From London, with a good motorway run, you can reach the glorious north Hampshire countryside within an hour. If you are coming directly from Heathrow it is little more than half that.

There may not yet be a swimming pool, which is a year’s construction time away; neither is there a golf course (one isn’t planned) or a tennis court. What there is, however, are some of the largest and most beautifully appointed country house hotel suites we have seen anywhere; sophisticated, comfortable interior styling; a great kitchen presided over by celebrity chef, Skye Gyngell; an impressive wine list; a screening room; a spa, gym and working farm.

If you are seeking the most exceptional, luxurious accommodation outside London, with top cuisine, in a gorgeous bucolic setting, we think we may have found what you are looking for. It promises to be the UK’s finest new country house hotel.

Dining at this establishment’s restaurant, Hearth, on a Friday or Saturday evening (they plan to open on other evenings in the future), watching Skye Gyngell overseeing the cooking and presentation, is a real treat, especially with sommeliers Louise or Quentin helping you make the best wine choices. (We applaud the availability of Philipponnat Champagne by the glass). The cuisine is as good as we have found anywhere we have stayed in Great Britain.

From the quality of the towels and towelling robes to the choice of unguents, the abundance of books and other reading material, to the dedication of the staff under the direction of top professional GM, Olivia Richli, this is a hotel for the discerning. It is ideal to combine with a visit to London, which is in such close proximity, and for making short trips to Windsor and Henley on the River Thames.

So, where is it? We are not being evasive but first we prefer to share some images, taken from our stay last weekend as the first guests in residence, and invite you to contact us to help plan a trip, ideally during the beautiful mellow months of autumn.

We look forward to hearing from you.

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