Park House Hotel
What We Love
- The grounds are home to tennis courts, a croquet lawn, a bowling green, a golf course and an outdoor pool (all free to use)
- Dining on classic British dishes flavored with herbs grown in the kitchen garden
What To Know
- A car is recommended in these parts; the hotel is a 20-minute cab ride from the nearest train station
- The closest town (for shops, pubs and restaurants) is a 40-minute walk
- The heated outdoor pool is open from April through September (weather permitting)
- Sublime spa is located next to the hotel in a converted barn
Amenities
- Bar
- Free WiFi
- Golf Course
- Gym
- Handicap Accessible
- Parking On Site
- Pet-friendly
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Room Service
- Spa
Overview
The Look
Set in a sleepy village in West Sussex, less than a two-hour drive from London, Park House Hotel is a country pad that delivers a Best of British experience in spades. The crunchy gravel drive leads to a cozy lobby complete with wellington boots and walking maps, the drawing room hums with the sound of a crackling fire and clinking china teacups, and the manicured grounds are home to a croquet lawn, tennis courts, a six-hole golf course and a heated outdoor pool. The family-run property was a high society hot spot in the 1950s, attracting Indian maharajas who would play polo at nearby Cowdray Park. Now it attracts urbanites with a taste for the great outdoors, a penchant for country pursuits and a need for some rural R&R.
Bed and Bath
The light-flooded rooms are comfortingly traditional and are kitted out with lacquered furniture, sink-into armchairs and chaise longues. The overall feel is calming, but the fabrics are busy: Bold floral flourishes are everywhere, from the bedding and walls to the curtains that frame views of the grounds and South Downs National Park. Quirky room layouts are a jumble of nooks, crannies, alcoves and oak beam ceilings, all harking back to the hotel’s former life as a farmhouse. Bathrooms feature separate tubs and showers and are stocked with Aromatherapy Associates products.
Beyond
You could quite happily reach a state of bucolic seclusion without leaving the grounds of the hotel. For active types, the tennis courts, six-hole golf course, croquet lawn, bowling green and outdoor pool are all free to use from the end of April through September (weather permitting). The PH2O spa is housed in a separate outbuilding, and the facilities (indoor pool, sauna, steam room, smart gym and mini–foot spas) are top-notch. In the evening you’re encouraged to help yourself to a pre-dinner drink from the honor system bar and dine in the glass conservatory restaurant overlooking the grounds. Classic English dishes (flavored with herbs and greens from the kitchen garden) dominate the menu, and the drink list features wines from West Sussex vineyards
How to Get There
Reviews
Stayed just the one night as part of a corporate event. Gorgeous location, a really nice room and staff that were incredibly pleasant and helpful. The barbecue by the pool was fantastic.
I was very slightly disappointed by the cooked breakfast (the sausages, although cooked looked raw) but, this really wasn't a huge issue and I'd stay here again in a flash.
A real treat! Doubt we will top this small hotel and spa. We took advantage of the Sunday Spa Package which includes dinner and a spa treatment. Well worth the money for a lovely relaxing 24 hours. The spa facilities are wonderful, and the hotel itself just the same set in such a tranquil environment. We stayed in a lovely superior room overlooking the croquet lawn. Very friendly welcoming staff more than happy to make your stay as comfortable as possible. A nice touch when we returned from dinner was the bed clothes were turned down, the curtains closed and the standard lamps on. We were spoilt by not being too busy, so very spacious. Luxurious furnishings throughout. Beautifully laid out.Only slightest criticism to make was the breakfast service was quite slow.
Stayed at this hotel last week for a night on the recommendation of a friend. We don't live too far away but wanted to do something special for my girlfriends 30th birthday. The hotel is set in beautiful grounds and has the most amazingly decorated bedrooms. We opted to upgrade to the annex next door to the spa after check-in as wanted a balcony. Every member of staff we met while here was incredible and looked and acted like they really cared about the hotel. Tom by the Pool bar & Charlie & Chelsea in the restaurant deserve a special mention as nothing was to much trouble. The only slight let down for us was the quality and selection of dishes on the dinner menu, for a hotel of this standard the food is very sub-par and the most of the choices on the dinner menu sound very unappetizing and are very bland. Sort out the food park house and you would have us every weekend.
Am still looking forward to returning.