Beaverbroook cuts a debonair shape. The Surrey Hills estate boasts wild, palatial grounds befitting of a Victorian manor with a history as elegant and illustrious as Beaverbrook’s.
Its former owner, the press baron and war-time MP, Lord Beaverbrook, was a connected sort and, as owner of the Daily Express newspaper, he wooed the world’s luminaries – everyone from Churchill to Elizabeth Taylor – at his playfully glamorous country house hotel.
The Vibe
A place befitting of a modern-day baron and baroness.
The Rooms
The Main House is home to 18 guest rooms, each named after one of its former prestigious guests – hello Rudyard Kipling, Ian Fleming and co. But of all the famed guests, and all the rooms named in their honour, there’s no beating Elizabeth Taylor. What a woman… and what a suite. The four-poster bed, gleaming chandelier, and floor-to-ceiling draped windows set the overall tone of the room, with delicate, tendril-print fabric wallpaper in white and sea green offering a calming effect. The Bamford-stocked bathroom – complete with a double shower, clawfoot bathtub, twin sinks, a mosaic heated floor, and marble finishes – will bring a luxe lift to your morning and evening routines.
Other accommodation options we’re rather taken by include the Superior Turret rooms, tucked up in the eaves of the house (the punchy green, high-gloss tiles in the bathrooms are the stuff of Pinterest moodboard dreams). The Garden House’s neighbouring whimsical cottage, formed of 11 colourful guest rooms designed by Nicola Harding, is another tempting option for those in search of a little more seclusion.
The Little Extras
The Coach House health club and spa is a little slice of heaven. Guests have use of spa facilities from 1PM on their day of check-in, so if your room isn’t ready when you first arrive, we suggest you make a beeline for The Coach House.
The flower-filled Coach House Spa, designed by glass architect Brian Clarke is Willy-Wonka-meets-Timothy-Leary vibes. The technicolour entranceway leads on to six treatment suites, a steam room, a relaxation room, sauna, and hammam. Naturopathy is central to the spa’s integrated wellness offering so expect a deeply healing, holistic experience here. Inspired by the bucolic British countryside, focussed treatments recharge and re-energise you from top-to-toe. We tried the Seasonal Summer Expansion package and could not recommend it more.
The Seasonal Summer Expansion’s 90-minute treatment opens with vibrational sound, followed by therapeutic full body massage using stretching and mobilisation that is Thai and Shiatsu inspired, to create more space into the body and encourage free flowing movement, embracing a range of therapeutic methods which help to treat and relieve many physical, neural, and psychological conditions. Regardless of which treatment you choose, all use home-branded Coach House oils made from plants, flowers, and fruits from the estate.
Post-pampering session, make tracks for either the indoor and an outdoor pool, both of which are heated. The latter boasts a whimsical checkered floor, and the pool area is skirted with uber-comfortable sun loungers to plant yourself on for a couple of hours. Feeling pecking? Order some wood-fired flatbreads at the on-site Deli – and a couple of ice-cool G&Ts. Or if you’re suddenly feeling very energised, hit the gym, which is kitted out with cardio machines, free weights, and ample floor space to stretch out.
The Food + Drink
There are two main restaurants at Beaverbrook – the Garden House and The Japanese Grill. The Garden House – which is located a little way from the main house (you can walk there in 5+ minutes or, alternatively, take a golf buggy to supper) – offers up Anglo-Italian fare in convivial surrounds. Cabbage plates on the tables, flowers etchings on the wall, slouchy sofa seating (as well us upright chairs, fear not) – this is a comfy, homely place for a spot of lunch or a relaxed evening meal. Our order: artisanal burrata and homegrown rhubarb, followed by grilled Scottish langoustines accompanied by cherry tomatoes and garden asparagus, polished off with a moreish tiramisu for pudding. Weather permitting, make use of the outdoor dining base, complete with oversized sun umbrellas and field flowers at every turn. Note for budding chefs: the Garden House Restaurant has a School of Cookery attached and runs classes and workshops regularly.
Back at base, the Japanese Grill is the more formal dining option, with a menu composed by ex-Noma chef, Wojciech Popow. Sashimi and sushi or Josper-grilled meats should be your go-to order here. Post-dinner, head to Sir Frank’s Bar. The twenties-style taproom is quite an exotic spot. Walls are adorned with over 250 bright botanical prints by the Victorian artist and explorer Marianne North, depicting her far-flung travels. Every inch as exotic as the décor, the drinks menu is overrun with artisan cocktails – we’re as the matcha-tea-infused Pacific Pisco Sour and the signature Spitfire Collins, concocted with Sipsmith vodka and peach liqueur.
The To-Do List
With 470-acre playground to enjoy, there’s a whole host of activities to partake in – from lawn games to clay pigeon shooting and fishing on the lake – and pass the day away. Indoor types can kick back with a film in the screening room, sign up to a masterclass in mixology, or opt-in to a lesson at The School of Cookery.
Those looking to explore beyond Beaverbrook’s grounds can avail of the hotel’s Turbo E-Bikes, or, better still, hire out the Morgan Plus Four – an iconic classic car that’s simply made for scenic country drives.
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