The background

The Tawny styles itself as a deconstructed hotel – a collection of retreats, shepherd’s huts, treehouses and boathouses dotted around 70 acres of landscaped gardens, as well as a strikingly designed restaurant, boutique spa and heated outdoor pool. The estate dates back to the 13th century and was transformed in the 20th century by William Podmore, who designed the landscape of lakes, rolling lawns and intriguing follies. The Tawny opened in 2021 to great acclaim, admired for its chic and private living quarters, incredible setting and fantastic restaurant. Recently, the hotel added the spacious Hillside Treehouses and sumptuous Retreats to its accommodation offering, providing guests with the option of even more space, luxury and striking views.

Rooms

There is a treasure trove of accommodation options at The Tawny: luxury and cosy Huts, Boathouses with views right over the water of one of the estate’s five lakes, Treehouses that have been built sensitively into the forest and offer fantastic views, and the Retreats, the biggest and most luxurious of the options. Each room comes with an enormous outdoor Jacuzzi bath, made for lounging and for romantic retreats, as well as complimentary minibars, which really add to the feeling of being pampered. Brummell stayed in one of The Hillside Treehouses, each of which is gorgeously designed in neutral colours with glamorously burnished accents as well as luxurious linens and elegantly fashionable furniture. Each Treehouse features an enormous free-standing bath in the bedroom as well as a huge outdoor terrace, indoor and outdoor showers and, of course, an outdoor Jacuzzi bath from which residents can gaze over the grounds of the estate or stare into the tree canopy above. 

The Hillside Treehouses have been built to eventually blend into the surrounding woodlands and to cause no harm to their surroundings – the foundations of each structure have been chosen as they can be removed without causing damage to surrounding tree roots, for example. The other new accommodation, The Retreats, offer super-kingsize beds, similarly chic and sumptuous interiors and sunken bathtubs in each cedar-clad cabin. 

The genius of the deconstructed approach of The Tawny is that guests have the advantage of staying at an extremely service-focused and accommodating hotel while having acres of their own space; it truly feels like a retreat. 

Dining

At the heart of The Tawny, the striking Plumicorn building houses the hotel’s dining options behind an enormous and gorgeously designed glass facade. At night, when the estate is dark (guests are each given a torch to navigate after sunset) the glittering facade of The Plumicorn is something to behold, a welcoming beacon of hospitality. The food is of extraordinary quality, crafted from local and seasonal ingredients that might include gin-cured salmon with watermelon, feta cheese, mint and sherry vinegar; Lichfield heritage carrots with orange, pine-nut crumble, watercress and carrot ketchup; lobster tail with truffle pommes anna, aged parmesan, bisque croquette, queen kale, fermented black garlic and lobster mayo. The Lounge next door serves a more casual menu of flatbreads, tapas and pizzas. Breakfast at The Tawny is also an event – hearty hot dishes include a traditional English breakfast and pancakes, as well as irresistible Staffordshire oatcakes with a choice of filling and lashings of cheese. For those who prefer to dine in their room, breakfast hampers can be left at the door each morning. Picnics can also be arranged for guests to enjoy across the estate.

Amenities

Guests are allowed to bring their own bikes (and dogs) to explore the 70 acres of grounds, and you could spend hours wandering the paths spotting wildlife and scouting out the six estate follies. The Tawny runs regular tours with its head gardener, too, for those who really want some extra insight into Podmore’s vision and how the hotel has worked with it. The heated outdoor swimming pool is a welcoming retreat once you’ve finished exploring and offers gorgeous views across the gardens. The Tawny also has a spa offering Gaia treatments in an adorable thatched cottage on the estate. To get around, the estate has a number of fun little buggies with glass sides which will pop up within minutes to take you where you need to go. 

The verdict

Staying at The Tawny is an incredible experience, from losing oneself in the grounds, to staring at the stars from an outdoor Jacuzzi bath and taking in the bucolic wonder of the Staffordshire countryside. The hotel is just 20 minutes from Stoke-on-Trent train station, which is less than two hours away from Euston, making it an ideal escape from London for the weekend, or longer. Great food, lovely staff and a fantastic sense of space helps make The Tawny an exceptional place to stay – you’ll want to retreat to its treehouses and follies over and over again. 

The bill

Huts at The Tawny start at £225 per night; Hillside Treehouses start at £425 a night including breakfast. 

thetawny.co.uk