All photos by Bryan Dearsley / LuxuryUK
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Broadway has been attracting visitors to the Cotswolds since stagecoaches ruled the London to Worcester road. While most travellers stayed in the valley where this cute Cotswold village is located, Dormy House Hotel & Spa offers a different take.
Set in a 17th-century farmhouse at the highest point of the 500-acre Farncombe Estate, this delightful boutique hotel provides guests not just with spectacular views towards the Malvern Hills, but also elegant rooms and suites, a spa rated at five bubbles by the Good Spa Guide, and a 12-seat restaurant carrying four AA Rosettes.
A working farm until the Broadway Golf Club turned it into its clubhouse and named it “Dormy” (golfer-talk for a player in a position where they can’t lose), it’s now owned by the same family behind The Fish Hotel. With original features like flagstones, oak beams, and exposed stone walls still in place, the same Scandinavian design ethic has been applied, making this another must-stay luxury property on the estate.
Dormy House Hotel & Spa
Getting to Dormy House is easy enough. You turn off the A44 at Fish Hill, the steep stretch of road that climbs out of Broadway towards Moreton-in-Marsh, and follow a private road up through the estate. The estate’s 500 acres of woodland, pasture, and parkland cover the hillside between Broadway and the neighbouring village of Willersey, and of the three hotels on the property, Dormy House claims the highest spot.
On a clear day, you can see right across the Vale of Evesham to the Malvern Hills, with the Black Mountains of Wales visible behind them. The gardens around the house are laid out for a stroll before dinner, and the kitchen garden supplies a good share of the vegetables used in the restaurants.
Inside, there’s no mistaking the building’s farmhouse origins. The hallway has kept its dark oak panelling, stone fireplaces, and flagstone floors, and in places the Cotswold stone has been left exposed. Chandeliers hang from old beams, adding to the chic but cozy feel of the public spaces like the lounge. And honestly, sitting around a real log fire on a comfy sofa… well, I didn’t want to leave.
The open-plan lobby is where the hotel’s super-friendly check-ins take place. And you’ll rarely find the welcoming staff behind a desk, as they’ll sit wherever you are to take care of the details. Fresh cookies and a hydration station are a welcome distraction, too.
A Proper Cotswold Country Estate
The estate’s park-like grounds are a big part of the appeal. Walking routes lead from Dormy House in pretty much every direction and connect with the Cotswold Way, the 102-mile national trail that runs along the escarpment. And in case it rains, rooms are supplied with Muck Boot wellies.
Dogs are welcome, too. Up to two well-behaved dogs over a year old can stay for an additional charge, which covers a bed, towel, water bowl and a treat on arrival. A “dog’s dinner” meal package for canines is also available. And your fur baby will love the bone-shaped wicker basket at the hotel’s entrance. It’s full of balls, so good luck getting past it.
If you’re after something more active, Off Limits runs an activity centre on the estate offering archery, clay pigeon and pistol shooting, quad bikes, and Segways. Foxhill Manor and The Fish Hotel are both within walking distance, as is Hillside Hangouts, the estate’s glamping site.
Rooms and Suites at Dormy House
The hotel’s 39 rooms and suites are spread across the original farmhouse, a converted courtyard, and a few outbuildings, and no two are the same. I stayed in the Hot Tub Courtyard Suite, a superbly comfortable suite with a separate lounge, en-suite bathroom, and a furnished patio with, yes, a hot tub.
Whichever category you choose, you’ll get Temple Spa toiletries, a coffee machine, a mini-bar, and a fridge. Air conditioning was a treat as I arrived during summer’s long heatwave, and the robes and slippers were an added excuse to lounge about.
Of the 11 suites, The Studio is the biggest and the most unusual. Set under a sloping ceiling in the style of a loft apartment, it has velvet seating, mood lighting, a collection of vinyl records, and its own music room. The Attic, tucked away up in the eaves of the main farmhouse, is reached by its own private staircase and comes with exposed oak beams, a large lounge, a walk-in double shower, and a separate tub.
