Thanks to the newly launched Vintage fashion and music festival every August, plus its legendary motoring, aviation and horse-racing events, Goodwood, in west Sussex, is an intrinsically British destination – the sort of place you can imagine bumping into a Burberry-clad James Bond enjoying a weekend break.
Words: Karl Marsden
And the sprawling 12,000-acre Goodwood estate, located just outside the historic town of Chichester, will seduce anyone looking for a city escape. Incorporating miles of scenic walks and a hidden sculpture park, the estate has been home to the Dukes of Richmond and Lennox for over 300 years and also houses the picturesque Goodwood Hotel.
And, pulling up to the hotel on a crisp Friday afternoon, you’re struck by a sense of history and the grandeur of the original structure. Dating from the 16th century, the hotel has recently undergone significant refurbishment, so while the Grade-II listed facade retains many of its original features, including Georgian windows, the interior has been extensively expanded and modernised, the result being a hotel complex with a genuine sense of heritage fused with the latest 21st technology - and it works.
There are 91 rooms, varying in style from classic through to contemporary. We opted for one of the newly completed character rooms, featuring luxury fabrics, antique furniture and individually selected ornaments, books and prints inspired by the Goodwood estate. The large en-suite is replete with good-sized Molton Brown toiletries, and dominating the room is a giant four-poster; luxurious doesn’t do it justice.
Why it’s hot
The area is buzziest when something like the Goodwood Festival of Speed (a pageant for fast cars) or the Glorious Goodwood horse races are on, over the summer, but during its quieter months, you can take the time to stroll across the estate’s stunning countryside, or get a shot of culture at the nearby Pallant House Gallery of Modern Art (pallant.org.uk). Seventeenth-century Petworth House (nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth) is worth a look too, boasting paintings by JMW Turner and gardens designed by Capability Brown. As a reward for all this ‘activity’, we headed to the hotel’s Waterbeach Spa, situated in the health club. The club has a fully equipped gym, steam room, indoor pool, sauna and tennis courts, but we bypassed that for the relaxation of the treatment rooms. The spa features products from Decléor and Carita, and after a top-to-toe massage, we floated in a zen-like trance back to our room.
Eating and drinking
The Richmond Arms is the hotel’s main dining room, a large, airy space where we were treated to an exceptional gastronomic experience. As well as locally grown produce, the menu is sourced from the estate farm’s livestock. We tried a beautifully cooked steak with roasted cherry tomatoes, and pork belly which was melt-in-the-mouth tender, accompanied by a delicious house wine. We were impressed by breakfast too, a self-serve buffet which includes their own homebaked breads and pastries and tasty sausages (again from their farm).
Photo opportunity
Walk up to the historic viewpoint on St Roche’s Hill, known as The Trundle, where you’ll be able to see Goodwood’s famous racecourse as well as the areas surrounding Chichester. On a clear day you can also see the Isle of Wight.
The Goodwood Hotel (goodwood.co.uk) offers one night, bed and breakfast in the newly refurbished signature room for £140 (based on two sharing)
