It’s not often that the royal family and Travelodge are mentioned in the same breath, but this unlikely duo has helped mattress brand Sleepeezee make a name for itself.
I recently put the Sleepeezee Regency Kew mattress to the test and it certainly comes with an interesting pedigree. You might already have slept on a Sleepeezee without realising it: the brand makes the ‘Travelodge Dreamer’ mattress (£649 for a double, Sleepeezee.com), which features in rooms across the budget hotel chain.
At the other end of the spectrum, Sleepeezee is also a holder of a royal warrant (an indicator of quality craftsmanship), having supplied members of the royal household since 1963.
But how did the Regency Kew mattress stand up to testing? Is it likely to put you in mind of palatial sleep setups or a forgettable night in an airport hotel? Keep scrolling for my full review of the Sleepeezee Regency Kew mattress.
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How I tested
All the mattresses reviewed at IndyBest are put to the test in real homes, so you can be sure each one has been slept on for numerous nights, rather than simply assessed under lab conditions. While testing the Sleepeezee Regency Kew mattress for several weeks, I considered the following criteria.
- Quality: I assessed the quality of the mattress’s construction, looking at materials used and how this wore over time.
- Comfort and support: I slept on the mattress to assess its suitability for different types of sleeping positions, as well as overall levels of comfort and support. I noted whether there was any change in my sleep pattern while testing this mattress, and whether I still felt rested come morning.
- Motion transfer: I placed a glass of water at the centre of the mattress and applied various amounts of pressure around it to see how well the design guards against movement.
- Ease of care: I took practicality into consideration, in terms of how often the mattress needs to be rotated and flipped to keep it in top condition, and how easy it was to achieve this, both single-handed and with two people working together.
- Temperature regulation: I noted the use of breathable materials in the construction of the mattress, and assessed whether these provided any noticeable benefits during testing.
- Value for money: I weighed up the overall design, materials and construction against the cost of the mattress, to assess whether it was worth the price tag.
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Sleepeezee Regency Kew mattress
Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king, super king
Mattress type: Pocket sprung
Guarantee: 10 years
Sleep trial: 100 nights (via Dreams)
Rotate or turn: Both
Depth: 31cm
Cover: Not removable
Why we love it
- The pocket springs create a firm, grounded base without feeling harsh
- Quality construction is backed by a royal warrant and a 10-year guarantee, which adds reassurance
- The layered design helps to distribute weight evenly and limit motion transfer
Take note
- Needs to be turned and rotated regularly
- Side‑sleepers and those who like plush cushioning may find the firmness uncomfortable
Initial thoughts
Amid a rise in memory foam and gel-infused space-age sleep setups, traditional pocket-sprung mattresses (which feature individual springs encased in fabric) can seem positively antiquated. However, if you’re like me and don’t enjoy the enveloping feeling you can get with memory foam, I’d recommend a firmer, pocket-sprung design such as the Sleepeezee Regency Kew. The mattress design helps to distribute weight evenly while you sleep, keeping you supported.
From the moment it was delivered, the quality of this mattress’s construction was clear to see (as you would expect from a brand with a royal warrant), from the soft damask cover and tufted surface to the impressive depth of the mattress. There’s also the added benefit that you don’t have to wait for the mattress to decompress, as you would with ‘bed in a box’ options. After the mattress was delivered, I simply left it to air for a few hours before adding my bed linen, and then it was ready for me to sleep on that night. However, there was still an off-gassing smell that lingered for a few days.
Design
In terms of construction, the Regency Kew features a core of 800 traditional pocket springs, flanked by 2,000 mini springs as well as layers of polyester, polycotton, and bamboo viscose.
The downside to all these layers is that the mattress is on the heavy side. At 44kg, it was more cumbersome to manoeuvre compared with other mattresses I’ve owned. This could be an issue for anyone who struggles with strength, as the mattress needs to be rotated and turned on a regular basis to help extend its lifespan.
If this is likely to be an issue for you, a lighter mattress or a single-sided design that doesn’t need to be flipped could be a better option.
Firmness and pressure relief
Rated as a ‘firm’ mattress, the Regency Kew offered me a good amount of support during testing, and I didn’t get that sinking feeling that can occur with memory foam mattresses. This makes it a good option if you sleep on your back, as, compared with softer mattresses, it should help to keep your spine better aligned. This, in turn, should help to avoid aches and pains come morning.
