Ellenborough Park

Very handy for an overnight stay when going to see the races, in fact, a path will allow you to walk from hotel to the racecourse as it is only a mile and a half walk, (although parking is free at the racecourse meeting) WE HAVE ALREADY OFFERED REVIEWS FOR ELLENBOROUGH PARK FOR YOU, on Euans guide, so please read these first. We do not regard this as a wheelchair friendly hotel though, too many steps and ramps needed to see it all. NICE THOUGH IF YOU HAVE A SOME MOBILTY, and can cope with steps. OUR REVIEW FOR RACE DAY MEETINGS When you arrive at Ellenborough (photo 1) there are disabled parking spaces to be seen if you TURN RIGHT at the first junction, signed for disabled parking, but then you have a long ride for your carer to push you to reach the reception desk (photo 2) shows way you need to go, and it’s right at the far end, turning left to go towards reception. NOT A GOOD INTRODUCTION However, we suggest you drive to the left and follow main route towards the hotels entrance, were you will first pass the lawn and outdoor seating areas (photo 3) You will pass the hotel itself, as you go round bends (photo 4) to pass the willow made horse and turrets (photo 5) before arriving at the arch that you need to go under (photo 6) then follow road to the right. You will then arrive at the main entrance, and a small car park, which is always full, but you may be lucky enough to find a tight spot (photo 7) passengers will have to get out first before you pull into any space. It will then be a quick and easy ride by chair to get to reception (photo 8). It is a very pleasant looking hotel as you approach, with flower laid beds no matter what time of year (photo 9) and the entrance is on the level with doors normally opened (photo 10) if not then it’s a pull push door handle, but it looks inviting enough. You enter the main hallway (photo 11), plain and simple enough, reception desk over to your right, but it’s coffee break we are after just now (photo 12) Sadly, this continues to let us down, it’s more of a typical coffee shop setting, plain table and chairs, not at all attractive a place, and with no where else to sit, you make the best of it that you can. Going out again, you will pass a nice little corner setting, table and chairs inviting, but not today as it’s raining (photo 13) and it’s back to the car (photo 14) If you are going to the races today at Cheltenham, you could choose to take the path ahead of the car park (photo 15) and you can see the race course ahead of you for a mile and a half walk, or simply take the car round to the course itself, it’s free parking on race days, and Cheltenham is a beautiful course, with views over towards the hills, and the last building you can see over to the right from here, right in the centre of the photo, but away in the Mist, is Ellenborough Park itself (photo 16). (OUR NEXT REVIEW WILL BE FOR A RACE DAY AT CHELTENHAM ) OUR FINAL THOUGHTS A most uninspiring place inside, looks good outside, but let down by inside.

