A family stay at Tewinbury Farm Hotel - Review

Sometimes, we all need to leave the stress of the city behind, take the pace of life down to a stroll and breathe in some healing country air, at least for a day or two. For a short break out of London, you want to be there quicker than it takes to get from east to west on the central line, so neighbouring Hertfordshire is a good place to start.

A 30 minute train ride from Kings Cross to Welwyn places you within a stones throw of Tewinbury Farm Hotel, a working farm, set in 700 acres next to the tranquil river Mimram. This isn’t our first rodeo at Tewinbury having previously visited for a romantic getaway for two. This time, the theme is a wholesome family trip for three to see if the stay is as magical with a 2-year old in tow.

Tewinbury Farm Hotel has a lot to offer throughout the year, from live music events to cookery school, mind & body classes to a cinema, so there are plenty of ways to stay busy if you time it right. For our stay, merely strolling around the lovely grounds whilst our toddler runs free is exactly the medicine we need.

Our Room

Our spacious family room is situated on the ground floor in an outbuilding surrounding a pretty courtyard. Although one of the newer blocks, the room still has that countryside charm, including a back door opening out onto our own private patio. Although the steep steps to the top patio aren’t ideal for toddlers, it was great to have the space. The room was a great size with plenty of space for a travel cot. 

When (not if) we return, we may opt for one of the lakeside huts with a hot tub, or even a woodland cabin. The Shepherd’s hut overlooking the lake has everything you need for a self-contained stay, including a small kitchen hob. 

Roaming the grounds

We spend a sunny afternoon roaming the open grounds of the hotel and its rustic farm environment. Coffee is the first port of call from the granary kitchen, formerly a chicken shed, it is now home to a tasteful and rustic kitchen serving breakfast, brunch and lunch. We take our coffee to the farm yard, a charming open seated area surrounded by wooden huts that serve food and drinks on their busier days.

The atmosphere is relaxed on a sunny Saturday afternoon, we stroll through the well kept gardens that surround the building, across large manicured lawns where our boy runs free, and up to a great children's play area. Mum and Dad sit peacefully as he navigates the climbing frames and slides. A wooden play area that mirrors the natural surroundings rather than primary coloured plastic. We wave at the Alpacas grazing over the fence and meander back along a river path towards our room to prepare for dinner.

Dinner

The Cowshed has all the tactile, natural finishings you want from a farmhouse restaurant, tastefully put together to give it a modern ambience. Exposed brickwork, wood and leather combine with soft upholstery, dark green panelled walls and moody table lighting.

If you haven’t guessed by now, the building was originally the Cowshed, dating back to the location's origins as a dairy farm. It’s reassuring to know that the food being prepared is about as local and sustainable as you can get, with produce from the farm itself and the surrounding area.

The menu includes updated British classics such as smoked salmon with a wasabi yogurt (which was divine), lamb rump with toasted hazelnuts and pearl barley risotto with a hazelnut pesto. My middle white pork chop with celeriac remoulade was thick, soft and satisfying with just enough of that dreamy crunch around the edges. Children are well catered for with high chairs, a kids' menu and the all-important colouring in menus to keep them occupied. Not one to hold back on his review of dinner, the harshest critic at the table (our toddler) practically inhaled his braised chicken in gravy! The menu rotates around the seasons, so expect a different line-up if you are visiting at other times of the year

Drinks

Now one of us had to sample the bar once bed-time had been sorted, and lucky for some, that was me. The Stable Art & Piano bar is a lovely, serene environment to settle in and watch an intimate live performance from a cosy couch. With rustic wooden beams, reclaimed furniture and local artists work adorning the walls.

I felt utterly relaxed sipping a negroni, watching the singer and pianist perform renditions of modern classics. The bar opens out onto an impressive patio where you can finish your drink listening to the babble of the river that runs to the side. By this point the city was long forgotten.

Breakfast

The country air having worked its magic, everyone (and I mean everyone) got a full restful night. A buffet style breakfast was served back in the cowshed. Although the setup was familiar, with various sections dedicated to full English elements, pastries, cereals and fruit. The quality was top-notch. From farm to plate is the way forward in my books

Summary

Revisiting Tewinbury farm with a slightly different perspective definitely didn’t disappoint. The relaxed natural environment really helps melt away the stresses of city (and parenting) life. There’s plenty to keep everyone busy, even if that’s busy doing nothing.

The food and atmosphere are both rustic yet modern and tasteful. I look forward to returning with a different perspective again in mind, perhaps festival weekend, or perhaps doing even more nothing in a hot tub by the lake, either way, I know to expect a good time. 

To book visit https://www.tewinbury.co.uk/

Written by Rick Hartley

Photography by Nyla Sammons