Rawdons Hotel & Estate Guest Reviews
Dear Brandon, Amanda, Stripes, George and the entire Rawdon’s staff,
I can not begin to thank you for your wonderful hospitality, patience, professionalism and friendly manner in which you welcomed 44 ladies to Rawdon’s.
I have only compliments to make.
Amanda, you are a GEM. from my initial inquiry checking out yesterday to sending me a whatsapp message this morning checking that we all got home safely. Wow! I had no concerns and your efficiency made my life so easy. Thank you and look forward to seeing you soon.
George; you are an amazing man. Looking after me in particular as you saw me running around sorting things out for the ladies. You are Rawdon’s and it was such a pleasure working with you. I wish you well in your imminent retirement, Rawdon’s is going to miss you.
Stripes; You are such a friendly face and so will to help and obliged, thank you for everything you did. from helping set up for the final dinner, name tags, printing stuff etc. You did this all so happily for us and with no fuss.
Brandon; I don’t know how you do this. Your over all hosting, organisation and management of your team was outstanding. You never stopped and never look flustered, irritated or rushed. You gave me so much support and confidence that things were in good hands from the time I arrived to the time I drove out. You and your team helped me “look good” and I am so grateful
I have attached a group photo of the ladies on the last night.
I look forward to visiting Rawdon’s again soon.
Kidest regards
Bronwen Lambert
LADIES VICE CAPTAIN (GOLF)
BRYANSTON COUNTRY CLUB
” Ambience – July 2013 “
Just wanting to compliment you, the owners and staff, on your amazing hotel. The first word that comes to mind is “ambience”. And that is something that Rawdons gets just right. There is a sense of history in this amazing hotel, with all its nooks and crannies. Fabulous paintings, fireplaces and coffee table books. Cats basking in the sun and double fuschias blooming in winter! Cosy rooms that maintain integrity whilst having been modernised to just the right degree. (Loved the heated towel rails)! A pub that doesn’t have a large screen blaring music or sports. What a relief! Rather gentle background music from the past. And Thank All The Gods, no sign of any spa or massage facilities! It all makes one just about believe that humanity is on the right path after all.
Well done guys.
Regards, Colleen
” Trip Advisor – July 2013 “
Our family spent a winters weekend at Rawdons with 2 other families. We stayed in room 1, the family suite, which was immaculately clean, warm, and very comfortable. There were plenty of heaters and we had a tv and fridge in the lounge area. Rawdons is great for families travelling with kids as there seem to be plenty of family rooms and inter-leading rooms. The hotel is small enough to retain an intimate feeling that you are staying in a grande-olde house of yester-year. We were fabulously looked after, both at breakfast and in the evening in the pub, by George (who seems to work incredibly long hours but still manages to retain a sense of humour). We spend hours exploring the lake and forest, and found loads of chestnuts. The pub was only place to be when the temperature dropped and was equally welcoming to both the adults and children. Excellent value and a wonderful stay, especially considering it’s a 3star.
“A little piece of Heaven!” Di & Paul “
A 1-night stopover at this charming olde world hotel, turned out to be 4 glorious nights in a simply stunning, romantic setting which, needless to say, we fell in love with immediately! What added to the charm of this Little piece of England was the warm, friendly welcome we received on that freezing afternoon in July! The room, with central heating, was lovely & really comfy, overlooking the lake – and what a pleasure to step on to a warm bathroom floor! The English pub, with its cozy ambiance, was so welcoming, with a roaring log fire & “yummy” pub food! The food & the service in the dining-room was excellent too! In a nutshell – “delightful!” We’ll definitely be back – for a longer stay…
“Unexpected surprise”
We arrived here from the south coast enroute to Pretoria late on Sunday afternoon August 12th.
The aim was simply to visit the Nottingham Road Brewing Company to get hold of a few of their excellant products to take home (I am a beer enthusiast and admirer of the NRBC range).
Whilst enjoying a beautiful Porter in the charming pub, the wife and children had a stroll around the property. And that as they say, was that.
She begged to stay over.
