Detailed Review
At last, in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside, is an exclusive new retreat, a private manor house hotel tipped to become a destination in its own right - Whatley Manor. Welcoming, impeccably stylish, yet understated, Whatley Manor offers guests a level of total relaxation, indulgence and comfort as yet not experienced in English hotels, from which they emerge entirely relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated.
The secret behind the Whatley Manor experience lies in its very essence. Service is attentive yet unobtrusive, with staff anticipating guests' every need. From the European style Aquarias Spa, to the exceptional dining experiences and from the tranquil scented gardens where guests can stroll during leisurely afternoons or evenings to the complete seclusion that Whatley Manor offers, the entire environment has been designed to ensure quality, privacy and comfort
Until now, the sophisticated, internationally travelled clientele to whom Whatley Manor will appeal has had a limited choice of hotels of such exceptional standards outside London. Whatley Manor is set to change this, offering the exemplary style and levels of service associated with the world's best private hotels whilst promising a very personal welcome, privacy and true relaxation in supremely elegant surroundings.
Set within 12 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, the hotel has 15 rooms and eight suites, all individually decorated in an eclectic style, combining classic antiques that have each been handpicked from around the world with furniture, wallpaper, lighting and fabrics from leading international contemporary designers, much of which has been specially commissioned and custom made. While it may be set in a traditional listed Cotswold Manor House, it is decidedly non-traditionally English in style and design. It instead draws its influence from mainland Europe.
Press Quotes
"Sophisticated French cuisine (and a serious wine list) is served in the hushed dining room. The excellent La Prairie spa, Aquarias, has a hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam rooms (available to guests at no extra charge). Children under 12 are not allowed, as Whatley Manor is essentially about having a quiet, relaxing weekend away. What bliss." Conde Nast Traveller 06
Independent Reviews
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"For rural relaxation this slick Wiltshire hotel does the job with muted decor, fine cuisine and a first-class destination spa."
The excellent gardens make this rather formal country house hotel a top choice in the Cotswolds. The Swiss stube is rather an anomaly, but the spa and tip-top service are something special. No children under 12.
Whatley Manor
By Angela Moore
Whatley Manor is in deepest Wiltshire, so utterly silent at night that Londoners down for the weekend complain that they cannot sleep. It’s an interesting house, surprisingly sprawling, and only built in the 20s. Décor is uncompromisingly contemporary – though not frighteningly so; colours are muted and soothing. Floor-to-ceiling picture windows flood the drawing room-lounge-bar with light and views of green and tranquil Cotswold hills.
The Aquarius spa is a destination in its own right and has a stack of awards, and fans, to prove it. White-coated acolytes glide smoothly around the chic-est treatment rooms, and people around the miraculous pool look genuinely blissed-out. The hotel has installed a lift especially so that guests can go from room to spa in their robes without venturing outside - some will think this a masterly, generous-spirited move; others will blench at the thought of scuttling along corridors in a robe and slippers.
The hotel has two restaurants, which seems rather a lot for only 23 rooms, and food, too, comes highly recommended. The spa, both restaurants and all public areas are open to non-resident guests, which may be an irritant in an otherwise calming space. Some might find it lends the place the air of a day spa. Give it time, though, and the hotel’s serene and lovingly detailed character will slowly grow on you.
The rooms
Whatley Manor really comes into its own in the bedrooms. They are spacious, filled with light, and there are more of those lovely views. Fabrics and furnishings are luscious and quietly elegant. Character comes in eclectic bits and pieces – artwork, antiques – sourced from around the world. It also from the building’s occasional flourishes – a stone arch separating a sitting room from a bedroom in one of the suites, exposed beams in a loft-style upstairs suite. All guests are issued with a personal manager and a mobile phone, so you can call for a fresh drink or a late-night dvd from anywhere in the grounds or house.
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