England, CotswoldsSeptember 17, 2019, by Maartje

If you book one thing… let it be the Soho Farmhouse Oxfordshire in the Cotswolds

England, Cotswolds, September 17, 2019, by Maartje

If you book one thing… let it be the Soho Farmhouse Oxfordshire in the Cotswolds

We cannot deny that we get somewhere, every now and then. Hence this digital booklet, because we like to talk about it, about those trips and those dinners. That said: we knew we had the English Cotswolds would find it fantastic... But so much fun? No, we didn't see that coming. Once on the island - we went by boat from Dunkirk, France, because with our dog (and he is not allowed to fly or take trains) - we shot him in one go to the fan-tas-tisch-she Soho Farmhouse Oxfordshire. Fantastic. But really.

Soho Farm House

Soho Farm House

Please note: booking a room is a must, because like all other branches of the Soho House hotel chain, the Soho Farm House is 'members only'. And for guests. An hour and a half drive from London, and 3 hours from Dover, if you went by boat like us, the rural version of the group opened, Soho Farmhouse Oxfordshire. Forty wooden cabins on the water in the Cotswolds.

It's just like Little House on the Prairie: porch, rocking chairs, fireplace, cozy kitchen, homemade cookies and a cupboard full of liquor in your own mini kitchen (and mugs for the milk that is left at the front door of your wooden cabin in the morning, if you want, just like fresh rolls. Incredibly cozy). You arrive at the large grounds where - of course - a friendly golf cart will pick you up for, if you want (do you want) a sightseeing tour about the estate. And that's big. In addition, for convenience, the group has purchased an additional piece of land where, as we speak, even more rural splendor is being created.

There is an ice rink, a cinema (one of those with deep, soft, large dark red velvet seats), horses to ride yourself and horses that are hitched to a covered wagon for a tour of the grounds (rides take place at fixed times). the small stuff) and a fantastic spa in a boathouse, with indoor and outdoor pool, Turkish steam bath, sauna and treatment rooms for the Sleepy Cow Body Treatment - after all, we are part of the Soho House group, a club known for the fantastic Cowshed - spas, the very own Soho House beauty label. Whatever you do: go swimming, get a massage and get your nails done, with a crackling fire in the background. You won't regret. But if you have the time, take the hairdresser's chair: there is nothing more fun than ending a complete beauty treatment with a drink and a fancy dinner on your own estate for a while. Then 15 steps until you are in your bed.

Ah, the restaurants. There are three (or actually four, five even) of them at the resort. The first (and actually the nicest) is a simple barn where raw country food is served, including charcuterie, rotisserie chicken, pizza, salads and burgers. Dogs at your feet, glass of local beer in hand and join us is the credo. Next to the barn you can shop for flowers at the flower greenhouse and farm products in the small 'supermarket', a handsome milkman actually. Cross the terrace and the seating areas around the large, covered fireplace and you arrive at restaurant number two, an oyster-esque brasserie. Dogs stay here in the shelter (there is a shelter for dogs!) and everything else is - of course - passable, from the enormous bar to the no-pictures-here (like) loft.

Number three is a chic Japanese restaurant at the back of the spa, also highly recommended. And then, finally, there are numbers four and five: an enormous barn where there is often nothing but where special evenings are regularly hosted (you have to be lucky) and a small kitchen next to the beautiful vegetable and herb greenhouses on the site where you can cook (and dine) yourself with a selection of (private) groups on request. Or take a cooking workshop.

Soho Farmhouse