New Countryside Hotel Birch Selsdon, A Peaceful Haven And Rewilding Marvel Near London

08.09.2023 - 09:11 / forbes.com / London

Birch Selsdon, once an historic estate and golf course, covering 200 acres on the outskirts of London, is now a hip new hotel, a much anticipated followup to sister property Birch Cheshunt, which opened three years ago. It’s a great blend of classic and contemporary elements, providing a serene retreat, surrounded by natural beauty. Like the Cheshunt hotel, this peaceful escape from the city's hustle and bustle is a short drive or train journey from London but feels like the middle of the countryside once you arrive.

The sprawling Victorian red brick building was first turned into a hotel in the 1920s and was quite tired by the time the Birch owners took it on in 2022. Just launched as a Birch hotel in summer 2023, the property has 181 guestrooms, a wellness space and outdoor pool, co-working facilities and two restaurants and bars. Outdoors, there are various well-marked hiking trails criss-crossing the 200 acres and plenty of tables, chairs and benches to relax or picnic.

Birch Selsdon is the first hotel design project from Alessio Nardi and Lukas Persakovas of London basedA-nrd studio. Alessio Nardi says that “the brief was very open, to create a very calming home-away-from-home environment that was also joyful and full of warmth.” Some of the furniture, including the bedside tables and timber reception desks in the entrance lobby, was made from trees harvested on the grounds. The design vibe is an appealing blend of old and new. The Snug bar has kept the wood panelled walls and added deep purples and blues while the Victorian dining room, now Elodie restaurant, has elegant modern furnishings. The contemporary furniture and custom made lighting in the guestrooms complements the large historic steel casement windows.

Most of the 181 bedrooms aren’t super luxurious as guests are encouraged to make full use of the common areas inside and out but they’re comfortable with great beds and high thread count linens, bright and airy, with big windows. There are a few nice design touches too like attractive bedside lamps.

Food is a major focus at both Birch properties and they each have well known chefs at the helm. At Cheshunt, The Zebra Riding Club and Valerie’s are led by chef Robin Gill. At Selsdon, Elodie and Vervain restaurants are headed by Chef Lee Westcott formerly of Typing Room (London) and Michelin starred Pensons (Herefordshire). Chef Westcott is also known to the public from his appearances on Masterchef, Great British Menu and Saturday Kitchen. Made with earth in mind, Elodie is Birch’s flagship restaurant and a focal point for the farm-to-fork ethos. A seasonally focused five-course menu offers the best of British Isles produce, uses foraged ingredients from the estate’s 200-acre rewilding