LUX February 2017

LUX - February 2017 21 Combermere Abbey’s Restored Splendour With just two luxurious bedrooms and a series of spectacular reception rooms over two floors, the interiors of the B&B are personally styled by world-class interior designer, Nina Campbell, in association with Sarah Callander Beckett, Restoration Project Director and owner of the Abbey. Such is the quality and importance of the project that it won the Sotheby’s/HHA (Historic House Association) Restoration Award within weeks of its opening. The Abbey is a truly historic institution, dating back to the reign of Henry I in 1133. Nina’s interiors are complemented with the use of historic paints by Edward Bulmer. The resulting B&B is a unique space, enjoying the sumptuous style of a six-star hotel, an historic ambience, a peaceful location and some of the most delightful views in Cheshire. The whole North Wing can also be booked exclusively for you and your friends, up to four guests. The views include the Italian-inspired ‘Knot Garden’, the ancient parklands of the estate and a 143-acre glacial mere with swans and other water fowl. The North Wing has its own dedicated entrance, with an elevated terrace overlooking the private garden. Enter via a grand Hallway with its black and white stone floor and featuring a carved stone fireplace. This leads to a formal dining room, which blends Gothic style with an Indian influence and beautiful jewel-bright accent colours. Furthermore, a delightful light-filled living room has picture windows, enjoys dual aspect over the mere and the garden, its warm floral-inspired palette featuring geranium pink and sage green hues. First floor accommodation includes two bedrooms. ‘The Salamanca’, boasts a super king sized bed with half canopied tester with silk brocade drapes and decor in a soothing palette, enhanced with original artwork by Peter Beckett, Sarah’s husband; also a stunning en-suite bathroom with shower featuring an oversized free standing bath placed before a Gothic picture window, enjoying a breath-taking view over the mere, and ‘his n’ her’ vanity units. ‘The Bhurtpore’ can be presented as one king size bed or twin beds. Its charming décor is accented with soft furnishings in a warm shade of coral, complementing the carved oak panelling, wooden floors and stone fireplace. The bedroom has its own en-suite facilities including a walk-in shower and marble-topped vanity basin, once again sharing views to the front elevation of the Abbey. All bathroom amenities are the exquisite home-made bath and body products by Mitchell and Peach, produced on the family’s Foxbury farm in Kent, using home-harvested organic ingredients, such as lavender and honey. Also on this floor is the Tudor Study with original 400-year-old oak beams, once on the exterior walls of the Abbey and now cleverly reversed to the interior and plasterwork decorated with heraldic symbols, provides an interesting and historically relevant feature to this beautiful, cosy living room. Sarah Callander Beckett, owner of Combermere Abbey, commented, “it is a huge pleasure to be able to invite guests to stay in The Abbey’s North Wing. We are overjoyed with the renovation and what the fabric of the Abbey’s past has revealed to us, it’s a real privilege for my family and I to share this and the beauty and tranquillity of this estate”. As well as the stunning interiors, the Italian-style Knot Garden which features a quatrefoil symbol, a recurring emblem in the design of the Abbey, is a lovely outdoor space from which to enjoy these natural surroundings. From here, saunter down to the edge of the huge mere. Guests also have access to the estate’s woodland walks and the formal Victorian walled gardens, which feature the world’s only fruit tree maze. A traditional English cooked breakfast, with farm- fresh local produce is prepared the following morning by the Abbey’s own in-house staff, either Stephan or Sue, and served in the Dining Room. Both rooms also have their own tea and coffee-making facilities, luggage storage and flat screen TVs. The B&B rate starts at just £140 per room (Sunday- Thursdays) and for weekends from just £155. (Price based upon Bhurtpore.) Until 31 March 2017, stay for two nights midweek from just £240 per room (Saving £40). Exclusive use of the North Wing is also an option for up to 4 guests, please ask for further details and pricing. Now an award-winning business, Combermere Abbey is also a wedding & events venue, with a collection of prestigious self-catering accommodation, 10 cottages (once the Abbey’s Victorian coach house and stables) including Stone Lodge, the Gothic Gatehouse, and their new 6-star B&B suite. The accommodation’s superb quality and its conversion has won the business many awards. Importantly the Abbey is also home to owner Sarah Callander Beckett, her husband Peter and son, Peregrine. www.combermereabbey.co.uk 01948 660 345 Redefining the concept of B&B, exclusive and unique, twelfth-century Comb- ermere Abbey on the Cheshire-Shropshire border has just opened the doors of its luxury ‘six-star’ B&B accommodation in its newly-restored, award-win- ning North Wing. Combermere Abbey’s Restored Splendour