Heckfield Place

Hotel review

Some nine years in the making, Heckfield Place brims with endless and impressive detail thanks to its hands-on owner Gerald Chan and designer Ben Thompson from the soft, butter-coloured, leather-trimmed maxi-bars to the Rupert Sanderson shoes on the feet of all the staff to the room keys, made of wood. At its heart is a family home restored to its historic origins, which with just 38 rooms, 6 signature suites and a cottage maintains a feel of being just that. Fine 20th-century English art from Chan’s private collection (paintings by Gary Bunt and Paul Rafferty, photographs by Elsbeth Juda) decorate the walls whilst the estate comes into the house with bed heads created from straw from the farm (and watered), rush weave matting, corn dollies for do not disturb signs and flowers, fresh and dried, on every polished surface.

But it is in the dining rooms, Marle and Hearth, that produce from the estate really takes centre stage. Under the aegis of culinary director Skye Gyngell, her team in Marle deliver pared-back dishes such as chalk stream trout with slow cooked fennel, salsa rossa and crème fraiche, or slow-cooked lamb with viola artichokes, peas and preserved lemon dressing after a not-to-be-missed starter of tortellini with sheeps milk ricotta and marjoram butter. Hearth, charmingly cosy in feel and centred around an open fire, is housed in the stables which date back to the 1700’s. Try the wild garlic risotto with ricotta salata, leaving room for the date and orange blossom tart.

And what to do while you're there? There are walks around the lakes, through the walled garden and the woodland. There are tours of bio-dynamic Home Farm, so central to Heckfield Place’s belief in sustainability and legacy and from where fresh fruit and vegetables, honey and fresh flowers are sent up daily to the hotel. There is a wide range of fitness possibilities in The Littly Bothy Spa with partner Bodyism and five treatment rooms using delicious own brand Wildsmith. Finally there is The Assembly. Here in the underground screening room, carved out under the lawn in front of the house, and fitted with luxurious Ferrari leather chairs, films are shown regularly with tickets open to guests and locals alike.

Mary Lussiana Review published: 21/12/2023