You’d be forgiven for feeling a little intimidated upon approaching Eastwell Manor. Its stern, neo-Elizabethan stone façade is dotted with boxy windows which appear as if they allow little light, and reaching reception involves dragging your luggage through an eerily still, imposing courtyard. But the vibe’s pretty different inside.
Through the comically large, dark-wood doors, the formality of the building does match the tone of the service, but we were warmly greeted by wafts from the restaurant, the excited buzz of guests from a wedding party and formally dressed but amicable team members. And that’s what’s unexpected about this place – how homely a massive country estate (particularly one with a tennis court, a hawking centre and beehives) can feel as soon as you arrive.
Our room, in the cottage buildings in the west corner of the grounds, was one designated for people on a spa break (it’s only a two-minute walk from the spa building) and other guests were flitting between the two buildings in just their dressing gowns, despite the October chill. The spa itself, the facilities of which include a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room on the ground floor, as well as a restaurant, plus treatment and ‘relaxation’ rooms upstairs, does all the things a good spa should do, but is perhaps not quite matched to the size of the hotel – we arrived mid-afternoon to cop a poolside seat but were left with only one available spot to plonk ourselves. But the hotel doesn’t just offer indoor spa facilities: for the summer months, Eastwell Manor also has an outdoor pool, surrounded by hedges and sunbeds, on the other side of the cottages.
Hotel restaurants often aren’t usually much to shout about, but at Eastwell Manor that’s definitely not the case. Breakfast and lunch at the Spa restaurant are available to book as part of your package (which are both good), but the Gardenia restaurant in the manor house itself was a standout of our weekend. Encased by opulent, church-like windows and wood-panelled ceilings, the menu is appropriately elevated and features dishes with properly locally-sourced ingredients (zesty scallops from Rye Bay, meltingly tender lamb from Romney Marsh).
Nearby
There’s a reason Kent is known as the ‘garden of England’: even the 15-minute taxi journey from Ashford International to the estate gives you a flavour of the region’s beauty. The hotel is settled behind the village of Boughton Lees, just outside Ashford, and after turning into the estate, a stunning, tree-lined driveway guides you around to the hotel’s red ivy-adorned exterior.
If you’re staying at Eastwell Manor for the weekend, make sure you set aside some time to go on a decent countryside walk before stretching out in the spa. Within a 10-minute drive, you’ll find Hothfield Heathlands Nature Reserve, Wye Downs and Kent Downs National Landscape – there are plenty of stunning views on the Manor’s doorstep.