If you are looking for an exclusive, luxurious hidey-hole or refuge for a family break, why not check out The Lodge at Brockencote Hall, located on seventy acres of stunning parkland in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside.

Finding the ideal accommodation for a family break, can be a daunting experience. I was looking for a large, private self – catering property, in a picturesque location, which could accommodate up to six adults and a dog! So, I was overjoyed, when I discovered The Lodge, which offered exclusive, private accommodation for the whole family, yet with the onsite use of the facilities of a hotel, just a short walk away!

“I woke up this morning to the sound of birdsong and sheep bleating in the fields below my window. The views over the hotel’s beautiful grounds and surrounding Brockencote Estate were simply stunning. At night, with the windows slightly ajar, I could hear the sound of owls hooting and the occasional bark of a fox, from across the fields.”

The Lodge

I had spent much of the day driving across country and was feeling very tired and stressful when I arrived at Brockencote Hall, so I was eagerly looking forward to sharing a relaxed and comfortable weekend away with my family, at The Lodge, our exclusive, luxurious hideaway, on the grounds of one of the finest luxury hotels, in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside.

Brockencote Hall is situated in an idyllic setting, just a five-minute walk from the picturesque village of Chaddesley Corbett, proudly standing in seventy acres of its own beautiful parkland, complete with a scenic lake, tennis court and a perfectly restored half – timbered 17th century Dovecote.

The Hall was remodelled in the 1940s, following a major fire, as a French-style chateau by the Butler family of the Mitchell and Butler`s brewery fame. In 1985 the private Mansion House was bought as a hotel & Restaurant and thrived for twenty-five years until it was purchased in 2011 by Sir Peter Rigby’s group of luxury hotels, the Eden Collection. A multi-million-pound facelift gave new life to the Hotel, blending the best of the traditional & original features with the essential modern necessities.

As I neared my destination, I started to relax and was looking forward to a glass or two of fine wine, a tasty meal and comfortable room, in which to rest my weary mind & body. I was not going to be disappointed! I stopped the car as I drove on to the long sweeping 100m tree lined drive leading up to the former Victorian country Manor House and took a little time to soak up the vista & well-maintained grounds of the estate, and briefly viewed our weekend family accommodation for the first time, The Lodge, which sits at the entrance to the estate.

My wife & I were greeted warmly by the friendly & pleasant reception staff, enquiring about our journey and welcoming us to Brockencote Hotel. We decided to sit out on the adjoining terrace, for a quiet drink in the glorious sunshine, looking out across the estate and were delighted to spot a fox strolling across the field in front of us, before making our way back up the drive to The Lodge.

Drinks finished, the reception staff escorted us to The Lodge, a recently converted building, which was originally the estate’s Gate House, dating back to 1884. At one time, used for staff accommodation, it has now been beautifully refurbished into a luxurious, two-storey lodge, with full self-catering facilities, three double bedrooms, a smart open-plan kitchen, a comfortable living area, and large outdoor terrace garden, with stunning views of the 70 acres of estate grounds and formal gardens, the ideal hideaway for bridal parties, wedding guests and in our case, families!

Our spacious feature bedroom was very peaceful and comfortable room with a king sized bed, two armchairs with a table and dressing table with a chair. The décor was tasteful, traditional and beautifully appointed. The room included a wide range of tea sachets and an Espresso coffee making machine, a Hairdryer, Flat screen Freeview Television, a Safe and most impressive of all, a large state of the art Ensuite bathroom with shower, bath robes, large fluffy towels and Luxury toiletries.

All three double bedrooms are en-suite, and one even has its own dressing room! Fortunately, The Lodge is also dog-friendly, as we had decided to invite a canine member of our family along for the weekend too, Wesley. The Lodge is also accessible, with ground level access to a ground-floor bedroom. there was also a basket, couple of bowls for food & water plus some treats for Wesley!

We were going to eat down the drive, at the Hotel, but if we had wanted to eat in and prepare our own meals, we could easily have done so, as there was a fully equipped kitchen, complete with a dishwasher, hob, double oven and microwave. There was also very good WiFi throughout, a digital TV in every room, plus room and laundry service is provided. If you don’t want to book the whole lodge, you can book each of the rooms individually.

Although we were spending the weekend in a private luxury lodge, as i have already pointed out, we were just a short walk down the drive to the main Hotel and restaurants, still within the privacy of the grounds.

