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The history goes back long before the 18th-century, dating from the 14th-century: In 1753 Thames Villiers, Earl of Jersey, British Ambassador to France, was the registered owner, and in 1775 Villiers became the 1st Earl of Clarendon, at the time the family grew in political circles, notable visitors Kind Edward VII and the well-known British Premier Minister Lord Palmerston. The famous artist George Stubbs (1724-1806), painted some of his famous paintings of horses at The Grove, having walked to the estate from his home in Edgware, which is now in North London.
In 1920 the Clarendon family left The Grove, and it became a girl's school, a horticultural college and eventually a management training centre and has had a very chequered history; very few hotels/resorts can claim a history like The Grove. This is a real country resort, less than twenty minutes by train from Euston Station in Central London and 30 minutes from Heathrow, and near the M25 freeway, location could not be better.
The resort took ten years to build; from initial ideas to planning permission being granted, because of the complexity of the project, the old building is stepped in history, with new wings added to blend traditional with modern.
There are 227 rooms and a number of suites, the resort can accommodate 500 guests with ease, and many with balconies of terraces, some with working fireplaces (even in the bathroom), all have views over the gardens and parkland. My room was very modern with all the usual high-tech equipment you would expect from a five-star hotel, but with wonderful views of the golf course and gardens.
"Groovy Grand" is how Martin Hulbert, the Design Director of Fox Linton Associates, appositely described as the decidedly unstuffy interiors, he spent over five years creating The Grove, a number of the gradenau of paintings and arts were bought or commissioned in France during Martin's frequent shopping sprees in Paris, and L'lsle-sur-la-Sorgue, the Luberson's unrivalled centre for antiques.
There are traditional pictures in The Grove, above the oak panelling on the main staircase wall, for example, there is a huge, black-and white photo-image of giraffe standing surreal.
The Grove also has a business centre and is ideal for corporate conferences; the interesting point is that clientele changes in the week from the weekend, in the week corporate guests, at the weekend more leisure break guests and golfers, with many guests from the local community, the resort caters for a number of markets.h
The spa is designed to have symmetry and communicate a sense of space and relaxation throughout it's inter-relating rooms. Lovely natural material s have been used allowing guests to relate to the environment and feel comfortable within it.
“It's a tranquil haven infusing a sense of balance and equilibrium”
- Tony Collett, Collett Zarzycki, Designers and Architects
**The spa is named after the Sequoia Tree, which is a native of the Sierra Nevada, California, and they can be found in 75 separate locations, including Yosemite National Park. They are often referred to as the "Sierra Redwood" and the "Big Tree," it is one of the oldest living trees on earth today. The Sequoia Tree is one of the fastest growing trees in the world and dates back to 175 million years ago; it can grow to 270ft in height.
The stable block is now home to Sequoia, The Grove's stunning spa, which I can say offers wonderful treatments, with twelve luxurious treatment rooms, a purified saltwater vitality pool, private relaxation areas, heat experiences and a health bar. ESPA is the product house, owned by Susan Harmsworth, who most certainly makes ESPA very different and unique, all credit to her and her team, for the truly wonderful product line.
The large state-of-the-art spa is designed as tranquil journey, with inter-relating rooms and spaces. Housed in two sister buildings, designed to complement the existing stable buildings, is a large indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi and exercise studios and a dedicated manicure-pedicure-make-up salon..
© SPA MANAGEMENT JOURNAL - MAY 2008
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