Executive Room
ROOMS
The hotel is currently undergoing a full renovation of all the bedrooms and communal spaces, with half of the 100 bedrooms being complete at present. We were told that they expect the rest of the works to be finished by this summer. We were shown to our room, which we were delighted to see was an Executive Room in the refurbished part of the hotel. The room was spacious, beautifully decorated and boasted a super king size bed, chandelier above the bed and views over the grounds. The luxury bathroom was well appointed and very clean. The room felt modern, whilst still retaining the traditional feel of the hotel. We immediately felt relaxed and looked forward to trying out the facilities that Down Hall has to offer.
knew we would get attentive and speedy service, which was very welcome. The contemporary British menu is reasonably priced, with a set price for 3 courses of £32.50 or £25.95 for 2 courses. The food was very tasty and nicely presented, however we did feel the portions were a little on the small side (compared to other fine dining restaurants we have visited), perfect for a special occasion, but maybe not if you have a large appetite. Breakfast is also served in The Grill Room, which was a lot busier for this service. There was a choice of Full English or Continental Breakfasts, both of which were served buffet style in the centre of the room. We both opted for the Full English and enjoyed the food very much, the sausages were particularly moreish!
Double treatment room
EDEN SPA
Eden Spa
FACILITIES
We decided to take a look at the gym area, it’s small but has everything you need, and better still it’s practically empty as most people staying at the hotel are there for weddings or business meetings with little time for a workout. We had the gym to ourselves and the adjacent steam room and sauna, it was bliss! Again everything was sparkling clean and maintained to the highest standard. If a gym session isn’t for you then maybe a stroll through the beautiful grounds, with a picnic supplied by the hotel would suit better. There are also tennis courts and outdoor games are available too.
DINING
After a stroll through the grounds we were ready for diner, and headed to ‘The Grill Room’ restaurant. We were one of only 4 couples dining in the restaurant that evening, as most of the guests were attending a wedding taking place in the Ballroom, so we
The Eden Spa is a new addition to the hotel, being completed just last year. We booked in for a Full Body Swedish Massage and Aromatherapy Massage, then a session in the spa pool. The treatment rooms are luxurious and relaxing, with dimmed lights, soft music playing and comfy treatment couches. We were in the double treatment room, which was a nice touch and great for couples enjoying a romantic getaway. The massages were amazing, very relaxing and the perfect way to end our break. The brand new spa is very impressive, with rainforest showers, steam room, sauna and a jet whirl pool that completely sooths away all those aches and pains, it is well worth a visit even if you are not staying at the hotel. Down Hall is a beautiful historic venue, with all the modern touches and comforts you need and the service and facilities are superb. We would fully recommend a weekend trip and use of the spa facilities if you’re looking to treat that special someone or just feel you deserve a relaxing break. Down Hall Country House Hotel Matching Road, Hatfield Heath, Essex CM22 7AS. Tel: 01279 731441 www.downhall.co.uk
Top: Main lounge Middle: Eden Spa Bottom: State fo the art gym
“Inside it’s everything you would expect from a countr y house of this stature” ESSEX CENTRAL
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