REVIEW: Ellenborough Park Hotel

My hopes were high for my stay at Ellenborough Park. Promising on its website ‘unparalleled comfort’ and an ‘unforgettable experience’, the newly revamped 15th century country estate situated adjacent to the famous Cheltenham racecourse in the village of Southam, had a lot to live up to.

Situated in the shadow of Cleeve Hill and boasting a terrific view towards the gallops of Cheltenham racecourse (the hotel is booked up years in advance by racegoers for the Festival), the country house offers 500 years of history. Mullioned windows, towers and enormous oak doors that would not look out of place in a castle greet you on arrival.

The hotel made an instant impression and this continued when we walked into the new entrance via The Great Hall. A stunning room, The Great Hall oozes history, with walls ordained in oil portraits of former visitors to the house. The enormous fireplace is I am sure a huge draw when set with a roaring fire, but unfortunately it remained unlit for our visit.

My partner and I were shown to our room in Ellenborough Gate set slightly away from the main house and it is here that we understood what 'unparalleled comfort' meant.

Overlooking the racecourse, this enormous room with half canopied bed has been decorated with interior design by Nina Campbell and has a palette of warm greens and neutral tones. Stylish but comfortable, the room marries up to date touches (including the welcome nespresso machine) with a nod to the past. The complete works of Dickens were at our disposal alongside a collection of magazines, including Vanity Fair.

The huge room was not at the expense of the size of the bathroom, as often happens, and we had at our disposal a roll top bath, power shower and marble double sinks, with plenty of room to model the bathrobes that were provided.

Our bedroom, including a squishy sofa, was so comfortable that it was tempting to cancel the dinner reservation and order room service.

Luckily for us, we chose not to, as we were eager to try the hotel's newest addition to its stable, The Horse Box. This new, hotel-owned country pub, set in the main building, appealed to us because is looked welcoming, warm and informal - everything that a good local country pub should be.

The equine theme extended to more than the name, and the walls were adorned with racing-inspired pictures.

The menu offers classic British influences and includes burgers, fish and chips and super food salads. We started with the olive, feta and watermelon from the nibbles section, which was a brilliant and a previously (by us) untried combination.

The fresh flavours continued with my starter of shredded duck on a bed of salad leaves and radish. My partner's choice of smoked salmon was delicate in looks and taste and the perfect precursor to his more substantial main of burger and fries. Following a theme, I too opted for a winter warmer with the steak, fries and bearnaise sauce, all perfected cooked and extremely tasty.

Defeated when it came to puddings, my partner opted for a palette cleansing selection of ice creams, and I went straight for my favourite dessert, the creme brulee, accompanied by a superb piece of shortbread.

Extremely satisfied with our choices we retired to The Great Hall, passing through The Atrium, another newly-refurbished space at the hotel. Designed as an ever changing space, the Atrium offers light lunches in the daytime and cocktails into the evening.

The hotel has also launched a pop up cocktail bar, where the hotel’s own mixologists can whisk up speciality drinks and guests can sample the signature Ellenborough Park gin, curated by the nearby Cotswold Distillery.

Keen to get back to that squishy sofa, we called it a night.

Breakfast the following morning was served in the Restaurant in the oldest part of the hotel and offered the traditional Cotswold breakfast alongside eggs benedict and florentine, kippers and porridge.

The wood-panelled room is home to the more formal dining room, which has also had a revamp and is a regular draw in the Cheltenham dining scene.

Headed up by newly appointed Executive Head Chef David Williams, the Restaurant plans a move away from the typical fine dining offerings and is looking to embrace a more flexible, natural style. It aims to firmly position the hotel as a complete luxury destination, for locals and those further afield.

Speaking of all the recent changes at the hotel, a spokesperson at the hotel said:   “The substantial changes we have made will ensure that Ellenborough Park remains the finest hotel in the Cotswolds.

"With new dining options, a new chef, fresh interiors and a whole new arrival experience for guests we are confident that the new look conveys not only the modern approach that guests demand but also retains the heritage of a building that is over 500 years old.

"The refurbishment will also appeal to locals who will find The Horse Box especially inviting for lunch and dinner or an afternoon drink by the wood burning stove.”

Before leaving the luxurious confines of Ellenborough Park, we had one more experience to enjoy. The Spa, although small, offers a small haven of tranquility.

My partner chose the small outdoor swimming pool, which is heated to the temperature of a very warm bath and was steaming on this chilly March morning. I preferred to take refuge indoors, and headed for the sauna, steam room and hot tub, taking time afterwards to fully unwind on the comfortable loungers.

I didn't opt for a treatment, but there are many available. After my stay at Ellenborough Park I was relaxed enough and didn't need a massage to unwind me further!

Our stay at Ellenborough Park came just a few days after the snow made some of the roads in the Cotswolds impassable and we were told that several guests were unable to get home and had to stay on for longer than intended. What a shame we missed it!

The chance to remain cosseted at this hotel for an extra day would be no hardship.

Definitely a front-runner in the hotel stakes, Ellenborough Park lived up to and exceeded our high hopes.

  • Stay at Ellenborough Park from £189 per night bed and breakfast. Visit ellenboroughpark.com fore more.