Heckfield Place – Hook, Hampshire
By
2 years ago
Like the water lilies on its two lakes that unfurl in the afternoon sun, this country house hotel has elegantly blossomed into life. You can swim wild, picnic in the woods and wander around the hotel’s own certified biodynamic market garden and organic farm. Inside, there’s a sense of warmth and homeliness, with lime plaster walls in natural colours, linens, English oak floors, handcrafted furniture and matting woven from sweet-smelling River Ouse rush. Heckfield Place, once home to Charles Shaw-Lefevre, who was Speaker of the House of Commons in the 19th century, is artistic (fine 20th century English pictures from the owner’s private collection), literary (a library of interesting books in the Morning Room and bedrooms) and entertaining (The Assembly is a curated programme of films and events). There’s also The Bothy by Wildsmith, the new 17,000 square foot home of wellbeing, and the delicious cooking of celebrated chef Skye Gyngell at the Green Michelin-starred Marle and open-fired Hearth restaurants, where you can taste their fresh and seasonal estate grown ingredients. As for the bedrooms, they are simply lovely and include six distinctive and original room types.
Doubles from £550
+44 (0)118 932 6868; heckfieldplace.com
