As for many people, this year has been tough for my partner and I and, recently, we felt that we were due a break. As we didn’t want to risk a trip abroad, we found that the staycation was calling and, as such, we booked a weekend break at Down Hall in Hatfield Heath on the Hertfordshire Essex border.

The Down Hall Hotel And Spa Estate feature 98 individually designed bedrooms, four luxury Eden spa treatment rooms, a lounge, tearoom and grill room. The estate also features landscaped gardens and 110 acres of stunning woodland. Our main reasons for choosing Down Hall were the spa facilities and the fact that the hotel is dog friendly. On arrival, we enjoyed a long walk in the woodland with our dog and were extremely impressed with the country walk map which the hotel provided us with. As well as the woods, we explored the beautifully manicured gardens and, our only disappointment was that the weather wasn’t good enough to take our post-walk tea on the gorgeous terrace overlooking the gardens.

It’s a perfect venue if you can’t bear to leave your furry friend at home!

Paradise in Eden

After our walk, we eagerly indulged in the Hot Lava Massage in the Eden Spa which was incredibly professional and relaxing – so much so that my partner booked a different treatment immediately afterwards. The spa staff were very experienced and friendly and were more than happy to talk us through the treatment beforehand.

Divine dining

In the evening, we dined in the hotel’s Grill Room which is light and airy with Italian wood flooring and large windows and serves a contemporary British menu. We began with the Guinea Fowl Terrine which was expertly created by Head Chef, Christopher Jones, before moving on to the halibut which was creamy, tasty and utterly to die for. We matched our main courses with a sublime French wine which was recommended to us by our knowledgeable and friendly waitress. After dinner, we retired to the comfortable lounge bar where we enjoyed the Down Hall Signature Cocktail which was a delicious blend of Amaretto, Calvados, Quinta Prelada port and egg.

Room with a view

We booked a Feature Room as, with this choice, we were promised a large room with breathtaking views of the gardens – and we weren’t disappointed. The room was spacious with plenty of facilities including wifi, tea and coffee and, a laptop-sized safe. The room boasted a large window from which we could take in the stunning landscaped gardens as promised. Our room also included a stunning marble en-suite bathroom. Feature rooms are located in the Mansion House section of Down Hall and can only be accessed by a staircase and, so, this room choice may not be suitable for those with mobility problems. In the morning, we enjoyed a light, freshly prepared breakfast which was served in our room.

The hotel itself is stunning and, as we basked in its luxurious surroundings, great food and incredible spa facilities, we really did feel as though we’d managed to escape from real life – even if just for a little while. We were also extremely impressed with the extra measures put in place to ensure that the estate is safe to visit during these testing times.

A:  Matching Rd, Hatfield Heath, Bishop’s Stortford CM22 7AS
T: 01279 731441
W: Down Hall

Written by Rapha Zurita for Luxuria Lifestyle London and International