A break at The Montagu Arms, New Forest...

When life gets a little hectic, the idea of a break at a luxurious hotel in rolling countryside certainly sounds good. It was fortuitous timing when I was recently invited to review The Montagu Arms* set in the beautiful village of Beaulieu in The New Forest, Hampshire. Life has been very busy lately, so I was excited for an escape. After a long journey, we wound our way through incredibly picturesque country lanes and up the gravelled driveway of The Montagu Arms, fringed by the shimmering waters of Beaulieu River and Mill Dam where swans were gliding by in the afternoon sunshine. The Montagu Arms dates back to the 17th Century in parts and the charming ivy covered walls conjure up a sense of unspoiled seclusion as soon as you glimpse the grand building. There are 22 rooms and suites at the hotel as well as private dining facilities

After a warm welcome, we were whisked up to our deluxe suite, The Adler Suite, complete with three rooms. There was a spacious lounge, with sofa, television, desk, digital radio with iPod dock and coffee making facilities.

Along the corridor was a contemporary style bathroom with mirrored bath, shower and extra touches such as The White Company toiletries, fluffy robes and slippers.

The bedroom had a super king sized bed which was so comfortable, a television, wardrobe, sofa, coffee table and windows which afforded us stunning views of the gardens and croquet lawn.
There were lots of thoughtful extras in the room, such as iron and ironing board, freshly cut flowers, a selection of magazines and bottled water.

We set off to explore, taking in the refined ambience of The Magnolia Room, The Garden Room and the outdoor terraces which were the perfect place to soak up the afternoon rays. There was a selection of magazines available to take to the garden and there is a well-stocked bar area for those early evening drinks.

The whole atmosphere of the hotel is one of sophistication, there is grandeur throughout from details such as wood panelling, flickering candlelight, longcase clocks and antiques as well as an impressive collection of artwork adorning the walls.

The reception team is so helpful and ready to deal with any requests for local information. I was dazzled by the awards for The Terrace Restaurant (separate review to follow) including a very prestigious Michelin Star for Chef Matthew Tomkinson.

After exploring the gardens, which include a kitchen garden (where much of the produce used in The Terrace Restaurant is grown) we headed to the nearby Careys Manor Hotel for a swim. Careys Manor is the sister hotel to The Montagu Arms, just 6 miles up the road, where you can enjoy the use of the swimming pool and SenSpa facilities during the course of your stay.

After a couple of hours swimming, we headed back to The Montagu Arms to get ready for dinner. After dinner we strolled in the gardens and around Beaulieu itself, whilst walking by the river we were joined by a few New Forest ponies which roam freely around the area adding to the picture perfect appeal.

Back at the suite we found that the bed had been turned down and a pillow spray and even a weather forecast had been left for us. The lights had been switched on and the radio was playing classical music. It is aspects like this which really set a hotel apart in terms of luxury and we relaxed in the sitting room and enjoyed some evening coffee before retiring for a night of sound sleep in that very comfortable bed.

In the morning we settled at a table overlooking the garden in The Terrace Restaurant, enjoying a selection from the buffet of cereal, cheese, fruit and bread before a cooked New Forest Breakfast of our choice.

My partner had a Full English (minus eggs and black pudding which he does not eat) and I had scrambled eggs on brioche toast. The food was delicious and we sipped our coffees and enjoyed the views before setting off for our second day exploring The New Forest.

The Montagu Arms is the ideal choice for a relaxing break or as a destination to celebrate a special occasion. The hotel is so welcoming, no detail is overlooked and the sprawling grounds are a feast for the eyes.

There is also Monty’s Inn which serves traditional pub food, should you wish to go for a more casual dining experience during your stay. Tea and coffee can be served to your room in the morning for no extra charge, to make waking up in this truly special place an even more enjoyable experience. The Montagu Arms has it all, an elegant country hotel in a beautiful part of the world where there is plenty to see and do. This is a perfect place from which to explore the surrounding countryside and coastline, trust me you will not want to leave!

The Montagu Arms 

Palace Lane, 

Beaulieu, 

Brockenhurst 

SO42 7ZL

01590 612324

http://www.montaguarmshotel.co.uk/

What do you all think, do you like the idea of a break at The Montagu Arms and have you ever visited the New Forest? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.

Until next time,

Camille 

xo 

*My stay at The Montagu Arms was complimentary for the purposes of this review, Opinions stated herein are my own and honest.