Ashdown Park Hotel
A Classic Visit.
As a travel writer I am blessed with opportunities to stay in delightful hotels round the world. There are a few qualities that I look for, and Ashdown Park Hotel ticks all the boxes for the perfect getaway.
I have published several articles on Ashdown Park over the past couple of months. They covered Winnie the Pooh, the history of this lovely building, and the Summer menu. But what is it like to stay in this celebrated hotel?
This large imposing building exudes classic charm but there is nothing stuffy or stiff here. It has all the polish and more of a 4-star hotel, but the friendliness of the staff makes one feel that this could be a family-run B&B – admittedly the largest and best appointed you would ever find – but it’s that personal touch that is so welcoming.
Ashdown Park Hotel is bursting with historic character, likely giving a nod to its previous incarnations as a college and a convent. The corridors and landings sport antique furniture and art, adding to the classy yet homely ambiance.
Luckily our accommodations didn’t reflect those nuns’ cells but were beautifully imposing. It was quintessentially English and wafted us to a gentler time! Our room was large and airy with a balcony with views over forest and hills. The bed was huge and comfy; there were plenty of power outlets and wardrobe space. The bathroom sported a real bath, and that was my lounging spot after a long walk in the aforementioned woods. Yes, I did visit Pooh’s House!
The word Anderida is Roman in origin, meaning ‘hunting ground’, but it’s also the name of the destination restaurant at Ashdown Park. It has 2 AA rosettes: just one glance at the restaurant and you will be assured that they are well deserved. It was our venue for breakfast.
I look forward to hotel breakfasts. A delicious start to the day and I didn’t have to cook it. There was a full spread of cold foods: cheeses, cold cuts, breads, pastries, cereal, salads and fruits as well as smoked salmon. But there is also a menu of individually prepared hot dishes.
Breakfast here can be light and healthy, or one can design one’s own feast. I ordered a hot main breakfast and grazed the buffet while I waited. Breakfast is leisurely and calming in such a lovely setting.
A proper pot of tea arrived, with which I enjoyed fresh bread, butter, cheese, salami and smoked salmon. Just little savoury tastes although one could, if one had more sweet inclinations, choose some toast and jam or marmalade – and that seemed popular with many guests, who had that to follow their hot breakfast dishes.
Preparing fish is a challenge first thing in the morning so I took advantage of the smoked haddock with a poached egg on the menu at Ashdown Park. It seems like a simple dish, but a perfect runny-yolk poached egg is difficult to prepare en masse. This one was spot on – as was the whole Ashdown Park experience.
Ashdown Park
Wych Cross, Nr Forest Row
East Sussex
RH18 5JR
T: +44 (0)1342 824988
E: enquiries@ashdownpark.com
Follow my Instagram posts here:
@mostly_food_1 @mostly_drink_1 @mostly_travel_1
