In the know

Our favourite rooms: Each room contains a kingsize-or-larger antique Indian or Lombok bed. We love penthouse-suite Room 104, in the main house’s attic, for its evocative views of the marsh. Room 106, a private cottage, has a roll-top bath and wood-burning stove, which comes into its own in winter. Families or groups of friends should book the self-contained, four-bedroom Byre.
Packing tips: Welsh-English dictionary.
Also: Hurst House can arrange clay-pigeon shooting and quad biking, among other activities. The bijou spa offers massage, beauty therapy and holistic remedies, such as reflexology, and features luxury products, including the Elemental Herbology range.

Current offers

Smith card offer: A bottle of pink champagne in your room

Wales hotels: Hurst House, food and drink

More photos

Hurst House on the Marsh

Carmarthen Bay, United Kingdom[view map]

Style: Contemporary countryside clubhouse
Setting: Lost in Wales

Hurst House on the Marsh in Carmarthen Bay was once a farm estate, but, thanks to a multimillion pound overhaul, you'd never know that now. Its handsome chrome-and-glass bar looks like an art installation on loan from Tate Modern and it has a gastronomer's dream of a restaurant. It even has a helipad.

Need to know

Rooms: 17 suites, including six Mezzanine rooms.
Rates: £265–£450, including full Welsh breakfast and afternoon tea.
Check-out: 11am, although this is flexible; check-in, 3pm.
Facilities: Helipad, library of books and DVDs, spa, gym and heated indoor pool. In rooms: flatscreen TV, DVD player, free WiFi, Frette linen, underfloor heating, REN toiletries.
Hotel closed: The hotel will close for maintenance work from 3 January 2010 until 7 January 2010.
Also: There's a two-night minimum stay at New Year.

Food & drink

Hotel restaurant: Pass through towering Moroccan hand-carved doors into the expansive Hurst House restaurant to sample star chef Michael Bulnos' Modern British cuisine. Local produce’s the thing here: expect lashings of salt marsh lamb and sea trout.
Dress code: Be extraordinary... anything goes, especially if it can be layered (this is the coast, after all).
Top table: Pick any window table for tranquil views over the walled garden, where many of your greens will have grown.
Last orders: The restaurant is open for breakfast from 8am to 10.30am; last orders, 10.30pm.
Room service: A 24-hour, reduced-menu service and snack menu springs into action between meal times. If you’d rather laze low, breakfast – or even afternoon tea – can be taken in bed.
Hotel bar: A homely and relaxing oak-floored space that juxtaposes a landed-gentry fireplace (ideal for lolling beside with a tumbler of whisky) and dark tan leather sofas with a contemporary-cool bar layered with chrome and stained glass.

Also worth knowing

Children: Welcome, but no special provisions. Extra beds and cots available. Babysitting can be arranged.

Smith Members offer

A bottle of pink champagne in your room

If you're a member of Mr & Mrs Smith, you can get special privileges at every Smith hotel you book through us. Just show your Smith card at check-in to claim the offer featured on every hotel page (like the one above).

Click here to become a Mr & Mrs Smith member

Smith travel team

If you'd prefer to talk to someone, or don't want to book online, call our travel team on 1 866 610 3867. We guarantee you’ll get the best available rates, and we don’t charge a booking fee.