On our first evening we decided to eat in the Hotel. The elegance of the Victorian features still remains particularly in the stunning entrance hall and comfortable library. The conventional conservatory has been refurbished and revitalised as the Le Colonial Bar and Lounge, which is where we were dining. The decor was inspired by colonial Indian Raj and has a graceful oak carved bar, high ceilings and impressive views of the parkland which adds an appreciation of the history and space to this striking hotel. The restaurant terrace has a small water feature and there is also a haha skirting the open field, preventing the sheep from entering the immediate Hotel environs.

Dining Out: In the Colonial Bar at Brockencote Hall

Petit Plates: What a feast! Nine beautifully prepared flavoursome Tapas Style small plates featuring some of the best of British produce.

1. Pea, Cous-Cous & Smoked Yogurt. 2 Heritage Tomatoes, Red Onion & Balsamic. 3. Baby Leaf, Basil Pesto & Toasted Pinenuts. 4. Romaine Lettuce, Parmesan & Anchovy Mayo. 5. Market Fish – Cod, Spinach & Caper Sauce Vierge.6. Sourdough, Avocado & Chilli. 7. Beef Sirloin, Basil Pesto & Pitta Bread. 8. Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli, Arrabiata & Parmesan. 9. Sausage Casserole plus Sides of Triple Cooked Chips, Chive Butter New Potatoes & Seasonal Mixed Vegetables.

My cooking is free flowing and natural, concentrating on delivering the best flavour possible’.

Head Chef Tim Jenkins

On our second evening we decided to eat in the spacious and elegant Chaddesley Restaurant which holds three AA Rosettes for its outstanding cuisine and has a superb collection of world class wines in a celebrated wall of wine. The Award-winning food combined with personal and attentive service helped create a superb dining experience.

It was one to remember, not least because of the staff who were all exceptionally welcoming and helpful. The Award-winning food combined with personal and attentive service helped create a wonderful evening. The Head Chef Tim Jenkins has been at Brockencote for almost eighteen years and he has recruited a talented culinary team around him, whose clear passion is food. The teams rich wealth of experience and gourmet skills is used to the maximum to produce fresh, seasonal and innovative dishes on a daily basis, some of which we enjoyed during our weekend.

On the first morning of our stay, we had a breakfast hamper delivered to The Lodge, with warm croissants, fresh bread, jams & butters. On the second morning we walked down to the Hotel and enjoyed breakfast in the restaurant. The 5* Breakfast was worth getting up for, as there was a wide selection of cereal, fresh fruit, various conserves, pain au chocolate, toasts and smoked salmon as well as the traditional full English cooked breakfast or other cooked options.

If we had wanted to visit a pub, there was also a pub, The Fox Inn, just a short walk away, in the village of Chaddesley Corbett. The hotel’s grounds are for exploring, the Hotel offers various activities from boating on the lake to tennis or croquet. If you want to do some walking or cycling, the Malvern Hills, Welsh Borderlands, and numerous historic towns & villages, are just a short distance away.

I love trains, so we decided to visit the Severn Valley Railway, taking the train from nearby Kidderminster to the picturesque River Severn town of Bewdley. A visit to Kidderminster Railway Station on the Severn Valley Railway, really is worth a visit. It is a faithful recreation of a 1900s GWR station, having been built about 1985, although it looks like an authentic Edwardian railway station! Stop for a drink at the King & Castle pub or browse the gift shop and Railway Museum. Young children will love the Coal yard Miniature Railway, I was prevented from going for a ride myself, by my embarrassed wife!

Built in 1862, Bewdley Railway Station boasts a heritage – covered wooden footbridge, and authentic Booking Office ticket counter hatch. The station is a short walk from the centre of the Georgian town of Bewdley, crossing Thomas Telford’s 1798- built road bridge over the River Severn, where you will find the Bewdley Museum, independent shops, cafes & riverside walks. The Museum was educational and hands – on, much of it outside and the walk along the river, especially delightful.

Our weekend stay at The Lodge at Brockencote Hall was a five star vacation, The Hotel & Restaurant staff could not have done anything more to make our visit, such a wonderful experience.

My family and I enjoyed a wonderful weekend at The Lodge at Brockencote Hall. The Lodge provided us with everything we needed for a family weekend away, private accommodation for the whole family in a picturesque quiet location, but with access to a smart Hotel, for meals and drinks, if desired. If you are planning a family weekend away or you are planning a wedding and want a venue which also offers separate exclusive accommodation for the bridal group, I would fully recommend The Lodge.

Why don`t you check it out for yourself! My family had a wonderful weekend.

Brockencote Hall Hotel

Chaddesley Corbett, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY10 4PY

Disclosure: My stay was courtesy of the Eden Hotel Collection. The views and comments expressed are as usual my own.