Hotel of the week
If you love a hotel that’s as immersed in history as it is in luxury, you’ll have found your home from home at Beaverbrook.
This five-star country hotel in the Surrey Hills was once the home of press baron Lord Beaverbrook, who hosted the powerful and glamorous – from his close friend Sir Winston Churchill to Ian Fleming, HG Wells and the Duchess of Windsor.
Put in charge of aircraft production during the Second World War, the gleaming Spitfire model outside is a tribute to Beaverbrook’s “Saucepans For Spitfires” campaign.
However, the hotel today is certainly no dusty relic of past glories. The estate has been beautifully restored while preserving its original character, from the Art Deco details in Beaverbrook’s private cinema to the highceilinged library that contains his original collection of leatherbound books. The 18 bedrooms in the main house are named after famous former occupants, but I stayed in a Coach House suite overlooking acres of manicured estate grounds. With its stylish country living fabrics, pale panelled walls, roll-top bath and a his ’n’ hers sink, it was like tumbling into the pages of a highend interiors magazine.
The hotel’s Japanese Grill serves delicacies such as sushi, sashimi and meats from its Josper
grill, but I opted for The Garden House, which offers a superior sort of comfort food. I started with crispy duck, spring onion and radishes, which had the most delicious sesame and pomegranate dressing, followed by Lancashire suckling pig and then a scrumptious tiramisu to finish.
The evening ended in vintage style with champagne in Sir Frank’s Bar – an opulent den of blue velvet chairs and terracotta walls lined with intricate botanical art from around the globe.
Beaverbrook is a true destination hotel, with so many lovely touches to enjoy. Make sure you