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Home / Destination / Europe / UK / Elsewhere / Room Report: Goodwood Hotel

Room Report: Goodwood Hotel

February 20, 2015 by Gretta Schifano 17 Comments

Doorway at The Richmond Arms, Goodwood. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Doorway at The Richmond Arms, Goodwood. Copyright Gretta Schifano

The Goodwood Hotel is on the Goodwood Estate on the edge of the beautiful South Downs National Park near England’s South coast. Goodwood House was bought by the first Duke of Richmond as a hunting lodge in 1697 and today is home to the Earl of March, heir to the current Duke of Richmond. The Estate includes the famous Goodwood motor circuit which opened in 1948 and hosts the annual Festival of Speed, the Goodwood horse racing track which launched in 1802, an award-winning organic farm, the Cass Sculpture Foundation as well as Goodwood House itself, a Jacobean building which has been extended and added to over three centuries.

Goodwood Hotel

I was invited to visit Goodwood Hotel with my family during the February half term break. The hotel has a luxuriously modern English country house atmosphere and the staff that we met were all impeccably friendly and helpful. We stayed from Sunday to Monday in lovely adjoining en-suite rooms on the first floor of the hotel. The children’s room had twin beds and our room a double. The rooms were beautifully decorated and comfortably furnished and felt both luxurious and homely.

Goodwood Hotel twin room. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Goodwood Hotel twin room. Copyright Gretta Schifano

When we arrived we found paper bags in the children’s room to welcome them. The bags each contained an apple, a bottle of water, some colouring sheets, information about children’s activities and a slip of paper inviting them to call room service for a cup of hot, frothy milk at bedtime (this delighted my son and I think has restarted a long-forgotten part of the bedtime routine in our house). There was also a packet of homemade strawberry and chocolate popcorn which the children devoured. There were white towelling robes, Molton Brown toiletries, mini Montezuma chocolate bars and a kettle to make tea and coffee in our rooms. Perfect.

Our en-suite bathroom at the Goodwood Hotel. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Our en-suite bathroom at the Goodwood Hotel. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Goodwood House

Once we’d settled in we set off to explore in the chilly winter sunshine. We turned left out of the hotel gates and immediately came to the 17th century Richmond Arms where we were to have dinner later. The Richmond Arms is connected to the hotel building and has walls made of flint, a traditional construction material used in this part of Sussex. We then passed a giant sculpture of a head from the Cass Sculpture Foundation before walking through some huge iron gates and into the grounds of Goodwood House. Goodwood House is open to the public for tours at certain times but it wasn’t open when we were there so we contented ourselves with strolling through the grounds and past the grand house. Apparently the house has an impressive art collection including works by Van Dyck, Stubbs and Canaletto.

Goodwood Health Club

Back at our rooms my daughter and I picked up our swimming costumes and headed over to the Health Club while the boys took advantage of the hotel’s free WiFi to watch a Really Important football match on my husband’s tablet. (My son has a perforated eardrum at the moment and so can’t go swimming as he must keep his ear dry). The swimming pool was busy with small children and their parents and my daughter and I spent a relaxing hour chatting in the lovely jacuzzi pool and the steam room. We tried the sauna briefly too. There’s also a gym and spa at the health club as well as a golf course in the Estate grounds including a junior golf academy.

Goodwood Hotel pool. Image courtesy of the Goodwood Estate

Goodwood Hotel pool. Image courtesy of the Goodwood Estate

The Richmond Arms

Our dinner that evening was at The Richmond Arms, one of the four places to eat at Goodwood. The dining room is beautifully furnished with modern, wooden tables and chairs with comfortable pinky-red cushions. There are abstract black and white framed photos on the walls and the atmosphere at dinner was formal but friendly. We were given a three-course set menu with three choices for each course. I started with Whipped Golden Cross Goats Cheese, Heritage Beetroot, followed by Halibut, Grapefruit, Monk Beard, Rainbow Chard and then Chocolate Cremeux, Dates, Cocoa Nibs, Rum & Raisin Ice Cream. It was all delicious and my 16 year old daughter said: ‘It was one of my favourite meals ever. It was so good. I liked all of it’. My 12 year-old son wasn’t so sure – he found the menu a little challenging. He said: ‘It was quite grown-up. I don’t think that people below my age would like it’.

Breakfast the next morning was also at The Richmond Arms and was a more relaxed affair. There was a buffet of delicious food to choose from and you could also order hot dishes from the menu. I had smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on wholemeal toast. Much of the food used in the restaurants at Goodwood is from Home Farm, the Estate’s award-winning organic farm.

Breakfast buffet at The Richmond Arms. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Breakfast buffet at The Richmond Arms. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Home Farm

After breakfast we headed over to Home Farm for a tour with Education Officer Sarah Stewart. Home Farm is one of the UK’s largest organic farms and has won various UK Taste awards for its produce. Sarah showed us the farm’s cattle, pigs and sheep and we were lucky enough to see triplet lambs being born in one of the barns, helped by the shepherd’s daughter. We also saw (through a viewing window) some of the farm’s organic milk being bottled. We walked with Sarah through the woods and fields of the farm and along the edge of the field adjoining the Cass Sculpture Foundation, a privately-run sculpture park on the Estate which commissions, exhibits and sells large works of sculpture. Sarah runs guided walks, farm open days, forest activities for pre-schoolers and school visits and there are various children’s activities on offer at the farm during the school holidays.

