surrey staycation
Guests get to use his original sink and sit at his desk where he used to love to paint. Other regular guests include Rudyard Kipling, Rose Kennedy, Jean Cocteau, Charlie Chaplin, Harold Macmillan and HG Wells. Beaverbrook is home to the UK’s first home cinema
with original Art Deco BEAVERBROOK
A NIGHT IN ELIZABETH TAYLOR’S ROOM
S
urrey Magazine was one of the first to be welcomed to elegant Beaverbrook, the new luxurious country hotel and former home of
Lord Max Beaverbrook. With a thrilling history from when he entertained the rich and famous, world leaders and movie stars, it has recently undergone a five-year £90 million restoration and re- opened at the end of 2017 as a stunning luxury five-star hotel and golf destination, with tennis, a collection of cottages, and magnificent coach house spa scheduled for opening summer 2018. Nestled within 400 acres of countryside between Dorking and Leatherhead, the Main House was built back in 1866-70, and was formerly known as Cherkley Court. Acquired by the press baron in 1911 he resided here for 50 years.
Beaverbrook has been opening in phases over the past nine months. The first of these was The Garden Room, a property on the estate with 11 cosy and whimsical staycation bedrooms and restaurant beautifully designed by Nicola Harding. A perfect place for lunch or dinner with
a Mediterranean-inspired menu
created by head chef Kaz Suzuki, a New Zealander, who previously worked at Auckland’s celebrated One Tree Grill and Bracu restaurants. Open to the public (reservation required) looking out onto the hotel’s kitchen garden it also has its own School of Cookery which has been going down a treat with the locals.
Now, “The House” has been unveiled and proudly showcases 18 glorious bedrooms named after many of the former famous guests and beautifully reinvented by acclaimed interior designer Susie Atkinson, who designed Babington House and Soho House.
Beaverbrook oozes opulence, charm and grandeur. It’s an idyllic bolt hole for a romantic weekend and a sublime escape from the city for its guests and private members. You have the run of the house and grounds. Highly trained, attentive staff suitably attired in
1920s waistcoats, braces,
cricket jumpers and flat caps complete with Spitfire lapel pin (a nod to Lord Beaverbrook’s public Saucepan to Spitfire Campaign, which helped fund the delivery of jet fighters during the Second World War) go the extra mile to make guests feel welcome. From the initial valet greeting, the opening of doors and whisking guests around the estate in buggies to enjoy the facilities and the bottle of Sipsmith sloe gin in our room all welcoming touches with genuine “home from home” feel at heart. We were given “The Elizabeth Taylor” suite to blissfully relax in, a sublimely comfortable room, with a double shower in the huge marble bathroom that she enjoyed with Richard Burton and a wonderfully indulgent four poster bed with stunning portraits of her adorning the walls with a lovely photo of her as a child star with Lassie on the mantel piece! Great history, original artworks
with
exquisite attention to detail and whichever room you choose they are all completely unique and this makes every one of your stays as exclusive as possible! On a tour of the hotel we popped into “The Ian Fleming," a masculine dark room which has a giant James Bond black and white photograph hanging above the bath with an impressive golden lion’s head tap! Sir Winston Churchill was great friends with Lord Beaverbrook and had a permanent room with a private back door so he could escape discreetly during the war.
panelling and lighting where Beaverbrook and Churchill discussed the wars progress and watched footage from the front line which you can book for screenings. A light filled lounge for reading the papers, a well-stocked library to kick off your shoes, watch the rugby by the log fire or enjoy the Italian garden with sunken pond with steps down to it that was formerly an outdoor swimming pool. Discover the shell grotto too where supposedly a German was hidden and the den in the woods for kids with a £75k treehouse where children’s party pro’s Sharky & George run weekend kids’ clubs. Beaverbrook is the only hotel in Britain to have its own cutting edge fine dining Japanese restaurant boasting ex-Nobu chef, Maruyama who attracts an affluent crowd of foodies with his creations that will delight your taste buds. With stunning views over the North Downs and Italianate garden it’s a perfect place to celebrate a special occasion.
We were invited to sample the mouth- watering ten-course tasting menu for lunch which was exceptional. Adjacent to The Dining Room is the “Parrot” Bar, a luxurious drinking lounge, reminiscent of the glamorous era of the 1920s designed around a listed parrot painting. Head Barman, Rafael Sanchez, previously worked at The Marbella Club and has created a menu of delectable cocktails that pair perfectly with chef’s cuisine! Arrive early and walk for miles, enjoy a movie in the private cinema, indulge yourself in a deep bath and then prepare for a fabulous evening of chilled Champagne, slick dining and drinking in one of the most thrilling hotels you can chose to stay. Nearby attractions include the National Trust’s Box Hill, Polesdon Lacey, Leith Hill, Denbies Wine Estate, Hampton Court Palace and RHS Wisley Garden.
Beaverbrook, Reigate Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8QX
www.beaverbrook.co.uk
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