The Dormy House Spa
The House Spa is another great reason for booking a luxury getaway to Dormy. And the Good Spa Guide agrees, having given the plush establishment “five bubbles,” its top rating. Arriving ahead of check-in time, I was granted access to this top-notch facility while I waited for my suite to be readied. It was definitely time well spent.
Everything needed is provided, from lockers to flip-flops. Showered, robed, and ready, you’ll make your way to The Bathing Room and its 52-foot indoor infinity pool. There’s no squabbling over poolside loungers, the lighting’s soft, and it’s par for the course to nod off while contemplating just how good life really is.
Outside, the Spa Terrace is another superb place to kick back. Knowing I had a hot tub waiting for me once I’d checked in, I made a beeline for the thermal suite, where things get interesting. Set up as a fire and ice circuit, it treats you to hot and cold rooms used in turn. There’s an aromatic steam room, a Himalayan salt sauna that releases salt particles into the air, and an experience shower with three settings: forest mist, tropical rain, and arctic blast.
In addition to its six solo treatment rooms, a private suite can be booked for couples’ pampering. Proverb and Tata Harper products, along with Temple Spa, are the products of choice here, and the menu covers facials, body scrubs, and a full range of massages. There’s also a float tank, a wave-massage bed, and a nail bar.
A gym with cardio machines and free weights is available for those wanting to keep up their routine. The Greenhouse, the spa café, has its own sun terrace and serves juices, smoothies, light lunches, and cake. The hotel recommends booking treatments as soon as your room is confirmed, since spa day packages are also sold to non-residents, so weekend and holiday slots fill up quickly.
Dining at Dormy House
MO is the Dormy House restaurant everyone wants to try. It’s also the hardest table to get. Just 12 guests at a time are seated at a horseshoe-shaped counter for a single seating at 7.30pm, Wednesday to Sunday, and are served an eight-course tasting menu cooked in front of them. There’s plenty of banter, too, so don’t be shy to ask your chef what they’re cooking.
MO holds four AA Rosettes and is listed in the Michelin Guide, and its confit egg yolk with parmesan custard has become something of a signature dish that rarely leaves the menu. The kitchen is overseen by Martin Burge, culinary director for the Farncombe Estate and formerly head chef at the Michelin-starred Whatley Manor near Malmesbury. You can book individually or as a group, and the restaurant is open to non-residents.
The Back Garden is the hotel’s main restaurant and holds three AA Rosettes of its own. The menu makes good use of rare-breed meats, as well as produce from the hotel’s own gardens, so it changes with the seasons. The wine list is also worthy of a mention and has been carefully curated.
The Back Garden is also where the full Cotswold breakfast is served in the morning, and afternoon tea later in the day. The Shed is the bar and lounge where you’ll go for a lunchtime pint or a pre-dinner cocktail. With the superb food and drink offerings available on-site, you could easily spend a whole weekend at Dormy House without leaving the estate for a meal. Packages such as MO-reish and Garden Graze, which bundle a night’s stay with a meal, are also available.
Tips & Tactics for a Stay at Dormy House
Here’s what you need to know before booking a Cotswolds break at Dormy House:
- Book your spa treatments and make that restaurant reservation at the same time as your room.
- MO seats just 12 for a single seating at 7.30 pm, Wednesday to Sunday, so you can’t simply turn up on the night.
- Use of the House Spa is included in your room rate, and there’s no need to book ahead.
- Non-residents can book spa days and tables at all four dining venues, so a day visit is an option if you’re not staying over.
- The walk to Broadway village is downhill on the way out and a steep mile back up. Reception can arrange a taxi for the return.
How To Get There
- Address: Dormy House Hotel, Willersey Hill, Broadway, Worcestershire WR12 7LF.
- By Car: Leave the A44 at Fish Hill above Broadway and follow the signs for the Farncombe Estate. Parking on site is free.
- By Train: Moreton-in-Marsh is the nearest station, a 15-minute drive away, with direct services from London Paddington on the Cotswold Line.
- Bookings and Packages: Check the hotel’s website for details.
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Travel and lifestyle writer Bryan Dearsley is Editor of LuxuryUK, a leading source of news and reviews relating to luxury lifestyles and travel in the United Kingdom, as well as RileyMag.com.
