London gets a little much sometimes, and we all want to call time and take a breather. That, and you often find yourself working around the clock, not seeing your partner properly for days. Instead of jumping on a plane together in search of an escape, find respite just 45 minutes away at the Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross in leafy Buckinghamshire. The unlikely sounding retreat has just undergone a £20 million refurbishment and market repositioning, giving way to an impressive new spa and wellness centre, and superb bar and restaurant, 1269 — two components of a lovely evening.
My partner and I headed out of London on the A40 one Saturday afternoon and were there in time for a quick swim and a drink before dinner. Our room was spacious with a modern bathroom, large double bed, minibar, coffee and cookies. Everything is contained within the hotel building; the WAVE Spa is adjacent to the lobby, complete with a juice bar, full cardio gym, spin studio, pool, jacuzzi, steam rooms, and treatment rooms. I’d never heard of a hotel with a spin studio!? The pool is a good size, though a difficult shape to do lengths (!) and could do with a few loungers, but the ceiling twinkles like stars! I could have spent hours in that Jacuzzi, with the stresses of London merrily floating away.
Dinner at 1269 was the highlight of our stay. It felt far superior to any other chain hotel’s restaurant we’ve tried before, and unexpectedly romantic too with our low-lit table in a leather booth. (SuperFutures, the interior design agency behind Chotto Matte and Barrafina are responsible for the design, including the striking transparent meat ageing room and whisky vault). Award-winning head chef, Dean Crew draws on the area’s rich livestock heritage, and embraces the Josper grill. My starter of candied beets, marinated tomatoes and truffled goat’s curd was colourful and beautiful ( edible flowers!) and complex in flavour. My partner’s steak, cooked on the Josper grill, also went down particularly well. Our dessert, which came with a 20-minute cooking time warning was worth every minute of the wait; it was a delicious fruit crumble served with ice cream, that could have easily served four!
The following morning, we hit the gym (well equipped with treadmills, elliptical machines, free weights, and mats), and the pool once more, before hitting the breakfast buffet. The buffet was as you’d expect: a vast selection and great hash browns I’ll point out. I wasn’t leaving without making more of the spa so treated myself to a 55 minute aromatherapy massage (£90) which was glorious.
We left with our batteries recharged and our bodies feeling rested. One-night jaunts to leafy locations should not be underrated.
Just 17 minutes from Heathrow, there’s no doubt would be a great base the night before an early flight too; you could enjoy a relaxing dinner and a good night’s sleep, instead of having to rise at the crack of dawn to trek across the city.