I am still not sure whether it was the warm glow from the Porter, the log fire or the superb surroundings which bowled me over but I needed no arm twisting.
you’ll be seeing us again soon! 🙂
“The old lady is looking great”
We have stayed at Rawdon’s many times, It’s a good stopover on the road between the South Coast and Johannesburg. This trip it was very cold, and we were glad of the warm and sincere welcome we received – as well as with the way the hotel has been upgraded through very careful and tasteful modernisation. The public rooms have never looked better, and the bedrooms are beautiful. Bathrooms are modern and really lovely. The food was excellent, and the pub,( happily not revamped!) with roaring log fires, just the best place to be on a winter night. The staff were as welcoming and helpful as ever.
Not to mention we bought some Pickled Pig to take home!! Always a great extra…
“More than expectations!”
Have been on day visits to Rawdons before and our wonderfully peaceful stay this time was lengthened from two nights to three because we just couldn’t bear to leave the peaceful tranquility and hospitality that Rawdons offered. We will be back!
“Birthday stays at Rawdon’s”
This is our second ‘birthday’ stay, a gift from our daughters. They knew nhow we loved the hotel just from visiting for a meal while on a midlands Meander. On this occasion we had a ‘bed and breakfast’ treat. We were so pleasantly greeted by management we could have been family, and on being shown to our room, we learned that although a standard room had been booked, because it was midweek and the hotel was not busy, we had been upgraded to a luxury room! We loved our surroundings, the fantastic art work, the heated floor, and the blazing log fires, and of course the lake with its Egyptian Geese and ducks.
We were so pleasently suprised, on departure, to be greeted by Daid again, with a cake which had been baked and iced, for Joe’s birthday. What a lovely touch. Another nice touch was the 10% discount on Notties Beer. Altogether, a lovely ‘getaway’.
“Beautiful, Old World, Relaxin”
Beautiful, Old World and Relaxing are just a few of the adjectives I can use for describing Rawdons. Whenever we are in South Africa visiting family we always spend a few days driving the Midlands Meander. We wouldn’t go to Nottingham Road without at least having lunch at Rawdons. Being able to spend a few nights there is heaven. The grounds are beautiful, the food is delicious, the service is beyond reproach. There is just the right accommodation for everyone. The included breakfast has everything you could want. If you are visiting from the States you will be really pleased with the ambiance and old world feel of Rawdons. Definately 5 stars.
“Excellent Conference Venue”
My company recently used the conference facilities at Rawdons for a strategic planning workshop. This is an annual event and we have been back to Rawdons now for the forth year in a row. The facilities are well organised and the staff extremely professional, also in dealing with big groups. The accomodation and food is excellent and Amanda and George lovely hosts. Really cannot fault anything. This is a highly recommended conference venue and we will definitely be back. Dr Martin van der Merwe.
TRIP ADVISOR COMMENTS:
Fabulous country Hotel, with log fires everywhere. Comfortable rooms, warm and cozy. Delicious craft beer, wonderful gins and delicious food. Beautiful surrounds, lovely staff…what more could you want!?
The grande dame of the Midlands
Rawdons Hotel has built up a good reputation over many years. It is for this reason that it is still very popular. Over the years, I have enjoyed many lunches here. But it was only recently that I chose to stay here whilst on a sightseeing trip of a few days, with a friend. I was not disappointed. This is an old hotel which has seen refurbishment and additions over the years. There are some beautiful pieces of antique furniture. We stayed in the adjoining family suite, with a modern bathroom. Under floor heating was an added bonus. The food is excellent at Rawdons. One can choose to sit outside or inside. During cooler evenings, the pub is very popular.Amongst a wide range of liquor varieties, it also serves the distinctive craft beer which is manufactured on the property at Nottingham Road Brewery. Comical names but excellent beer! This hotel has a huge property which is beautifully maintained. The gardens and lake are very picturesque. When on the Midlands Meander, do treat yourself with a stop over at Rawdons.
