The Hind's Head, Aldermaston - review

Our latest Design Destination, The Hind's Head in Aldermaston, nods to its literary heritage for a characterful touch...
1/7
Amira Hashish3 January 2017

This boutique retreat is ideal for Londoners keen to escape city life for a dinner and stay...

Where is it? In the village of Aldermaston, close to Newbury in Berkshire. Surrounded by countryside, it is a good spot for a leisurely stroll.

What's the story? A 15th century coaching inn which has recently undergone a full refurbishment and is now managed by Mathieu Triquart. Part of the Fuller's group, real ales are served on tap and a hearty dinner can be followed by a stay in one of the 15 individually designed bedrooms.

Design details: There is a very cosy ambience at The Hind's Head with wood-clad walls, log fires and low ceilings creating a farmhouse look. Some of the guest rooms are named after author E.M. Forster, whose family resided here for many years. His novels are framed outside their corresponding rooms.

Further nods to the building's heritage come in the form of RAF memorabilia which is scattered throughout the dining areas. Aldermaston was originally built as an RAF Bomber Command airfield during 1941-1942.

There are several alcoves which create an intimate atmosphere, including a wine cellar inspired room which is a quirky space for breakfast.

The bedrooms are rustically decorated with exposed brickwork, wooden beams and storage, retro lighting, leather furniture and industrial style bed frames with comfortable mattresses. Bathrooms have statement tiles and good quality shower products which are made in Britain.

There are fresh robes, towers and slippers at hand. Plus, tea, coffee and water is supplied. A great blend of style and practical living.

Which room? A Passage to India, aka Room 12, is a favourite. Split over two levels, the bed sits on the raised platform under beamed ceilings. There is a power shower as well as a bath in the spacious bathroom. This snug space feels more like a barn than a bedroom.

On the menu: Dinner is served in front of the log fire. Tuck into social plates, including flat bread and red pepper hummus or black cab rarebit then enjoy a spiced green lentil curry or a Chalcroft Farm beefburger for main. The ice cream selection by Laverstoke Park farm is very tasty.

Part of the Fuller’s group, there is a great selection of brews on tap including London Pride and Oliver’s Island. For those who aren’t fans of ales, world wines, spirits and soft drinks are available.

There is also a freshly cooked breakfast menu which ranges from porridge to a Full English. Plus, a breakfast table with cereals and juices.

Anything else I should know? Dogs are welcome if you mention you would like to bring your pooch when booking.

Best for: a cosy night away from London.

Best winter breaks in Britain - in pictures

1/66

When to go: to take full advantage of those fires and the farmhouse feel, venture here in colder months.

How to get there: trains from London Paddington to Aldermaston (with a swap at Reading) take less than an hour. Alternatively, go from London Waterloo to Basingstoke, which is around a 20-minute cab journey away.

How do I book? Visit hindsheadaldermaston.co.uk or call 01189 712194.

Follow Amira Hashish on Twitter @amiranews and Instagram @thedesigneditor

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in