Review – The Cottage in the Wood boutique hotel in Malvern
Having been on a fair few city breaks recently, I was very excited to be invited to a more rural stay at The Cottage in The Wood. The hotel’s setting, nestled within the Malvern Hills certainly promised a much needed change of pace and down time! Although I was only staying for one night, I was keen to explore what the hotel, bar and restaurant had to offer for anyone looking for a relaxing mid-week or weekend getaway.
With a 2 AA Rosette Restaurant on site, I arrived with an empty stomach and high expectations. Would the food be as wonderful as the views? Read on to find out.
Disclaimer: Although I stayed at Cottage in the Wood for a PR trip, all opinions expressed in this blog are unbiased and 100% my own.
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What kind of hotel is The Cottage in the Wood?
Whilst the name might conjure up the image of a little Hansel and Gretel style cottage, hidden amongst the trees, The Cottage in the Wood is actually more of a boutique hillside hotel. Whilst it may not be a tiny thatched-roofed cottage, it still has bags of individuality and quirky charm.
There are 32 rooms at the hotel in total, spanning three buildings, all with their own individual touches. Rooms are designed to set you up for a perfect night’s sleep, whether you are staying in the elegant main house, the more rustic Beech Cottage or the Coach House, which mixes eco credentials with quirky touches from decades gone by.
Where is The Cottage in the Wood?
The Cottage in the Wood is situated on the hillside above the very pretty town of Great Malvern in Worcestershire. Set in the heart of the Malvern Hills area of natural beauty (AONB), it goes without saying that the location is stunning!
Perched on the hillside, The Cottage in the Wood also offers some stunning uninterrupted views over the surrounding countryside, perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea on the terrace for a relaxed morning.
How to get to The Cottage in the Wood Malvern
If you’re planning a stay at The Cottage in the Wood, I’d definitely recommend driving if possible. The hotel is located just off of the A449 between Great Malvern and Ledbury, making it fairly easy to reach from both the M5 or the M5O, depending on which direction you are travelling from.
You can pop the hotel into your sat nav or Google maps and find it easily enough, just slow down as you get towards the turning. You’ll then have to drive up a fairly narrow road and then on to the hotel’s long driveway.
The drive up to the hotel in itself is rather lovely, with woodland and wildflowers lining the road, which then opens out to reveal the stunning view from the hill as you approach the hotel grounds.
Being a little bit off-the-beaten-track, and nestled into a fairly steep hillside, taking public transport may prove difficult, with the nearest train station being a 30 minute uphill walk away – not ideal with luggage!
First impressions – Accommodation at The Cottage in the Wood Malvern
Upon arrival at the Cottage in the Wood, I was a little unsure of where to park, as there are three buildings and a few parking areas. I needn’t have worried however, as the manager on reception for the evening came out to my rescue, and pointed me in the direction of the Coach House, where we would be staying for the night.
It’s always nice to receive a warm welcome after a long drive, and I really appreciated that we were able to unload our luggage and get a little more settled before properly checking in and going to dinner. It was already feeling like the sort of place where you can unwind and take things a little slower.
Coach House rooms at The Cottage in the Wood
As I mentioned a little further up, there are actually three different buildings with rooms at The Cottage in the Wood, each with slightly different styling. We were staying in the Coach House, which has a focus on environmentally friendly design, but with some quirky décor twists thrown into the mix.
Our room had a bit of a retro 1960s era vibe. From the bright red accent chairs to the fully functioning record player, I really liked the unique décor of the room and how it wasn’t your typical ‘cosy cottage’ room. The simple overall styling with some unique accents made the room feel like a spacious and comfortable place to sit and be.
If you’ve read some of my other reviews before, you’ll know by know that I’m a huge fan of a hotel room with a bath. A hotel room with a rolltop bath is an A+ in my books, so you can imagine how delighted I was to walk into this bathroom. Again, the styling was simple, clean and modern, with the dark subway tiling making a a very chic backdrop for the rather elegant rolltop.
Room facilities
Our room came equipped with everything we needed for a comfortable stay. All the things you would expect to find, such as tea and coffee making facilities, toiletries, towels and a hairdryer were present and correct, alongside some unexpected extras.
One such extra was the record player and vintage records, including a Beatles vinyl which I couldn’t resist giving a spin (it worked perfectly in case you’re wondering). But alongside the nods to historic pop culture, the room was also bang up to date with it’s environmental credential, boasting some clever energy saving electrical features.
I also appreciated the environmentally conscious toiletries. In the bathroom you’ll find high quality Bramley natural soaps, shampoo and conditioner, but guests are requested not to remove them from the room or take them home (there is a charge if you do) as they are refillable and cut down massively on the need for single use plastics. I think this is still such a huge issue with a lot of large hotel chains, I’d much rather save on plastic and only use what I need during a stay.
Glorious grounds and uninterrupted views from the Malvern Hills
My favourite thing about our room, of course, has to be the view from the terrace. There nothing quite like waking up to the sun shining through the double french doors and inviting you out to enjoy the most fantastic view of the Worcestershire countryside!
This really does feel like a perfect place to sit with a cup of tea and ease into the day. If you’re in need of a little me time, or somewhere to take a digital detox, this is it.
