Mr & Mrs Smith

Babington House

Somerset, United Kingdom

The launch of the country cousin of media hangout Soho House kick-started the march of metropolitan cool into the countryside. At this impressive manor house in the rolling Somerset countryside, hip staff greet you at the door, not a uniform in sight. The truly relaxing do-what-you-want atmosphere is Babington House's real feat; others can imitate, but it's the service that makes the difference.

Need to know

• Rooms 32 rooms: 11 in the main house, three by the spa, five family rooms in the stable block, and the Lodge, a three-bedroom cottage at the top of the drive.
• Rates Double rooms from $352.82 (£225), excluding tax at 20 per cent.
  Prices have been converted from the hotel's local currency (£225), via XE.com, using today's exchange rate.
• More details Breakfast is extra.
• Facilities Gardens, Cowshed Spa with indoor and outdoor pools, gym, sauna and steam room, library, pool room (with a stash of cigars), 45-seat cinema, croquet lawn, tennis courts, cricket pitch and DVD selection. In rooms: LCD TV, DVD player, free WiFi and Cowshed bath products.
• Poolside The outdoor pool will be closed for refurbishment from April 16th to May 14th.
• Check-out Midday, but once you’ve checked out you can hang around.
• Children Very welcome, especially in the Stable Block rooms. There’s the free Little House crèche for kids aged one and up, and there are designated children’s hours at the pool during the week. Babysitting can be arranged, and there’s a menu for wee ones. More...
• Also There’s a minimum two-night stay on Friday and Saturday nights. Family rooms and the Lodge are normally booked up a year in advance. Weddings are held most Thursdays.

Food and drink at Babington House

• Hotel restaurant There are three dining areas: the gastropubby House Kitchen, the banquetty Log Room, and airy and elegant main restaurant area, the Orangery. All serve a self-assured menu of tasty brasserie fare.
• Dress code Barefoot or ballgown.
• Top table By day, sit at the edge of the Orangery overlooking the lawn; at night, ask for a restaurant view.
• Last orders The restaurant closes when last guest leaves. Bar open until 2am, later for residents.
• Room service Anything, any time.
• Hotel bar On the ground floor, the House Bar is a curvaceous, high-ceilinged, French-windowed picture of country elegance, where guests hunker down on turtle-green Chesterfields and velvety lilac armchairs.

Also worth knowing

• Weddings This property is suitable for weddings. More...

Babington House Babington House, Nr Frome Somerset, Northeast Somerset, BA11 3RW