Babington House

For Valentine’s Day, Mr Smith and I decided to escape to Somerset for a stay at the legendary Babington House. Only 30 minutes’ drive from Bath, Soho House’s longest-standing rural property is a historic, honey-coloured Georgian manor set within 18 acres of unspoilt English countryside. After winding down a long, tree-lined drive, and passing by the picturesque estate chapel and tennis courts, we headed straight into the lobby for check-in. 

Upstairs to our bedroom: we were staying in one of the larger Main House suites, which was awash in pale pinks and pastel shades, offset by sleek, dark wooden furniture. The super-king-size bed was large enough to sleep a small family, and there was even a generous, freestanding bath tub plonked in front of the fireplace. Bedrooms across the estate range from smaller Attic rooms in the listed manor that are still spacious enough for couples to sprawl out, to two-storey pads in the adjoining Coach House, and even a two-bedroom cabin down by the lake. Expect elegant furnishings in all of the bedrooms regardless of size, including beds piled high with goose-down pillows and plush velvet sofas that invite you to kick back and curl up. You’ll find all of your usual Soho House luxuries: a generous selection of Cowshed bath products (almost too many to choose from), homemade cookies waiting in the minibar which are topped up every day, and ridiculously fluffy bathrobes. 

We were feeling peckish, so headed downstairs and soon discovered what would turn out to be our favourite feature of the hotel: Babington’s daily afternoon tea ritual, served at 3pm, and free for all hotel guests. You’ll find a table in the deli piled high with a colourful array of scones, biscuits and daily changing cakes, which we indulged in with abandon. Naturally, this daily offering draws a flock of guests from around the hotel, so we queued up to pile our plates high and headed into the light-filled Orangery, where one of the waiters whizzed over with coffee and tea. The Orangery houses the hotel’s main restaurant: it’s a relaxed hub of activity where guests are encouraged to stay for hours, as lunch service turns into dinner and so on… It has doors opening onto the garden and there’s a laidback atmosphere here despite the slightly more formal menu. Beautifully plated salads and vegetable dishes sit alongside hearty steaks and my personal favourite: rotisserie chicken for two served with chips and gravy.

If you’re in search of lighter bites, you’ll find expert cocktails and a more casual menu next to the deli at the crescent-shaped bar – order a signature Soho House Picante and Dirty Burger and kick back on the plush pink sofas with a game of cards. In the summer months, tables spill onto the lawn, where there’s a barbecue buffet served all day and striped day-beds are placed out for guests to loll on. When the house is busy (you have day members popping in every day, after all), there are several other cosy rooms to hide away in: adjoining the lobby are the wood-panelled Library, where freelancers type away on computers, and the Games Room, where you can curl up on one of the squishy, patterned sofas in front of the fire. Another room called the Snug is tucked away at the back of the house; we spent an afternoon curled up here undisturbed with a good book. 

Of course, Babington is best known for its impressive Cowshed Spa, so we factored in a pilgrimage there during our stay – inside the leafy walled gardens and far enough from the main house to feel supremely serene. Inside, there are chic manicure booths, private hot tubs to soak in, and treatment rooms for facials and massages – there were so many different treatments to choose from, but we opted for a couple’s massage, where we were buffed and pampered to perfection, and left feeling incredibly restored.

When we felt a little more active, we made use of the other facilities on-site, including the tennis courts and the impressive indoor and outdoor pools, which of course have an adjoining bar to ensure those Picantes keep flowing. There’s also a gym, which I personally avoided (cake was my priority instead). The cinema, which has daily screenings of new releases, is definitely worth visiting during your stay.

All in all, we had to wrench ourselves away from Babington at the end of our stay – we delayed our inevitable departure as long as possible with a lie-in and lazy brunch in the Orangery before the train ride home. This is the kind of place where you go to relax and do nothing – and by nothing, I mean indulge in good food (of which there is no shortage), enjoy the fresh countryside air and perhaps have a spa treatment while you’re at it. This is laidback luxury at its very best.