Hotel Review: Callow Hall, Wildhive

Last week Oliver and I headed away for a cheeky midweek staycation (highly recommend FYI - makes Monday and Friday much easier to get through) up to the Peak District. Our destination? The recently opened Callow Hall Hotel, part of new hotel group Wildhive (and first in its collection). Having just been crowned The Sunday Times’ Hotel of the Year, Callow Hall is easily one of the UK’s most hotly anticipated hotel openings of 2021…read on to find out whether it met expectations…

First impressions: 4/5

A half hour drive from Derby, the journey took us just over 2 hours total from King’s Cross - not too far for Londoners to escape the city and instantly feel immersed in nature. Situated on the edge of the Peak District national park, guests are in prime location to explore a multitude of landscapes on Callow Hall’s doorstep - and the ever changing weather is a reminder that we’re very much in the heart of Britain here (we encountered smatterings of rain and sunshine in equal measure throughout our stay).

Before the hotel’s renovation and acquisition by Wildhive founders Ed and Charles a couple of years ago, Callow Hall was a rather drab wedding venue and hotel - a few older couples popping in seemed shocked (in a good way!) by its renovation. And shocked they were rightly so, as interior design Isabella Worsley (whose portfolio includes Firmdale Hotels) has combined bold pops of colour with plush textures and exciting prints, from the sleek restaurant where a curved bar snakes through the space, to the drawing room, where sumptuous green sofas and plush pink armchairs nestle together. This is perhaps my favourite spot in the main house, where guests are encouraged to curl up by the fire and sip tea while admiring the view from the original Victorian windows - or play their hand at a game of chess. An additional sitting room is quite the opposite in colour scheme: dark teal panelled walls, and pops of burgundy and pink make it the perfect spot for a pre-dinner cocktail.

Upstairs, bedrooms in the main house follow a similar theme. Printed headboards, jewel coloured bathtubs and smart Samsung flat-screen TVs make for rather chic spaces to rest your head. Some of the property’s original Victorian features have been kept, such as the soaring windows and original pine doors. We were in one of the Fabulous bedrooms (the best in the house), and while the bedroom itself was lovely, the bathroom was rather ordinary in design, and a bit too small for both of us to be in at the same time. Minibars are stocked with complimentary snacks which is a nice touch (although perhaps nicer if the treats were homemade) - small things a more seasoned traveller may notice, but nothing to seriously ruffle your feathers.

On our second night, we adventured into the woodland for a night in one of the hotel’s Hives. Perhaps one of the most unique features of Callow Hall, these cabins are nestled among the treetops and feature wraparound balconies with incredible views. Each is kitted out with a double bed, tiny kitchen, and small but rather chic bathroom with tiled walk-in shower. It’s no less luxurious up here than in the main house - each of the cabins is kitted out with flat-screen TVs and 100 Acre products. There are currently four Hives (that get booked up quite far in advance!) with another seven on the way, as well as Treehouses which will house larger parties. It’s a totally different experience up here - from cosying up in a rainstorm at night to waking to the sound of birds, it does really feel like you’re immersed in the wilderness.

To do: 3.5/5

Besides from just kicking back with a book from the library or a board game by the fire, guests are encouraged to spend their days exploring the Peaks. The Coach House (separate from the main hotel) features a boot room stocked with wellies, walking sticks, maps, and advice on which trails to explore during your stay. Bikes and helmets are also available for more adventurous guests. As we were visiting without a car, we were a little more limited in our explorations so instead wandered into nearby Ashbourne for a pootle around the antique shops.

The Coach House is also home to two private treatment rooms (guests can book massages and facials), as well as a rather impressive gym, and yoga studio. A tiny sauna is also on site - but rather oddly is in the middle of a courtyard so popping in and out of it might not afford you as much privacy as you might expect. Should the hotel build a pool in the next couple of years, it would definitely be transformed into more of a spa destination - we felt that this was the only amenity that was ‘missing’, and which would encourage guests to spend more time between the treatment rooms/studio/gym and make use of the Coach House facilities.

Food and drink: 4/5

The Garden Room is the beating hub of the hotel: floor to ceiling glass windows with views onto the peaks, a sleek marble-topped bar, and contemporary furnishings make for a laidback and romantic atmosphere every evening. The food at Callow Hall is very much dictated by the seasons, and as we were visiting in October, we were delighted to see pumpkins and seasonal fruit featured on the menu. Evenings kicked off at the bar, where expert mixologist Munro poured some delicious mocktails for us (we’re both non-drinkers), including an addictive pear and cinnamon concoction and non-alcoholic espresso martini.

Then onto the food…from Derbyshire steaks to game and fish dishes, meat lovers will struggle to choose what to eat on the menu as everything sounds rather enticing, including the monthly specials. Vegetarians may be a little more limited in their options, but every visitor will eat well, with produce being sourced locally or grown in the kitchen gardens. My roast pheasant came with all of the trimmings (kale, pumpkin puree, potatoes and parsnips), and was beautifully and elegantly presented. Triple cooked chips and whole plaice swimming in garlic butter the next evening were equally as good. Desserts are also tasty - you’ll have difficulty choosing between the toffee apple pie or poached plums and cinnamon doughnuts (which admittedly were a bit on the stodgy side, but we’ll forgive that as the accompanying white chocolate and pistachio fudge was delicious).

Breakfast the next morning is served back in The Garden Room, where guests can choose between fresh eggs, a Derbyshire fry-up or homemade pancakes. In the summer months, guests will also be able to eat outside where loungers and breakfast tables are laid out in the sunshine. During the day, guests can also pre-book afternoon tea - on our first day, we enjoyed fresh scones bigger than the size of my palm, which were deliciously warm, soft, and crumbly, and accompanied by clotted cream, jam, and homemade lemon curd - the perfect treat to enjoy after a long hike around the Peaks.

Comfort and service: 4.5/5

Service at Callow Hall is very good. Staff are chatty and friendly, whether they’re pouring you drinks or shuttling you to and fro the woodland Hives in cute little golf buggies. Like many properties across the UK, Callow Hall has suffered from staff shortages post-Brexit/pandemic, but you’ll find that the tight-knit team here really does support each other. General Manager Jeremy is on the floor every day, helping to serve guests at dinner time and making himself available for a chat; it’s very refreshing to see a GM getting involved in the daily hum of activity - and not something you see too often in luxury hotels. Making sure that guests are well looked after is very much the bread and butter of the hotel - an easygoing atmosphere pervades, with staff all being approachable and relaxed. If you’re looking for a chic, welcoming hotel to visit in the Peaks, this is the place for you. And on the flip side, if you’re looking for a new part of the UK to discover - visit the Peaks. And stay at Callow Hall.