insideKENT Magazine Issue 85 - April 2019 | Page 130

GETAWAYS
DE VERE SELSDON PARK ESTATE CONT.
The winding tree-lined drive delivers you straight
to the red brick facade and sleek modern entrance
of the sprawling mansion, that was first turned into
a luxury country house hotel in 1924. Architect
Hugh Mackintosh transformed it throughout the
1930s, adding east and west wings to create the neo-
Jacobean-style sprawling property that stands today.
The estate can actually be traced back to as early as
861AD, with previous incarnations as an Anglo-
Saxon hall, medieval estate of the Knights Templar
and a Victorian country seat, adding to the sense of
grandeur and history. If you look closely, you can
see many original features – the beautiful wood-
panelled central staircase, fireplaces and ceiling
plasterwork, and the preserved and beautiful original
entrance way, almost hidden in its current guise as
entrance to the pool and gym complex.
Now part of the De Vere collection, the hotel has
recently undergone an extensive and sympathetic,
multi-million pound renovation and refurbishment
programme. The end result is a classy, traditional,
yet modern feel that spans the whole hotel, and
which also means that the large site, which could
have felt overbearing and intimidating, actually feels
homely, welcoming and luxurious.
There are the reimagined bedrooms and suites; our
own deluxe, which was one of the best in the house,
was generously sized with a king-size bed, ample
modern bathroom and comfortable seating area
offering views across the grounds and the rolling
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hills beyond. The decor of white, beige and dusky
blue added a relaxed and modern air, and little
touches like large framed vintage maps, and antique-
style trunks and chests forming tables and mini-bars,
give rooms a distinctively quirky feel.
As well as a bright, airy orangery that provides the
perfect spot for pre-dinner cocktails or afternoon
tea, there is the sleek modern bar with its upholstered
bar stools and contemporary finish; and the
welcoming 1042 Restaurant, serving copious buffet
breakfasts (the best eggs on a buffet I’ve had in a
long time!), and classic British brasserie favourites
from an all-day bar menu and more sophisticated
evening restaurant menu. It all comes together to
harness the country-lodge-esque feel, with bird
printed fabrics, carefully chosen animal statues and
accessories, and potted plants and herbs that bring
the outside in (all 200 acres of grounds and the
championship 18 -hole golf course views).
We had the pleasure of a quiet lunch at a sun-
streaked windowside table for two, where we
contently worked our way through a delicious, classic
chicken Caesar salad with delicately grilled warm
chicken, and the legendary De Vere gourmet beef
burger that combines smoked applewood cheese,
tomato, lettuce and tiger sauce with a fresh beef
patty in a pretzel bun. We ended the meal by
devouring the just-the-right-level-of-sweetness sticky
toffee pudding and a rich, bittersweet chocolate
orange tart with caramel popcorn, all whilst taking
in the uninterrupted views of the grounds beyond.
From the moment we arrived, the service was
friendly, welcoming and professional; from bag
storage to check-in, mid-afternoon coffees to after
dinner digestifs and leisurely lunches to historic
anecdotes. The staff were personable, warm and
efficient, which is apt for an estate with a history of
welcoming guests (which are rumoured to have
included King Henry VIII) since the 9th century.
Long may its hospitality continue.
De Vere Selsdon Park Estate
126 Addington Road
South Croydon
CR2 8YA
www.devere.co.uk/selsdon-estate
DeVereOfficial
DeVereHotels