Boringdon Hall Hotel Review

It’s not every day you get to visit a hall on top of a hill and indulge in a luxury 5-star night away, is it? Well, our stay at Boringdon Hall Hotel couldn’t have been more perfect. And, for those thinking about visiting the enchanted hall that fits perfectly in a fairytale book, here’s my honest review… 

After a weekend away visiting my brother in Cornwall at the beginning of September, Doug and I were kindly invited for a one night stay at Boringdon Hall on our way back home.

Located just outside of Plymouth, Boringdon is pretty easy to access and isn’t too far away from main destinations – perfect for Cornwall and Devon travellers or for those looking to escape for a coastal getaway.

Upon arrival, Boringdon certainly lives up to its name (also known as ‘the enchanted place on the hill’.) Surrounded by up-kept greenery and blessed with a picture book driveway that fits the ideal of any fairytale manor, you’re soon escorted away from the outskirts of Plymouth town as you drive around the hilly bend to the hall.

Boringdon Hall Hotel

Boringdon Hall Hotel is famous for its magically imposing nature and detailed history – both of which add to the magnificent character of the hall.

After parking up and walking through the stone arch entrance, we were warmly welcomed with smiling faces and a glass of fizzy. Check-in was smooth and quick and within 5 minutes, we were taken to our suite up a spiral flight of stairs.

The Saltram Suite

We stayed in The Saltram Suite – a room rich in historic charm and finished with an interior eye. Our hideaway boasted a cut-off living room area complimented with a crystal chandelier, a super king-size bed and a bathroom made for two with glorious garden views.

It’s easy to say that Boringdon goes above and beyond for their customers. Besides having our own Nespresso machine (hello morning coffee in bed), I was delighted with the goodies waiting for us as we arrived: fresh fruit, rich chocolate truffles and Gaia skin care products.

As a treat, Boringdon offers you full use of their spa products to use and try during your stay. If you end up loving them (just like I did), then you get to keep the product yourself and simply pay for it at the end of your stay. My two recommendations: the body oil and lip balm. My skin and lips have loved me ever since. 

Another feature I loved about our room was the double-ended bathtub and the twin showers. Let’s face it, we all look forward to seeing what the bathrooms have to offer when we head away to a plush hotel for a night or two, don’t we?

As for the room itself, it certainly sparked a few decor ideas for the budding interior designer inside of me. From the gorgeous bedding to the fabric of the curtains, quality is certainly not lacked when it comes to the rooms at Boringdon. If two flat screen LCD TV’s don’t impress you, then a well-stocked mini fridge with a high-end coffee machine filled with all your beverage goods will.

The Gallery Restaurant

As part of our itinerary, we were also gifted a three-course meal at Boringdon’s Gallery Restaurant – a 3 AA Rosette dining experience with head chef, Scott Paton.

At 7.30pm, freshly showered and dolled up, we headed to our balcony table that beautifully overlooked the grand hall with a crackling fire that roared away beneath us. 

Served with waiters in white formal gloves, and addressed as lady and gentleman, you can’t help but feel a little too important (and expensive) for the evening ahead. 

Doug and I both chose deer loin for our main meal and then opted for terrine of duck confit and scallop tacos for starters. Our mains were cooked to perfection and the puree was delicately sweet which complemented the richness of the deer.

As for our desserts, I decided to taste the 66% caraïbe chocolate and Doug chose his favourite: white chocolate. Whilst both desserts were pleasantly rich with flavour, my caraïbe chocolate wasn’t anything different to what I’ve had before. Doug’s dessert on the other hand, went down a treat.

We also had the chance to taste a few other dishes in between our meals – all of which complimented our palettes beautifully. Whilst the portions may look small, neither of us left with a hungry tummy and overall, it was a wonderful experience tasting the finest, locally sourced ingredients.

All in all, the food was wonderful and unique to your everyday tastes (minus the dessert perhaps), but if you don’t fancy a bill over £100, then a casual evening in the lounge below – sunken into the sofa’s next to the fireplace – might be your next best bet.

Gaia Spa at Boringdon Hall Hotel

Admittedly, I’m not the biggest spa fan, but our visit to Boringdon Spa couldn’t have come at a better time.

After a week of restless nights, and no more than 5 hours sleep every day, my body was aching for a chilled out morning doing absolutely nothing but walking from one steam room to the next. 

Neither of us opted for treatments in particular, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t enjoy full access to the spa and gym facilities.

Gaia Spa is a luxury spa set within the grounds of Boringdon Hall. Taking after its name (Gaia is also known as Mother Nature), the spa’s interior and exterior encompass natural materials including wood and stone to bring an element of the outdoors in.

In total, the spa has 5 different heat experiences, a luxury indoor swimming pool, a hydrotherapy pool with an outdoor swim through to countryside views, and showers with various experiences.

Just to the side, the spa also has a well equipped gym with separate changing areas – perfect for any gym goer.

We decided to spend the morning relaxing and jumping from one spa experience to the next (with a little swim in between) before we showered, changed and headed for brunch – the perfect post spa indulgence.

As for the spa itself, I would 100% recommend paying it a visit during your stay for a little bit of self care.

Brunch in the Spatisserie Restaurant

Just like the rest of our stay, brunch fitted into the picture-perfect ideal with a gorgeous setting and a relaxing ambience.

As part of our itinerary, we were kindly gifted brunch at 10.30am. With empty stomachs, we both welcomed the diverse menu (which caters for allergies of all sorts) and went ahead and picked our favourites: avocado on toast with poached eggs and smoked salmon with cream cheese. Both served with a fresh cup of coffee and a cold drink of choice, of course. 

Although portions were petite, the quality was fresh and delicious.

All in all, our stay at Boringdon was perfect. Usually, I can quite often pick faults or niggles at places or things, but after our visit, we both agreed that we genuinely couldn’t find a thing to moan or grumble about. From our luxurious suite to our 3-course meal fit for a king, our visit will certainly be one to remember and tell all. 

If a relaxing weekend away hidden on top of a hill in an enchanted hall is what your after, then a visit to Boringdon Hall Hotel should certainly make it on your list of places to experience this year (or next).

If you’d like to see our stay at Boringdon Hall come to life, then make sure you check out my Boringdon story highlights over on my Instagram page. Just click here!

Disclaimer: As mentioned throughout, our stay at Boringdon Hall Hotel was gifted, however, all opinions are my own.

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