FROGG MANOR
It's Froggie heaven – just a short hop from Chester
FROGGIE WOULD A WOOING GO... and here’s just the place to do it. Unashamedly eccentric Frogg Manor offers the unlikely combination of plush surroundings, old-time music… and frogs. Dozens of them (made of wood, ceramic, brass and straw) cluster round the place, while a human-size frog in a polka-dot tie points the way in. Don’t like amphibians? Then this probably isn’t the place for you.
Frogg Manor's owner John Sykes (who admits to being just mildly croaky), has created an anything-but-bourgeois country house environment with a pleasing mix of period furniture, generous floral displays and pastel colours. Windows are tasselled, draped and flounced, bedrooms are done up with Egyptian cotton sheets, while bathrooms come packed with goodies.
John supervises the kitchen and guests can tuck into some 24 starters (including incomparable Froggie fishcakes) and over 30 mains (try more-ish cream of Zanzibar bouillabaisse) with vegetarians getting a good look-in too. There’s a jukebox in the bar, and a party room for after-dinner dancing to ’50s classics.
Hit the Spot
In the peaceful Cheshire countryside.
Bedtime
Book the ultra-private new Lady Guinevere suite – up in the trees with the birds and bees.
Be Savvy
If you like quirky, you'll love it.
Be Smitten
Just the place for Miss Froggies in search of their prince.
Up in the trees with the birds and bees
Play Sir Lancelot and his lady in the new (and very sought after) Lady Guinevere suite – a wooden treehouse that's all yours for the night. You'll be enthroned on an exotic bed and have your own hammock to swing on under the leaves. If you're happier with a tiled roof above you, dive into the coronet-swathed bed in the middle of Frogg Manor's Wellington suite.
Outside, floodlit grounds give way to rolling Cheshire and the Welsh hills. From here you can play tennis, trawl through Chester’s groovy stores or explore a dozen pretty villages.
Frogg Manor was reviewed for Room for Romance by Tasha Munro
Frogg Manor's owner John Sykes (who admits to being just mildly croaky), has created an anything-but-bourgeois country house environment with a pleasing mix of period furniture, generous floral displays and pastel colours. Windows are tasselled, draped and flounced, bedrooms are done up with Egyptian cotton sheets, while bathrooms come packed with goodies.
John supervises the kitchen and guests can tuck into some 24 starters (including incomparable Froggie fishcakes) and over 30 mains (try more-ish cream of Zanzibar bouillabaisse) with vegetarians getting a good look-in too. There’s a jukebox in the bar, and a party room for after-dinner dancing to ’50s classics.
Hit the Spot
In the peaceful Cheshire countryside.
Bedtime
Book the ultra-private new Lady Guinevere suite – up in the trees with the birds and bees.
Be Savvy
If you like quirky, you'll love it.
Be Smitten
Just the place for Miss Froggies in search of their prince.
Up in the trees with the birds and bees
Play Sir Lancelot and his lady in the new (and very sought after) Lady Guinevere suite – a wooden treehouse that's all yours for the night. You'll be enthroned on an exotic bed and have your own hammock to swing on under the leaves. If you're happier with a tiled roof above you, dive into the coronet-swathed bed in the middle of Frogg Manor's Wellington suite.
Outside, floodlit grounds give way to rolling Cheshire and the Welsh hills. From here you can play tennis, trawl through Chester’s groovy stores or explore a dozen pretty villages.
Frogg Manor was reviewed for Room for Romance by Tasha Munro
|
Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery. |
|||
Dining in
Tables are set in the light and airy conservatory in addition to the main restaurant. Drinks are served in the lounge beforehand, and there's a music room for after-dinner partying later. Menus are still priced in guineas in this idiosyncratic place (the euro wouldn't get a look in here) and menus include an interesting mix of dishes. You might start with Froggies black pudding, served with a lightly poached egg and wholegrain mustard sauce, followed by beef served in one of six different ways.
Dining out
Try Mitchells wine bar in the nearby pretty village of Tattenhall, where there's also an excellent Indian.
Where?
Frogg Manor
What's cooking?
Try the Raj style fillet of beef, served with Indian accompaniments, followed by a Frogg Manor Mivvi or Boozy Icecream infused with vodka and Drambuie.