Dining at the 1919 Restaurant and Bar at The Cottage in the Wood
So we have the comfy rooms, the sweeping countryside views and the tranquil settings of the Malvern Hills, but how does the food rate at the onsite 1919 Restaurant at The Cottage in the Wood?
On entering the restaurant, the interior decoration made the space feel intimate and cosy, but still modern. Natural wooden finishes and soft green textures remind you that you’re close to nature, whilst the display of vintage wines, stained glass windows and marble fireplaces nod to something a little more refined.
With an impressive 2 AA Rosette rating, I was keen to cast my eyes over the menu.
Dinner at the 1919 Restaurant and Bar
At the helm of The 1919 Restaurant, Chef Rob Mason has put together a menu that focuses on local produce and seasonal flavours. Inspired by the local landscape and keen to let the ingredients do the talking, the menu at the 1919 Restaurant can change depending on the season and ingredients available locally.
You also have another choice to make when it comes to picking from the menu. There is a traditional a-la-carte option, with you’re standard starter, main and dessert format, OR… there is also a SEVEN COURSE tasting menu.
In the interests of doing a proper review (it’s only fair right) I opted for three courses from the a-la-carte menu, whilst Matt opted for the tasting menu.
Starter
I chose the confit chicken terrine as my starter from the main dinner menu at the 1919 Restaurant. As well as being presented beautifully, this balance of flavours in this dish was outstanding. The sweetness of the apricot paired perfectly with the chicken terrine.
Main
In all honesty, the roast pork fillet was the dish on the menu that persuaded me against choosing the tasting menu, so it had a lot to live up to.
I have to say though, it was a decision that absolutely paid off. The black pudding, pork belly and and roast pork fillet all came together perfectly with the sharpness of the goosberry and hispi cabbage. This was definitely my favourite dish of the whole meal!
Dessert
I was in the mood for something savoury when it came to dessert, and you can’t often beat a good cheese board!
The cheese board at the 1919 Restaurant features three British cheeses served alongside a serving of plum chutney, grapes and artisan crackers. Again, everything here was a perfect balance of flavours, but it is hard to go wrong with a classic cheese board!
So, whilst I didn’t order the seven course tasting menu for myself, you can bet that I tried every single one of Matt’s dishes that came out regardless (yes, I am that person that will pinch a chip from your plate!).
The menu was served one course at a time, and my own 3 course meal came out at intervals that complimented the stages of the tasting menu, i.e. my starter came out with the first tasting starter, my main alongside the first main etc.
Whilst this did work for the most part, it did spread my meal out a little longer than I would have liked, so in hindsight, I would recommend that everyone on the table opt for the same menu to avoid having to watch on longingly as your companion is served yet another course of food!
Starters / appetisers
One of the standouts from the first three courses was the tomato with goat’s cheese and basil. The flavour of the tomato packed a real punch in the delicately presented dish.
Mains
Both cod and sirloin were served up as the two main dishes on the menu when we visited. Again, the presentation was faultless, but the rich sauce and tender beef sirloin was the real showstopper here.
Desserts
It’s not often that a dessert is my favourite course on a menu, but I think the white chocolate dish from the tasting menu may actually be the best of the dishes I sampled. The combination of of creamy white chocolate with the tropical mango, passionfruit and coconut was an unusual, but deliciously fresh combination. I would come back and order this on its own – it was really that good!
After dinner cocktails
To finish off an indulgent evening of dining, we hopped from the restaurant to the adjacent bar for an after dinner cocktail.
The bold interior accents carry through to the bar space, again creating a chic but intimate space to wind down in. I ordered an espresso cocktail with a toasted marshmallow twist that went down perfectly.
Breakfast at The Cottage in the Wood Malvern
If there’s one thing that’s better that waking up to a lovely view on a sunny day, it’s waking up to that view and being served a good breakfast!
Breakfast at the Cottage in the Wood is served in the 1919 Restaurant, where you are seated and served at your table.
On the breakfast menu you’ll find a combination of hot and cold options, from fruit and granola to your traditional full English. I went for the eggs royale, which was just the right portion size, and served nice and warm.
Service at breakfast was really attentive too, with top ups of tea, coffee and toast being offered throughout our meal.
Things to do near The Cottage in the Wood Malvern
The Malvern Hills AONB is the perfect place to unplug and get back to nature. Some top things to do in the Malverns near The Cottage in the Wood are:
- Exploring some of the local walking trails on the doorstep
- Shop and dine in the quaint town of Greater Malvern
- Head out to the Cotswolds for a day trip, less than 1 hour away by car!
There are also some great suggestions for things to do close by on The Cottage in the Wood’s website.
Final thoughts on my stay at The Cottage in the Wood Malvern
Although it was only a brief visit, I have to say I did leave The Cottage in the Wood feeling very refreshed and relaxed. The tranquil settings and elegant dining experiences would make for the perfect mini break to celebrate a special occasion or anniversary. The food is really worth visiting for too, so even if you only have a evening to spare, you could do a lot worse than watching the sun set over the Malvern hills during a leisurely dinner.
How to book a stay The Cottage in the Wood Malvern
The best way to book a stay at The Cottage in the Wood in Malvern is directly through the hotel’s website. You’ll always find the best prices and availability by booking direct, as well as being able to take advantage of any special offers.
You can check availability and book here.
You can also access exclusive prices and offers by signing up to the hotel’s ‘100 Club’ for free here.
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