I think it’s safe to say that 2020 deserves a little excitement, and for me hearing that Birch Community was opening was just the little bit of excitement I needed! It’s since been named as The Times’ hotel of the year – so what’s all the fuss about?!
Birch is unlike any hotel I’ve stayed in before – so if you go, my top tip would be to leave all of your expectations at the door. It describes itself as a permanent (indoor!) festival and members club, which does go some way to explaining Birch. But I’d also say it’s a place to go to escape London – without really having to leave the M25.
We checked into Birch Community over the bank holiday weekend in August, as they do an amazing deal where if you book the Friday night and Saturday night, they give you the Sunday night on them! The idea behind it being that you don’t have to rush away (particularly if you do live in London and so don’t have too far to travel to get home) and can enjoy all the classes and facilities that Birch has to offer.
We stayed in a “medium” room for our long weekend, and as much as we had a wonderful time and would go back, I would say that the rooms do let Birch down a little. They haven’t been changed much (if at all) since Birch’s former life as a conference hotel, and they are in need of a little TLC – particularly the bathrooms. That said, Birch’s ethos is all about getting out of your room and enjoying their classes and the huge grounds – so I wouldn’t expect to spend too much time in your room anyway.
In fact, one of my favourite things about Birch is that you can do exactly as much or as little as you want. Fancy a weekend sat on a comfy sofa drinking endless cups of tea (then switching to wine!) reading book after book? Pick a cosy corner and settle in! Or do you fancy a weekend of pottery, flower arranging, long walks and having a tour of the kitchen gardens (and meeting the pigs of course!) with Farmer Tom? Go for it – you can do it all!
Let me take you on a little tour! As you walk in the main entrance, you’re greeted with a gorgeous hallway, as well as a flower arch leading you straight to reception…
And *that* staircase! If you’ve seen Birch on Instagram you’ll have seen this staircase – and I can promise you it’s just as beautiful in real life. Many of the communal areas and rooms have been stripped right back to their original features, and given a light coat of neutral paint (if any), which with the exception of the bedrooms, I think really works.
The main house is made up of lots and lots of little sitting areas and rooms – and you really do just have to have a wander around and poke your head into each room, not only to see where has space, but for you to find your favourite! I think the room below might have been my favourite, with its beautiful fireplace and seriously cosy feel when it gets dark.
The other thing I loved about the sitting areas, as well as the rooms in which the classes take place, is that the doors open wide onto the extensive grounds at the back of Birch, which on that lovely hot bank holiday weekend was just wonderful.
But if you’re looking for a cosy winter weekend, Birch isn’t just about the outdoor pursuits – but I’d definitely recommend packing some outdoor shoes and a jacket and heading out for a bracing walk all the same! I loved that Birch has its own cinema room, complete with deck chairs, which shows 4/5 films a day all day, every day. Just pop in for whichever showing you fancy, take a seat and enjoy!
What I really loved is that Birch has really made the most of the space which it has – particularly its outdoor space. A real highlight of our weekend was booking our BBQ pit, cooking our own lunch and enjoying some drinks. For Londoners who aren’t allowed a BBQ in our building it was such a treat!
Food and drink at Birch is a real experience: with two main restaurants, Valeries (the more informal restaurant which also offers all day dining) and The Zebra Riding Club, you really won’t go hungry. I think partly because the hotel was new, and partly because of the current restrictions, table bookings were hard to come by at The Zebra Riding Club, so if you go – I’d definitely recommend booking in advance.
And even if you’re not staying at Birch – I couldn’t recommend booking a table at the ZRC more! Robin Gill, the head chef at The Dairy (an old favourite of ours from when we lived in Clapham), runs the ZRC and the menu is just as good as we’d hoped! We had a table for Sunday lunch, which was absolutely incredible – every dish was amazing, though the roast beef itself and the accompany roast potatoes (still sizzling in their rosemary and olive oil as they arrived at the table!) were a definite highlight.
The restaurant itself is also absolutely gorgeous!
And just in case we hadn’t eaten enough incredible food, just before we left on the Monday the outdoor smoker was all fired up, serving pulled pork and slow cooked butternut squash. We sat in the grounds, soaked up the last of the sunshine, before we piled into our taxi and headed home.
And for breakfast? I think Valeries is now serving a sit down breakfast, but if you just want something for on the go, there’s a little cafe serving incredible pastries and delicious coffees which are perfect for grabbing either on your way home, or on your way for a walk!
In case I haven’t convinced you that Birch is definitely worth a long weekend trip, the other reason I loved Birch was all the classes you can enjoy. Firstly, the new gym also comes with a spin studio, and as self-confessed spin addict (sorry, I know) I loved being able to get up and pop to a class.
But if you’re feeling more creative, or just want to try something new, there are so many different classes, from pottery, to glass blowing, to candle making to dried flower arranging! I’ll share more about my flower arranging class in a separate post, but it was definitely a highlight of my weekend. And the best bit? I now have a beautiful bouquet of dried flowers which will last a very long time!
Birch, we’ll definitely be back – particular if I can find a weekend where there’s an autumnal or festive wreath making class on! I’m also really looking forward to the lido opening next year – I can definitely see myself there on sunny summer weekends both enjoying the heat and the cocktails!
Birch Community
Lieutenant Ellis Way
Cheshunt
EN7 5HW
