The Grove: A Mansion Updated For A Modern Age

The Grove may be just a short hop from north London – just over an hour’s drive, in fact – yet it is a world apart from the hustle and bustle of the city. Checking in here is like arriving at a far-flung resort, except you aren’t by the sea (although, miraculously, it does have its own beach – but more on that later). Instead, you are placed within 300 acres of a rambling and magical estate.

The grounds with their ponds, sculptures and light installations have an Alice in Wonderland feel about them. A life-sized topiary giraffe winks at you over a wall; fountains splutter into life as you walk past; mini meadows of wild flowers dance in the breeze; a woodland trail entices you to meander through a verdant landscape.

For gardeners, the walled Jemima’s Kitchen Garden is a particularly enchanting space, bursting with fruit, vegetables and herbs for the hotel’s chefs to use. Designed by gardens’ supervisor, Abby Evans, it is made up of four quadrants, including an amphitheatre sitting area for guests, trailing hops for the house beer and an apiary with honey-bee hives. Also found beavering away are a team of in-house gardeners, on hand for any guests wanting to discover more about the permaculture ethos and garden-to-table philosophy. (In fact, at The Glasshouse Bar, the Garden to Glass cocktail menu is an especially inventive take on the concept, conceived by award-winning bar designers Holy Water. The ‘Mansion on the Hill’, the hotel’s 20th year cocktail, for example, contains The Grove’s own gin, Cointreau, crème de violette and grapes source from the gardens.)

The estate is also home to a collection of towering trees that date back a century or more, including a majestic Cedar that was planted in 1863. “When the leaves are crushed, while mowing under the tree, a pleasant incense smell is released,” says the sign underneath it.

Scenting the air with these evocative notes, this feels like an apt link to the past, and to a time when The Grove’s main house, which dates back to the 18^th-century, once saw the likes of Queen Victoria come to stay to enjoy the country air. These days, the West Wing, which was added in 2003, houses most of the hotel rooms (189 to be exact), yet undoubtedly, The Grove’s piece de resistance remains those that are found within the historic Mansion.

Here, nine suites and 13 bedrooms ooze heritage appeal and have been given a fresh spin for 2023 by Martin Hulbert Design (MHD), long-term collaborator with The Grove. Having worked on the previous iteration of the mansion two decades ago, the new look is a continuation of the renowned designer’s aesthetic, yet brings a fresh vision to the building. Drawing inspiration from the glorious scenes on the doorstep, the look is one that champions British design, with hand-made materials, bespoke furniture and natural colours to blend in with the views outside.

Across the suites, the original Georgian features, such as intricate moldings, ornate fireplaces and curved bay windows, remain the starring attractions. These are complemented by three subtle colour schemes of terracotta, blue and green, using eco-friendly paints by Edward Bulmer, as well as furniture made for the hotel by British artisans.

Tabletops, for instance, were crafted by a London-based wood whittler, who uses timber from felled trees to create original pieces, each one as unique as the DNA of the tree it’s made from. A London-based ceramicist was commissioned to design several styles of tile, also used for table tops, to bring a contemporary flair and texture to the spaces. Furnishings were upholstered in Southampton, using bespoke linen fabrics from MHD’s own range of textiles, and the wardrobes and joinery, also designed by MHD, have been made by cabinet makers in nearby Poole.

Parquet flooring, contemporary four-poster beds and light linen fabrics are mixed with antique furniture and heritage chandeliers to give each room a characterful feel. The art collection has also been curated by Martin Hulbert, blending old and new. Some of the hotel’s existing pieces, which were sourced by Martin over 20 years ago, have been re-hung alongside specially-commissioned art by contemporary British artists, including Kent-based Poppy Ellis and Andrew Viner, who lives and works in East Sussex.

Adding an extra layer of luxury are light-filled, spacious bathrooms, with stand-alone tubs and Bamford toiletries. In fact, for an indulgent touch, you can book your own Bamford in-room treatment, if staying in one of the top six suites.

As member of the Leading Hotels of the World, it’s also the thoughtful touches that really make your experience a memorable one at The Grove. A complimentary minibar, for instance, is stocked with Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut NV and premium spirits, as well as a bottle of The Grove’s signature honey and gin sour cocktail. Guests also enjoy access to the hotel’s Library, tuck into a tempting ice cream menu from Hackney Gelato, and tap into the dedicated assistance of an ‘experience manager’.

Talking of which, a must is to take time out for afternoon tea or a decadent sushi lunch in one of the series of beautifully-designed lounges, also found in the Mansion. It’s hard to choose from Christian Sta Maria’s menu – for everything sounds tempting – but the Seared Rib Eye Roll, Shrimp Tempura Salad and Chicken Kushiyaki are all highlights (the head sushi chef has form, having opened five sushi bars in top London locations, including Hotel Café Royal).

Then there’s the choice of where to sit? A series of rooms create their own tableau. Like the bedrooms in the Mansion, the lounges retain many of the features of the original house, which was built in 1756. The walls also hold the secrets of the past: it’s where Vita Sackville West took lovers, and where the top-secret Project X was based during World War II.

One room, bedecked in azure-peacock hues and a decadent blue-glass crystal chandelier, is like a charming hideaway, and perfect for a group of friends dressed up for a celebratory occasion. In the largest room, with its imposing fireplaces and a gleaming gold exposed beam, old is blended with the new. A feast for the senses: the space is decorated in elegant honey and spun-gold shades; petrol blue velvet chairs are positioned to allow for views over the gardens; a table is laden with vases of red gladioli, like an art installation; and a harpist plays classical renditions of show tunes.

Time moves fast at The Grove. If you are not tempted by the championship golf course or the outdoor tennis courts, you might want to visit the Sequoia Spa. A destination in its own right, it has recently partnered with organic British brand, Bamford, for a series of new signature treatments and spa days.

For those wanting time to stand still for a moment or two, opt for the Bamford Signature Massage – an epic, spine-tingling treatment which uses organic Bamford oil – you choose a scent to suit you – to help the body release toxin build-up, and to relax the muscles. It’s utterly transporting.

Also boasting revamped areas, the spa now features a new, elegant tranquillity room and restaurant, Sequoia Kitchen, for poke bowls and fresh juices. It all adds to the abundance of facilities, which includes a jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, wellness pool and a dramatic, black-mosaic tiled swimming pool.

As summer approaches, the hotel seems to blossom with a range of inventive pop-ups, including the Everyman Secret Garden Cinema in the walled garden and an immersive dining experience, in partnership with Feast on Cloud 9, in the formal gardens, which sees diners eat under hot air balloons in wicker dining baskets.

What’s more, as the sun rises on a new summer, the Walled Garden makes way for Ralph’s Beach. Its sandy ‘shores’, complete with deckchairs and beach huts, surround a heated pool and gazebo for drinks and snacks. Also, no doubt, making a splash here on 14 July is Verde Garden, a new Italian-inspired summer pop-up restaurant by Italian chef Andrea Santu. The chef will use produce harvested from Jemima’s to create dishes inspired by the culinary traditions of his hometown Sassari, in Sardinia. It’s a slice of the dolce vita found in Hertfordshire.