A little Grade one luxury within the rolling hills of Devon
When your father is Lord Forte, founder of the biggest hotel group in Britain, you probably know a fair bit about the hotel game and Olga Polizzi is more than proof of this.
I recently had the distinct pleasure of short stay at Hotel Endsleigh, her most recent project set deep within the rolling hills of Devon and a firm favourite of the Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
A Grade 1 listed building, it’s impossible not to be impressed with Endsleigh as you make your way up the mile-long drive lined with fuchsia rhondendrons. But this isn’t a stuffy country manor that only the infirm can enjoy. Endsleigh is like coming home to the rich family you never had. The staff (lead by the wonderful Helen) are genuinely welcoming rather than uncomfortably subservient and after early evening drinks on the terrace overlooking the wide expanse of gardens, we came back in to find the entire house had been filled with hundreds of candles, something they do every night.
We stayed in Room 4 which belonged to the Duke of Bedford himself and the views through the vast windows were out of this world. We were woken in the morning by bird song, (such a treat when you’re used to the sirens of London) and spent a disproportionate amount of time in the bathroom (which used to be a chapel) utilising all the complimentary REN products - utter bliss. Though some may seek adventure, we were content to read our books in the drawing room followed by a stroll down to the river with a posh picnic made for us by the kitchen staff complete with a bottle of red and a full set of silver cutlery.
Olga’s amazing taste makes Endsleigh entirely unique and you’ll be constantly making notes to find similar pieces for your own home.
On leaving, I couldn’t help but purchase Olga’s daughter, Alex Polizzi’s Little Black Book of Hotels, £20 and will be working my way through them before the year is out. What’s good enough for Camilla...