Hotel Review: Lime Wood
Last week, Oliver and I set off with my parents and sister for a family holiday in Hampshire and Somerset. We were supposed to be travelling to Malaysia and Bali this year, but thanks to Covid-19, switched our plans for a British staycation instead. We spent three nights at Lime Wood, a hotel that has been on my hit list for a while, followed by three nights at sister hotel The Pig in Somerset (which I have stayed at, and reviewed before). Read on for my review of this gorgeous luxury hotel below.
First impressions: 5/5
The hotel is a beautiful stately manor, covered in ivy, and situated in the heart of the New Forest. This beautiful part of the UK features thick forests, heath land, and plenty of wild horses and cows that you’ll find roaming the roads and fields - quite the spectacle if you live in a city and aren’t used to this! With its endless drive, Lime Wood certainly makes a sophisticated first impression.
Step inside the hotel, and you’ll find a sweeping staircase and elegant interiors that are inviting and cosy, featuring a feminine colour theme throughout the property: you’ll find blushing pastel pink armchairs and sea-foam wallpaper paired together. The Courtyard is the hub of the hotel, featuring a skylight bar, plush sofas, and a variety of surrounding rooms such as the Drawing Room and Library that offer multiple nooks to lounge in. It was no surprise when I discovered that interiors have been directed by Susie Atkinson (the same mind behind Beaverbrook and multiple Soho House properties). Guests spill onto the outdoor terrace, where seating is spaced out to allow couples to share a romantic aperitif at golden hour.
Bedrooms in the main house follow a similar theme, featuring pale pink touches and floral wallpapers. My bedroom was an Eaves room at the top of the house - the smallest category of bedroom, but still large enough for a king-size bed, desk, and ensuite bathroom. My parents and sister were each in rooms on the first floor which were slightly larger, featuring marble-covered bathrooms and luxurious four-poster beds. The hotel also offers more Generous bedrooms with seating areas and rolltop bathtubs, and even a Lake Cabin, which is situated in total privacy, separate to the main hotel, and has more of a rustic design.
Food and drink: 4/5
Lime Wood prides itself on its in-house restaurant, Hartnett Holder & Co, co-directed by Angela Hartnett (of Michelin starred fame) and Luke Holder. Their joint venture offers an Anglo-Italian menu, serving heartwarming comfort food for lunch and dinner that is beautifully presented and equally as delicious: expect items on the menu such as saffron risotto, homemade gnocchi with girolles and tomatoes, and grilled meat dishes. These are served within the comfort of the restaurant which looks out onto the hotel’s gardens, and features a smart-casual dress code.
The same menu is served in the more laidback Courtyard all day, which features the hotel’s stunning semi-circle bar. A casual bar menu is also available throughout the day here, with favourites such as chicken schnitzel and flat iron steak on offer - as well as more nibbly red pepper bruschetta and burrata. Guests can gather here for a generous afternoon tea, and are also invited for complimentary cocktails upon arrival.
Raw and Cured is the third and final restaurant at Lime Wood, and is the spa’s health-conscious and casual all-day cafe. Featuring salads, smoothies, and tasty vegan treats (a delicious millionaire’s shortbread and rocky road), it’s the perfect place to pop in for an afternoon snack, especially if you’re spending the day by the pool.
We really enjoyed the lunches and dinners we ate at Lime Wood, with our only disappointment being the breakfast, which is served in the main restaurant every day. Breakfast isn’t included in the room rate; for £18, guests are able to order whatever they like from the continental menu (pastries, granola, fresh fruit), or pay £25 to include a cooked dish. Cooked options are classic and satisfactory, but we found that on the whole, breakfast was fairly overpriced and disappointing value for money, with options from the continental menu all being rather ordinary. We decided to skip breakfast after our first morning, and simply sleep in, ordering an early lunch on subsequent days.
To do: 5/5
Lime Wood is nestled in the heart of the New Forest, and its location is really one of its main attractions. On our first morning, we headed out for a hike to discover the national park, and encountered an impressively varied landscape, and a fair number of wild ponies and cows.
For those that prefer to relax in the comfort of the hotel, the impressive spa is somewhere you could easily spend the entire day. Featuring a spacious gym, large indoor pool, separate hydro pool and small outdoor pool, as well as private treatment rooms, it encompasses all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a five-star hotel. There are also multiple spaces for spa guests to enjoy, including the spa cafe, as well as various outdoor terraces.
Meanwhile, the hotel’s Courtyard and its adjoining rooms such as the Drawing Room and Library offer cosy seating areas for you to while away the time with a good book.
Comfort and service: 3.5/5
Staff at Lime Wood were all incredibly friendly, and this is something that stuck with all of us during our trip - from reception staff to those working in the spa and restaurants, as well as housekeeping, everyone was incredibly attentive and efficient, and delivered service with a smile. We were made to feel welcome and looked after at all times, without any members of staff seeming too stretched, even during busier seating hours.
The hotel also had healthy social distancing measures in place, with a one-way system encouraged throughout the main house, and safety bags left in each bedroom, including masks, sanitary wipes, and hand sanitiser. These considerate little touches, including the homemade shortbread and fresh strawberries left in our bedroom, did not go unnoticed.
As we were visiting during the heatwave, a discomfort we encountered was the lack of air conditioning in some of the bedrooms - and this is something to take note of if you’re looking to book during summer. Only six bedrooms at Lime Wood have air conditioning, (something that will most likely have to change, thanks to the effects of global warming), and Oliver and I were lucky enough to have this feature in our bedroom. Unfortunately, my parents and sister were less lucky in this regard.
The only other inconvenience we encountered during our stay was the lack of WiFi in the hotel due to a network update that they were running - the mobile service is fairly poor in the area, and the lack of a strong WiFi connection proved to be an issue. Luckily, none of us were working during our stay, but it would have been impossible to work remotely from Lime Wood if we’d planned to. It was unfortunate that the update took place during our stay, but I’m sure that this is something that the hotel are going to rectify.
All in all, these inconveniences were not issues that would prevent us from visiting again. We all agreed that the service throughout our stay was flawless, and other than the breakfast offering, the food was delicious and impressive. Combined with the spa facilities and elegant interiors of the hotel, Lime Wood is definitely a property that I would be eager to revisit - with its air of laidback luxury and refinement, it is easily an idyllic country retreat, and beautiful place to escape to.
