In the green, green vales of England’s Cotswolds The Wood Norton nestles. Whilst it nestles discreetly, tucked against a hillside, it also does so grandly. Some might even say it sprawls. It was built in 1897 by the Duc D’Orleans, the exiled French nobleman, as his home away from home and included eccentricities such as a bear pit complete with swimming pool! This site was lived in by his family and frequented by royalty, until the early 1900s when it was bought by the BBC. They used this as their base away from London during the World Wars, becoming one of the largest broadcasting centres in Europe – a true slice of war time British history. Now it stands as a magnificent hotel, retaining its original 19th Century French interior features elegantly juxtaposed against modern luxuries.
I visited in March during a road trip of Oxford and the Cotswolds – details of which will be in my next post – but was so blown away by the experience that I felt it justified a stand alone piece.
The hotel is reasonably large, with 50 rooms and 5 grander suites, a conferencing centre and gardens. When staying, ask for one of the wood panelled rooms or suites on the first floor – these areas retain the original wood panelling and are stunning. The public areas are equally striking – think stone archways, thick carpets and, of course, more wood features. The vibe is welcoming and the staff friendly, happy to explain the rich history of the site or individual features when asked.
We were staying in the Duc D’Orleans Junior Suite – the actual quarters that the Duc had built for himself! This suite has a separate living area, massive bedroom and sizeable bathroom, all looking out over the hotel courtyard and gardens. Opposite the suite is the Duc’s old bathroom – a marble clad room with a huge Turkish style bath sunk into the floor. The hotel don’t operate this, but it’s an amazing example of the opulence the estate’s old owner installed here. If you’re looking for splendour, you’d be hard pressed to find more than these quarters. The bed could sleep 4 people comfortably and the bathroom has a free standing claw foot bathtub and separate 2 person rain shower (clearly not original!). Rates begin at £274 for this space and so it’s one for a special occasion. I can’t imagine a more perfect room for a romantic weekend, or bridal suite.
After dolling myself up for dinner, I headed downstairs to their restaurant to sample their food offering. The dining room is, expectedly by this point, sumptuous and has more wood panelling and views out over the gardens. The service is attentive, without being fussy, and the atmosphere is warm – you don’t feel like you have to stifle giggles over your glass of wine. The restaurant styles itself as modern British, with an emphasis on locality and seasonality, and offers a 5 course (2 of these courses are the amuse bouche and sorbet) menu for £49.50.
Sipping on prosecco, we launched into amuse bouche, then starters of duck terrine with a pate of its liver underneath, and glazed figs for sweetness and juice. This dish was made memorable with small shards of salty, crisp duck skin sprinkled around it to add texture. I stayed classic on the mains with fillet of beef, cooked perfectly bleu, and cute little turned vegetables. I can’t recommend the Wood Norton’s side dish of ‘truffle air’ enough – if you visit, ORDER IT, and take some to go. It is fabulous. Whilst I have no idea what it was made of, it arrived in a cloud of potato foam, thick enough to coat a spoon but as light as foam, and deeply, deeply flavoured with truffle. Blimey.
Desserts were special. I tried a dish of chocolate mousse quenelles, with fresh lemon verbena, chocolate soil and pistachio crumb. Besides being beautifully presented, the plate was a harmony of flavour (deep), texture (silky vs. crunch) and aroma (fresh with lemon verbena citrus). I loved it.
After dinner and an epic sleep enveloped in fabulous linen, it was with sad steps that I headed down to breakfast, forlorn in the knowledge I was soon to depart. Luckily, I'm a glutton and hotel breakfasts are one of my favourite things in the world, so I soon cheered up. The Wood Norton breakfast is a goodun' too. There's a large cold selection, including Nutella dispensers (!) and a gigantic honey comb which always brings back big time family memories for me. Hots include the obligatory fry up, alongside lighter options like salmon and scrambled eggs.
With the holy trinity of comfort, cuisine and convenience in its rostra, I’d be hard pressed to recommend the Wood Norton enough. If you’re touring the area, need a break away from the city, or are planning a day to remember, guess what? I definitely I found you your venue.
Worcester Rd, Evesham WR11 4YB
www.thewoodnorton.com
How to get there: The Wood Norton is located on the Northern edge of the Cotswolds in Evesham. The Cotswolds itself is one of the most beautiful areas in England, but it’s also close to Worcester, Stratford-Upon Avon and Cheltenham, with easy links to Oxford in the South, for drivers.
Good for: Romantic breaks; Weddings; Stays with a touch of luxury.
How much: The bad boy suites with the wood panelling start at £224, but standard rooms are available from £99. Rates include breakfast.
