Chewton Glen, New Milton

Site visit date 14^th February 2023.

Chewton Glen has long been on my list of hotels that I must visit, it almost feels wrong that it’s taken me this long to make the trip through the beautiful New Forest countryside to see this lovely hotel.

Chewton Glen is probably the most home from home hotel I’ve visited. It felt very much like going home to Mum and Dad’s, the house you would have loved to have grown up in as a child if you could have voted for one.

The Relais and Chateau, privately owned, 18^th Century hotel is part of a small group of elite hotels. Iconic Luxury Hotels also count the Lygon Arms, Cliveden, The Mayfair Townhouse and 11 Cadogan Gardens within their elite portfolio of UK properties.

After a very misty and foggy drive down to Chewton Glen, the mist cleared to a glorious, warm February day, perfect site visit weather.

Up the gated driveway, past The Kitchen (back to that later), winding up through the edges of the hotel’s 130-acre site, passing statues of safari animals including a semi sunken jeep complete with Elsa the Lioness, the Born Free Foundation symbol, on the bonnet.

The hotels car parks are very conveniently placed at the top of the drive opposite the separate entrances to the Lake Suite, the Spa, and the hotels main entrance.

Public areas

Through the main entrance doors and to the right you have the hotel’s, very welcoming, reception and concierge desk with a gift shop just further beyond which stocks lovely gifts including bags, candles, scents, jams, and preserves, some made on the premises so you can take a little bit of Chewton away with you.

To the left you have the hotel’s lounges, snug and inviting, there are two semi separate areas but the whole space flows beautifully towards a conservatory styled, very light, bright, and welcoming area overlooking the croquet lawn which then leads to the Morning Room which is also licensed for wedding ceremonies of up to 80 guests.

This space lends itself as much to a private drinks reception for an exclusive use event as it does to sitting quietly on your own, taking in the peace and quiet with a coffee and a book, or just people watching and in neither respect would you feel out of place.

Dining and Bars

Just beyond the lounge area are the hotels bars. The Marryat, named after the former British Royal Navy Officer, Captain Frederick Marryat who, during several stays at Chewton Glen, wrote his book, The Children of the New Forest.

You will find the usual suspects here, fine champagnes, wines cocktails and bar menu of burgers, salads, and sandwiches for a lighter bite, open from 11am to 10pm for food orders.

Tinkers Bar is an integral area to the rear within the Marryat Bar but can also be used as a semi private bar for up to 20 guests for a private party or pre-dinner drinks before dining in the hotel’s main conservatory styled restaurant.

The restaurant accommodates 60 covers and can be used for group events whether that’s for lunch or dinner as a standalone event or part of a conference, meeting, or celebration.

To the left of the restaurant entrance is Oak End, one of five private dining options Chewton Glen has to offer, this space is nestled within the Dining Room and can accommodate up to x 28 people for private breakfast, lunch, or dinner with views over the hotel’s grounds.

There are large windows everywhere allowing plenty of natural light into these areas and access to the terrace beyond during the warmer months. The colour scheme is neutral with lovely hints of colour with the glassware on the tables.

For a more intimate feel the hotel can also offer the Wine Room, a glass fronted wine cellar private dining area for a maximum of x 20 guests.

And let’s not forget the hotel’s Walled Garden where you can host drinks receptions and private dinners, all obviously with the need to have a wet or inclement weather back up option as the walled garden is shielded on all four sides but not from the gods above.

The hotel has installed a pizza oven in the Walled Garden (as well as some lovely shiny creatures to join you), lunch or dinner can be a standing or seated affair, but in my mind it lends itself to a mezze style of eating, informal sharing platters and pizza but I think it just gave me a bit of an Italian vibe which is why my head is going down that route.

Or, for private dining with a more contemporary feel the hotel also has The Kitchen, located separate to the main hotel at the driveway entrance. A new addition, overseen by TV Chef James Martin, the menu is classic but oh so tasty featuring amazing fish and chips, burgers, salad, and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Within The Kitchen is the hotel’s cookery school, a separate but integral area separated by windows which act as a talking point for those dining alongside the open kitchens so you can see the chefs preparing your food.