My sister and I stayed for five nights and had a wonderful time. Rawdon’s Hotel reminds me of a traditional British country hotel. The decor is outstanding with beautiful wall papers and also beautiful curtains throughout. Victoria lit the fire each night for us in the living room which is also beautifully furnished. The meals at the pub were delicious and the pub was lovely and cosy for winter evenings. On the weekend the dinners were in the dining room. Breakfasts, always in the dining room, had a great selection of Continental and English breakfast choices. The waitstaff Douglas and Christine were wonderful like all the staff. George supervised all aspects in the dining room and had been on the staff for sixty years! Stripes in Reception was also so helpful. Thank you to all the staff for a wondeful stay!
Lovely setting, super friendly and helpful staff. Cosy pub
We had stayed here on our waybdown to the coast and so liked the place decided to stay on the way back.My wife and I arrived at the hotel having picked up a bug the previous day. The hotel staff were extremely helpful giving us a lovely sunny room facing the lake, advising where the doctor and pharmacy was. The food manager prepared us a simple meal delivered to our room yet still tastefully presented. It’s never fun being sick on holiday but all the staff we dealt with were so helpful it made the unpleasant experience much more bearable.
The staff provides great service. Our room was comfortable with underfloor heating and the bathroom has a heated towel rail. The breakfast is generous and fabulous (hot and cold, English and Continental). The hotel is situated in a convenient area to visit many venues on the Midlands Meander.
We broke our journey to the south coast to sleep over at Rawdons as a family of 4. We were given the garden cottage which is absolutely gorgeous. Two beautiful double rooms with pristine bedding, heated floors, and a packed fireplace. TV and double adapters for charging various devices.. We had supper at the hotel after enjoying a rugby game in the ginbar. The breakfast was very nice and varied. Delicious local brewed beers as well. Definitely worth a second longer visit.
Excellent timeless country atmosphere with its charming decor and its placid pastoral surroundings – a cut above the rest and a premium venue in this area for the more expensive taste. Memorable to the max even though for one night only in our case.
Hubby and I went away for a midweek break for my birthday. We had the most amazing time. The setting in the Midlands is beautiful. The hospitality is amazing and the food delicious. Special shout out to Brandon and Christopher who made our nights in the pub and restaurant absolutely amazing. Gorgeous fireplaces and friendliness of all staff was like a home away from home. Can’t wait for our next visit
We had dinner at the Boar’s Head Pub on two previous occasions and always wanted to return for a proper visit. Consequently made use of the midweek special, spent four blissful days in the Midlands in March and really enjoyed our stay at Rawdons. We were thoroughly spoilt by the hotel staff and appreciate the good service, attention to detail and old-worldly charm of this hotel and its beautiful, well-kept surroundings. Highly recommended
We have been coming to Rawdons since our girls were in Treverton on 1998 and just love the old world charm of the place. The updating of the rooms have made the stay extremely comfortable and the growth of the brewery has made the Pub a great place. But is more than this that makes Rawdons a special place. Its the people. Of course George is a legend but so too are Douglas and Christopher. Brendon, the newer manager is great and remembered us from last year. All the staff are great, super friendly and attentive. So sorry to hear of Rose passing. Well done Management!
We’ve been to Rawdons for a lunch a couple of years ago and decided to return for a two nights stay. We got a very nice room with a view of the lake and the surrounding grounds…most pleasant. The whole atmosphere in the hotel – as others have commented – is one of a comfortable old British style hotel which, for us, was very relaxing. No surprises on the food front – good solid fayre in the Pub and a couple of draft beers were most acceptable – with both of us finding breakfasts most acceptable (we got generous omelettes so management must read these reviews!).
An English Style Country Hotel
A visit to the KZN Midlands is always worthwhile and if you wish to explore the Nottingham Road area then you won’t go wrong by staying at Rawdons Hotel. It is a country hotel very much in the English style and is set above a dam in beautiful rural surroundings. Thatched roof, splendid oak trees, chintz furnishings and a cozy pub all give a feeling of going back to the ’40s. Since my last visit 8 years ago the rooms have gone through a much needed upgrade and most now are large, comfortable and with modern bathrooms.The food is good but not haute cuisine and breakfasts are excellent. The place is children friendly.
