Spa and away in the South Downs!
Ben Kentish leaves his September blues behind with a relaxing break in the South Downs
As the days get shorter and the dark nights draw in, autumnal weekends in the country provide the perfect escape from the city gloom.
Those seeking a quick-fix cure to the September blues should look no further than a spa break at the spectacular South Lodge hotel.
Set in the rolling South Downs, the hotel is less than an hour’s drive from London and, as a member of the Pride of Britain family of first-rate hotels, you don’t need to worry about what you’ll find when you arrive.
South Lodge is nestled in a hundred acres of gardens and parkland, surrounded by camelias, daffodils and rhododendrons through the warmer months and stunning colour through the autumn as the leaves begin to turn.
The floral theme continues inside the 19th century stately home. From the individually styled rooms, each named after a species of flower and complete with empty vases for guests to fill with blooms from the surrounding grounds, to the floral engravings in the wood panelling of the pink-hued Camellia restaurant, South Lodge has been modelled in the legacy of the house’s original owner, botanist and collector Frederick
Du Cane Godman.
His explorations around the globe saw him return with myriad orchids, magnolias and rare plants – many of them now a feature of the hotel.
One of the finest examples is the 30ft high and 40ft wide, ‘Old Cornish Red’ rhododendron – believed to be the largest in the UK – that towers near the entrance to the hotel.
Floral theme aside, South Lodge has the feel of a classical stately home, but with modern and quirky twists, such as the wire sheep sculptures placed on a second-floor roof to enhance an otherwise nondescript balcony.
The hotel’s lounges, bars and restaurants are decorated with contemporary art, impressive glasswork displays and chic but comfortable furnishings, perfect for sinking into after a long autumnal walk.
The 89 bedrooms are large and comfortable and include plush four poster beds and state of the art bathrooms, complete with surround-sound speakers and waterproof televisions to keep you occupied during
a long soak.
Small personal touches complete the experience, including fresh biscuits by the bed, garden games in the cupboard for use on the sweeping lawns and the hotel’s very own “pillow menu”, which allows guests to choose from a range that includes lavender and manuka-scented, anti-snoring and the intriguingly-named ‘The Romance’.
The new jewel of South Lodge is the impressive 44,000 sq ft spa, which opened last year. While the hot stone massage comes highly recommended, the spa has plenty to offer visitors less inclined to fork out
on treatment.
With two types of steam room, sauna, outdoor pool, gym, spinning rooms, barber and large infinity indoor pool overlooking the green lawns, the spa is pristine, state-of-the-art and extremely well-equipped.
Braver souls than us can test their mettle in the chilly outdoor natural pond, complete with water lilies, reeds and even some marine life, which is guaranteed to take your breath away – quite literally.
Guests don’t have to stray far from their lounger to refuel at the spa’s Mediterranean-style restaurant, Botanica. While diners enjoy their post-swim snacks in cosy gowns and slippers, the food is far from casual.
Fresh and seasonal ingredients are used in the wholesome, veggie-heavy dishes, with the grilled cauliflower, heritage roasted carrots, and artichoke and truffle ravioli particular standouts.
Dinner at the more casual Camelia restaurant is no less tasty. Spread across three stately dining rooms, the restaurant makes for an intimate and romantic setting.
The locally sourced dishes, with many ingredients plucked from the hotel’s walled vegetable and herb garden, are beautifully presented and perfectly prepared, with a good range of fish, meat and vegetarian options. The menu changes daily to ensure only the freshest ingredients are served up.
Spa and sumptuous dining aside, South Lodge has a lot more offer. Guests can enjoy a drink in the house’s old billiard room, now a cosy bar, take high tea in the splendid drawing room, or sample a glass of wine or three in the cellar.
But while one could easily spend a weekend wandering around the hotel’s grounds by foot or on bicycle, there are plenty of other attractions within
easy reach.
On your way home, make a detour to Guildford, which played home to a prominent Jewish community in medieval times. In 1995, excavations unearthed a 12th-century chamber under what is now a branch of Monsoon. An alcove and a scorched section of wall – signs of an ark
and Ner Tamid – led experts to conclude that it was the remains of an ancient synagogue – one of the oldest such remains in Western Europe.
The room is not open to the public, but a stone from the chamber is on display at the nearby modern shul, and artefacts and more information can be found at Guildford Museum, which has now partially reopened and is open Wednesdays to Saturdays.
Other nearby attractions include the footpaths of the South Downs, Arundel Castle and the south coast towns. Whichever you choose, South Lodge makes the perfect base for some autumnal exploring – if, of course, you manage to tear yourself away from the spa.
Ben’s travel tips
- Ben stayed at South Lodge, where rooms start from £301.50 based on two people sharing, including breakfast. Contact Pride of Britain Hotels on 0800 089 3929 or visit www.prideofbritainhotels.com
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