Such a welcoming and friendly dining experience. We were transported there and back by one of the hotels lovely concierge team in a golf buggy that has many uses, ferrying guests to and from The Kitchen and the Treehouses accommodation just also off the main drive.

Meeting Rooms

So, while I mull over yesterday’s lunch which I’m still full after, let’s go back to the main hotel, back to the restaurant where we’ll wander on to the meeting space.

Adjacent to the Dining Room is the Garden Room, this room can be opened to extend the restaurants capacity or closed to become a private room, accommodating up to x 80 guests again for a private breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Garden Room is smaller than the Summer House which is also adjacent to the Dining Room, the Summer Room can accommodate a maximum of x 50 seated but has large windows and doors onto the terrace outside which reduces its capacity to access guests movement outside.

This then leads you to the Lake Suite foyer area. A slightly darker area, but I do mean slightly, with occasional furniture, which can be removed, and its own access and entrance. This area is ideal for refreshment breaks during meetings and there’s nothing to stop you from pouring a coffee, taking it back through the Lake Suite and onto the Terrace to take in the views over the lawns and beyond.

The Lake Suite, located on the ground floor, can divide into two rooms, the Library (the larger section of the two) and the Study. As a whole the Lake Suite can accommodate a maximum of 70 cabaret style, with in-built state-of-the-art AV and access to a private terrace, complete with an organiser’s office within the foyer.

The hotel also has smaller meeting rooms available. The Library (not to be mistaken with the Lake Suite meeting room section), is located towards the front of the hotel. This is a ground floor meeting room with a fixed table, able to accommodate a maximum of x 16 delegates with the added advantage of the boardroom table turning into a snooker table when its not in business mode.

On the 1^st floor there is the Club Room a warm and richly decorated room for private dining or boardroom meetings for a maximum of x 16.

On the 2^nd floor you will find the Ward Room. Fully air conditioned, capable of hosting a meeting for x 20 guests and/or being converted into a screen room for 30.

Or why not blend meeting content and activity together and host a meeting for up to 24 guests in the Cookery School in The Kitchen?

There are options everywhere and nothing is off the table, so to speak.

The Spa and activities

Just further beyond the Lake Suite, and with its own private entrance, lies the hotels Spa. Complete with a gym, indoor pool, indoor hydrotherapy pool, outdoor pool (adjacent to the croquet lawn rather than the Spa), treatment rooms, poolside (gallery) restaurant. four tennis courts just a short walk from the Spa, two indoor courts and two outdoor.

There are a range of activities available at the hotel, from falconry, to foraging to croquet and a 9hole golf course to guided (or non-guided) walks with the sea a short walk from the hotel’s grounds too.

And don’t forget the Cookery School too as an option for a group activity.

The hotel also run various one-off events such as Wim Hof and Yoga experiences which are open to all to book, you don’t have to be a resident.

Accommodation

So, you’ve decided to stay overnight now as there’s so much to do.

The hotel has a total of x 58 bedrooms. In the Croquet Wing there are x 6 rooms on the top floor and x 6 rooms on the ground floor, all having been recently refurbished. The ground floor rooms all have their own terrace/patio, the upstairs rooms have their own balcony.

All the rooms we saw were beautifully proportioned, some named (we saw Squirrel), others numbered.

And don’t forget, if you’re sleeping in, put the owl out (take a look in the gallery below)!

Categories range from Estate Rooms, of which there are x 14, each with its own balcony, x 9 Garden Rooms and x 3 Garden Suites. Classic Rooms, Hot Tub Rooms and the Marryat Suite and and and …..

Treehouses!!! What is there not to like about staying in a Treehouse!! There are 14 treehouses tucked in the woodlands just off the hotel’s main drive. With private parking, concierge and mini kitchenettes, the hotel can delivery daily breakfast hampers or room service.

With underfloor heating, day beds and hot tubs on some of the treehouse’s balconies, suspended 35ft into the canopy, dog friendly, mood lighting, wood burners.

I need to stay in a treehouse!!

That being said I just need to go back to Chewton Glen and pretend that I’m on a visit to the family home that I would have loved to have grown up in.

For more information or to check meeting availability contact us.

For directions to the hotel and more information on its location, click here.