The Royal Hotel Featherston - Boutique Hotel

We had a wonderful two night stay at this beautiful hotel. The room was absolutely gorgeous and exquisitely decorated. It included a very thoughtful and artful collection of period furniture, paintings, books. The bed was very comfortable with high quality linen and bedding. The bathroom was spacious and clean, and we especially loved the claw bath. Everything about our stay was perfect - from the friendly and welcoming staff, the delicious food from the hotel restaurant, and of course, our beautiful room. We had a fabulous, relaxing stay - and will definitely stay again!

If you like old style buildings and rooms, you're going to love this place. It's an pub / dinning area with a set of rooms that you can stay in on the floor above. Everything is decorated in a slightly eccentric 'Victoria' fashion, books piled everywhere, which we loved. The room was spacious with a comfortable bed. The shower is a little awkward, with a fixed nozzle, but manageable. We had dinner as part of their Mid-Winter festival and it was lovely. All candles and old glassware. The food was excellent and the service mostly good. I'd give the place 5 stars but there were just a couple of weird notes. When the waitress brought out my Christmas pudding, as part of the performance, she sets the pudding on fire. She inadvertently sprayed my shirt a little with the fluid. It was no big deal, accidents happen. But she just ploughed on as if nothing had happened. The next morning, we had a lovely breakfast, but when I paid up before leaving, the guy running the bar was very short as if he really couldn't be bothered dealing with me. No 'how was your stay?' or 'goodbye', he couldn't get away quick enough. When we left, I tried to open the door to the car-park to leave, it was locked for some reason, the guy just stood there. OK...I'll walk around then. Overall, we actually really enjoyed the stay. Just a shame about the weird vibe at the end.

It was such a pity that the hotel let us down as we have stayed three times before. The food is outstanding - absolutely amazing and the rooms are fun. The bubble bath was heavenly. So great dinner, great room, great ambiance. Climbed into a comfortable bed then boom - I presume the events room was underneath us. The music came on and did it come on - right into the bedroom with no hope of sleep at all. Being an old building the vibrations came up through the floor to be felt. I rang just before 10.00 to point out that I had paid to sleep and it wasn't possible. Told it finished at 10.00. No such luck there - 11.00 - they had made a mistake with the booking I was told. It was truely awful and not what I had paid for. The building is not built for it or warn the guests when booking. I received the most limp apology - soooorry. That doesn't cut for it for me. Perhaps a bottle of wine with a card may have shown their understanding of their paying guests?? We felt our weekend away had come off the rails and were very disappointed in them - such a pity. Treat your guests with the respect they deserve and let them sleep the sleep they paid for. Don't book without a written guarantee that there isn't an event on.

From the moment you walk into the beautifully decorated foyer of this hotel, pick up the receiver of the old vintage telephone to call reception, and get a DIAL TONE and a person, you know you are somewhere special. My sister and I spent three nights here midweek on a midwinter getaway and loved every minute of it. From the superb service and food (thank you, Rebecca, and the other staff in the wonderful Brac and Bow bar and restaurant) to the sumptuous olde worlde surroundings of the hotel itself – the huge, gorgeous fireplace in the Brac and Bow, comfy beds, fabulous deep clawfoot bath – everything was top notch. We had a great break exploring the wonderful Wairarapa thanks to our stay in this lovely old hotel.

Very nice and spacious room. Everything was perfectly clean. Even had some air plugs but didn't need them. The best place in town to stay. A real luxury. We stayed their when we did the Rimutaka rail trail and it was the perfect base. Shuttle pickup from the front door.

A beautifully decorated period hotel. The room was well appointed and tastefully decorated with all we needed for our stay. The staff were very friendly and helpful - ready to assist with bags and such if required (there is no lift). Would definitely return if in the Wairarapa again.