CHECKING IN: A WINTER WEEKEND AT HECKFIELD PLACE
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Our taxi had only just glided to halt in front of handsome Heckfield Place, when our doors were simultaneously opened by the awaiting staff who greeted us by name and whisked away our luggage with a smooth efficiency. Formerly a grand family home which has stood in the Hampshire countryside since 1790, Heckfield Place opened in 2019 after having undergone a (9year long) full renovation into a luxury hotel.
We barely glimpsed the stunning Georgian facade though before we were swept inside, offered hot towels and served home made welcome drinks beside an open log fire. We had only left our London Flat 90minutes ago but it seemed we had managed to travel into another - far more luxurious - world. Through a slight daze we were shown around the myriad of communal lounges and dining rooms, all luxuriously but warmly decorated. Mis-matched vintage rugs, marble fireplaces and wooden furniture, offset with plush sofas and neutral colours, all serving as a charming backdrop to an eclectic art display; all from the owner’s private collection.
After the brief tour and run down of our stay (and even though we had arrived well before the 4pm check-in time) we were informed our room was ready and waiting…As far as hotel first impressions go this might just be one of our very best.
A crackling log fire in the entryway is the best greeting on a cold Winter’s day
OUR ROOM
After starting on such a high we landed firmly back to Earth when we were shown our room. Heckfield has 5 room categories, but having booked last minute there were few options left and unfortunately we couldn’t quite swing the £5000 per night for the ‘Long Room’ suite, so we settled on a “Friends room”. When booking online the images had shown a spacious room with a sofa sitting area and described the location as being in the “Corridors” (the new part of the hotel) with terrace doors out to the gardens. However, our room ended up being in the main house, which we normally prefer, but overlooking the driveway, sans sofa and so small we couldn’t even lay our suitcase anywhere - in fact it ended up in the bathroom. Rather than being mounted to a wall the Tv was also strangely sat on the floor in the corner, too low to see from both sides of the bed and positioned in a way that blocked the coat rack. Unfortunately all this meant we found ourselves feeling a little squashed and hemmed in throughout the stay, it does slightly take the luxury out of a trip when a hotel room isn’t as described and is also smaller than your own bedroom at home.
However, despite the poor initial impressions the room was still beautiful; the design details were faultless, and the surroundings while snug still managed to feel lush, quiet and comfortable. The lighting was expertly done and the bathroom (thankfully with room to move in) ended up being our favourite part, finished exceptionally as it was with a large and very good shower. A free snack bar is always welcome, the bed was comfortable and we were very tempted to buy some of the gorgeous bathrobes.
Perhaps the room was disappointing just due to our expectations from the website photos and also juxtaposed with the rest of the spacious communal areas …we feel as if this room should have been in a 6th “Snug” category so that guests could be aware of it’s size. If we were to return to Heckfield in the future we would certainly be more cautious about our room selection and specifically ask to avoid room 10.
THE GROUNDS
If you do manage to drag yourself away from the interiors, there is also 400 acres of estate to enjoy. We visited in February, right in the grip of Winter, but still found plenty to see and do. On arrival we took the few hours between check-in and dinner to explore around the estate on foot - taking in the walled garden, woods, lake and home farm (complete with Market Garden and friendly cows). On the second day we decided to take advantage of the (free) bicycle rental for hotel guests. We had plans to cycle through the woodland to a nearby pub but alas! Jen’s bike got a flat and we ended up having to call the hotel for rescue lift! (Thank-you to James for being our night in shining corduroy). We retreated back to the warmth of the fireside and drowned our defeat with cocktails and cheese toasties instead, not a bad swap TBH.
Aside from the above, you’ll also find an on-site cinema and spa to keep you busy. And in the Summer months it’s possible to boat & wild swim in the lake, or indulge in afternoon tea out in the garden greenhouse
THE FOOD
There are two restaurants on site at Heckfield, with most ingredients coming from the estate’s own ‘Home Farm’. It’s a self-sustaining concept that is at the heart of the hotel’s ethos and the passion for this arrangement was clear throughout all our meals. Sadly, the second restaurant ‘Hearth’ was closed for an event during our visit but we did get to eat both Breakfast and dinner twice in ‘Marle’ and we were very impressed with the food and service we experienced
While you will need to book ahead for lunch and dinner, happily the hotel doesn’t make you pre-book a breakfast time, allowing guests to arrive whenever they want. There is also no tray charge if you would like to enjoy breakfast in your room; just order via whatsapp the night before and a very cute breakfast basket will arrive the next morning.
And one final foodie perk was the lovely ritual of coffee and cake being served each day at 4pm, certainly a concept we would happily bring back to our everyday world.
Marle Restaurant
THE MOON BAR
When night falls, Heckfield is just as enchanting as it is in the light of day and the perfect place to start (or end) your evening is in ‘The Moon bar’, complete with roaring fireplace and comfy armchairs to sink into. Under the glint of the disco ball, friendly bartenders will whip up your choice of cocktail from their seasonal menu, which features fresh ingredients plucked from the farm (ask nicely and they might serve your favourite classics too, although most likely with a Heckfield twist). This was our favourite nook during our stay; which our check-out bill will attest too!
FINAL THOUGHTS
It’s such a shame we were underwhelmed with the room we stayed in, otherwise this may have been one of our very favourite UK stays to date. We did still check-out feeling relaxed and commenting to each other how lovely it would have been to stay a little longer (surely the best sign of a good hotel). The staff were professional and particularly friendly in Marle and The Moon Bar. The interiors are the right amount of comfortable and approachable mixed with design and luxury. And there was also a very relaxed atmosphere around the property, it didn’t feel contrived to us and we appreciated the freedom just to wander around the house and grounds at our own leisure, almost as if we were staying at an old relative’s home (while still feeling as if staff were on hand should we crave something to eat or do).
Of course it comes at a price, but we feel Heckfield deserves it’s 5 star status and we would certainly recommend it to others looking to celebrate a special occasion within easy reach of London. We would love to return in the warmer months one day to have tea in the glasshouse, dine at Hearth and to experience the beauty of the grounds in the full blush of greenery.
