A night away with my four-legged friend
De Vere Latimer Estate is such a place. In fact, every one of De Vere’s mansion houses and the lake surrounded De Vere Cotswold Water Park are all luxuriously dog-friendly. Parker, my two-year-old black Labrador and I were invited to stay in the stunning, history-laden red brick mansion to find out what they had to offer me and my four-legged boy.
You’ll find De Vere hotels are surround by quintessential English countryside. Rich in rolling hills, wild woodland walks, and the manicured grounds that wrap around the mansion houses themselves. De Vere Latimer Estate, also known as The Spy House for its role in WWII, where POW were detained and questioned for their intelligence, overlooks the Chess Valley. Just a short drive from the M25, we wound our way up the oak-lined drive to the mansion house.
Time for walkies!
After our journey, Parker was ready to explore. Before checking-in, we headed out across the grounds, taking in the sweeping view over the valley on route to the woodland that opens up on the edge of the Estate’s lawn. Parker scampered off in search of adventure and I duly followed. On an unusually warm afternoon in late March, the woods were full of wildflowers and daffodils. The clearly marked path undulated through elm, beech, oak, and silver birch with shafts of sunlight beaming through the canopy and spotlighting the spring colours scattered either side of the path. As usual, Parker would gently pad along ahead of me, catching sight of squirrels and dashing after them but always returning to make sure I was keeping up!
Ahead of our trip, I searched for walks in the Chess Valley and found a range of options all between one and four hours in length, all taking in different aspects of the area. The ‘AllTrails’ app shows walks wherever you are and gave me plenty of choice to explore during my stay. In search of both human and doggy refreshments, we turned back to the hotel where we headed straight to the bar. Taking a shortcut across the sun-soaked terrace, among tables of people with laptops and others leisurely lunching with friends, we found ourselves in the welcome shade of the Huntley Bar. A member of staff spotted a panting Parker and alongside my lime and soda, asked if he would like a water bowl, which we gratefully accepted. We supped our drinks outside, taking in views across the giant chessboard, out on to lawns and down to the valley beyond.
Deliciously De Vere
Parker lounged in the shade, while I opted for a sunnier spot in the comfort of the outdoor sofas. Peckish after the drive and our woodland romp, I perused the menu and spotted a superfood salad with hot smoked salmon. Now I’m normally a burger girl, but in the knowledge that I would be ‘reporting’ my order and the heat of the day both drove me to order something a little more ‘sensible’. It turns out that sensible also means ‘delicious’ at De Vere. Heaps of fresh, blanched, well-seasoned kale tangled in sweet beetroot, butternut squash infused with orange, pumpkin seeds for crunch, pops of sweet pomegranate and quinoa for body, all laced with a tangy dressing. The salmon was plentiful, well cooked, well peppered, and unctuous. A delight from start to finish. Parker looked on hopefully as I devoured the lot. You know it’s a good salad when even your dog wants a bite!
Muddy mut or hot pooch?
As a responsible dog owner, I’m always conscious to look for shady spots where Parker can rest. But sometimes, even the shade can get too warm, so I set off in search of somewhere to cool him down. On a hot day’s walkies, Parker normally takes a dip in the lake of our local park, but falling short of a large body of water, I enquired about an outside tap where I could dowse the hound to keep him cool. I was informed that there was a ‘Paw Wash’ station round the side of the hotel. A short walk from the terrace and in a mercifully shaded spot, there it was. A combined, Bike Wash, Boot Wash and Paw Wash station for all your cleansing and cooling needs. Hurrah! In truth Parker isn’t a fan of a hose, but as soon as the cool water sank deep into his fur, he was in heaven. Problem solved. Fab work De Vere!
Beds for everyone
Check-in time arrived and we headed to our room. The wide corridors lead us to the mansion house - and excitingly - up the main bifurcated staircase where we were onlooked by oil paintings of dignitaries from a bygone era. There’s always something about their eyes, isn’t there! Turning left past a stunning stained glasses window and a handsome set of mustard armchairs, through a large wooden door we arrived outside room 111. I always think it’s a quietly thrilling moment, slotting in your key card to a hotel room door. What’s will it look like? How big is it? What will the view be like? Endless questions zipping through your mind, all answered with the push of a door. We were not disappointed. High ceilings and a huge window framed by cascading curtains in elegant grey fabric gave the room a regal feel.
A calmly lit bathroom housed a set of fluffy robes and towels just waiting for us (well, just me). A big bed you immediately wanted to throw yourself on (which I of course did) that was soft and the pillows, deep. Heaven. For Parker, a luxuriously high-sided dog bed awaited, complete with his very own De Vere dog bowl. A nice touch. I had brought his bed from home just in case he couldn’t settle, but when he headed straight for the De Vere bed, curled himself into it and flopped his head over the side with a satisfied sigh… I knew our old bed had lost that battle.
