Tuesday 26 January 2016

Cambridgeshire Part One - Paddocks House, Newmarket

Hello stranger! So it's been a while, but the house move is finally complete! It's so nice to have it out of the way and I'm just starting to feel settled again. It all went reasonably smoothly, apart from the power cut that happened at the exact moment we moved in, and the fact that we're still waiting for the internet that was supposed to have been connected last Friday... but I'm not going to complain! Instead, I'd much rather get back to blogging, and tell you all about the little adventure Mike and I went on earlier this month, when we took a break from all the chaos of the move and drove down to Cambridgeshire for a couple of nights away from it all.

In the interest of full disclosure, I was lucky enough to be gifted this trip. Not because my blog, but because of some other freelance writing work I do. It's safe to say we were both thrilled to to have the opportunity to bid goodbye to the packing boxes for a little while and hello to Paddocks House, our home from home for the first night.

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire

Winter 2016 OOTD featuring H&M, Topshop, Zara and Shein

Jumper, Coat - H&M, Jeans - Topshop, Boots, Bag - Zara, Scarf - Shein

This beautiful country house once belonged to Lord Byron's sister, and has the feel of a cosy but gorgeous family home, rather than a hotel - albeit one where you are waited on hand and foot! It's set in its own grounds and is a short drive from towns like Ely, Cambridge and Newmarket. So if you wanted to visit the famous university or go to the races, for example, this would be the perfect place to stay.

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire

I fell in love with the exterior. It's also very Instagram worthy, with all that black and white, so I got to work with my phone while Mike took charge of the camera. You can never have too many photos!

I couldn't wait to find out whether the inside measured up...

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire

Well, it was all right, I suppose...

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire

Grand and beautiful, yet homely at the same time, I knew I was going to like this place as soon as we stepped over the threshold. The friendly welcome we were given by the lovely staff only reinforced this feeling.

We'd arrived quite late after a long and tiring week, and had just two things on our minds - food and drink! So after checking in and being shown to our room, we quickly freshened up and headed down to the bar to check out the cocktail menu.

The bar - known as The Study - definitely continued the theme of "home from home". We sank into the comfortable sofas and both agreed that it was just like being in a friend's living room.

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire - The Study

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire - The Study

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire - The Study

It would have been rude not to order a cocktail, don't you think?! Classic Cosmopolitan for me - I'd never actually tried one before and thought it was about time I put that right, and besides, it comes in a martini glass, which always makes me feel glamorous. (I know, I know, simple pleasures delight simple minds!) In any case it was a great choice - light, fruity and delicious. Mike went for The Corleone, which I stole a sip of and loved, despite the fact that it's a whiskey based drink and I'm most definitely not a whiskey drinker. The smokiness of it combined with the almond and orange flavours was just gorgeous. I must admit that we also enjoyed the wasabi peas served with our drinks a little too much. Those things are seriously addictive!

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire


Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire

From the soft, plush furnishings to the chilled background music and the pile of papers and magazines laid out for guests to enjoy, we could quite easily have curled up in The Study for the night, but we had a table booked for dinner, and we were starving!

So, once we had finished our drinks, we wandered through to the hotel restaurant to see what was on offer.

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire - Restaurant

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire - Restaurant

OOTN - H&M Dress, Happiness Boutique Necklace

The meal kicked off with soft bread rolls, sprinkled with poppy seeds and still warm from the oven. I could honestly have eaten a whole basket of these, smothered in butter and washed down with the velvety smooth red wine. The perfect combination!

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire - Restaurant

Next, I went for a starter of antipasti, which, if I'm honest, I might have skipped had I known how moreish the bread rolls were going to be. Even so, this was still a lovely starter, with generous slices of chorizo and salami as well as focaccia bread with sun dried tomatoes layered inside.

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire - Restaurant

For the main course, I went for seared duck and dauphinoise potatoes with spinach, pear and fig. While I wasn't crazy about the fruit, the duck was bursting with flavour, the potatoes were creamy and delicious and the spinach was cooked to perfection, so on the whole I think it's safe to say it was a hit!

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire - Restaurant

By this point, I was so full that ordering the kind of dessert I usually go for - chocolate dipped in chocolate with a sprinkling of chocolate on the side - was out of the question. So instead I opted for Eton mess. This delicate combination of berries, meringues and cream hit just the right spot and was the perfect end to the meal.

