In the quaint little Cotswolds town of Broadway, proudly stands The Lygon Arms. When there’s a hotel with the promise of roaring fireplaces in each room, wooden beams holding up the ceilings and a rich history dating back to the 1300’s, you can bet I’m going to want to visit. Team that with the fact that it’s part of the same family as Cliveden House (my favourite hotel in the UK) and Chewton Glen and I’m expecting A LOT!
The hotel itself recently went through a huge refurbishment, but the sort that you really don’t notice because it’s done so beautifully and inkeeping with the history of the building.
We stayed in one of the newest rooms, a beautifully spacious courtyard suite complete with his and hers sinks and a little patio for you to sit on and enjoy your morning coffee.
When we arrived, we immediately dumped our bags and headed into the main building in the search for some lunch. We found it in one of the bars in the form of doorstep wedge sandwiches. I had a beetroot and goats cheese sandwich and Ben went for the Chicken and Avocado. It was just what we needed.
When we got back to the room, I ran myself a hot, indulgent bath before crawling into a fluffy dressing gown and taking the best nap I’ve ever had on the softest sheets. My nap ended with a gentle shake and a glass of champagne passed to me before a quick change and the short walk from our room to the small restaurant.
Candles flickered in the fire place, wax dribbling down the side and dripping onto the flagstones beneath. A low hum of conversation wound its way through the open restaurant door, just about reaching us.
The food was unbelievable. We ended up getting starters each and a main to share. I ordered Octopus and he had Game Pate all washed down with champagne and huge chunks of warm crusty brown bread.
The main was delicious, I’m told it’s not on the menu, but if you ask veeeeeery nicely, they may cook it up for you. Venison. In the richest red wine sauce with roasted root vegetables. We added macaroni & cheese and truffle chips which were all just as good.
After supper, we pulled on our coats and head out into the freezing cold night to see the beautiful town of Broadway lit by Christmas lights. With Pepi tucked into my coat, we twirled in those beautiful lights until we were so cold we couldn’t feel our toes anymore then rushed back to fall asleep in our pillow mountain.
We were first to arrive at breakfast and had the entire buffet to ourselves as well as the beautiful grand dining room. Instead we snuggled into our corner from the night before and sipped hot cups of tea and wolfed down our breakfast.
When we were full, we rushed back to the room and changed straight back into our dressing gowns then headed to the spa. One after another we dragged our heavy, aching, twisted body’s to the spa before leaving an hour later, practically floating out of the doors.
Massage over and it was time to check out of the most perfect stay and zoom back to London.