The Check in
There’s nothing like a sumptuous manor house hotel to make you feel like royalty – but such grand destinations don’t always roll out the red carpet for guests with children.
Not so at Foxhills Hotel & Club in Ottershaw, Surrey, which prides itself on making every member of the family welcome, a feeling I got from the moment I stepped into reception with my husband Thom and sons Ralph, seven, and Max, four. Staff did not flinch at my boisterous twosome and their eagerness to touch and explore, calmly handing out maps and explaining where we could find all the facilities.
The former country pile of 18th century politician Charles James Fox is a stunning spot, with views across the wooded grounds and championship golf courses. There’s lots of modern accommodation and an array of leisure facilities built sympathetically to compliment this beautiful period property.
Outdoor pool at the Pavilion, Foxhills in Surrey
Main House Foxhills in Surrey
Junior suite at Foxhills, Surrey
Family suite at Foxhills, Surrey
Children’s room in the family suite at Foxhills, Surrey
The Rooms
The main house is home to the hotel’s reception and social spaces, so the 66 rooms and suites are a short walk away in a variety of blocks and self-contained units. The accommodation is classic and comfortable, designed to make you feel very much at home, rather than an awkward interloper in a design installation.
We stayed in a spacious family suite in Lyne House, which had sliding doors between the two sleeping areas. It meant we could put the kids to bed and still enjoy our evening, while they felt very special having their own ‘room’. There was also a large family bathroom with a separate shower and tub, and tons of wardrobe space, plus a small balcony.
The beds were excellent – we all slept like logs. No wonder the London 2012 Olympic cyclists were based here, a fact my Olympics mad seven-year-old was impressed by, especially because you can see some of their signed jerseys in the lobby. If it’s good enough for Mark Cavendish, it’s good enough for us.
The Facilities
What sets Foxhills apart from other manor house hotels is the country club on site with top class leisure facilities. We’ve been lucky to stay in some fairly grand properties with the kids over the years and there’s usually a pool, a playground and maybe a creche or play room at best.
Not so here, with a packed timetable of activities for all ages, plus three golf courses, a spa and health club, five pools, indoor and outdoor play areas, putting green and driving range, yoga shed, tennis courts and extensive grounds for walking.
The Food
Whether you want family-friendly fine dining or a relaxed light bite, Foxhills has an option to suit, thanks to its three restaurants. The main house is home to The Fox, which serves breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner. It’s spread over three opulent rooms, with large windows and a chic botanical inspired décor.
The evening menu is inventive, with the starter of smoked pigeon breast with blackberry, compressed radicchio and parsnip puree a particular highlight. The braised beef cheek was also soft and tasty. The Fox is not snooty though – our kids were made very welcome by staff and the Young Adult Menu had lovely choices, especially the homemade tomato and basil soup and spaghetti Bolognese. Their favourite meal was the breakfast however, especially the made-to-order waffles.
For a more chilled out dinner, we headed to Nineteen, the bar and restaurant at the Clubhouse, which has hearty lunch and dinner options.
There’s everything from club sandwiches and burgers, to cod chowder and dal makhani. It serves food from midday until 8.30pm, but be aware that kids under-six cannot visit until after 3pm.
But that’s no problem, because you can grab lunch at Flo’s café in the Pavilion, a bustling space with big airy windows that has a menu of brunch favourites, a salad bar and sandwiches, as well as Middle Eastern-inspired dishes like chicken shawarma. It was all very fresh and homemade.
