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Dormy House Hotel is one of the most sought-after hotels in the Cotswolds, a Scandi-style sanctuary perched above historic Broadway. This beautifully restored 17th-century farmhouse is situated in the Farncombe Estate, where you’ll also find the Fish Hotel and more intimate Foxhill Manor; an elegant powerhouse trio of hotels in Worcestershire.
The bar is undoubtedly high for Cotswolds hotels. Nowhere else in the country quite emulates its unique blend of old-world features, cosy lounges with wood-burning and dinner by candlelight quite as well. Dormy House Hotel manages to encapsulate this aesthetic perfectly, its edges smoothed and spaces elevated by a multi-million‐pound refurbishment by Todhunter Earle and Tony D’Alton that preserved original flagstones, oak beams, and exposed stone walls, while adding in a blend of Scandinavian-inspired interiors with cosy countryside chic accents.
As well as plush interiors designed for leisurely afternoons, Dormy House Hotel offers excellent food and an award-winning spa, complete with an outdoor whirlpool overlooking a roaring fire. It’s the stuff Cotswold staycation fantasies are made of. There’s no doubt that Dormy House Hotel enjoys an enviable reputation, but does this quintessential country house hotel live up to the hype? House of Coco writer Lauren Kate Hughes escaped hectic London and checked in for a 24-hour Cotswolds escape to find out.
Dormy House Hotel: First Impressions
Stepping into Dormy House Hotel feels much more like entering a manor house belonging to a character from Rivals (if that character had impeccable taste and a penchant for Nordic interiors). It’s very much a ‘House’ hotel for those who favour more intimate, cosy spaces and a personal touch when it comes to service. The atmosphere is relaxed, with guests enjoying drinks by the fire in the hotel’s cosy front room and a chic games room inviting us in for some analogue living. Already, frenetic city life feels far away, replaced by a slower pace.
Image credits: Lauren Hughes
The hotel has a boutique design, with 39 individually styled rooms and suites varying in size and style. This alone ensures no two staycations at Dormy House will ever feel quite the same. This intimate feel translates into its dining, with MO, a chef’s table dining experience with an experiential eight-course tasting menu, and The Back Garden, the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, which masters a cosy ambience with ease, its interiors botanical and menu truly seasonal.
Those who’ve heard of Dormy House Hotel’s spa credentials will no doubt race over and don their robes to experience some tranquillity in a quintessentially Cotswolds setting. The al fresco hydropool is surrounded by honey-hued limestone walls and woodland, with a roaring fire pit adding to its country charm.
Food and drink at Dormy House Hotel
The Back Garden restaurant is the hotel’s fine dining restaurant and gently nods to its surrounding gardens, where much of the produce is sourced, with botanical motifs and soft green shades. The menu is a delight to read through at a leisurely pace, with a focus on simple, well-thought-out dishes with winning flavours. The restaurant prides itself on using high-welfare meats and sourcing produce as locally as possible, with a focus on seasonality.
Image credits: Lauren Hughes
We feasted on Konro-grilled prawns, served with yoghurt, coriander and a fragrant tikka masala sauce and Cotswold gin-cured salmon to start, which were both light and delicious as a prelude to the main courses. Before this, we were served some arancini topped with finely grated parmesan, enjoyed alongside a glass of crisp Côtes de Provence rosé from Château la Tour de l’Eveque Rosé. The wine list is extensive, with a balanced amount of New World and Old World wines; a curated selection from across the globe, and hand-picked wines from local vineyards.
The mains reflected the level of care and artistry of the starters. We sampled the fillet of cod, served with smoked bacon, and St Austell Bay mussel chowder – a creamy, satisfying dish that managed to feel light and indulgent at the same time. My guest enjoyed the Home Farm braised lamb breast with a parmesan crust, served with a flavourful anchovy potato gratin.
One of the highlights of the meals was our after-dinner cocktails, selected from a list of inventive martinis. My dessert-like tiramisu martini, comprised of Kraken rum, double espresso, Kahlua, Cotswold Cream liqueur, and sugar syrup. My guest’s choice of fig martini, crafted with homemade fig liquor, was a delight – we both agreed we would return for that cocktail alone.
As well as the two restaurants, guests can also enjoy an aperitif in the cosy Shed lounge, serving cocktails, beers and light bites by the fire, or opt for more casual dining in The Greenhouse, serving healthy snacks, juices, smoothies and cakes. Breakfast is served in The Back Garden restaurant and offers a generous buffet with fresh juices, fruits, cereals and freshly-baked pastries. Hot dishes are available to order, including ‘The Full Dormy’ fry-up, pancakes and eggs baked with kippers.
The spa at Dormy House Hotel
A huge draw for hotel guests (and those of its neighbour, Foxhill Manor) is Dormy’s tranquil spa. The most recent renovation saw a new ‘Fire and Ice’ experience added to the hotel’s House Spa, with designers looking to nature for inspiration for its Himalayan salt sauna and forest-mist shower.
The Scandi-style thermal suite comes complete with a Himalayan salt sauna, aromatic steam room, snow and tropical showers, a wave‐massage bed and a floatation tank. Guests can also relax in the 16m indoor infinity pool and outdoor hydropool, surrounded by the hotel’s pretty exterior. Treatments are considered, including partnerships with top brands like Temple Spa and Proverb, as well as indulgent Tata Harper facials.
Dormy’s House Spa has acquired plenty of awards over the years, with a ‘5 Bubble’ rating from the Good Spa Guide, with Dormy being previously named ‘Best Spa Hotel’ in the Mr & Mrs Smith Awards, as well as Ultimate UK Spa Hotel by The Sunday Times in their 100 Best British Hotels list. Its success not only lies in its beautiful location, but also in its relaxing ambience – the spa never felt too busy or rowdy, with plenty of space for guests and day visitors to coexist in harmony and enjoy a moment to unwind.
The rooms at Dormy House Hotel
The decor and feel of the 39 rooms and suites at Dormy House Hotel are vastly different, inviting guests to return and try something new. Room sizes range from intimate to self-catering properties, with a couple of suites with hot tubs for a special occasion. All rooms have spacious king-size beds and Nespresso machines as standard, with indulgent Temple Spa products in the bathrooms. Rooms in the Danish Court area allow dogs if you’re seeking a doggie-friendly getaway.
We stayed in The Studio, a spacious loft-style suite, generously proportioned with a dining area, plush lounge area (complete with a drum kit), an alcove for record playing and a light-filled bedroom decked out in Dormy’s signature country-house style. The Studio suite is themed around music and features a playable drum kit, a vinyl record collection, and a sound system by Project – we commented during our stay that we’d have to return for a hotel room party in the future.
Image credits: Lauren Hughes
Like the rest of the hotel, the suite included plenty of thoughtful details, including crisps and olives to enjoy with a pre-dinner drink and some delicious handmade painted chocolates from local chocolatier ChoColours.
Need to know
Rooms at Dormy House start from £350 in an Intimate Room on a bed and breakfast basis, and
include access to The House Spa. For more information and to book, visit the Dormy House Hotel website.
