Review: The Bush Hotel Farnham, Surrey, UK

Bush Hotel Farnham is unique. This 95-key hotel, dating from at least 1618, has an unspoilt High Street location in three tranquil acres.

The site has probably been a watering hole since the 11th century, with medieval landlords spreading straw on the floor for drinkers who wanted to spend the night.

This is a good time for the ivy-clad Bush Hotel, privately owned since 2018. The majority of rooms and suites have undergone major changes, with a renovation program starting in the last 17 rooms. Bush is probably better off now than he was 900 years ago.

Times are good for Farnham too, awarded World Craft Town status in 2020. It is only one of three towns in Europe to be so honoured. Also, Farnham has been recognized by The Sunday Times is one of the best cities to live in the UK. This thriving town has an annual craft month in October, a Literary Festival in March and a monthly market held at The Maltings.

Down in the south-west corner of Surrey, close to the Hampshire border, Farnham is idyllic, with brown cobbles and wood, less than an hour’s train ride from London and just an hour’s drive from the South Coast.

Increasingly The Bush Hotel welcomes guests to Farnham for arts and crafts, cycling and hiking in the Surrey Hills or taking in the beauty of the Downs.

Welcome

Despite its city center location, The Bush has ample parking. We took the lavender-lined path through the lawns and striped deck-chairs to a warm welcome at the reception.

Suite

Each suite and room is unique, designed with original art, individual color palettes and signature soft furnishings. In the original Grade 2 listed building, there is a large Bush Suite, three other suites and a vintage room.

Our suite looks onto the High Street but the effective double glazing reduces the passing traffic to a whisper. A small lounge with a two-seater sofa is a place to read the available Surrey guide books.

A coffee maker, a tea tray and a fridge for cold water all add to the comfort of making your own at home.

The bathroom

A large shower takes up the width of the well-lit, gray-walled, wood-floored bathroom.

Facilities

With glossy leafy banana plants, four golden chandeliers and rattan chairs, there is a Palm Court feel at The Garden Restaurant with excellent service.

We were there for Sunday lunch, as were a few locals in the know. A carrot and coriander soup perfectly balanced and a large salmon and cream cheese parcel made for a promising start. Wine pairing recommendations for each dish are helpful.

We chose succulent beef and a perfectly grilled corned beef half chicken from a selection of roasts that included bacon and vegan wellingtons. A choice of roast vegetables, ginormous Yorkshire puddings and rich sauces can be had with all the roast options. Beyond the Sunday roast, fish and chips plus burgers are also on the menu.

Like many in The Bush, the wooden bar is a mix of old and new. Croquet mallet heads decorate the walls, recalling the days when croquet was played on the hotel grounds. But with a nod to the contemporary sports bar, the big screen has the TNT sports channel.

Or you can take your drinks outside on the tranquil terrace featuring white hydrangea terracotta plants. Deckchairs on the lawn overlook the church which once a month hosts the Spire Repair Cafe.

location

Farnham is home to the University of Creative Arts. As well as on-site exhibitions, visitors will find work by students and graduates in the New Ashgate Gallery and at The Maltings.

Throughout Farnham makers make. With the red-hot spirit of creativity that works with metal, the puppeteers bring new characters to life and the weavers use an abundance of colors and textures. While the potter continued and developed the tradition from the time of the Roman occupation.

Farnham Sculpture Park is a six mile drive away. Take two to three hours to meander through 650 modern and contemporary sculptures displayed over 10 hectares of arboretum and water park. Each sculpture from a dragon to a military tank, made from 20,000 pieces of pallets and reclaimed sea wood, is available for sale or rent (subject to negotiation).

Biking, sensory, tree-line and walking trails in Alice Holt Forest make for a great day out from Farnham.

Another nice touch

Available from reception, the history of The Bush tells about 900 years ago.

In the Oak Room, the frescoes were only discovered in 1931 and have been carefully preserved. Prudish Victorians had thought naked cherubs too cheeky for public display. Look up to the ceiling and you will see a rare indoor sundial. The rays of the sun, coming through the garden, help the long-ago generations to keep track of the time.

Throughout the hotel is an eclectic selection of art. Antiquarian maps, architectural plans, avant-garde portraits, Constable-like rural scenes, bursts of contemporary color, 19th-century official portraits and the best of satirical cartoons sum up nine centuries of history.

The neighboring Petite Patisserie, owned by the hotel, managed by pastry chef Leyre Pedrazuela, presented in 2019 Bake Off, The Professionals series. Some guests may resist calling for a high-end dessert with coffee.

Cost

Rooms start at a Classic Double, including breakfast for two, from £161.

The best

Location, location, location. From reception, you can step out through the cobbled courtyard into the heart of Farnham. Art galleries, independent shops and even a Gin and Chocolate shop, selling 400 different gins, all at a brisk pace.

Farnham Castle is also within walking distance. The building dates back to around 1138, often used by kings in the early centuries. Although it should not be forgotten that Oliver Cromwell lived in The Bush in 1648.

Alternatively, you can relax in the spacious grounds of The Bush or The Oak Room with afternoon tea.

The final verdict

The Bush Hotel and Farnham are both flying under the radar. Visit this charming historic hotel in a unique artistic city before the crowds discover it.

Disclosure: We remain sponsored by The Bush Hotel Farnham.

Michael Edwards

Michael Edwards is a travel writer from Oxfordshire, England. Although Michael had his first travel piece published almost four decades ago, he still finds new luxury destinations to visit and write about.