The humble manor that’s on to a winner
ELLENBOROUGH PARK HOTEL, CHELTENHAM
THANKS to its grand name, guests here might envisage checking in to a sprawling Georgian estate next to Cheltenham racecourse. Yet this manor house at the foot of Cleeve Hill started life in 1485 as a humble farmhouse.
The view of the racecourse is pleasing. In fact, choose the right room and you could cheer on a winner in your bathrobe.
Guests enjoy private access to the course, so walk there (you can borrow a pair of Dubarry boots). On your way back in, stop to examine the original black wooden door and spot musket holes reputedly shot by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War.
A burble of convivial chatter will lead you to the bar in The Horse Box, where the smart racing crowd celebrate their wins. At weekends, guests gather for an indulgent afternoon tea in The Great Hall.
Ellenborough Park is warren-like, with nooks, crannies and creaky staircases leading to the bedrooms.
Little wonder this place is popular with the American market.
There’s a nod to many periods in history – the stained-glass windows are Tudor, some of the stonework is medieval and the lovingly restored panelling is Victorian. But it’s the expensive art and furniture with a flourish of Moorish (lanterns, rugs, tables) here and there which hint at the owners’ provenance – they are rumoured to be horserace-loving Arab royalty.
If you prefer old-school repro-traditional, you would not be disappointed with our grand baronial-style room in the Main House, which was large enough to host a drinks party.
Dark mahogany panelling was interrupted by scarlet wallpaper and floor-to-ceiling windows with scarlet drapes. Modern rooms can be found in new wings The Mews and Ellenborough Gate. The incredibly sociable atmosphere at Ellenborough is why so many people throw celebration dinners in The Library or Great Hall. There was singing late into the night on our visit – but the hotel attracts the high-spirited rather than loutish.
Breakfast is a hushed affair in the Beaufort Dining room (perhaps because of the above) as guests take advantage of the full English breakfast and flagons of coffee. The USP: Direct access to the course is a no-brainer for Gold Cup fans. The rooms: Sixty-one in the main house and more in new wings.
The food: Juicy gastro-fare is served in the family-friendly Horse Box, from sandwiches and whitebait to wild boar burgers. Elegant three-course dinners in The Restaurant cost £65 a head.