A rabbit hops across the front lawn as we arrive at Water Meadow Cottage; it’s not your average check-in welcome, but then this is far from your average holiday rental.
For a start, it’s on the Blenheim Palace Estate, seat of the Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Winston Churchill. The 18th-century property – originally a gatehouse, presumably – lies in a secluded riverside spot beside one of the palace’s private entrances. Surrounded by peaceful woods and meadows, it’s hard to believe that London Paddington is a mere hour’s train ride away (what’s more, you can walk directly from Hanborough station to the cottage door in less than ten minutes). Beneath the birdsong the occasional hum of passing traffic at the end of the drive and a copy of The Times delivered each morning are the only reminders of the outside world we encounter here.
Then there’s the decor. Whereas shabby is more in evidence than chic in most of the holiday cottages I’ve stayed in, Water Meadow has more of a World of Interiors take on country style. The eco-fireplaces are Royal Doulton and furniture by Andrew Martin and Ben Whistler feature. Peacock patterned wallpaper, gilt-framed antique mirrors, quirky birdcage chandeliers and thick silk drapes in the living room evoke the decadent eclecticism of a Wildean parlour. Similarly, in the master bedroom everything is darkly, glitteringly seductive with Zoffany chinoiserie wallpaper, smoky mirrored tiles, an Italian leather bed and a vintage steamer trunk unfolding to reveal the dressing table. Bookshelves throughout the two-bedroom cottage are crammed with everything from childhood classics such as Lucky Jim and The Hobbit to etiquette guides and biographies of Great Britons, while a hoard of board games, DVDs and even a croquet set provide entertainment come rain or shine. The bathroom’s free-standing roll top tub, under-floor heating and walk-in shower meant I also spent an inordinate amount of time on my ablutions during my stay.
The well-equipped kitchen, by contrast, is all refined neutrals – think English pine floorboards and Welsh slate countertops. But this is where the real treat is to be found: the wine. After all, I’m here to sample the fruits of a new partnership with Berry Bros Rudd. First, we pop open a 2009 Gusbourne Estate Blanc de Blancs, which, it turns out, is really best consumed reclining on the terrace of Water Meadow’s very own summer house, watching the pheasants strut across the lawn. A testament to the heights now achieved by English sparkling, this Kent example offers up ripe apple and pear hints and a toasty depth.
When it’s time for supper – given the fine weather, we eat in the covered terrace area rather than the cosy dining room – our pre-ordered three-course supper is chilling in the fridge, along with the BBR wines they selected to match. To start, the silky, minerally 2012 Gottesfuß Alte Reben Riesling pairs perfectly with the fresh, seasonal flavours of a pea, mint and lettuce soup. Next, alongside a satisfying, creamy fish pie and summer vegetable side dish I have my first taste of a white Rioja; bursting with ripe peach, citrus and spices, the 2012 Que Bonito Cacareaba has me converted. Last but by no means last, a pair of fresh strawberry tarts is accompanied by a 2004 Chateau Doisy-Daene, which, unlike many Sauternes, is medium-bodied and structured rather than cloying.
When it comes to catering for ourselves the next day, we don’t manage such refinement but instead make use of the barbecue. As for breakfast, an impressive stock of complementary provisions (Duchy Organics, naturally!) is handily provided: rye bread, free-range eggs, yogurt, milk, apple juice and smoked salmon; I particularly love the fact this place deems smoked salmon an ‘essential’. There’s also an Honesty Larder for further food and wine supplies, and a Nespresso machine for that all-important morning caffeine hit.
Of course, you could always leave the cottage for one of the nearby pubs or restaurants, especially since lauded spots such as Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons are close, just as you could go into Oxford or Bicester Village or any number of other nearby attractions. But, really, why would you want to? This place is paradise.
For further information about Water Meadow Cottage, including services, rates and availability visit the website.
