Pennyhill Park Hotel

This month I was given the pleasure of reviewing the Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey.

It is part of the chain of Exclusive Hotels which includes the elegant South Lodge Hotel in Horsham so I was of course expecting big things from my stay.  South Lodge left a wonderful impression so there was of course a lot to live up to.  Pennyhill Park, dare I say, had an extra edge on South Lodge, a bold claim which I hope to justify in this review.  A night in this hotel is an investment in your well-being.  I would struggle to see how anyone could possibly leave without a complete uplift in mood.

My stay was booked for a Sunday and I arrived through rain and wind to the sumptuous large reception.  I was immediately greeted politely and had the door held for me as I arrived.  I was impressed by the smaller tables to check in rather than the huge intimidating receptions sometimes preferred by large hotels.

My bag was kindly carried and I was shown to, and I was shown into my suite by the helpful staff who could not have been more friendly and approachable.  I was allocated to stay in the Arms Park room, which was breathtakingly traditional in décor but equally as forward-thinking in its facilities. A ‘room’ set over two floors, the views inside and outside the room were spectacular.  The Nespresso coffee machine was put to good use while I looked around.  The super king size bed, separate freestanding bath and walk in-shower looked amazing.  Every care seemed to have been taken for guests to enjoy every part of the stay.  I put on the luxury bathrobe and headed straight to the spa.

The Spa at Pennyhill is beyond compare to any other I have been.  It is as big as an entirely separate hotel. It hosts a large well-equipped fitness suite, which although I saw I have to confess I did not use!  There are no less than 23 relaxing treatment rooms, a nail bar and an entire restaurant within the grounds which amount to 45,000 square foot.  There are so many different thermal and sensory experiences, at different temperatures, with different infusions I suspect that you could spend an entire couple of days here and just get lost in the choices available.  There are indoor and outdoor pools, all heated to a comfortable level.  The outdoor Jacuzzi is quite an experience in the middle of winter.

I headed straight for a treatment with the lovely Natalie who gave me a Deeply Nourishing Gold Facial.  This facial is a different level of self-care, where your skin is covered nourished in a layer of gold.   The products used contain caviar and pearl, and the experience is extended with a scalp, hand and foot massage.  I was left with glowing skin in the space of one hour which was an instant pick me up.  Natalie was amazing and I would definitely make a specific request for her if I am lucky enough to return.  She took her time in a pre-treatment consultation with a nurturing, friendly approach, and the treatment was truly luxurious.  Natalie is a real credit to the hotel.

As it was evening time, I went back to my room, though I was yearning to get in the outdoor pool which was still very much open, even late on a Sunday.  I got ready for dinner and headed over to the Brasserie.  I cannot fail to mention that a staff member opened, without single exception, every single door for me during my stay.  I don’t know if I just had excelent timing, but they did so with a smile and what seemed to be genuine delight that they happened to be there and able to do that.  The impeccable service continued during my dinner.

The Brasserie is a more casual restaurant with 2 AA Rosettes but the service was as good as Michelin star. I chose food from The Inka Grill section of the Menu, which included steaks locally sourced by Hatto’s butcher from the nearby Surrey Farm.  I went for the 70z fillet steak, with peppercorn sauce, triple cooked chips and roasted onion gratin.  I paired it with a large glass of Malbec and I can honestly say it was mouth-wateringly good.  I was served by George who was attentive but was discrret enough to give me some space to just enjoy the food and drink.  I had a good book with me and it was a little slice of heaven to enjoy that meal, in that moment.  I was truly satisfied with my main course, so much so I skipped dessert and headed straight back to my room.

A long soak in the bath and a deluxe choice of pillows made for one of the best nights sleeps I have had in a long time.  I woke early, refreshed and enjoyed a coffee, an indulgent long shower (the side sprays were like a massage on their own!) and then headed down for breakfast.  This was a standard hotel type breakfast including a hotel buffet and various pastries and fruits.  Again the service was attentive and welcoming at all points.

I was lucky enough to have continued use of the spa for some of the next day and I really made very good use of the time.  I had a long swim in both the indoor and outdoor pools, visited various heat-based steam and sauna rooms and even had a cold dip in the splash pool.  I genuinely did not want to leave and considered delaying work to stay another night.  But all good things must come to an end and I dutifully stuck to my schedule.

My overnight stay was certainly the best one of all of the hotels I have visited.  The Exclusive chain of hotels are definitely getting it right in providing an elite luxury experience which is unrivalled in my experience so far.  The reason I say Pennyhill Hotel has the slight edge on South Lodge?  The staff.  As I checked out I spoke to the helpful Katrina on reception about my stay.  I wanted to extend my thanks in person to her and all the staff who I had dealt with, including each and every one who happily opened all the doors.  I get the impression that the staff are happy to be there, hopefully looked after and seemed genuinely invested in ensuring each guest had everything they need.  For me that gave Pennyhill Hotel the full five star rating it deserves.  This is a genuine recommendation for a hotel which left me with a true sense of well-being, a worthwhile investment which lasted for weeks after my stay.  I will most definitely be back.