Get the best of CF straight to your inbox.

Subscribe, sit back, and let your mind travel.

Weekend

Urban Cool in the Cotswolds at Dormy House Hotel

By now you probably know I’m a fan of the weekend hideaway. Dormy House is the best I’ve come across, so far, for a luxury spa weekend.

I switched off my computer at 5pm on a Friday and was checked into this cosiest of country homes by 7:45pm. If an epicentre of English “hygge” was crowned, this would probably be it. Dormy House has multiple sumptuous lounges each with a roaring fireplace, blankets, games and a delectable wine list. If this sounds like your idea of winter heaven, you are right, I just can’t imagine visiting in summer, this house was made for whiling away the cold dark nights.

We threw our bags in the room and headed straight to the spa. I had not expected to find myself confronted by the best hot tub in the world. You know that moment when you get out of a hot tub and want to slap yourself for that silly idea because the cold air hits you like a truck? Well that never happens at Dormy House because there is another roaring log fire next to the hot tub. Sheer genius and not once did I see anyone else in the tub after dark so this aquatic fireplace became my nightly ritual. The spa treatments themselves were top notch but book early for your choice of treatments and don’t make the mistake of getting a fresh manicure before you arrive. Dormy houses Britain’s only Veuve Cliquot Nail Parlour and it is dreamy.

If this sounds like hygge-overload, fear not, Dormy House sits in a gigantic estate with two other hotels which are about a thirty minute walk away. Foxhill Manor is a very decadent country home, great to visit for a G&T but there is no spa there so I would certainly recommend Dormy instead. The other hotel is called The Fish and is aimed at families, steer clear 😉 We had a marvellous afternoon joyriding across the entire estate, through muddy fields and magical forests, on off-road Segways. Our instructor loved our adventurous spirit and we even did a few jumps. This was the perfect way to earn our dinner.

Luxury to me, while on holiday, is being able to eat exceptional food without having to dress up. I go on holiday to decompress and resent having to allocate scrubbing up time for a decent meal. Although Dormy House has a wonderful fine dining restaurant, the Garden Room, we skipped the formalities and only ate at the sister restaurant, a gastropub, The Potting Shed. This was some of the best food I’ve had all year despite it not being the flagship restaurant. We were served pub grub par excellence, the homemade bread and butter set the tone but by the time we got to the blackberry soufflé dessert we vowed to come back again with haste. We also loved the spa restaurant with its champagne bar, choose naughty risottos or nice salads, no judgements are made and nor should they.

I have to make a special mention of the staff. Our gorgeous room was all provincial paradise with giant cushioned reading alcoves, Nespresso coffee machine and local Temple Spa Toiletries. If you haven’t tried them, you must as they smell like Titania’a garden. However, half term, brought what felt like all the locals from surrounding villages and the hotel was heaving Friday and Saturday nights. The water tank was situated on the roof above our room and overuse resulted in it making a whooshing sound in our room until the early hours. The staff immediately offered us 50% off the room or an alternative room, no questions asked. The rooms left nothing to be desired unless you wanted to hang up your whole weekend wardrobe but this is unlikely given the spa vibe so Dormy House certainly deserves a a Citizen Femme stamp of approval and has my personal stamp of adoration.

You May Also Like

Any Questions or Tips to add?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share