Long, lazy days sipping wine and ambling through picturesque villages with lush gardens and fairytale houses; heading back to a cosy hotel room with a roll-top bath; was what I imagined myself doing when I went through the Mr and Mrs Smith website. For us this year, most holidays were booked around a wedding celebration, either in the UK or abroad, and there was a need to spend some quality time on our own before we headed to our friend's big day. Plus my Mr Smith needed a place for inspiration to write a good speech as the best man.
Beemer seriously overpacked with what I call the essentials for our break and the wedding, we drove off to the beautiful Cotswolds looking forward to cooler summer days after 38 degrees in London. Most people would dismiss this but, when London is too hot, it’s time to escape to the coast or countryside.
As the landscape changed outside the M25 to misty hills, windy roads, the rainy weather didn’t stop us dreamily anticipating our hotel and seeing our room - this is one of the joys we both share before we arrive at a new hotel.
This break was to include lots of countryside air, plenty of hiking and big appetites for hearty meals. Lavender fields to explore, country lanes to get lost in and no (less maybe) computers or phones.
As expected, The Lygon Arms Hotel was an immediate eyeful with a maze of wood-panelled, flagstoned corridors, antechambers with fireplaces and horse tack, nooks and crannies. We were taken to our Junior Suite, up a few flights of stairs and at the end of several corridors. Settled in and bags delivered it was time to enjoy our sofa and the Veuve and choccies that Mr and Mrs Smith had left for us (how did they know we liked)?
Our room was really spacious and very comfortable with a large bathroom and a super king bed that we could both sleep crossways - and even a dog (carved in wood) to serve as a bodyguard - or just to emphasise the fact that they are very dog-friendly.
While nothing could be faulted, the room was located in the modern wing and we’d had our heart on spending three nights in a room with more character and traditional features, so we phoned reception and asked if it was possible to change. This is where hotels can really differentiate themselves - service. They could only move us the following day but otherwise were only too pleased to accommodate.
Dinner was booked for 8 pm at the Lygon Bar and Grill but, beforehand we made sure we had a couple of cocktails in the bar where we could admire the architecture and soak up the atmosphere of other diners, all in a very impressive room with a barrel-vaulted ceiling, large antler chandeliers and a wall panelled gallery.
My tuna tartare starter was delicious but I’m so glad we shared the Chateaubriand after having starter-envy of Mr Smith’s cheese souffle. This was what I call dinner. I somehow forgot the diet and just enjoyed the food and beautiful bottle of Spanish red before heading for a digestif at the other bar before flopping out in bed - again along another maze of Tudor corridors and stairs.
After a very comfortable sleep, we headed to breakfast which was also served in the grand Lygon Bar and Grill room - a good selection of fruit, cereals, pastries, cheese and juices made a good continental breakfast but we were looking forward to a long day walking so we decided to have cooked breakfast. Although it was a good breakfast (cooked simply), it could have been a little more creative (seasoned, maybe), given the quality of the dinner the night before.
Our new room was lovely, more Tudor style like we’d dreamed with wonky floors, exposed beams, cute little roof windows and an ante-chamber with a desk where Mr Smith could write his speech fully inspired and I could find my own inspiration to design the wedding card. Well done Lygon team.
The Lygon Arms sits in the heart of Broadway Village making it easy to explore the honey-coloured houses and manicured gardens. Picture perfect, I must say, it makes you forget the rush hour and the oppressiveness of London. Mr Smith and I played the usual game of which house we would live in - I think he’s testing me: after 19 years I should know which one he would prefer.
The high street goes on for quite away, giving you plenty to explore on foot. We found a lovely fish and chip place around the corner from the hotel (Russels Fish & Chips), and an absolutely lovely little cafe in the high street (The Bakehouse) that served delicious nibbles and wine with genuine love. The village even had a curry house (Broadway Indian Restaurant) in a beautiful old converted barn full of character - friendly and delicious food too.
Broadway has it all, then. Maybe that's why we ended up spending all of our time there. We are very thankful to the friendly team at the Lygon Arms and all the friendly staff at other local establishments for making our stay very special.
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