Inside The Montagu Arms: A Charming Country Hotel In Hampshire

5 days ago

Is this the perfect countryside weekend getaway?

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Inside The Montagu Arms: A Charming Country Hotel In Hampshire

Found in the charming New Forest village of Beaulieu, this country house hotel provides a luxurious base from which to explore the National Park. Here’s what to expect at The Montagu Arms.

Hotel Review: The Montagu Arms, Beaulieu

STAY

Weekend breaks don’t come much more romantic than this. The Montagu Arms is a wisteria-clad property full of traditional English character – from the polished herringbone parquet flooring, wood panelling and beamed ceilings to the imposing stone dogs flanking the entrance and the roaring open fires.

It’s warm, cosy and inviting, and there’s a real sense of its long history; the property dates from 1742 and started out as a coaching inn back in the 16th century, transforming into a base for the home-guard (the real Dad’s Army) during World War Two. Over the years, it’s welcomed a number of pretty famous guests, too, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, actor Henry Irving and former French president, General Charles de Gaulle.

There are 33 rooms, with the ones in the main house all individually decorated and inspired by the flora and fauna of the National Park, with Nina Campbell fabrics, Zoffany wallpapers, Nespresso machines and bespoke beds hand-crafted in nearby Millbrook.

Outside in the courtyard, meanwhile, are a number of wow-factor new bedrooms and suites set in the original chauffeur garages. These range from Courtyard Studios – open-plan spaces with vaulted ceilings, freestanding bathtubs and outdoor terraces – and larger Courtyard and Hayloft Suites (the latter set in an old barn, with views of the gardens), which are perfect for families or those wanting extra space. Our Courtyard Suite had a large bedroom, separate lounge with beamed ceiling and squishy sofa and armchair, and a bathroom with freestanding tub and walk-in rainfall shower.

EAT

The Terrace, the hotel’s award-winning restaurant, is very much a destination for guests and locals alike. The traditional wood-panelled room with thick-pile carpet and crisp white tablecloths has large picture windows, ensuring that it is flooded with light. And the food is just as impressive.

Overseen by Executive Chef Alistair Craig, formerly head chef at The Wild Rabbit in Oxfordshire, who joined in the summer of 2022, his seasonal ‘forest-to-fork’ menu offers crispy duck egg, Lymington crab, line caught sea bass and slow-roasted guinea fowl, followed by delights such as warm chocolate chip cookie with salted caramel ice cream, treacle tart and vanilla crème brulee. Many of the ingredients are also sourced from the hotel’s own kitchen garden.

For a more casual affair, guests can dine in the hotel’s dog and family-friendly pub, Monty’s, which serves staples such as burgers and steaks, and traditional ales. You can also take afternoon tea in the hotel’s sitting room, where Gusbourne Brut Reserve and a three-tier display of sandwiches and pretty cakes are served up with fanfare.

DO

Beaulieu, meaning ‘beautiful place’ in French, is an idyllic ancient honey stone village standing at the tidal limit of the Beaulieu River and remains largely unspoilt. The hotel is sandwiched between its pretty High Street (where you’ll find charming boutique shops and galleries, and the Beaulieu Chocolate Studio for delicious treats) and the meandering Beaulieu River.

Visitors flock to the village to see one of the New Forest’s most famous attractions, the National Motor Museum, which holds a vast collection of iconic cars and motorbikes (including the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!). Included in the day ticket is also access to Beaulieu Palace House – Lord Montagu’s home – and Beaulieu Abbey. The Monorail is a good way of seeing the entire park from a birds’ eye view.

And if you want to spot the New Forest’s famous wild ponies and donkeys, you’ll often find them clip-clopping along the road and riverbanks here. However, a word of warning – don’t get too close. Though most are even-tempered, they are not used to being handled and have been known to take a nip at people from time to time!

Fancy venturing out further? There are plenty of walks in the New Forest to blow away the cobwebs, and the 18th century village Buckler’s Hard is worth a look, too. Forming part of the Beaulieu estate, this village was developed as a ship-building location and was home to the ships built for Horatio Nelson in the Battle of Trafalgar. A maritime museum in the village depicts the history.

Finally, it’s worth noting that residents of The Montagu Arms Hotel have access to the spa facilities of its sister hotel, Careys Manor, just a 10-minute drive away.

THE FINAL WORD

If you’re after a romantic weekend break away from it all, The Montagu Arms has character, charm and great food in spades. And its location, in the centre of one of the New Forest’s most picturesque villages, means you won’t need to go too far to experience some of the best attractions the National Park has to offer.