Menot only white lotus Hotels — Staying in places featured on TV definitely gives you that extra “wow” factor. Maybe it was inspected by Alex Polizzi, part of Coogan Brydon’s road trip, or described as “fantastic” by Monica Galetti and Giles Coren. The show I saw about Boy’s Hall (the Jacobean Manor, Kent’s newest and hottest in-room restaurant) was presented by Yvette Fielding. It was her 2007 episode, filmed when her 17th-century building near Ashford was privately owned. most hauntedFilmed mostly in blurry night vision and hilariously unconvincing, Camp has more than Lionel Blair. blair witch — and I didn’t buy a single word about it.But did you notice that I’m thinking ghostly star-crossed lovers, moody The steady hand and the merry Falstaff type? Of course we did.
So when I arrived at Boys Hall last Saturday under darkening skies, my impression was one of warmth. It was not only from the wood-burning stove by the large sofas in the reception, but also from the staff carrying drinks and snacks, as well as from the cheerful group of guests who, after a long lunch, were in high spirits in the large lounge. was vibrant and colorful. It wasn’t recognizable from the TV show, but it wasn’t just because the lights were on. Only the ‘make mine a large one’ type spirits that filled the brass-framed shelves behind the bar remained in evidence.
Boys Hall is located in the Grade II listed Jacobean Manor.
Brad and Christy Lomas, a couple who purchased the Grade II Listed Hall in 2019, cut down the chimney-high wisteria to reveal four stone-and-brick gables and mullioned windows to reveal its You can celebrate change. Remove the plasterboard to show off the antique oak beams. Strip the carpet from the wooden floorboards and stairs. They’ve removed the throne-style toilet from one bathroom, the pink marble shower from the bedroom, plush fabrics, antique portraits (including one that, eerily enough, hurts the eye), and everywhere. I put some green in there.
Downstairs, in addition to the lounge and cozy 20-cover private dining room, we have created a cozy pub in part of the hall that was the 1616 Walden Hall House of the original owners, Thomas and Margaret Boyes. , erected towering oak beams. – A glass-enclosed dining room with a bar at one end and a large fireplace at the other. Upstairs, he has seven bedrooms just opened, and he has three more due to be completed later this year. Beams, wobbly floors and odd spaces that might have been hiding places for priests and smugglers are found in Farrow & Ball paint, Linwood and Sanderson fabrics, Super King beds and vintage Kristie furniture. Finished.
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Culinary focus, joining Rose Inn Deal near Canterbury, Pig near Canterbury, Updown Farmhouse near Deal and Fort Road Hotel in Margate, Kent, attracting DFL southeast of the capital (away from Londoners) A growing lineup of cool boutique hotels with a focus on
Some of the Boys Hall bedrooms have separate baths.
My room on the top floor of the house, Romney, is a huge space with dark sage walls, burnt orange cushions, worrisome beams and kitschy bamboo furniture. He is one of several rooms with a freestanding bathtub in the bedroom. I also liked the pale pink and jade of Banks and the dark blue and green of Margaret. Sovereign and Franklin have magnificent four-poster posters, and the Bishop’s Quarter (his one of three) has carved paneled walls, a gift from Charles I (he Hidden from Roundheads here).
It looks like they’ve spent far more on renovations than they’ve ever spent £1million, but they’re putting her frugality and craft to good use (she runs craft class café Drink Shop & Do). raised). Kings of London at her cross), a longstanding background in hospitality (he was her director of operations at her East London Pub Co), and the expertise and local connections of her master craftsman father.
“It was cold and damp when we walked in,” says Brad. “You can see how the previous owner recognized it as a ghost.”
“It was creepy at first,” says Christie. “If Brad left the room, I would find an excuse to go with him.
We’re not saying history is being brushed under antique carpets, says Brad. A book on display at the reception describes the 1779 Christmas party as “an eighteenth-century Hello! magazine article”.
Brad, who previously managed a team of 200 people, says their goal away from London was “to get back to hospitality, back to hospitality”. He says it has had a big impact on the Pig Group of hotels. The Bridge Place hotel is about 30 minutes away. “We wanted Boys Hall to feel open and accessible. It wasn’t exclusive like other places where people can be themselves.”
And they’ve pulled it off, even at a time when hospitality adoption is at stake. The staff are all smiling and just the right amount of friendliness. Brad says it’s hard to juggle roles in the kitchen, and while it may be true that food takes time to arrive, it’s great when it actually arrives. The restaurant opened in September and has already developed a loyal local fan base.New chef Shane Pearson has arrived via London’s Blackrock and Caravan. Both influences are evident in appetizers such as soggy braised venison on crumpets with pickled blackberries and charred hake on nettle flat bread. My only criticism here is to prepare a small violin. I mean the portion was a bit too big. But I was a people-pleaser, plate-clear, and had the main course venison fillet brushed with smoked garlic and port juice. The apple crumble soufflé was starpad.
Fish is locally sourced from Hastings and Hythe
Kent’s role as the Garden of England is taken very seriously here. Ingredients are locally sourced whenever possible, from high-baked bread to coffee roasted down the road to fish caught in Hastings and high-height. Brad is a great champion of the wines produced in this county and there are four of his Kentish Fizzes available by the glass. It’s not just food and drink. The gorgeous toiletries are from Peregrimus, co-founded by former Heckles director Alex Berrier, and are made with grape extract from Westwell’s vineyards eight miles away. The couple are so involved in Kent’s new cool ecosystem that Christie herself sources locally and grew up in Marsham, three miles away.
A lot of thought has been put into what’s on offer — scream Tunnock’s Caramel at an honest bar — but what’s not is also impressive. Dogs are not allowed in the bedrooms and restaurant (both children are welcome). No wedding. No tips on the menu. No avocado. Not disapproving (the crispy latte potatoes justify the lack of chips).
If there is a problem it is the location. Boy’s Hall is a 5-minute taxi ride from Ashford Station, or 42 minutes from central London, but you’ll need a car if you’re staying more than one night, but the excellent food and windmills along the way are a must-see. Brad is considering taking his Land Rover tour through Kent’s vineyards, but otherwise it’s a short drive to everything this county is worth exploring. increase. Seaside towns such as Margate, Deal and Folkestone are busy rediscovering their mojo.
Either way, Boys Hall will do great. There are three remaining rooms of his to be finished, an on-site kitchen garden, an oak cabin around a pond, and grand plans for a greater commitment to sustainability. I am almost disappointed that I did not hear any sounds or see any visions at night. But the couple has their own vision, and there’s a lot to get excited about about it.
Liz Edwards was a guest at Boys Hall, which offers B&Bs starting at £160. Main From Her £18 (boys-hall.com)
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