Frustrated hotel guests have hit out after their bookings at a luxury Reading hotel were cancelled to prioritise a VIP client.

The De Vere Wokefield Estate, located in the grounds of Wokefield Park is renowned for its stunning manor house and sprawling 18-hole golf course.

Despite making their bookings several months ago, guests who were due to stay at the resort between August 23 and August 26 have been given a mere five weeks notice to find alternative accommodations.

With many guests attending Reading Festival, this has put a downer in plans made almost one year in advance.

One festivalgoer who is set to take her 14-year-old daughter to the iconic Reading event said that she had booked the hotel eight months ago to take advantage of their luxury facilities ahead of the festival.

Vanessa Mycoe said: “I’m very let down by what happened. We have always stayed at De Vere hotels but this situation has put me off staying at one again. It’s just so unprofessional that someone was prioritised over the public who had already booked several months ago.

“When I contacted the reservations department the impression that they gave me was that it was a security risk for one person staying at the hotel. I was then told by a manager that someone had booked the whole hotel and wanted exclusivity during their stay.”

A spokesperson for the hotel has confirmed that Wokefield Park has been booked out for a private event. 

Vanessa added: “I have managed to find another hotel but because it is so last minute and during the week of Reading Festival everything is a lot more expensive."

Another person who is getting married on the weekend of the 23rd had recommended Wokefield Estate as the perfect nearby accommodation for their guests.

These wedding guests have been left without accommodation during the wedding.

The mother of the bride, Glyn Bower, hit out online saying that the De Vere Hotel ‘need to be sued’ for their behaviour.

Glyn said: “What a disgusting way to treat guests, 5 weeks before my daughters wedding, we received an email saying they have cancelled accommodations, because as they say a private venue.

“In other words, someone famous or a millionaire, pays over the odds so the hotel cancelled the guests on the day of the wedding, when these have been booked for at least 4 months. But what does the hotel care.”

A spokesperson for Wokefield Estate: “We can confirm that the hotel has been booked for exclusive use from 23 – 26 August. Guests affected by this have been contacted and we are providing a full refund and assisting with relocating guests where necessary.”