We spent a glorious 4 nights at Sandbrook House. Upon entering the house, we felt immediately welcomed, by a large, decorated Christmas tree in the hallway.
The house was toasty warm, which is not an easy acheivement in a house of this size and age. Jackie, the wonderful and friendly housekeeper, had lit a fire in the library, which became a focal point for the adults over the stay. We had 8 kids with us, who were delighted by the house, which worked well in accommodating them.
Plenty of places to play, a cozy sleeping area for them on the top floor, and lots of places to explore, both inside and out. We breakfasted at the large table in one of the two kitchens, and saved the formal dining room for the adults, while the kids ate their evening meals at the kitchen table. The bedrooms were all comfortable, the Master Suite was exceptional, featuring a large bathroom which doubled up as a dressing area and general lounging spot, perfect for reading a book and getting away from it all. Personally, I loved the art on the walls, gorgeous old paintings, that left you with a feeling that you were at home, rather than in a hotel.
To be able to pick up a book in the library, sit down by the fire, and peruse for a while is my idea of luxury. A great selection of books there. The kitchen was also a perfect hangout area, many pots of tea were consumed there, we often had a pot on the go on the Aga. The kitchens were very well equipped – we did almost all of our own cooking, and the wealth of utensils, crockery and glasses, made the job of catering for 16 people a breeze.
The two dishwashers also took the pressure off. After dinners, we would retire to the drawing room for a drink and a chat. We were told by Jackie to head to the local butcher’s at Ballon if we needed any meat, which I did, and was not disappointed – the friendly butcher there sold me an outrageously good shoulder of locally-grown lamb.
Although our use of the house was one of a family get-together with kids, I could imagine that the house would work well for weddings or parties, too. Everything is there!
My overall impression of the house was that this was one that was loved by its owners, had been well-maintained and modernised over the years, yet had kept its overall character. The family photographs around the house helped with that impression. I would certainly recommend Sandbrook House to anyone, and will be returning, for sure.