Report - The Upper Reaches Hotel - Abingdon - June 2019

[Rachyt]

Lovely place this, sitting on the bank of the river Thames, The Upper Reaches used to be an old water mill, the original wheel for it is incorporated inside what used to be the restaurant, I’ve found a pic of this along with a couple of others of what it looked like when it was open. Haven’t seen any reports for here on the forum so I believe it’s the first one.

It’s completely surrounded by water and you go over a little bridge to get to it. We checked it out in daylight but had to go back to find access when it was dark as we were in full view of the pub on the opposite side of the river.

It closed in 2015 when the leaseholders cited a prolonged period of losses. It has been empty ever since but plans were revealed in March this year to revitalise it back as a hotel.

Access was fairly easy, bit of a climb over some barbed wire topped fencing into a small courtyard and we were in. Was a decent explore to end the day with.

View attachment

 

[chakaflange]

Great photos. It looks like it would've been really nice to stay at when it was open.

 

[mookster]

Stomping around on my turf I see - Whenever I've tried this it's been sealed so good job on getting in.

 

[leavenoprints]

There's a good write up about staying here (when it was open) https://www.surf4hub.com/travel/a-night-at-the-upper-reaches-abingdon/?cn-reloaded=1

 

[tigger]

It used to look better ;-)

Postcard from around 1900

and just realised I have another in my collection

 

[Rachyt]

Stomping around on my turf I see - Whenever I've tried this it's been sealed so good job on getting in.

Ah your from that way then? Deffo worth going to check out I had the heads up from someone that there was access, didn’t know how reliable the information was but it turned out to be spot on

 

[mookster]

Ah your from that way then? Deffo worth going to check out I had the heads up from someone that there was access, didn’t know how reliable the information was but it turned out to be spot on

Only a few miles up the road in Oxford, precious little around these ways.

 

[Rachyt]

It used to look better ;-)

Postcard from around 1900

and just realised I have another in my collection

Ah wow it looked stunning back then

 

[Rachyt]

Only a few miles up the road in Oxford, precious little around these ways.

Exactly the same as that in Southampton, have to travel at least an hour away every time we go, possibly going to have to go further afield now too as running out of locations

 

[spiralstatics]

popped by here last night and couldn’t find access, the place is boarded tight with anti climb paint and barbed wire literally everywhere!

 

[Rachyt]

popped by here last night and couldn’t find access, the place is boarded tight with anti climb paint and barbed wire literally everywhere!

Yea it’s not an easy one access is quite well hidden beyond the anti climb paint and barbed wire lol

 

[spiralstatics]

Yea it’s not an easy one access is quite well hidden beyond the anti climb paint and barbed wire lol

i think it may be worth another visit soon, i went by in the evening when there were lots and lots of people in the pub opposite, it was just too risky to try any further!

 

[Rachyt]

i think it may be worth another visit soon, i went by in the evening when there were lots and lots of people in the pub opposite, it was just too risky to try any further!

Yea we went during the day and it was so busy so went back later at night when it was dark

 

[Calamity Jane]

Great job, your getting into so really stunning places, hats off to you Rachyt, excellent report

 

[Fluffy]

Currently standing outside this place and can confirm it's sealed tight from the front
If the entrance is round the back, it's too busy and too daylighty for me to attempt it today, sadly! Alas...