It’s time to rechage your batteries in preparation for the party season.  And where better than a bolt hole newly opened in the New Forest – only an hour and a half’s drive from London town?

Lime Wood is a country house with a difference. 

Co-founder and Chairman of Hotel du Vin, Robin Hutson is has put together a dream team of industry experts set to raise the bar for country house hotels.

Originally the site of a hunting lodge in the 13th Century, the hotel has been transformed by Ben Pentreath from a Regency manor into a 17 suite, 12 bedroom country house hotel in perfect synergy with its beautiful surroundings and full of understated elegance and contemporary twists. 

Inside you’ll find laid back luxury with sitting rooms, library, dining room, informal scullery eaterie, bar, wine cellar and billiard room designed by David Collins Studio with furniture an eclectic mix of antique and bespoke, plus carefully selected artwork and ceramics which give the rooms a welcoming sense of a private country residence that has evolved over time.

Director of cuisine is Alex Aitken, former head chef and proprietor of the Michelin starred restaurant Le Poussin and guests can expect hearty British fare, with a strong focus on local, organic produce and real ‘forest food’ including wild mushrooms and garlic, local venison and home-reared beef and lamb.

Many of the guest rooms even boast decadent free-standing bath tubs – perfect for washing away those city blues.

Outside, the hotel’s Pavillions, Crescent and Coach House are designed by Charles Morris, whose previous work includes the Orchard Room at the royal estate of Highgrove! 

Guests can take advantage of an array of activities on-site including a cookery school and even food foraging masterclasses with Alex, as well as yoga lessons, and bike riding.  Oh yes and there’s also a 16,000 sqare foot spa adjacent to the main house featuring a swimming pool, hydro therapy pool, eight treatment rooms, saunas, hammam, steam room and fully equipped gym which will open next summer. 

And if you’re after the full country house weekend experience, shooting and horse riding are available nearby.  Don’t worry if you’ve forgotten your wellies, the hotel’s Boot Room is packed full of multi-hued Hunter Wellies available in all sizes.

You’ll arrive back in the smoke rosy cheeked and raring to go.

www.limewoodhotel.co.uk

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 at 9:00 am and is filed under General, Lifestyle, Restaurants, Venues. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.