The hotel’s decor is that perfect fusion of comfort and class; the vision was to make a nod to the hotel’s origins without it adhering to the predictable country house cliché – and they’ve pulled it off with aplomb.
We immediately felt relaxed and ‘at home’; think English smoked oak flooring adorned with comforting rugs, resplendent floral displays and the dulcet tones of a pianist playing in the lounge area. The hotel also features more than 600 (! ) individual pieces of artwork, most of which were commissioned from up-and-coming young British artists. It’s little wonder that Prince Harry chose the hotel as the place to quash his nerves the night before his wedding.
We stayed in a Mansion House Junior Suite, which was the pinnacle of liveable luxury. Light floods into the elegant room courtesy of stately high ceilings and sash windows and the hotel’s iconic freestanding copper bathtubs are perfect for a long soak and for Instagram likes.
The Bang Olufsen TV affixed at the end of the bed, plush sofa for sprawling on after a long walk and views across the polo fields were a bonus. I had one of the best night’s sleeps of my life and vowed to upgrade my pillow and bed linen accordingly when I returned to Clapham.
As well as providing the perfect ‘home from home’ experience, Coworth Park’s elegant gardens are perfect for roaming after months stuck at home during lockdown and you can go hours without seeing another soul.
As I laid back and enjoyed a blissful ishga seaweed facial in Coworth Park’s plush spa back in March, I had no idea how much the world would change over the following weeks. Indeed, my trip to Coworth Park would transpire to be the last time I’d leave my cramped Clapham flat for the next four months – and I’ve pined for my stay at the luxury country house hotel and spa ever since. Now that lockdown has eased and hotels have been given the green light to re-open, I’ll be booking another visit back to Coworth pronto – and I’d implore you to do the same.
As you’d expect from a hotel within the Dorchester Collection – which also boasts The Beverly Hills Hotel, Le Meurice in Paris and, of course, The Dorchester among its impressive roster, quality is paramount. The drive to the hotel amidst sprawling acres of picturesque Berkshire parkland (240 to be precise) and manicured polo fields truly sets the tone for your stay.
At GLAMOUR, we’re huge advocates of sustainability and Coworth’s environmental efforts don’t go unnoticed. In fact, it’s one of the UK’s most environmentally-friendly hotels through the incorporation of renewable and low energy technologies, with the bold aim of reducing total carbon dioxide emissions by at least 50% thanks to radically different approaches to heating, cooling and lighting. Plus, it’s the only hotel in the UK to grow its own fuel with the cultivation of willow on the estate used in the Bio Mass Heating Plant, which is really rather impressive.
The sustainable efforts extend to the kitchen and Executive chef Adam Smith uses produce from the hotel grounds to add that perfect, seasonal touch to his fresh and seasonal dishes at Restaurant Coworth Park (which is temporarily closed). Ask for a window seat for rolling views through French doors across the rose terrace and croquet lawn to the meadow. The vibe is ‘relaxed elegance’ and the striking ceiling sculpture, which is named ‘Autumn’ to complement the colours of the room, is the pièce de résistance here. It truly sets the tone for the culinary experience that follows.
Opt for the tasting menu to really experience Smith’s work (he spent a number of years at The Ritz and Michel Roux Snr once hailed him ‘one to watch’), which is British deliciousness at its very best. From the moreish sourdough bread and saliva-inducing canapes to the freshest fish we’ve had in a long time, the meal was packed with quality ingredients and depth of flavour.
For a more casual meal – or indeed a Sunday roast – The Barn restaurant offers a much more relaxed and rustic dining experience in a converted and cosy barn building. ‘Muddy boots are most welcome’, they claim – and I can attest it’s a vibe.
At a time when overseas travel is so fraught, a staycation at this luxurious hotel will make you fall in love with the UK again.
