2019-06-01 Country Homes & Interiors

Feature

Patrick Hamilton courtney

A

fterfeveredanticipation,

Geraldchan’scountrypile,

HeckfieldPlace,finallythrew

openitsdoorslastautumn.the

feedbackfromeagerguests?

Phenomenal.thisambitiousproject

isredefiningwhatit meanstobe

a countryhousehotelinthe21st

century.Focushasbeenplaced

ontheproperty’s 400 acresinthe

heartofruralHampshire,withfood,

interiors,activitiesandeventsall

inspiredbythepastoralsetting

andlocalenvironment.

CHICINterIOrSBenthompson,

ayounginteriordesignerwho

workedunderdesigndoyenne

ilsecrawford,oversawthehotel’s

gorgeous decor. it would have been

difficulttogowrongatHeckfield,

withitshandsome,late-Georgian

architecture.thestyleis casually

elegant– thinkPersiancarpets,

fineantiquesandpiecesfromthe

owner’ssuperbartcollection,offset

withrichlycolouredtextilesthat

bringsoftnessandcomforttothe

grandmansion.thompsonhasalso

addeda seriesofdesignworks,both

contemporaryandclassic– brilliant

piecesbySoane,roseuniackeand

Pinchcanbefoundthroughoutthe

estate.tofinishtheimpressivelook,

in-housefloristkittenGraysonadds

atouchofthewhimsicalwith her

eclecticfloraldisplays.

NaturaLCOOKINGHeckfield

pulledoffa coupwhenthey

snaggedacclaimedchefSkye

Gyngelltooverseethemenus

atthehotel.Perhapsbestknown

forhermichelin-starredturnat

Petershamnurseriesinrichmond,

Heckfield feels like a natural step

forGyngell,whosegastronomy

is socloselytiedtobotanyand

sustainablesourcing.twoon-site

restaurants,marleandHearth,serve

uphernatural,authenticcuisine.

there’splentyonthemenuto

temptthetastebuds,including

grilledlambwithgreentomatoes,

andsage-butteredtortellini filled

withsheep’smilkricotta.

CuLtureSQuaDHeckfieldhas

curatedtheassembly,a year-long

programmeofculturalevents

guaranteedtointrigueenquiring

minds.activitiesincludepanel

discussions,filmscreeningsand

workshopswithnamesfromthe

worldsofmedia,cultureand

design,includingcnn’schristiane

amanpour,fashiondirectoranna

murphyandSkyeGyngellherself.

HOWMuCH?Double rooms start

at£300a night.

HeckfieldPlace,Hook,HampshirerG27

0LD, 01189 326868, heckfieldplace.com.

VISIta NatIONaL

treaSure

TheVyneis animposing

Tudorpalacecarefully

restoredbytheNational

Trust,withboththe

gardensandinteriors

opentothepublic;

nationaltrust.org.uk

eNjOyaNOPera

OutDOOrS

Duringthesummer,the

elegantgardensatWest

GreenHousebecomethe

stageforenchantingopera

performances.Thisyear

thefocusis onRossini;

westgreenhouse.co.uk

HaVeLuNCHat

a COuNtryPuB

HeadtotheTheLeather

Bottleforclassicruralpub

ambience– cuestone

floors,inglenookfireplace

andsublimeSunday

roasts;brunningandprice.

co.uk/leatherbottle

Eachroomis

decoratedto

feel like home

LEFTLakesand

ancientwoodland

makethegroundsas

enticingasthehouse

BELOWFindthesun

roomtuckedaway

in the walled garden

A weekend AwAy At

Heckfield Place

While youÕre there...

LIVe LIFe WeLL