insideKENT Magazine Issue 76 - July 2018 | Page 138

GETAWAYS
Country house hospitality and total escapism at
HARTWELL HOUSE
THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT THE ENGLISH DO WELL… A GOOD CUP OF TEA, THE
ABILITY TO FORM ORDERLY QUEUES FOR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, AND BEAUTIFUL
HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE – IN THE CASE OF THE LATTER AT VERY LEAST, HARTWELL
HOUSE IS A BREATHTAKING EXAMPLE. BY SAMANTHA READY
Navigating through the hit-and-miss traffic
of Aylesbury was an interesting start to our
arrival at this National Trust-owned, Grade 1
listed Jacobean and Georgian house, but from
the moment we turned into the long winding
driveway that ultimately leads to a stunning
facade complete with perfectly formed turning
circle and grand statue, you were immediately
transported away from the hustle and bustle
of modern life and into the calm serenity of
this statuesque stately home and its
immaculate landscaped gardens.
All around there are nods to its historic past,
the tree lined avenue that would have been
the original entranceway for horse and carts,
the wooden banisters with intricate hand-
carved faces and the frankly stunning ceiling
and friezes of the drawing room, hand painted
and moulded to represent the elements and
the seasons, and where many a guest spends
their afternoon tea or pre-supper cocktail (as
we did while enjoying canapes of rare venison
on crisp bread) gazing skyward, lost in its awe.
If you are able to draw your eye away, you
may just catch the photo of Queen Elizabeth
the Queen Mother at Hartwell House and truly
understand the draw of this beautiful abode.
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Having been painstaking and sympathetically
restored by Historic House Hotels, there are
now 48 bedrooms for guests – the most recent
additions being the bedrooms and suites in
Hartwell Court, a renovated 18th-century
stables, coach house and indoor riding school
– as well as the classic rooms, Royal rooms
and Royal suites of the main house.
It was our very own Royal room, superbly
situated at the top of the intricately carved
staircase of the main house with far-reaching
views over the grounds, that my guest and I
called home for the evening. And, while the
antique furniture, queen-size bed and
homemade shortbread biscuits were a big pull,
the gardens beyond the window were calling…
Provided with a handy map of the grounds
(just one example of the faultless services
demonstrated throughout our stay), you’ll see
there are a variety of pathways and walks to
be followed allowing guests to gently stroll, or
go full-on explore mode around the grounds
and beyond to the Chilterns. We were able to
catch the afternoon sun and work our way
around the entire perimeter of the house
uncovering flower gardens, hidden statues
and the lake before bypassing the main house
and heading to the spa block for a quick swim
and sauna before dinner.
As if the house itself wasn’t enough, the
thoroughly deserved 2 AA Rosette, Restaurant
at Hartwell would be worth the visit alone.
With its semi-domed ceilings, columns and
tall arched windows, the dining room itself is
as beautiful as the dishes it presents. The Bill
of Fayre with its one-word menu listings is a
very modest way of describing far more
complex dishes that are as pleasing on the
eye as they are on the palate.
My guest’s ‘chicken’ actually presented a
delicate cannelloni filled with chicken, a crispy
quail’s egg, girolles and a light mushroom
consommé, while his main of ‘cod’ offered a
delicate, butter-poached fillet with a semi-
sweet golden raisin puree, violet artichokes
and spinach, with texture in the form of
homemade crisps and all cut through
beautifully with a caper and lemon vinaigrette.
My ‘cauliflower’ appeared as a steaming bowl
of hearty soup with added warmth from
delicate curry spices offset with sweet and