Inside Thorpe Manor, Banbury, the perfect party house for the festive season
A Grade II-listed Georgian home built in the style of Thomas Archer, Banbury's Thorpe Manor dates from the mid-1600s and was inherited by its current owner, Henry Teare, in 2013. He was bequeathed a building of obvious charm by the jockey and horse trainer Derek Ancil, but it was in urgent need of repair and so a complete restoration was required.
With the painstaking process now complete, Thorpe Manor is now available for weddings, exclusive-use homestays and parties for the first time.
The house
Grand and with an immediate gravitas, Thorpe Manor looks a quintessential English country pile - but the considerate update means that while its original features have been meticulously protected it now also offers all manner of modern conveniences.
Alongside boring essentials guests need never consider (a biomass fuelled heating and plumbing system, say), the home features a cosseting cinema and chic wood-panelled billiards room, a simple gym and cosy bar area where confidantes can settle for chats by the fire.
Seating 30, the dining room is a hub for livelier get-togethers and caterers can be called in to ensure meal times provide appropriate flair. Menus make use of vegetables and herbs from the grounds where possible, and there’s an emphasis on good-quality produce from local suppliers, though timings were a touch off - with waits too long between courses - during my dinner.
Elsewhere, there’s a grand piano (a pianist can be arranged if your party doesn’t include a player) for sing-alongs, and board games await in the drawing room. But it’s the gardens that will likely prove the biggest draw in spring and summer. Guests can gather in the oversized hot tub to admire wonderfully clear night skies, laze by the summer house or compete on the croquet lawn.
The location
Foreign guests keen to check some of the country’s major sites off their lists will find the property, ten minutes from Banbury, stands in the midst of an impressive number of English icons. Blenheim Palace, Warwick Castle, Oxford and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre are all within a 30-mile radius, while the villages of the Cotswolds and Silverstone are closer still.
Bicester Village is also accessible and some groups may be tempted by Tanks Alot four miles away – it is apparently Britain’s biggest military tank driving experience school.
There are a number of local pubs and restaurants (of variable quality, so ask the team for recommendations) and staff can also advise on walks – though you’ll need to drive to the starting points for the best ones.
Standout feature
The scale of the property and its diversity of spaces - a meld of generously sized rooms for groups and more intimate nooks and crannies for those who’d prefer some peace and quiet - means this is a true party house.
Not so keen
My party was one of the first bookings at Thorpe Manor, and the service concept was still being developed during our stay. It may take some time for the butler concept to be fully embedded. While pleasant, the catered breakfast service feels pedestrian for a house of this stature. A clearer explanation of what cooked items could be prepared, and a greater choice for vegetarians, would help.
The rooms
Each playfully named after a much-loved horse (Morning Coat, for example, alongside the likes of Mr Gay and Prince Bon Bon), the property’s 14 bedrooms are simply, tastefully decorated - they’re unshowy spaces, but finished to a high standard and each includes a Nespresso machine, robes and slippers.
A combination of twins and doubles are available and cots can be arranged; all have their own en suite with Bamford toiletries, with the exception of Sea Change and Merryman, which share a bathroom.
Pick of the bunch is Knucklecracker, a vast sanctuary on the first floor with a mammoth dressing room - an inviting space for a bride or groom to get ready - and bathroom with views over the garden. Ideal for teens or utilised by staff if the house isn’t fully occupied, the two low-ceilinged attic-level rooms are the only ones to include televisions.
Wedding ready?
Though the property had yet to host one at the time of my stay, the team are ready and waiting to facilitate a memorable wedding.
The home’s flower room and Summerhouse are licenced for wedding ceremonies and the village church, believed to date from the 13th century, is directly across the road. Receptions for up to 62 guests can be held indoors; the gardens accommodate up to 500 people.
Getting there
Thorpe Manor is a 10-minute taxi ride from Banbury station, which offers direct links to Warwick, Birmingham and Oxford. The property is 60 miles from London, but if visiting on a weekend as I did, traffic can be excessive and wearisome.
Cost
Sleeping 28 guests, exclusive-use of Thorpe Manor (01295 711006) costs from ￡10,200 for one night or ￡22,800 for three nights. Weekend stays are subject to a minimum booking of two nights (￡18,600).
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