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire - Restaurant

Finally, with bellies full to bursting, and so relaxed by this time that we were practically asleep, we returned to our room. I always think there is something so cosy about dining at the same place you are staying - there's no effort involved in getting back, you just go upstairs to bed as though you were at home. And this was most definitely a gorgeous room to come home to - comfortable, welcoming and luxurious. I adored the black and white decor and the way the lighting and soft fabrics kept it all feeling warm.

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire - Rooms

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire - Rooms

And just to save the best till last, how's this for a nod to the copper trend?

Paddocks House Hotel, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire - Rooms

A huge, free standing bathtub in gleaming metal, gently lit from below, right there in the bedroom. For me, it was the standout feature of the whole room and as soon as I saw it, I couldn't wait to get in it, which I did, right after our meal. I can honestly say it was the fanciest bath I've ever used and I could happily have splashed around in there for hours. Definitely a great way to wind down for the night!

Bath time over, we curled up in bed, looking forward to the adventures the new day would bring.

I'll tell you all about those in the next post!

Do any of you know Cambridgeshire? And who else has bathtub envy?!

Kate x
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30 comments

  1. It looks like a gorgeous and grand hotel - I love your outfit! x

    Heather | Of Beauty & Nothingness

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  2. Wow, wow, wow! What a treat! I love the decor - opulent, yet homely like you said! The food looks amazing - I would LOVE some Eton Mess right now! And the bath!!!! Wow! Would be perfect for a Valentine's night away! xx

    Beautylymin

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    Replies
    1. Yes, definitely a great choice for a romantic break! x

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  3. Such a gorgeous place! Perfect for a night away :) And the food looks amazing! x

    Mummy’s Beauty Corner

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  4. Waw, The Paddocks House looks fabulous! That metallic/bronze bathtub is so inviting! It is indeed thé standout feature!

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    1. I know - I was so excited about the bath! x

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  5. Wow what beautiful photos! Major bathtub envy right now! As a new blogger i love stumbling upon blogs like yours!
    writeaboutbeauty.blogspot.co.uk

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Hayley, glad you enjoyed the post! x

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  6. Oh my gosh what a beautiful place! It looks incredible xx

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    1. It was Gemma, we really enjoyed staying here! x

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  7. I have bathtub envy and I am envious that you managed to getaway to such a lovely place for a holiday! That place looks grand from the outside and the inside certainly didn't disappoint. I don't know if the picture is not doing the food justice but from what I see, there's only two tiny pieces of duck? That would pissed me off....give me at least half of it, this mama can eat. LOL!

    Shireen | Reflection of Sanity

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    1. Haha! You're right, there were only two pieces. I love duck but do find it quite rich and I was honestly so full by the time I'd finished this! That said, I have a silly appetite - I am always ready for my next meal before anyone else is, yet I can only eat small amounts in one sitting. For a normal person I can imagine it might look like a disappointingly small meal, but for me it was a lot! x

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  8. This place is amazing, love this style ! Plus your look is very nice !

    Fashion and Cookies - fashion blog

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I love the style of the hotel too - so chic! x

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  9. Amazing coat!I really love this place!

    kisses

    Eloise
    www.fizzyfashion.com

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  10. Great place,
    nice outfit!

    http://beautyfollower.blogspot.gr/

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  11. How is it that you manage to look so chic on camera at all times!? Love these kinds of lifestyle posts from you! x

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    1. Aw thanks Jess, but you should see the 250 other photos that get quickly deleted! x

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  12. What luxury! Looks like an amazing getaway. And Lord Byron's sister? It's so nice to be in a place where hotels and homes are steeped in history. I wish the U.S. had more places like this!

    xx Yasmin
    http://banglesandbungalows.com

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    Replies
    1. It does add something to staying in a place, I have to say. I love a bit of history! x

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  13. This is genuinely one of the most gorgeous places ever. I'm just a little obsessed with the monochrome and copper tones!! Plus, that food has got me craving dauphinoise at 8am haha <3

    Elle
    www.theellenextdoor.com
    xx

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    1. Sounds like a perfectly valid breakfast choice to me! x

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