Doing her best to act like the lady of the house, Marion Sauvebois checks out how the other half live at an exclusive mansion in the Cotswolds

 

THERE are many ways to make a stylish and memorable entrance. Rolling down your window as you pull up outside an imposing country pile blurting out apologies for your tardiness at the startled staff is not one of them.

Though unbefitting of my luxurious and serene surroundings, I suspect it may have had a touch of the memorable...

Rewind two hours, two traffic jams, one road closure, more tailbacks and a jaunt up some treacherously steep hills and pinched lanes – all the while exhorted by my SatNav to make an ill-advised U-turn – and I was an hour and 30 minutes behind schedule, flustered and not the picture of grace and poise I had hoped when a kind man helped me out of my car and escorted me up the drive to Foxhill Manor.

I was determined from then on to behave as a lady of the manor would, composed, suitably aloof and in control of her emotions.

I was part of a momentous event (of sorts) in the history of the manor and had to behave accordingly.

Until recently would-be guests could merely dream of catching a glimpse of the Cotswold mansion’s fine interiors. The property was only available to book in its entirety, so unless your nearest and dearest were planning to tie the knot, or a friend was throwing an extravagant hen night at Foxhill, its pearly gates were outside your reach.

Now at last, each of the boutique hotel’s eight rooms and suites (all named after trees) are available for bookings – hurray.

I had done my homework and skimmed a potted history of the manor; nodding stupidly, unable to contribute intelligently to the conversation over dinner was not an option.

The grade II listed house nestled on the private 400-acre Farncombe Estate near Broadway was built in 1909 and designed by Yorkshire-born architect Joseph Lancaster Ball, one of the leading lights of the Arts & Crafts movement. Initially named as Furzehill, it was soon rebaptised Foxhill. In the 1930s it became home to Henry Maudslay DFC, a brave RAC Squadron Leader who was involved in the planning and deployment of the Bouncing Bomb for the famed ‘Dam Busters’ operation in May 1943. Maudslay reached his target, but his aircraft was damaged and shot down on the return journey. In 1970, Foxhill Manor was bought by the Sørensen family. The head of the family is reported to have given staff one simple but vague instruction: “I want people to feel hugged when they walk in”. Foxhill sits in good company with two sister hotels on the grounds, Dormy House – a 17th century farmhouse and the repository of the hotel group’s spa - and The Fish.

My newfound carriage lasted exactly two minutes, the exact time it took for my one-man welcome party to show me up to my room, Willow.

Taking in my (certainly not humble) abode for the night I tried, in vain, to contain my excitement. The cool exterior shattered within second of spotting the free-standing bath, cottage-inspired chocolate box features, wrought-iron bed and chaise longue beckoning to me below the Tudor-style diamond-shaped windows.

Like every other room in the hotel, Willow’s decor down to the smallest of cushions is utterly unique. The owners made sure of that and a tour of my fellow guests’ quarters confirmed it. From 70s-infused Maple room and its bright orange hues to the two bathtubs taking proud of place in Oak, each room rivals the others in sophistication, comfort and charm. Contrasting and comparing for too long could only lead to disappointment so we all beat a hasty retreat before a fight to the death over Oak’s tubs ensued.

Far from stuffy and snobbish Foxhill is about relaxation, informality and spontaneity I soon realised with relief.

Food at Foxhill is no exception to this 'spur of the moment' philosophy.

There is an ‘Ask and we shall provide’ policy. Guests can order whatever their hearts desire, within reason, though one visitor once requested a steak dinner for his pooch and the kitchen obliged.

Most though choose to put their trust in the chef, Jon Ingram and enjoy a surprise tasting menu – which changes each day.

My fellow guests and I were treated to his latest flight of fancy – a decadent banquet of new tomatoes topped with mozzarella ice cream, melt-in-the-mouth lobster Thermidor, Chateaubriand, dauphinoise potatoes and shallots Tatin laid on large dishes for us all to share.

The feast’s crowning glory was without a doubt the deceptively labelled ‘cookies and milk’ which turned out to be molten cookie dough served in individual pots and accompanied by a bourbon milkshake and generous scoop of ice cream.

Replete and struggling to cover the handful of meters to the oak-panelled drawing room for coffee, we were about to discover that at Foxhill the concept of coffee is somewhat loose.

Instead of a hot drink and biscuit we were treated to the largest cheese platter known to man and a display of homemade moreish caramelised popcorn, marshmallows and sweets.

The lure of the free-standing bath proved too tempting and five slices of crumbly fromage later I made my excuses to enjoy a soak.

Unable to resist, I snuck out of my room in the dead of night for a snoop around the pantry, a closet filled with sweets, crisps and cereal bars of every description as well as juices and even beer, available to all guests at any time for free.

After a copious breakfast and a sad farewell to my room, during which I made sure to lounge, sit and flop into every armchair and bin bag around I finally steeled myself for a trip to the spa at the nearby Dormy House.

A Xanadu of peace, it was the ideal way to recover from my stomach’s exertions and prepare mentally and physically for traffic, road closures and whatever fate had planned to throw my way on the return journey.

After a leisurely salt-infused steam, loll under the scented vapours of the lavender sauna and cooling dip in the infinity pool I was (barely) ready to leave the high life behind.

My exit was neither memorable nor particularly stylish but at least no-one raised an eyebrow this time. You live and learn.

TRAVEL FACTS

Foxhill Manor, Farncombe Estate, Broadway ,WR12 7JL Rooms at Foxhill manor start at £295 per night. This includes a full breakfast, snacks and drinks throughout the day as well as access to House Spa.

For more information or to book visit www.foxhillmanor.com or call 01386 852711.