Hotel Review: The Tawny
A couple of weekends ago, I jumped on a train to escape the city for the weekend with my friend Morena, as a final hurrah before she moves to Amsterdam. We were heading to the Peak District to review the newly opened The Tawny, which started welcoming its first guests in summer last year. Last October was the first time I visited the Peak District, and now here I was visiting less than six months later…there must be something quite special about this part of the UK. Read on for my full review of our experience at The Tawny…
First impressions: 4/5
Sitting within the grounds of the Consall Hall Estate, The Tawny occupies a stunning 70 acres that encompasses dense woodland, large natural pools, and untamed heath. A whole host of wildlife lives on the estate, from all kinds of birds, to badgers and deer - you might be lucky enough to spot some wildlife scurrying around as you navigate your way from dinner to your cabin every evening with just a torch to guide you.
Rather than being situated in one main building, the entirety of the hotel’s bedrooms are spread across the estate as individual cabins, ranging in size. Choose between twee shepherd’s huts, treehouses nestled in the treetops, and boathouses situated by the lake - with retreats that can sleep larger groups of people coming later this year. Regardless of room type, interiors are cosy and comfortable; colour schemes range from deep blue tones in the boathouses to copper in the treehouses, while the rooms may not be super chic in design (rooms have a more homely feel than being super slick), everything does feel new and shiny, with walk-in showers beautifully tiled in white and huge flat-screen TVs that swivel out from the wall and already have Netflix installed on them - it’s the little things like the strong shower pressure and the toasty heating in the cabins that we appreciated.
One of the most special highlights of the hotel is that every single bedroom features an outdoor hot tub on a private deck, with some rooms also having an outdoor shower; this was definitely one of the best features of our bedroom, and we loved how each room had been cleverly designed to allow for maximum privacy, so there was no worry of being seen by anyone else. Most bedrooms (other than the smaller shepherd’s huts) enjoy an indoor bathtub as well, with treehouses and boathouses boasting bathtubs situated in the bedroom - and positioned right by the floor-to-ceiling windows so you can enjoy the incredible views while soaking.
To do: 3.5/5
With nature right on your doorstep, exploring the estate is obviously first on the agenda. You could easily spend the day exploring the woodland (much of which is gloriously untamed), walking around the large natural pools, and birdwatching. Partial ruins of the former manor house are still standing on some parts of the estate, allowing for romantic and dramatic scenery wherever you turn - you’ll be able to enjoy scenic views throughout the entirety of the grounds as you wander around. If you’re visiting by car, the Peaks are only a short drive away if you want to go on a longer hike - but leaving the estate certainly isn’t necessary (we didn’t have a car between us, so we simply stayed on the hotel grounds during our stay).
For those that prefer a bit of pampering, besides the hot tub in your bedroom, there’s also a tiny spa (a singular treatment room) where you can book facials and massages. A small outdoor pool is also located just by the hotel restaurant, which is heated year round so you can take a scenic dip even in the cold thanks to the incredible views that are afforded from here. For those that prefer to stay inside, you’ll find board games in your bedroom - a games room is also located next to the hotel restaurant, and books can be borrowed from reception.
Given the vastness of the estate, it would make sense for the hotel to offer more outdoor pursuits that guests can get involved in - even just bicycles for guests to cycle around the estate would be a welcome addition; if you’re visiting with kids, you might struggle to keep them occupied during the day other than going on walks, unless you’re planning on day-tripping from the estate.
Food and drink: 4/5
The hotel restaurant, The Plumicorn, is a stunning building that cuts out from the surrounding scenery thanks to its angular shape and floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and is where breakfast, lunch and dinner is served every day. The menu here is relatively small but deliciously formed, featuring incredibly tasty dishes that incorporate as much of local produce as possible. The most memorable dishes we enjoyed included melt-in-the-mouth harissa roasted cauliflower that was so good we ordered it twice, as well as the hotel’s signature ‘fallen apple’ dessert: white chocolate encasing a soft apple mousse, and sitting on a bed of crumble. Don’t miss the sides either: our favourites included the layered, crispy potatoes and roasted hispi cabbage.
For those that prefer more casual meals, the room service menu includes homemade pizzas that you can order straight to your cabin, as well as picnics that you can take out across the estate with you every day. Breakfast is served back in The Plumicorn every morning, and includes a continental buffet and cooked options such as scrambled eggs and Staffordshire oatcakes, which are tasty but not as extraordinary as the dinner you’ll eat the evening before.
Comfort and service: 3.5/5
Service throughout the estate was generally friendly, with some members of staff being incredibly friendly and helpful and really standing out to us during our stay. Mark and Simon, who picked us up and dropped us off at the train station were both very welcoming and full of spirits - and set a great tone for the rest of our stay. The hotel and restaurant managers were also very welcoming, but the service offered by some of the more junior members of staff at the restaurant fell a little flat - while always perfectly polite, service was a little lacklustre, which may have been due to shyness or inexperience (this difference was simply made all the more exaggerated by how upbeat and friendly other members of staff were).
Overall, I’d definitely return to The Tawny. If you’re someone who has been dying to go to Soho Farmhouse but you’re not a member, this is a great alternative - dog-friendly cabins situated in the outdoors with the luxury of being on a hotel estate and having 24/7 hotel service available is a rare find. Depending on the season and day of the week that you visit, prices vary and aren’t cheap - I would say that the number of things to do on the hotel grounds, and also the variety of places to eat is definitely limited in comparison (to say, Soho Farmhouse), but I would still head back. In my opinion, a greater breadth of amenities and a wider food offering would help to further elevate the hotel - as would little touches such as home baked cookies in the bedroom rather than packeted shortbread. I’d love to check out the retreats with a group of friends when they open (this time I’d make sure to visit in a car so I could leave the estate to explore) - otherwise I would visit again and stay in one of the shepherd’s huts, which are more accessible in pricepoint (again, this is dependent on season).
This was a gifted stay, but all opinions are my own. I do not accept and write about gifted stays unless I enjoy them.
