Editor Simon Wittenberg samples the very best of what the five-star Grove hotel has to offer.
Situated on the fringe of the UK capital, The Grove is a five-star hotel set in 300 acres of picturesque English Hertfordshire countryside. The origins of this stunning property date back to the 18th century when the now Grade II-listed property was built as the home for the Earls of Clarendon. The restoration of the building, now known as the ‘Mansion’, saw the addition of the ‘West Wing’ bringing the total number of rooms to 226 including 16 suites, with many boasting their own private terraces, working fireplaces and original artworks.
The Grove is a venue which provides a jaw-dropping first impression the second that you pass through the main gate. Greeted by a long and sweeping driveway which meanders through the hotel’s beautifully-manicured 18-hole championship golf course, the journey culminates with your arrival at The Grove’s main entrance and reception area which sits within the architecturally-impressive ‘Mansion’. It is here that your bags are immediately taken by the very polite and well-dressed concierge personnel, who also in turn free you of your keys so that they can park the car, and you can check-in and complete what is an entirely stress-free and seamless arrival.
Housed within the historic part of the hotel which features only 30 bedrooms accessed via passageways lined with black velvet curtains and subtle low lighting, we stayed in a Superior Mansion Room. There are six of its kind, and each has been designed around one of three distinctive themes spanning from ‘French and Classic’ and ‘Cool and Contemporary’ to the one we stayed in named ‘Hot and Sexy’. Starting from £440 per night, these rooms carry a price premium over those in the West Wing due to their location and décor, but paying the difference naturally offers an even greater luxury experience.
Located on the top floor, and overlooking the golf course, this particular room is described on The Grove’s website as ‘sumptuous’ which can be translated as a cosy and romantic ambiance, and at its heart is a four poster king-sized bed adorned with black feathers and drapes for a secluded experience. Other fixtures include a 42-inch wall-mounted LED TV, a BOSE iPhone docking station, a small sofa, and writing desk. The marble ensuite bathroom does equally not disappoint. A freestanding bath forms the centrepiece and provides breathtaking views of the surrounding grounds via small wooden windows. It is surrounded by large twin sinks dressed with numerous complimentary ointments, a walk-in power shower, and soft cotton pure white towels and bathrobes.