Park House Hotel, West Sussex

By Lydia Mansi on October 5th 2010

The house: On the quietest of country lane, tucked away amidst 10 acres of the South Downs, is Park House Hotel. The late Victorian main house (rebuild in the early Noughties), traditional Sussex barn and the fantastic South Down, Polo and Baytree Cottages, (all available as self-contained accommodation or as conventional hotel suites) all go to make up the boutique 21-room hotel.

The room: The newly completed suite in South Down Cottage (there are six in total, with communal living room, kitchen and honest bar) is bedecked in the perfect heritage shades of buttermilk and eau de nil; the hint of chintz is offset with two super slick Apple TV monitors in the bedroom and sitting area, and a thoroughly modern bathroom. Throw open the double doors onto your own terrace, overlooking the walled kitchen garden.

Restaurant: The restaurant and conservatory in the main house serve simple, unfussy, seasonal menus, featuring many British favourites. Local produce is a real focus, with greens from the hotel’s own grounds for food metres rather than miles.

Spa: The PH20 Spa, with exposed oak rafters, glass and marble has real warmth about it, and is the most spotless complex we’ve visited. The Cryotherapy Firming Facial by Anne Semonin (£75 for 60mins), using frozen serums to pep up and tone skin is invigorating, while the Montezuma’s chocolate body sensation (£100 for 75 mins) combines the Sussex chocolatier’s finest cocoa to exfoliate and nourish skin; leaving you smelling good enough to eat.

Guests: Three generations of one family took up residence by the outdoor pool, while cosy couples borrowed pairs of Hunters from the porch for a romantic country walk.

Out and about: Whipping through the Sussex lanes, look out for buttercup yellow detailing on period cottages, it denotes former properties belonging to the Cowdray Park Estate. The Tudor mansion is now in ruins, but there is a flourishing farm shop (cowdrayfarmshop.co.uk) and the century old polo club. The 20th century collection of British Art at Pallant House, Chichester should not be missed (pallant.org.uk)

Upside: The small homely scale means nothing feels generically ‘hotely’.

Downside: The restaurant is split in two between the conservatory and main dining room and as such, the atmosphere suffers.

Details: Weekend B&B rates from £160 to £230 per night (standard to suite)

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