WHAT'S IT LIKE? The Mansion was designed in 1790 by James Wyatt, architect to King George III, and the estate has a recorded history of more than 1,000 years and has been a sporting club for over 100 years. It is set in 350 acres of parkland designed by "Capability" Brown and Humphry Repton, with a private membership of around 2,500 ensuring the facilities are first class. The property now has hotel rooms divided between the Mansion and the Pavilion built in 2002, which is where the tennis courts, spa and swimming pool are also situated.
If Stoke Park looks familiar, it is because films ranging from Bridget Jones's Diary and Layer Cake to, more famously, the golfing scenes from Goldfinger have been set here. Yearly events include the Boodles Challenge tennis tournament, as well as over 40 social events each year attracting tens of thousands of well-heeled guests
WHERE IS IT? Seven miles from London Heathrow and 45 minutes from central London by car.
ROOM FACILITIES The rooms are divided between the more traditional Mansion and the more modern Pavilion. In the Pavilion, the 28 rooms have eclectic designs – mine had out-sized modern prints including a giant, almost floor-to-ceiling Picture Post cover of Marilyn Monroe from 1954, while next door had framed racing prints. There are giant flatscreen TVs on distressed wooden tables (although there was fairly poor reception on ours), iPod docking stations, bathrooms with heated floors and mirrors and L’Occitane toiletries. Room categories range from standard and executive rooms to junior suites. All have wifi access(£15 for 24 hours). In the Mansion there are 21 rooms, many with balconies, roll-top baths, open fires and views of the gardens. Members receive discounts on the rooms and so are often staying over, and perhaps this helps explain the high standards of service.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS The two fine-dining restaurants are in the Mansion. The Dining Room, which is open for hotel guests, members and their guests, has an all-day dining menu including afternoon tea (champagne is encouraged). In the evening, the menu is contemporary British cuisine under executive head chef Chris Wheeler. There is a smart casual dress code, although you can order from the Dining Room menu and eat in the Orangery if you or one of your guests insists on wearing trainers and a T-shirt. The Orangery is a more relaxed, yet still very grand, with a sitting room with comfortable chairs, sofas, newspapers and views across to the Norman church of Stoke Poges. Finally, in the Pavilion is the modern and informal San Marco, popular with the club members.
MEETING AND BUSINESS FACILITIES The hotel caters for everything from small and very private meetings to large golfing days and incentives. There are many options here, ranging from the Fountain Room which has views of, yes, a fountain on the terrace as well as the gardens, to the Park Room with its 2.74 metre x 1.54 metre projector screen, AMX touchscreen remote control, Sky TV, sound, lights and blinds (it also includes Blue-Ray DVD and laptop connection). The rooms range in style from the extremely ornate to the modern, and there are also some rooms reserved for members, which can be reserved, such as the Chapel or the Polo Lounge bar.
LEISURE FACILITIES Superb. Pride of place must go to the 27-hole championship golf course designed by the Harry Colt in 1908, which has had 100 years to mature. The par-three seventh was the inspiration for possibly the most famous golf hole in the world – the 12th at Augusta, and it was on this course that James Bond played Goldfinger (Bond fans should look out for the memorabilia lining the walls outside the changing rooms). There is also a ten-bay driving range, year-round grass practice areas, pitching area with four bunkers, 18-hole putting course, and indoor video-analysis room.
As well as the golf course, there is a health and beauty spa with 11 treatment rooms (the spa has its own brand, SPC, and also has Crystal Clear, CACI, GHD spa (hair and scalp), Bodyography and Jessica (nails), a large indoor swimming pool, 13 tennis courts (six grass, three indoor, and four all-weather), 370 sqm of gym and fitness studios with daily exercise class schedule, three restaurants and two bars, a crèche, outdoor playground, 14 acres of gardens and nine private rooms for entertaining and conferences. You could spend a week here and not run out of things to do.
Fact File
HOW MANY ROOMS? Stoke Park has 49 rooms in total, including Club Rooms, Executive rooms and suites.
ROOM HIGHLIGHTS Divided between the Mansion and the Pavilion you can have everything from modern and trendy to classical country house, yet all have iPod docking stations and luxurious bathrooms.
PRICE From £285 room only for a Pavilion Room, but there are over a dozen good-value packages including spa treatments, a round of golf, dinner, bed and breakfast and even a Bridget Jones Mini Break (including a bottle of chardonnay, a platter of chocolate-dipped strawberries and a copy of Bridget Jones's Diary on DVD).
CONTACT Stoke Park Club, Park Road, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire; tel +44 (0)1753 717 171; stokeparkclub.com