Classic hotel in the Midlands (5/5)
I’ve been coming to this hotel since I can remember, and now living overseas it was great to come back to this great establishment. Essentially a local heritage landmark, the hotel is currently in a process of updating and renovating – the rooms are of a very high standard and at time of writing, the kitchens were currently being rebuilt. A beautiful lake, excellent craft beer brewed on site and a cosy pub make this a great place.
Mr (4/5)
An excellent value for money family hotel. Had a great stay and reminds one of English countryside. Recommending it to my adult children as so much to do for families… Enjoyed the pub lunches. One of the few places where one can enjoy a game of lawn tennis in SA….
Rawdons Hotel in Nottingham (Midlands) (5/5)
Flawless holiday destination Outstanding service Devine food Beautiful rooms. Management and Staff are excellent. Facilities are in great condition. I know my family and i will definitely be returning to Rawdons very soon.
Great place to lunch…… (4/5)
Meandered up to Nottingham Rd on New Years Day to escape the crowds in Durban. Decided on Rawdons for lunch. Sat outdoors under a beautiful shady oak tree – lovely and cool on a scorchingly hot day. George welcomed us – such an institution!!! Victoria our waitron was very attentive. Great food. Highly recommended
An Old World Treasure (5/5)
Quietly elegant – this old dame is truly a gem. Good food, good gin, great beer. All staff are really wonderful to interact with – from George who has worked at this establishment for the better part of 60 years to the youngster Ben who is a casual for the holidays. The service is great. The rooms are adequate yet comfortable, Wi Fi signal not the best but is functional. Pricing is reasonable. But the pub that has not changed in years remains the best pub feeling in SA particularly on a chilly rainy day with huge wood fires burning creating a wonderful atmosphere
Beautiful grounds + beer tasting (4/5)
Well worth a visit. Has a real english pub and garden feel to it. Beer tasting paddle is generous. I highly recommend the Tiger India IPA. They also have a cool selection of t-shirts for sale. I’m just saying, i don’t have any stake in it.
Beautiful (4/5)
We had a great overnight stay. The premises was well kept and the staff was very helpful and friendly. The chicken pie was the star of the show and the best we ever had. Will definitely be going back.
Excellent (5/5)
We stopped over on the way down to the coast in December. The room was clean and comfortable and the hotel bar area served great food. we battled a little with the heat and there are no air conditioning units in the rooms however the area is seldom that hot to utilize one. the staff were friendly however the service was a little slow but there should be no rush and one should enjoy the venue and surroundings.
AMAZING STAFF (4/5)
We did a stop over at Rawdons, looking for accommodation, and although they were fully booked, they did not turn us away. They asked us to hang in for a bit, managed to sort out something for us and went out of their line of duty, to make sure that we were taken care off. The staff were just super amazing, and so friendly. I must admit by the time we left, we felt part of their family. I most definitely will be going back.
Excellent Hotel and Fantastic Service (5/5)
My wife and I stayed at this hotel for four nights. Immediately upon arrival we felt very welcome and at home. Our room was perfect, the bedroom was very comfortable and the bathroom was spacious and very well appointed, both the bathroom and the bedroom had fabulous views over the beautiful estate grounds. All of the staff were exceptionally helpful and friendly. We ate our evening meals in the Pub at the hotel and the food and drinks were of the highest quality (A particular favourite of mine was the Pickled Pig Pie!) Breakfast each morning was of a very high standard. The surrounding grounds are stunning and the walks around the lake is very pleasant. All in all this stay has to rate amongst one of the best hotel experiences we have ever enjoyed. Thank you to all at Rawdons.
Come Stay With Us
Top notch accommodation in the heart of the Midlands
CONTACT DETAILS
Telephone: +27 033 266 6044
Cell: +27 (0)82 904 5983 (direct line)
Cell: +27 (0)83 406 4968 (WhatsApp / sms)
Fax: +27 033 266 6048
Email: hotel@rawdons.co.za
P.O. Box 7, Nottingham Road,
3280, KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa
GPS Co-Ords:
SOUTH -29° 23' 31.566"
EAST 30° 0' 39.406"
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