outdoors is of more concern than that of the rooms. Our beautiful room had three stains on the carpet, two missing screws to secure the opening windows, damage to a support strut under the table (a piece missing) and a big hole in one of the magnificent curtains. None of which detracted from our enjoyment of our stay. I was quite reluctant to leave and could have happily stayed for the next three nights.

We stayed for two nights to celebrate a birthday. We loved the ambience, and the staff were outstanding. The pub is warm and cosy, and the bar staff attentive. Weather was warm and sunny, and we enjoyed walking around the grounds. Typical pub grub and well presented and is tasty. We will definitely return

Lovely old hotel in beautiful grounds. Restaurant and a lovely pub giving a choice of food. Staff pleasant and food very good. We had a lovely mutton curry. Very tranquil place. The walks around the lake are worth doing. Also a great place for the midland meander.

We had a lovely room. Excellent place to eat. Very comfortable and the food was great. Bed was comfortable too. Will go there again. The hotel itself is old but very quint. Lots of history attached to this hotel.

The renovated rooms are terrific, the gardens are so lovely and the staff are very friendly and efficient. We enjoyed our stay in a classic thatch hotel in the heart of the Midlands. The food was good and the pub was full of roaring fires and good cheer.

We have just completed a short stay at Rawdons Hotel & Estate and enjoyed it mostly. The rooms are very nice, clean and modern...and quiet...but we were unfortunately not able to get a room with a view of the lake. The hotel has beautiful gardens and amenities and is a great place to just unwind and relax. Reception staff were helpful and the pub is a great place to enjoy a drink. What does let the hotel down however, is the breakfast.... what a disaster. On our first breakfast, there were no waiters around, no supervisor/manager and the food at the buffet was mostly gone. We eventually managed to find a waiter and ordered Eggs Benedict.... What a joke - their interpretation of Eggs Benedict was 2 stale scones, wilted rocket leaves, a slice of polony and soggy eggs on top.... with a weird watery hollandaise sauce on the side, made from vinegar and mayonnaise... no toast available... This really is a pity ...because this is such a wonderful hotel with charm and atmosphere.... but their breakfast is a HUGE disappointment... It seems it is too much to ask, that the hotel just offer a decent breakfast spread to their guests.... it really should be simple to fix...if they have the commitment and passion ...but that seems lacking This really put a damper on our midweek stay at this hotel ( which is not a cheap hotel....)

I love the old rustic vibe of the place, the food is fantastic, the pub is old and historic and the beer is cold and tasty! All in all and great stay, once again. Thank you.