The civil parish of Bepton is somewhat of an unusual village, strung out over just two miles with two distinct parts between the northern and southern ends. The northern end is centralised around a cosy country pub while an upmarket hotel, Park House, Hotel and Spa, is the focal point of the southern part. Founded by Ione & Michael O'Brien, the hotel has been in the family four generations and is still family-owned today.

Purchased in the 1940s, with Cowdray Park Polo Club nearby, the house steadily transformed into a seasonal hotel as more and more of the visiting polo players took up lodgings in the large 12-bedroomed house. Fast forward more than 70 years, nine more bedrooms and a barn conversion later, Park House is now a luxury country house hotel that personifies the art of great hospitality.

Explore the hotel with us below and discover why it’s a member of Pride of Britain Hotels and one of West Sussex’s most alluring country getaways.

Hotel & Grounds

A warm, home-away-from-home environment is key to Park House’s unique success. Every inch of the hotel’s 10 acres of land and graceful Edwardian interiors echo this sentiment, from the colourful array of flora and fauna which decorate the exterior to the intimate and inviting living room-style lounge area.

During their stay, guests can enjoy a unique selection of facilities including grass tennis courts, a six-hole, 18-tee par 3 golf course, traditional croquet green and a bowls lawn. The hotel is also home to a fine dining restaurant, the contemporary spa and a fully equipped conference facility in the beautifully restored Sussex barn.

The Barn is also licensed for weddings and is the ideal location for a sublime, quintessentially English countryside wedding.

Rooms

There are a total of 21 rooms on the property comprised of 12 en-suite bedrooms in the main house and nine en-suites in three pretty cottages that dot the surrounding grounds.

The bedrooms are unique in design from one another, all reflecting typical homely, English-style interiors, featuring palettes of pale green, dusky rose and baby blue. Bathrooms are feminine with large showers and elegant bathtubs. En-suites in the main house have uninterrupted views of the south downs.

Fine Dining

One of the most compelling aspects of Park House, Hotel & Spa is perhaps the fine dining restaurant. Serving tantalising appetisers, main courses, and heavenly desserts, the Executive Head Chef prepares only the best in quality to guests.

This season, menu options include parsley gnocchi, hare loin wellington, and marmalade and Cointreau soufflé among a myriad of other delightful dishes served at the restaurant. All ingredients are sourced locally, reinforcing the authentic countryside experience the hotel is proud to offer.

Served in an intimate setting within either the dining room or adjacent conservatory, dishes are presented elegantly and arouse the taste buds instantly. Our best-loved dish on the winter menu is the pan-seared monkfish fillet, paired with Macon-Bussieres Villages white wine produced in Burgundy, France.

Rest & Relaxation

The owners and staff at Park House, Hotel & Spa pride themselves on many things; the home-away-from-home ambiance, the wide array of activities they have available for guests to enjoy and the first-class hospitality constantly demonstrated by each and every member of the team.

For us at Société magazine, the award-winning luxury spa is a stand-out amongst the many country house hotels in south-east England. It's modern, stylish and warm, with therapists on call to assist guests at all times.

The treatment offerings are 5-star; the Lava Shells Relax Massage and the Caudalie Divine Body Wrap are among our favourites. The spa uses niche brands in a move that allows guests to experience an exclusive array of products. Voya, for example, is a family business focused on creating organic, seaweed-based products, while the more popularly known beauty brand Caudalie, creates calming products of the highest quality.

A unique treatment, the Lava Shells Relax Massage, uses real, heated porcelain lava shells which helps relax the muscles. The design of the shell plays a vital role in targeting problem areas like tense shoulders which leaves guests feeling relaxed and reinvigorated.

Stays at Park House, Hotel & Spa are from £180 per night, based on two people sharing a Superior Room, mid-week on a B&B basis including full use of the spa facilities.