Dress the part
Dress to party: there's dancing later.
Top table?
In the conservatory in summer; warm inside in winter.
See & Do
Nearby Chester has it all: atmospheric half-timbered Tudor buildings, ancient stone city walls for walking around, a beautiful cathedral and boat rides on the river. You can also gee on the winners at Chester Races or take a guided city walk.
Shop
Make time to explore the Chester Rows: a historic two-tiered shopping gallery full of surprises and speciality stores.
After dark
Join the Chester Ghosthunter trail (a nightly guided walk) to hear all about the city's mysterious and murky past.
Dates
October
Check out the Chester literature festival or the antique and fine arts show.
Racing season
Check out the fixtures list at Chester Racecourse for a fun day out
Tables are set in the light and airy conservatory in addition to the main restaurant. Drinks are served in the lounge beforehand, and there's a music room for after-dinner partying later. Menus are still priced in guineas in this idiosyncratic place (the euro wouldn't get a look in here) and menus include an interesting mix of dishes. You might start with Froggies black pudding, served with a lightly poached egg and wholegrain mustard sauce, followed by beef served in one of six different ways.
Dining out
Try Mitchells wine bar in the nearby pretty village of Tattenhall, where there's also an excellent Indian.
Where?
Frogg Manor
What's cooking?
Try the Raj style fillet of beef, served with Indian accompaniments, followed by a Frogg Manor Mivvi or Boozy Icecream infused with vodka and Drambuie.
Dress the part
Dress to party: there's dancing later.
Top table?
In the conservatory in summer; warm inside in winter.
See & Do
Nearby Chester has it all: atmospheric half-timbered Tudor buildings, ancient stone city walls for walking around, a beautiful cathedral and boat rides on the river. You can also gee on the winners at Chester Races or take a guided city walk.
Shop
Make time to explore the Chester Rows: a historic two-tiered shopping gallery full of surprises and speciality stores.
After dark
Join the Chester Ghosthunter trail (a nightly guided walk) to hear all about the city's mysterious and murky past.
Dates
October
Check out the Chester literature festival or the antique and fine arts show.
Racing season
Check out the fixtures list at Chester Racecourse for a fun day out
GETTING THERE
Location
Nantwich Road, Broxton, Cheshire CH3 9JH
Parking
There is free guest parking
Trains
Chester station – 15 minutes
Taxis
GBP 16 from Chester
Airport
Liverpool – 30 miles (35 mins) or Manchester – 40 miles (25 mins on motorway)
Rooms and suites
Five rooms, two suites and a new Tree House.
Special features
Bedrooms are creatively decorated and the emphasis is firmly on comfort, with welcoming touches including a hospitality tray.
Also... Strictly for romantics is the new Lady Guinevere suite. Built up in the trees, you can even make your escape on a rope ladder...
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
GBP 100 - 260
Open/closed
Open all year
Check-in
2pm
Check-out
12 noon
Minimum night stay?
No
Breakfast
Full breakfast is served until 11am
Room service
No
Children
Welcome
Pets
No
Air conditioning
No
Languages
English
Wedding license?
Wedding parties of up to 60 (seated) or 120 (party style) can be accommodated.
Your contact
John Sykes – owner
Location
Nantwich Road, Broxton, Cheshire CH3 9JH
Parking
There is free guest parking
Trains
Chester station – 15 minutes
Taxis
GBP 16 from Chester
Airport
Liverpool – 30 miles (35 mins) or Manchester – 40 miles (25 mins on motorway)
Rooms and suites
Five rooms, two suites and a new Tree House.
Special features
Bedrooms are creatively decorated and the emphasis is firmly on comfort, with welcoming touches including a hospitality tray.
Also... Strictly for romantics is the new Lady Guinevere suite. Built up in the trees, you can even make your escape on a rope ladder...
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
GBP 100 - 260
Open/closed
Open all year
Check-in
2pm
Check-out
12 noon
Minimum night stay?
No
Breakfast
Full breakfast is served until 11am
Room service
No
Children
Welcome
Pets
No
Air conditioning
No
Languages
English
Wedding license?
Wedding parties of up to 60 (seated) or 120 (party style) can be accommodated.
Your contact
John Sykes – owner