Hotel review: Pennyhill Park
Set in 120 acres this is a large hotel offering extensive, top-notch facilities. Its spa is standout, as are its food offerings, which run from a Michelin-starred restaurant to crowd pleasing by-the-pool food and cocktails.
Rooms and facilities
Our room was abundant with period features and opulent decor. Impressively spacious and with a mix of dark wood furniture, decadent wallpaper and rich fabrics, it had serious wow factor. The bathroom was modern with full sized Molton Brown goodies and a shower occupying the square footage of a small London bedroom. Our room was in the main house (which I'd recommend if budget allows) whilst many of the other 124 are in more modern extensions. Rooms vary in price, size and appeal, but the country house style pervades throughout.
Facilities are extensive (which is probably why it's a favourite training venue of the England Rugby ream). The gardens are a delight to stroll or run around, featuring an ornamental waterfall, fishponds and a kitchen garden. You can play tennis on the hotel's courts or hang out in the games room. There's a helipad if that's your preferred mode of transport.
The large outdoor pool is a standout offering and in the summer it's a real scene, with smart parasols and loungers, lavender borders and a pool bar serving up cocktails and rosé alongside burgers and salads.
Food and drink
Pennyhill Park offers Michelin-starred fine dining at Latymer restaurant. Set in a wood panelled room with leaded windows and formal high-backed chairs, this is special occasion room for special occasion food.
Less formal, but no less enjoyable is Hillfield. A large, bright, stylish brasserie with a focus is on serving high quality locally sourced ingredients and allowing them to shine. The atmosphere is buzzy and friendly with excellent people watching opportunities.
For a drink, the bar adjacent to Hillfield restaurant feels chic and decadent. Try the hotel's own brand gin muddled with herbs from the kitchen garden. In finer weather take your cocktails alfresco on the Lily Pond Terrace .
Over at the spa is Themis. A spa cafe, it caters to all tastes - offering the virtuous green goddess salads and smoothies you'd expect. and the burgers you might not.
Spa and wellness
One of the most extensive and well equipped in the UK, this 45,000 square foot spa is housed in a separate building to the hotel. Though it's incredibly popular the space and design mean it doesn't ever feel over crowded. You could easily spend a whole day here. There are twenty thermal experiences to enjoy, from multiple steam and sauna rooms to cold plunges, foot baths, ice igloos and a tepidarium (where you can lie like lizards on heated ceramic beds). There's also a very well-equipped gym and a large indoor pool (where you can hear music underwater). A bubbling hydrotherapy pool travels from inside the spa to out.
The treatment list is comprehensive and caters to any wellness whim. I had a Comfort Zone Best of Both - a combined massage and facial - with an excellent therapist called Niamh (£150). The spa have recently introduced 111SKIN treatments with their Rose Gold Radiance facial, £180, which promises to leave you glowing.
Hotel highlights
The pool style cabanas are as comfortable as they are Instagram worthy. Relax on the loungers, take a soak in the free-standing copper bath complete with spa jets or raid the mini fridge. If you want privacy just close the automated blinds.
The Molton Brown afternoon tea is another not-to-be-missed experience. Think beautiful orange striped William Edwards designed crockery, scented napkins, scones and fragrance inspired cakes.
Downsides
The modern buildings jarring a little against the original manor house.
What to do nearby
Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Palace are nearby as are Ascot and Epsom Downs race courses.
Best for
Honeymooners, spa days, romantic mini breaks.
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