Feversham Arms Hotel and Verbena Spa

IF YOU THINK VICTORIAN COUNTRY INNS are all about draughty windows and tweeds, you haven’t stayed at the Feversham Arms. This one-time coaching inn in pretty Helmsley, beside the north Yorkshire moors, combines designer good looks with full-on creature comforts.

Helmsley’s top lodging spot since the 1850s, The Feversham Arms ticks all the boxes for an indulgent country getaway. It’s the perfect escape for weary townies – a  hideaway that’s both boutique and blissfully un-stuffy. We’re talking gourmet dining, a state-of-the-art spa, heated all-year outdoor pool and top-notch service. 

Mellow Yorkshire stone is mixed here with log fires, deep sofas and country-chic decor. All 27 bedrooms are big on luxe factor, whether you go for a cosy studio double (room 4 has sexy deep red walls) or one of the swishy poolside suites.

Wood burning stoves

Big beds dressed in Egyptian cotton, vibrant artworks, piles of plump cushions, wool and faux fur throws and tactile textures set the tone.  Colours range from creamy oatmeal and naturals to duck-egg, charcoal, rich berry reds and raspberries-and-cream.

Black slate walk-in showers, double ended baths, L’Occitane toiletries and fluffy bathrobes make for pamper zone bathrooms. Some rooms have a gallery, wood-burning stove or private terrace, while toys and technics include a Bang & Olufsen TV and PlayStations on request.

After a lazy read through the papers in the lounge or drinks in the snug bar, you’ll be ready to try the Feversham Arms’ much-lauded restaurant, with its claret-coloured walls, original art and skylit roof. Expect first-rate food here in a country-chic setting.

Of course you’ll want to spend a delicious day being pummelled and preened in the hotel’s swanky Verbena Spa, linked by a glass bridge. This hedonistic haven has it all, from foot spas and an aromatherapy room to a hot tub, ice cave and foot-long list of treatments.

You’re in Harry Potter country here (nearby Goathland station was the set for Hogsmeade) with moorland walks starting from your doorstep. There’s a gun room should you want to bag a few pheasants during your stay, and welcoming, can-do staff provide seamless service. Mind you, some guests at the Feversham Arms never even leave their bedroom. Say no more.

© Room for Romance