For those looking to escape the stress of the lead-up to Christmas there is a luxury hotel just outside Bath that may offer a temporary solution. Beechfield House is offering a ‘Winter Wonderland’ deal until February and although I was fortunate enough to get this offer for free, you don’t have to be a millionaire to afford the experience.
Our journey there didn’t get off to a good start – having booked a train from Bristol to Melksham in the wake of the recent storms, the last leg of our trip was cancelled due to flooding. But upon arrival at Chippenham we discovered that the cancellation was a blessing in disguise because we were instead offered a free taxi ride right to the hotel entrance.
As we arrived earlier than the 3pm check-in time, we decided to use the opportunity to explore the beautiful gardens surrounding the impressive 17th century building. Once you are in the grounds you quickly forget that you are close to Melksham train station and a main road with direct bus routes into Bath. The road is well hidden beyond the trees and the farmland next door, where pheasants can be viewed roaming around.
Although the small car park was pretty empty, there were a surprisingly large number of Tesla charging stations, but none were in use. The fact that we may have been the only guests present who were under 60 years old did not matter and we were quickly made to feel comfortable by staff who gave us the keys to our room upon arrival despite being early.
The four-star hotel, which was previously owned by a local farmer named Richard Keevil, remained a family home until 1979 when it was advertised in Country Life magazine for a shocking £90,000 and subsequently converted into a hotel. Despite various renovations and extensions carried out over the years on the Grade II listed building, its unique character and cosy homely feel remains preserved.
It’s easy to see how those born with vast amounts of wealth end up living such long lives after spending just one night in such a place. It certainly gave us a glimpse into how the other half lives and by the morning I felt like a completely different person.
The former stately home also has a library with a selection of books which include a dusty Dickens collection and some old volumes of world history books, which may have been interesting to explore further if we had the time to do so. There is also a decent selection of board games, a small football pitch and the option of requesting croquet equipment if you feel so inclined to try it out on the lawn.
It’s a great place to visit for those wishing to wind down and escape from the everyday stresses of life. I made sure I kept my phone on silent the whole time and apart from watching a bit of telly in our room, I did not feel the need to engage in any screen time.
With it being winter, the heated outdoor pool was closed and given it was a particularly cold evening, we had to keep our coats on at times in some of the communal rooms. But due to the lack of double glazing and the nature of the building there was little more that could be done to increase the room temperature.
With a bar that closes at 10pm and strict rules that come with hefty fines if not obeyed, it’s probably not the place for those looking for a weekend of partying. Breakfast finishes at 10am and unlike the dinner, it’s not so different from what a standard hotel might offer – although it was nice enough, I was disappointed with the orange juice, which I had expected to be freshly squeezed given the standard of the evening meal.
But the calming feel of the place, the comfort of being served a cream tea in the quirky lounge followed by an evening meal with artistically arranged plates of food all added to the unforgettable experience. Like most people it’s not the kind of lifestyle that I could afford to become accustomed to but with an offer of between £200-250 for a night currently available, or much less if you just want bed and breakfast, I would certainly consider returning to such a place.
The Winter Wonderland offer, which runs until February, includes bed and breakfast, a cream tea and and evening meal with a £40 allowance per person. The meal allowance is enough to cover two courses per person and one drink each – depending on what you order.
The hotel is about a 45-minute drive from Bristol or half an hour from Bath. Its Winter Wonderland deal starts from £199 per night with the price dependent on which kind of room you select and the dates of the booking. More information can be found on the hotel website.