Although a very nice hotel, too many little things that concerned us prevented us offering higher marks, but it’s still a lovely building and area to go and visit. (DO READ PART TWO AS WELL), for further details. Our review is given as all our other reviews are, ( over 30 hotels reviewed) to encourage you to go and take a visit and see all the hotels we share with you, and all of them are based on a short two hour or so visit, and enjoy refreshments with them as you walk around and enjoy these various hotels. Of course, you can gain much information that may help you decide to take an overnight stay, and Some of the hotels are well worth doing just that, but our intention is to allow these hotels, as well as in this instance, Ellenborough Park hotel, to offer you their hospitality over a shared drink or two, while you enjoy the hotels for a short visit. We will first of all start our review with a short history lesson of Ellenborough Park. This 15th century English country estate, grade 11 listed Ellenborough Park hotel, is steeped in history, and lies in the Cotswold countryside, close to Cheltenham, and just a pleasant stroll of one and a half miles from the famous Cheltenham race course. Thomas Goodman, a tenant farmer, seeing his former house falling into disrepair, began to construct a new home quite close to his old house, in 1485, and he transported the sandstone blocks with a horse and cart, block by block and as much material as he could muster. Over the years, the house has been rebuilt, named as Southam house, and in 1520 it was sold to Sir John Huddlestone, and he completed building the house, and seeing his daughter marry a Kinnair de la Bere. The original front door, solid Oak, is still in use today, and it has a number of bullet holes still very much visible, and supposedly to have been fired by Oliver Cromwell. In 1833 the first Earl of Ellenborough, bought the house, still known as Southam house, and work began to renovate many areas of the country house, or Manor. Built in early Tudor style, the Great hall was built, along with other rooms, using Oak beams, stone fireplaces and stained glass, and additions were made in Gothic and Neo-Norman architectural style, and they used Cotswold Ashlar stone, a stone slate roof, and other Ashlar stacks were built, and now after 500 years it is still held in high regard by many. In 1609, the Manor House was bought by Richard de la Bere. During 1826 miss de la Bere lived in the house. From 1906 Mrs Ratcliffe and daughters Lilian and Phyllis lived here, until 1927, and enjoyed a fulfilling life nursing wounded soldiers back to health, along with other interests. By 1947, a private school for girls ran for 25 years until the school closed and was sold to become the first hotel, de la Bere hotel, until that closed in 2008. Ellenborough Park hotel then began another restoration in 2008, taking 3 years or more to complete. Then launched in 2011, and now owned by Shetlands hotels ltd, operated by Michaels and Taylor, the hotel management company. But in 2017, further work commenced with an extensive refurbishment, which gained a new front entrance, but still using the old original door of 1485, and the two restaurants, The Horse Box, and the main Beaufort restaurant were given a complete makeover, and a reception area was then created. The Horse box Brasserier serves lunch 12 till 2.30, with a reasonable menu, and afternoon tea 2.00 till 4.30, but you really need to take in afternoon tea in the main restaurant itself, 2.00 until 4.30, and receive that bit of pampering you deserve. We arrived from the village of Ellenborough along the main lane towards Ellenborough Park hotel, and drove through a small walled entrance for the driveways into the park. You are then given a choice of directions, either left to follow the long driveway round the park areas, or as we did, to the right towards the obvious disabled parking bays. Bad choice. (Photo 1) shows a delightful building as you approach, with a statue of a horse standing alongside the walled hotel. It is quite near to the famous Cheltenham race course, and there is a path leading you for a pleasant mile and a half walk from the front of the hotel to the race course. There is a nice outside terrace area on the lawn (photo 2) and a few little round pods that you can sit in as well as the tables and chairs. The drive continues round to the gatehouse (photo 3) with a beautiful backdrop. As you drive through, over to the left is an annexe with a few of the bedrooms. (Photo 4). Continue ahead through another walled gateway to the main part of the hotel. (Photo 5). Those pillars lead you to a small car parking area, with no disabled bays, which is opposite to the very attractive frontage of the hotel, (photo 6) and then there is a level pathway which leads into the reception, (photo 7) and the wooden door you go through is the original heavy Oak door, and on a cold winters day would be closed. The reception area has certainly got character, but not inspiring, (photo 8) and from here you would be directed to the disabled parking bays, which we imagine would be close to your room. (Photo 9) shows there are 11 disabled bays available, and there is a ramp, (photo 10) which only Adds to the confusion of finding the reception again. The signs seemed to lead you towards Woodland Court (photo 11) where we think the disabled rooms are. Access to the reception has a pull handle door (photo 12) but it is on the level, and you enter the passage. A very small lift (photo 13) is available, only just big enough for the wheelchair, then another little corridor leads you to the fitness centre and changing rooms (photo 14). A plain simple corridor leads you to the bedrooms (photo 15). However, the actual way to the reception for disabled was to head back towards the gateway again, just follow (photo 16). From the reception, you are led to the Horsebox restaurant (photo 17) if you would like lunch or a drink, not at all inspiring. To reach the bar and Cocktail lounge, there are two sets of steps to get down (photo 18) to a large pleasant looking bar (photo 19) and into the unattractive cafe looking cocktail lounge. (Photo 20). Our final thoughts. The exterior of the hotel is very pleasing and attractive to the eye, and welcoming. For us, our visit was completely spoilt by the disaster of trying to find the reception from the disabled parking bays, with such a long walk following, and if it was raining it wouldn’t please you at all. And then to be shown into the Horsebox restaurant area was most off putting. All in all, on this part one review of Ellenborough Park hotel, we would not recommend it to a disabled person, but do please read part two before making your mind over as regards visiting for a short coffee or lunch break.

We continue our exploration of the historical park and hotel with our second review of this old 15th century building, and having been disappointed with our first impressions of hotel, we hope we will be more impressed with our second review for you. If you have not yet managed to read part one, may we encourage you to do so, as we have offered you a historical account of the halls beginning, with some interesting facts you can enjoy reading about at any time. We commence our review following our coffee break in the Horse Box restaurant and we left to go through reception (photo 1) to enter the Great Hall. A large comfortable hall, with plenty of appeal, pleasantly furnished with warm overtones, offering afternoon tea, (photo 2) and we suggest you look at the old 1400,s original door, on the left of photo, with its history of having been shot at by Oliver Cromwell and bullet marks still plainly seen. An ornate chandelier highlights the leaded glazed tall windows (photo 3) laid ready for your afternoon tea, or you may take afternoon tea luxuriating in the dying embers of a real fire, (photo 4) or perhaps you would take tea in your own little alcove as did the two ladies who kindly gave permission to show you our photo. (Photo 5). Out of the Great Hall, you reach the disabled toilet (photo 6) all on the level, and although it has pull cord and grab rails, it’s a very plain simple toilet, large enough to turn a wheelchair, as everything is placed against the far wall. (Photo 7). The passage to the restaurant is by the disabled toilet. There is a ramp up to the restaurant, ( photo 8) but it is extremely steep, and very dangerous, as you could easily tip backwards. From the ramp, it leads into a small hallway of dark rich oak wood and panelled rooms (photo 9). The restaurant (photo 10) is plush, with its dark oak panels, a huge stone fireplace with carved figurines. A large chandelier sets off the beautiful ornate ceiling. The smaller area of the restaurant (photo 11) continues with the dark oak wood theme. Venturing outside again, we saw the level entrance into the modern Spa (photo 12) Which leads you into the fitness courtyard ( photo 13) containing an outside open air Pswimming pool (photo 14). Although a lovely sunny late October day, visitors were still enjoying the outdoor heated pool (photo 15). Exiting the courtyard we arrived at the main paved pathway (photo 16) which led from the gatehouse to the disabled parking bays (photo 17) for our return journey home. Our final thoughts This second part of our review was far more inviting, with its historical Great Hall, and plush elegant restaurant. However, although it had easy access into the Great Hall, you will have to face the challenge of a very steep ramp, or the three steps to reach the restaurant and the remaining guest rooms. Although we enjoyed this part of the hall, we still feel the danger, following a previous accident of tipping backwards at another hotel.