KENTSTAYCATION
A HOUSE WITH A WILD HEART :
BOYS HALL , ASHFORD
WHEN ASKED TO CONSIDER WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN LACKING IN KENT ’ S ACCLAIMED ROSTER OF BOUTIQUE BOLTHOLES , ITS OWN SOHO HOUSE-ESQUE , HOME-FROM-HOME , LUXURIOUS YET UNPRETENTIOUS , INTERESTINGLY WILD ESCAPE WOULD HAVE BEEN TOP OF THE LIST . ENTER STAGE RIGHT BOYS HALL , THE 17TH-CENTURY JACOBEAN MANOR HOUSE WITH CENTURIES WORTH OF CURIOUS INTRIGUE AND ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE WONDER . BOASTING A SYMPATHETIC YET CONTEMPORARY , DESIGN-FORWARD REFURBISHMENT WITH EVERYTHING FROM A VAULTED , OAK- BEAM-FRAMED DINING ROOM TO BEAUTIFUL BEDROOMS WITH ANTIQUE FURNITURE AND ROLL TOP BATHS , THIS PLACE OF WONDER THREW OPEN ITS STUNNING RESTORED DOORS JUST LAST YEAR . BY SAMANTHA READY
Yet , if asked to stick a pin in a map to show where you think Kent ’ s most notable new boutique restaurant-with-rooms escape might be - think indulgent Jacobean manor escape ; glorious rolling gardens ; centuries of curiosity ; and a curated boutique escape complete with kitchen garden produce , bespoke cocktails , a wine list to die for , and Portico openflame cooking , oh , and it ’ s own pub - of course - and you ’ d be forgiven for not opting straight for Ashford , Kent ’ s unsung Garden of England hero . Yet just minutes from fabulous motorway connectivity , town centre high speed international station , and mere moments from Kent Downs AONB and award-winning vineyards and you ’ ll find the bolthole that everyone has been talking about .
Joining the list of smugglers , noblemen and high society that have pitched up for a stay under the beamed roof and gothic-style stone windows ( the anecdotal stories abound here ) is now a guestbook signatory list that reads like the ‘ who ’ s who ’ of acclaimed travel writers , foodie journos , lifestyle influencers , and epicurean adventurers ( us included , of course ) who have made the cross county , or indeed country , jaunt lured by the unique style of hospitality grandeur offered by Kristie and Brad Lomas , Boys Hall ’ s latest custodians and purveyors of excellent conviviality .
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