Ettington Park Resort is a grand palatial home, dripping with historical past, constructed on an epic scale in 40 stately acres of rural Warwickshire on the banks of the River Stour.
An extended tree-lined drive provides company arriving by automotive the chance to absorb glimpses of the towers and turrets of a rustic home that’s now sorted by Handpicked Resorts. Alternatively, you may skim in over the tree-line to land on the helipad.
A Roman villa might have as soon as stood on this web site, adopted by a succession of homes. Then in 1858, Evelyn Shirley commissioned architect Charles Pritchard to implement main enhancements. 5 years later a home, within the neo-gothic fashion, championed by Augustus Pugin, was full.
The welcome
It’s a grand entrance by means of a porch designed for horse-drawn carriages. Subsequent is an in depth vaulted conservatory, hopefully quickly full of wellies for walks as soon as Covid laws are relaxed. Lastly, you arrive at a reception surrounded by carved white alabaster pillars.
Service is pleasant and private, company are taken to the carry by the receptionist after which to their room – which is important as Ettington Park has invented its personal idiosyncratic quantity system. Eccentrically, Room 3 is adjoining to Room 45.
The room
Why have a room when you may have a collection? Suites are expansively luxurious with their high-ceilings, stone fire-places and chandeliers. Our fire even has a motto, “Je suis loyal” operating slightly below the lintel.
Sturdy darkish wooden furnishings and interval paintings give a way of time journey again to the Victorian period. Within the Victorian Backyard Suite, adorned with an appropriately soothing palette of greens, is a household portrait of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and youngsters. The canines look notably happy with the geese and pheasants they’ve accrued throughout an excellent day’s sport.
A large Venetian four-poster mattress contributes to the sense of opulence.
The lavatory
Though there’s gleaming steamship fashion plumbing on the head of the bathtub, it’s distinctly twenty first century with a wall-mounted tv above and a water-proof distant management.
Enter the toilet and motion sensors illuminate low-level lights. Though large dimensions are nineteenth century aristocratic, the know-how, together with a rainfall bathe, may be very modern.
Amenities
The Grand Drawing Room, approaching sports activities corridor measurement, is a grandiose setting for espresso, afternoon tea and pre-dinner drinks, amongst chandeliers and huge portraits.
Shirley household historical past is recorded within the Oak Room Restaurant the place heraldic crests on the darkish panelling have a good time the household’s matrimonial alliances over the centuries.
A two AA rosette menu, in Trendy British fashion, options domestically sourced prime elements. A starter of trout cured in Cotswold Gin with cucumber in tonic water sauce is the very essence of a British summer season. A spread of steaks and Herefordshire port-glazed short-rib beef additionally display the respect for British traditions.
An imaginative dessert of chocolate and beetroot slice with a beetroot sorbet is a inventive success with the bottom of a raspberry sauce bringing depth and shocking sweetness to the flavours.
For particular celebrations, the resort provides non-public eating, catering from an intimate 14 within the 19th century stained-glass windowed chapel by means of to 96 within the Lengthy Gallery that runs the total size of the second flooring.
When the climate is okay, there are few higher locations than the Ettington Park terrace for al fresco eating and admiring the views throughout the lawns right down to the River Stour.
Location
Simply six miles from Stratford-upon-Avon, Ettington Park Resort is an ideal base for visiting Shakespeare’s county.
Different good touches
Ask reception for a map of the grounds and they’ll produce a leaflet that guides you across the historic limestone mines, alongside the riverbank and again to the church ruins. Picnic hampers can be ready by the kitchens.
Reception may also print out the historical past of the Ettington Park web site which, through the Second World Battle, served as a Prisoner of Battle Camp for captured Italian troopers.
The historical past concludes with a abstract of ghostly happenings from a retired Evening Supervisor. Though the AA formally charges Ettington Park Resort as Britain’s “Most Haunted Home,” the Evening Supervisor reassuringly asserts that not one of the apparitions have malevolent tendencies.
The price
Rooms, together with breakfast, start from round £275 per evening.
The very best bit
A heat indoor swimming pool, with a shallow kids’s part is surrounded by snug loungers.
This sympathetic light-infused modern addition to the unique home additionally has a sauna and steam room.
The ultimate verdict
A really particular alternative to get pleasure from a couple of days of luxurious aristocratic residing in stunning Warwickshire countryside. Though Stratford-upon-Avon is shut, most company get pleasure from rambling across the property and taking their time over leisurely meals, notably al fresco, in stunningly stunning settings.
Disclosure: Our keep was courtesy of Ettington Park Resort.
