A grand Georgian hotel and spa are a sheer delight for Peppa and her humans
Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire is an hour away from London (if travelling by tube on the Elizabeth line), a beautiful Georgian house, reinvented as a contemporary four-star retreat with a perfectly formed spa and classy dining options. Oh yes, and you can bring your pet pooch, which is why I love it, of course!
What makes it extra-special is its proximity to Royal faves Windsor and Ascot and the capital itself, and the fact that it is a more laid-back location for anyone who likes lashings of R&R served up with their sightseeing.
For pet pooches and their owners, the grounds are the perfect place for strolling and chasing sticks, while indoors, there are a number of restaurant spaces for you to choose from, including the elegant Brasserie 1727, where the humans could sample the classic British cooking for which the hotel is renowned.
We had drinks in the bar, which was nice, but tragically, I wasn’t allowed in the tastefully glamorous dining room to witness the delights of sirloin steak, beautifully thick and fluffy chips, and a huge Superfood salad packed with flavour from tofu, avocado, spinach, pomegranate, broccoli and squash.
The restaurant with its teal panelled walls and carpet patterned with stags and mythical beasts is a lovely place to dine, though, so while I was loafing in our dog-friendly hotel room, my companions lingered over a dark chocolate bomb dessert and a trio of traditional British cheeses, served with artisan crackers and delicious chutney.
Happily, I was allowed to join the humans for afternoon tea in the hotel’s elegant tearoom, a truly lovely spot decorated in delightfully spring-like hues of blush pink and pea green. And it was exactly what an afternoon tea should be; tables draped with white linens, leaf teas and totally indulgent cakes and pastries.
Highlights were a sublime rarebit tartlet, scones fresh from the oven, finger sandwiches, a beautiful light pastry filled with cream patisserie and fruit, Battenburg cake and a coffee marquise. Staff members Sara and Ilona were the best; they gave me treats and plenty of fuss while the humans spent a leisurely couple of hours enjoying the exquisiteness of the occasion.
Burnham Beeches gets its name from an area of ancient forest, about 20 minutes’ walk away from the hotel, and it was there that I was awed by the ancientness of the trees. It is the site of an Iron Age fort, and there’s a Druid’s tree which is more than 800 years old, gnarly and ugly, beautiful.
Talking of beauty, one of the humans visited the hotel for an express facial and returned later glowing thanks to Ginny, her therapist, who is clearly very skilled. After plenty of massaging and a deep cleanse, she really did feel the facial had made a difference, and it seemed to last for days afterwards. Excellent.
Last but not least was breakfast. Yes, I was allowed to join the others as they perused a menu that not only included the traditional English but dishes like kippers, avocado and eggs Florentine. Oh! And there were sausages for me. V exciting! I adored it.
Peppa and her humans were guests of Burnham Beeches Hotel and Spa in Buckinghamshire.
By Janet Reeder | Images Paul Morgans
