HOTEL REVIEW

Park House Hotel & Spa, Midhurst, West Sussex

The term hidden gem is a widely over used one, and usually refers to things that are neither hidden or gems, but when I refer to the Park House Hotel & Spa in these terms I am doing them a disservice, as this is not just a gem, but a diamond!

The Park House Hotel & Spa is conveniently located in the small village of Bepton, right in the heart of the UK’s newest National Park, the South Downs (created in 2010), and is a perfect location for you to visit all that the South Downs has to offer, or alternatively you can just relax and enjoy the hotel’s extensive facilities and just marvel at the views from the comfort of their patio.

The hotel has been in the hands of the same family for four generations, and everywhere you look there are glimpses of how the house has evolved over the years, from its original use as a private house to the present-day layout. In the late 1940’s, the original owners, Ioné and Michael O’Brien, opened their home to the glamorous polo set (Cowdray Park, the home of UK polo is only 4 miles away), and since then not only has it been a firm favourite for said polo set, it has also been a haven for a large number of famous actors when they have been performing in Chichester, which is only

12 miles away. When you visit, keep an eye out for the signed pictures of the great and the good (you will be surprised who you will see).

What each of the guests, whoever they may be, will experience, is a really warm welcome, and you instantly feel like you are invited guests to your friend’s country estate for the weekend, and this homely and welcoming feeling is what makes the Park House Hotel & Spa so much more than the sum of its parts.

The décor is shabby chic and every room has its own individual charm, and nothing is too much trouble for the staff. This is a hotel where guests do come back time after time as if to revisit an old friend, and the moment you enter the front door you feel like you are back home.

There are 23 rooms, 12 in the main house and the rest sprinkled around the estate in converted cottages. The rooms in the main house are all individually decorated and have the feel of a family guest bedroom (which they used to be), and are spread over the first and second floors, with stunning views of the South Downs and the outside facilities in the grounds. There is a wide selection of room types, but each has an ensuite with separate bath and power shower, bathrobes and slippers, flat screen TV’s (with Sky sports), and luxurious Voya bathroom products, and at the end of a tiring day either sightseeing, walking, or even just relaxing at the spa, the crisp Egyptian cotton sheets welcome you to a refreshing night’s sleep.

For such a boutique hotel the facilities are truly amazing. Just outside the dining room terrace there is an immaculate croquet lawn, and a little further around the house and past the beautiful covered garden walk ways are two spectacular grass tennis courts for the guests to play on. Next to the tennis courts are two crown green bowling rinks, and just beyond that is a 6 hole, par 3 golf course, with 3 different tees for every proper green allowing you to play 18 holes, and also a putting green. The course is well laid out and is suitable for all ages and abilities, from the single figure handicapper, who can fine tune their short game from inside 100 yds, to beginners just starting out.

If these outside activities weren’t enough, you then reach the spa! This has two pools, one inside and one outside, both heated, and a jacuzzi, steam rooms, and a sauna, to enable you to escape the hustle and bustle of life and relax and destress. There are a wide range of massages, facials etc., for men and women, using well respected beauty brands including Voya, Caudalie and Jessica, but booking is vital. My wife had a very relaxing reflexology treatment, that was so relaxing all her plans for the afternoon were put on hold whilst she just enjoyed doing absolutely nothing but lying down! Having never had reflexology before, she was amazed by how the therapist, Janet, picked up on certain issues that she has elsewhere in her body just by manipulating certain areas of her feet. Having played a round of golf (and lost to my wife!), and had a quick knock up on the tennis courts, I was ready for dinner. The menu is packed with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, showcasing modern British food. Starters are varied which is shown by the fact that I started with the spiced lamb faggot, creamed potatoes and port reduction, whilst my wife chose the truffle and mozzarella aranchini with bois boudrin. It is rare to find such an eclectic menu where a well spiced British classic vies with a gooey Italian delicacy! For our mains my wife had sea bass with tagliatelle and mussel velouté and I the Guineafowl with morel sauce, both utilising fresh Sussex produce and very tasty. There is also a wide selection of desserts, with the banana tarte tatin with coconut and rum sorbet the stand out dish. To accompany your meal, there is also a wide selection of wines starting from £30.

The Park House Hotel & Spa is a really special venue, as it combines all the required elements of a good hotel, and then adds an abundance of outside activities, a stunning and tranquil location, a state-of-the-art spa, and then tops it off with a healthy dose of British country hospitality, which makes all its visitors feel special, and that is a heady mixture which clearly appeals as visitors come back year after year.

For further information you are encouraged to call 01730 819000 to discuss your requirements, or please visit www.parkhousehotel.com