Dinner with my doggie
For those who bring their doggies to a De Vere, the hotel, prefers you not to leave them unattended in the room. With plenty of things to sniff, chew, and temptingly new things on which to mark their territory, I can understand why. But that felt balanced by the choice of areas your dogs are allowed in throughout the hotel. At Latimer, we chose The Library. A room full of original features, impeccably restored during the multi-million-pound refurbishment and a wash with soft furnishings in hues of blue and indigo. We had the choice of wingback armchairs in the bay window, plush sofas around the fireplace or huddles of barrel chairs. We opted for the sofas. I’d brought along a blanket to pop on the carpet where Parker happily snuggled down, though not before giving the straw dog sculptures in the fireplace a thorough inspection.
The accompanying Huntley Bar extended its menu into the adjoining library, and this time, I gave into the burger. It was worth the wait. A truly gourmet burger housed in a brioche bun with smoked applewood cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickles, sweet onion sauce and a ‘healthy’ portion of salty chunky chips. Divine. I was particularly impressed with the wine menu. An extensive choice from the new and old-world within a reasonable price range. The Ultimate Provence, a light, yet mouth-watering rosé demanded a repeat order (a glass, not a bottle I might add!).
Rise and shine
Parker was thrilled to return to the room and back to his new favourite bed. After a restful sleep, my usual four-legged alarm clock was dutifully sat at my side of the bed, tail frantically wagging at 7am sharp. That’s my cue to get up and out for his morning trot. Walking through the huge front doors of the mansion house and out into the sunshine was a truly glorious way to start the day. There was a morning haze hovering above the fields in the distance and scents of spring hung in the air. Near the entrance to the woods at the edge of the lawn was an opening in the perimeter fence. We nipped through, turned left, and walked back along the front of the house standing stately in the morning sunlight. The path turned down toward a river where we crossed a boardwalk bridge and into an open field – thankfully livestock-free so Parker could run off the lead. We continued through a couple of kissing gates and past an enchanting cottage that looked as old as the valley itself. We crossed a fairly busy road then began to climb up the other side of the valley, then through more fields before looping back down along the hedge rows and up toward the hotel. After an hour or so, our appetites called for breakfast.
Super sausages and stolen pastries
I fed Parker back in our room, placing his very own De Vere bowl down on the wooden flooring (rather than the carpet) whilst I enjoyed a cup of earl grey and biscotti from the tea tray. Although I had the option of room service, The Library, both areas of the Huntley Bar or even outside in the courtyard or terrace for my pet-accompanied breakfast, I was curious to visit the 1838 Restaurant. Pets aren’t allowed in this area, but I didn’t want to miss out. As I knew I wouldn’t be all that long and it was a cool day, I popped Parker on his bed in the car for his usual morning nap (with windows open, of course) whilst I went for breakfast.
The restaurant was one of the last areas to finish during the renovation, and with the attention to detail, I can see why. It had the feel of an Edwardian garden atrium, filled with light from the half glass ceiling and windows along the long side of the room. Botanical inspired wallpaper along the opposite side complimented the artfully placed indoor trees. Supporting columns were adorned with iron fret work, further adding to the feel of a period garden room. A half enclosed circular private seating area sat at the centre of the room beneath a stunning glass bottle chandelier, adding a charming detail to the rhythm of the space. The cooked breakfast buffet was exceptional. Fresh, flavoursome, and filling. The sausage and seeded sourdough toast was a particular highlight for me. Coffee arrived the moment I’d sat down, and welcome refills were offered throughout. I had to stop myself heading back for more food, but I did take a croissant with me (still warm from the oven) as a midmorning snack for my onward journey. We all do that, right?
De Vere, we’ll be back
All in all, I was truly impressed with our experience. The majestic building, the staff, facilities, and levels of comfort provided for both humans and dogs alike made for a memorable stay. The surrounding countryside offered endless walking options suitable for all different dog breeds and the hotel staff made Parker feel as welcome as I did. Next time, our walks will absolutely include one of the many well regarded (and dog-friendly) pubs in the area too. For little ones there’s also plenty to do. The online companion guide (one created for every hotel) detailed the surrounding attractions which included Harry Potter World and the Roald Dahl Museum. Although I’m a big fan of both, sadly, I’m not sure Parker would be all that fussed. De Vere you are a truly delightful doggie destination and we’ll be again back soon. Thank you!
