SME News Q1 2025 / 24 Best Country House Hotel – England Step away from the chaos of your everyday life, and unwind in the serene, picturesque Down Hall, Hotel, Spa & Estate. Located close to the Hertfordshire-Essex border, the hotel is surrounded by 110 acres of verdant woodland, parkland, and landscaped gardens, offering guests the perfect environment to relax, rejuvenate, and reemerge refreshed. Following its recent recognition in the Best of British Getaways 2024, General Manager Linden Beattie tells us more. A Victorian country house and estate, Down Hall was one of ten ancient medieval manors in the Parish of Hatfield. With its first known owner being Robert Taper in the early 1300s, the hall has a rich history that cannot be matched by similar service providers. Over the years, Down Hall has transformed significantly; like many medieval estates, it has changed owners and purposes multiple times since its foundation. From prestigious families like the De Veres, Glasscocks, and Selwins, to artists and poets like Mathew Prior and Edward Harley, to operating as a hospital under Mrs. Louisa Calverley, every corner of Down Hall holds a storied past waiting to be discovered. In 1986, Down Hall was sold to Veladail Hotels, the owners of the estate to this day. Since its purchase, Veladail Hotels have invested millions of pounds into restoring the house to its former glory, alongside modernising and updating the property to reflect the contemporary styles of country mansions we see today. In reverence of the hotel’s extensive history, each public room of Down Hall is named after a prominent figure of its timeline to remind guests of the hall’s heritage. Today, Down Hall seamlessly blends historic country house splendour with luxurious and contemporary décor, making the hotel the ideal place to escape from the world. The opulent hotel, boasting four silver-stars, comprises 98 bedrooms, 12 elegant event spaces, and the luxury Eden Spa. What’s more, the decadent dining options offered between the two AA Rosette-awarded Garden Room restaurant, Fox Bar, and Terrace, take full advantage of the abundance of fresh, delicious produce grown within the hotel’s own impressive garden. The hotel’s expansive estates offer endless opportunities for every guest it serves, from those looking to relax at the Eden Spa, explore the gorgeous green grounds, or sample a range of top-tier delicacies in the restaurant. This variety of amenities, meticulously developed and delivered to ensure the very best experiences, make Down Hall the perfect location for all, including those seeking a leisure break, a business retreat or even a picturesque wedding venue. Since its 1986 acquisition, Down Hall has been driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence. The past year has seen remarkable growth and success for the estate in a number of areas, such as the significant milestones accomplished due to the continuation of its extensive refurbishment program. In the last 12 months, an additional £1.5 million of investment has led to the opening of its new restaurant, The Potting Shed; the transformation of the historic Grand Hotel, considered to be the jewel of the hotel’s crown; as well as ten newly refurbished Estate Patio rooms that have already had a positive impact this year. The hotel has also made significant strides in achieving its sustainability goals, with one of its key focuses being on utilising homegrown produce. The Kitchen Garden has been expanded to two acres with the introduction of fruit trees, a potato crop field, and bee hives in the wider hotel grounds providing the hotel 3% savings on food costs. This approach also provides guests with the opportunity to experience a truly authentic taste of life at Down Hall, from the fruit and vegetables grown in the Kitchen Garden to the Down Hall Garden gin and vodka made from botanicals foraged across the estate. We learn from Linden, that Down Hall has a number of significant plans for the future, with a substantial highlight being the addition of a unique dining venue in the Kitchen Garden. This innovative space will feature a stretch tent adorned with festoon lighting and rustic wooden tables crafted from fallen trees within the hotel’s estate, allowing guests to enjoy outdoor dining with expert chefs preparing homegrown meals over open fire, truly embracing the “from field to fork” philosophy. “Down Hall has some exciting plans lined up for the upcoming year and beyond,” Linden concludes. “This includes the continuation of enhancements to services across the hotel, as well as ongoing additions to social events, wellness experiences, and embracing new industry trends. Looking ahead, Down Hall is committed to further elevating the guest experience, keeping visitors of the hotel returning time and time again.” Contact: Jenny Rogers, Marketing Manager Company: Down Hall, Hotel, Spa & Estate Web Address: www.downhall.co.uk Dec24010
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