Home Hotel reviewsCountry house hotels Park House hotel: a West Sussex spa secret no more

Park House hotel: a West Sussex spa secret no more

by Sarah Bridge
park house hotel

A stay at Park House hotel

It’s been receiving guests for more than 60 years, but Park House hotel is only just making the transition from well-kept local secret to firm fixture on the British country house hotel scene.

With Park House hotel spa frequently making the shortlist at the prestigious Good Spa Guide awards, Park House hotel is making a name for itself and, judging by my stay there, seems more than up to the task.

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outdoor swimming pool at park house hotel spa

Park House hotel has two good-sized swimming pools; one outside and the other in the main spa building which also contains a gym and treatment rooms

Arriving at Park House hotel and spa

Park House is hidden deep in the West Sussex countryside. If you drive south from Midhurst you are assured of an easier route, but if you drive north from nearby Goodwood then the journey takes in single-track roads with high hedges and invariably a tractor coming the other way, Park House hotel isn’t vast but manages to pack a lot into the space it has.

croquet lawn at Park House hotel

At the back of the hotel is a golf course, a bowling lawn, two tennis courts and a croquet lawn

The grounds behind the hotel are surrounded by lush green Sussex countryside and offers two lawn tennis courts, a bowling green, a small but perfectly-formed six-hole golf course, two helipads, and a croquet lawn.

Park House hotel spa

The spa has both an indoor and an outdoor pool – the weather was warm enough at the beginning of October for me to swim in the outdoor pool – as well as a jacuzzi, a steam room and sauna and a gym and fitness studio.

Looking for hotels in Sussex? 

Country escape at Bailiffscourt hotel & spa, West Sussex
West Sussex spa break at South Lodge hotel & spa
Gourmet stay at Gravetye Manor, a West Sussex gem
A traditional seaside stay at The Grand hotel, Eastbourne
Time for serious pampering at Ockenden Manor hotel & spa
Ashdown Park, West Sussex: luxury hotel in beautiful grounds
A relaxing stay at the Spread Eagle hotel & spa, Midhurst

 indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi hot tub

The spa at Park House hotel contains a large indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi hot tub

However this doesn’t mean that you have to work yourself into the ground at Park House hotel. Instead of hitting the gym I opted for an extremely relaxing massage following my swim, enjoyed trying out the foot spa which was thoughtfully provided in the changing rooms, before floating  back to my room in my fluffy white toweling robe.

Book Park House at Booking.com

Visit Park House on Tripadvisor

Park House bedrooms

There are 12 en-suite bedrooms in the main house, six in the separate South Downs Cottage, two in Polo Cottage and one in Bay Tree Cottage; the cottages can all be hired out for exclusive use, such as for families, wedding parties or country sports enthusiasts.

We stayed in South Downs Cottage and our first floor room was immaculate, with a balcony overlooking the kitchen garden and a very smart bathroom with underfloor heating.

twin beds in South Downs Cottage at park house hotel west sussex

Our room in South Downs Cottage was immaculate and decorated in a smart, classic style

bathroom at South Downs Cottage Park House hotel

The bathroom wasn’t spacious but was very smart, with underfloor heating, a walk-in shower (on the right) and a range of toiletries

sofa and televisions at park house hotel west sussex

Our room had a cosy sofa and a balcony overlooking the garden below

Again Park House hotel managed to pack a lot into a compact space, with all the essentials of a good hotel room: coffee machine, desk, TV, plug points and free wifi everywhere and ample storage space.

bedroom Park House hotel and spa

The corner bedroom in the main house

I was lucky to be able to return to Park House later and stayed in the main house which was really lovely. I was given a beautiful corner room which overlooked the grass tennis court and from my chaise-longue window seat I watched a group play a hectic game while I had a G&T while enjoying the superb views across West Sussex.

The decent-sized bathroom was immaculate and there were all the towels and fluffy robes you could wish for, plus a kettle, TV, table and chairs and absolutely no traffic noise whatsoever.

Park House history

Park House hotel was originally run by owners Ione and Michael O’Brien as a home where friends could stay, and gradually evolved into the country house hotel it is today, run by their grandson Seamus. This gives it a warm and cosy feeling, such as in the lounge where people were having afternoon tea, or meeting for pre-dinner drinks, but means some areas feel a little old-fashioned, such as the conservatory where dozens of photos of celebrities from yesteryear adorn the walls.

I’d say Park House hotel fits into the traditional hotel category rather than being a modern boutique hotel but that’s its charm; that and the very friendly and efficient staff.

guest lounge at park house hotel west sussex

The lounge where guests enjoy afternoon tea or pre-dinner drinks

Park House restaurant

Dinner looked promising from the very start, with clear and well-thought out menu of classic British dishes. We had the cod with wilted spinach and handpicked crab with avocado cream to start, and then both chose the lamb rump, having it with green beans, olives and saffron potatoes which were supposed to accompany the sea trout dish instead: however the kitchen was happy to accommodate.

crab with apple and avocado cream starter

Handpicked crab with apple and avocado cream starter

lamb with quails eggs and new potatoes

A impressively-sized lamb rump with quails eggs and new potatoes

The lamb was perfectly cooked and was the largest helping I’d seen for some time: we just about had room to share the pistachio, chocolate and raspberry souffle before ambling across the gravel driveway to our cottage and bed.

Pistachio souffle with chocolate sauce and raspberry sorbet

Pistachio souffle with chocolate sauce and raspberry sorbet

Park House hotel breakfast

Breakfast was just as efficiently cooked and served as dinner, with a good selection of cooked dishes to enjoy from our table overlooking the gardens. When we left, having enjoyed a lengthy walk around the grounds in the early morning sunshine, Park House hotel was a hive of activity, from people arriving for fitness classes to meetings being held in the lounge over morning coffee.

Park House might be hidden deep in the heart of the Sussex countryside but its new sense of energy and purpose is already making waves.

Hotel information and book Park House hotel and spa

Park House hotel and spaBepton, Nr. MidhurstWest Sussex GU29 0JBUnited Kingdom
+44 (0)1730 819020

Book Park House at Booking.com

Visit Park House on Tripadvisor

If you like country house hotels then you won’t want to miss: Dormy House in the Cotwolds: so snug, you’ll never want to leave; Barnsley House hotel and spa: a cosy Cotswolds hideaway; Danesfield House hotel and spa: relaxation by the Thames

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