Sleepeezee recommends this mattress as being suitable for back-sleepers rather than side-sleepers, and I found this to be the case during testing, as the firmness of the mattress created pressure points while lying on my side.
Although I found the Regency Kew has a firmer construction than another ‘firm’ mattress I’ve owned, the comfort top layers prevent the mattress from feeling overly solid and rigid, and I enjoyed restful sleep while putting this mattress to the test. However, everyone’s ideal level of firmness will differ.
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As well as providing a decent amount of support, the Regency Kew’s multiple layers also create generous loft (31cm), so if you struggle with mobility and are looking for a firm, deep mattress to help you get in and out of bed more easily, it could be a good option.
Compared with a single-sided ‘firm’ mattress I’ve owned, the double-sided Regency Kew is almost 10cm thicker. However, the depth of this mattress could mean it doesn’t quite fit with some bed frames, so this is something to consider. During testing, the Regency Kew worked well with one bed frame with a tall headboard but it dwarfed another, making the overall proportions look a little odd.
Temperature regulation
According to the brand, bamboo has been incorporated into the design due to its natural antibacterial and breathable properties, helping to keep you cool at night. However, having tested the mattress in winter, I wasn’t able to detect any temperature-regulating benefits during the review period.
Motion transfer
If you or your partner has a habit of tossing and turning at night, the Regency Kew mattress’s pocket-sprung construction helps to distribute weight evenly, in turn limiting the amount of motion transfer. During testing, I found motion transfer to be minimal, and the firm construction of the mattress meant there was no noticeable sagging at the edges or in the centre of the mattress.
Maintenance
Sleepeezee recommends the Regency Kew mattress is flipped and rotated head-to-toe once a week for the first three months of use, then once a month thereafter. During testing, I found I could just about manage to flip and rotate the 44kg mattress single-handed but it was certainly much easier (and more advisable) with two people.
Unlike some mattresses, it doesn’t come with a removable cover. Although, as mentioned above, the brand says bamboo has been included due to its antibacterial properties, the lack of a removable cover means you will need to spot-clean any marks that may occur. However, you can, of course, add a separate mattress protector.
Value for money
The Regency Kew is certainly pricey, but a decent mattress is worth the investment, as it should last for years – and you can’t put a price on a good night’s sleep.
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However, comfort is subjective, so, no matter how much you spend on a mattress, whether or not it will offer you the right amount of support and restful sleep will depend on everything from your favoured sleeping position to your weight. A mattress will only offer true value for money if it’s a good match for you personally.
For a little extra peace of mind, the Sleepeezee Regency Kew mattress comes with a 10-year guarantee and a 100-night trial period via Dreams (so long as you use a mattress protector), so you can make sure it’s the right one for you.
Buy now £1599, Dreams.co.uk
Your questions about the Sleepeezee Regency Kew mattress answered
Is the Sleepeezee Regency Kew mattress worth it?
Compared with other mattresses I’ve owned, the Sleepeezee Regency Kew certainly comes out strong on overall quality. When it comes to comfort, I think the mattress is likely to be too firm for most side-sleepers but it should provide you with a good amount of support if you sleep on your back, as it did for me.
There’s no denying that the mattress is an investment but it comes with a 10-year guarantee, which essentially covers the typical period of time quality mattresses are expected to last before they will likely need to be replaced (due to age). If you want a supportive mattress that has been built to last, this could be a great option.
What are the disadvantages of the Sleepeezee Regency Kew mattress?
The main disadvantage of the Regency Kew mattress is the fact that it is quite heavy (44kg) yet needs to be flipped and rotated regularly. Not only is this more time-consuming, compared with a single-sided no-turn mattress, it could be difficult if you struggle with strength.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
The Independent’s dedicated shopping section, IndyBest, is committed to providing unbiased reviews and expert advice. Sarah Jones has years of experience testing all manner of sleep products – from duvets to mattress toppers – so she’s well versed in the language brands use to make bold promises. She knows how easy it is for marketing to oversell the dream of “perfect” sleep, and approaches every claim with a healthy dose of scepticism.
Sleep is something she prioritises above almost everything when it comes to her wellbeing – not always simple as a parent of small children. She’s also had her own challenges with getting consistent, good-quality rest, including periods of back pain following surgery, so proper support and comfort aren’t abstract concepts to her. As The Independent’s resident sleep expert, Sarah knows the best, most comfortable fabrics and materials to look for in mattresses and bedding, and has a strict criterion by which she judges each one.
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