Lamb at Home Farm, Goodwood. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Lamb at Home Farm, Goodwood. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Goodwood Bar & Grill

After walking around the farm we needed to warm up and the Goodwood Bar & Grill was just the place to do that. In the same building as the Health Club and overlooking the golf course the Bar & Grill is less formal than The Richmond Arms and my son was very pleased with it. He devoured a Goodwood burger (with beef from the farm) and fries while I opted for spicey carrot soup. My husband and daughter were still full from breakfast. We chose from the main menu but the Bar & Grill also has a cleverly-designed children’s menu which has layers of card to rotate to choose three options to create a balanced meal. If you’re visiting with younger children I think that this is a more relaxing place to eat than The Richmond Arms.

Goodwood Under 17s Academy

After lunch we drove over to the motor circuit because my daughter had been invited to try out the Under 17s Driving Academy. This is a new experience which launched this week. Kids under the age of 17 years old (as long as they’re 1.5 m tall) can have driving lessons in Mini Coopers with qualified, CRB checked driving instructors at the famous racing track. My daughter really enjoyed the experience and will be writing about it here next week. After her driving lesson it was time to head for home.

The Verdict

The Goodwood Hotel is a luxurious, relaxing and very English place for a break in a beautiful part of the country. The Goodwood Estate offers some unique experiences and events throughout the year. I loved our stay at Goodwood and would definitely recommend the hotel.

Family travel lowdown

Rooms at The Goodwood Hotel cost from £99 per night on Sundays and from £125 on other nights. During the Easter school holidays The Goodwood Hotel is offering three nights for the price of two on selected dates which means that a three-night stay will cost from £300 per room including breakfast. Kids under six years-old eat for free.



Disclosure: My family and I were guests of the Goodwood Hotel for one night for the purposes of this review.

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Related

Categories: Elsewhere, Luxury, Room reports
Tags: family friendly hotels, Goodwood, Goodwood Hotel, Home Farm, Luxury hotels, Sussex

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. Sara-Jayne says

    February 24, 2015 at 11:26 pm

    What I wouldn’t give to be in that pool now!
    Sara-Jayne recently posted…WE’RE ALL A BIT OF A “FIXER-UPPER”My Profile

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  2. Fritha says

    February 24, 2015 at 8:17 pm

    ooh that pool looks amazing! x
    Fritha recently posted…Ten Clever DIY IdeasMy Profile

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  3. Stephen says

    February 24, 2015 at 11:37 am

    Wow it looks like a fabulous place to say, the room alone is stunning!
    Stephen recently posted…Buy Me Brunch T-ShirtsMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Kara says

    February 24, 2015 at 9:53 am

    I used to lie not far from there – may need to head back for a visit
    Kara recently posted…A Visit to West BayMy Profile

    Reply
  5. Emma says

    February 21, 2015 at 9:23 pm

    that all sounds so lovely. I would love a break nr a farm.
    Emma recently posted…Living arrowsMy Profile

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  6. Clare Nicholas says

    February 21, 2015 at 7:12 pm

    It sounds wonderful, mine would adore the lambs, and what a lovely touch with the bags for the kids
    Clare Nicholas recently posted…Half term fun #FloraFamilyFunMy Profile

    Reply
  7. Jaime Oliver says

    February 21, 2015 at 7:02 pm

    wow what a stunning place! .. i love the fact that they welcomed the kids with the bags and the token, some other luxury hotels need to take note from this! if we were in the area we would certainly consider staying here
    Jaime Oliver recently posted…Top Tips For DIY Home Improvements On A BudgetMy Profile

    Reply
  8. The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover says

    February 21, 2015 at 6:35 pm

    This hotel looks luxurious and classy. I would certainly stay there if I was in the area!
    The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover recently posted…Win A Meal For 2 With Wine At The Old Market Tavern In Cardiff – Ends 13/03/15My Profile

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  9. Shobha says

    February 21, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    I went to a wedding reception here! it was indeed lovely.
    Shobha recently posted…Les Bon Bons To Keep The Kids SweetMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Charlotte Braithwaite says

    February 21, 2015 at 10:45 am

    My goodness, This place looks stunning!
    I love that they provided goodie bags for the kids – Its the little things that are important.
    The pool looks so inviting.
    Thanks for sharing hun
    Charlotte x
    Charlotte Braithwaite recently posted…Caribbean Sticky Chicken and Macaroni Pie RecipeMy Profile

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  11. Lori says

    February 20, 2015 at 11:56 pm

    Sounds like a fab stay and what thoughtful touches with the kids bags in the bedrooms. Looks very luxurious and that pool looks amazing! x
    Lori recently posted…DESIGN HOTEL IN AMSTERDAM // PART ONE WITH I-ESCAPEMy Profile

    Reply
  12. Mari says

    February 20, 2015 at 9:10 pm

    Luxury with a capital L. My goodness what a fabulous find. I am so glad to hear you all enjoyed it.
    Mari recently posted…Shorne Country Park: my Better PlaceMy Profile

    Reply
  13. Cathy (MummyTravels) says

    February 20, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    We stayed there last year when I tried one of the vintage experience weekends and it was wonderful – as you say staff were so helpful and friendly, there’s loads to do and I loved the restaurant.
    Cathy (MummyTravels) recently posted…Thursday Travel Treat: ChinaMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      February 21, 2015 at 10:45 pm

      Was that the Goodwood Revival? It sounds like an amazing event.

      Reply
  14. Michelle says

    February 20, 2015 at 6:19 pm

    What a lovely place! I love that they gave the kids little gifts too, so thoughtful xxx

    Reply
  15. Louisa says

    February 20, 2015 at 5:07 pm

    It looks amazing. I love the thought that head been put into the children’s goody bags and the pool looks fantastic x
    Louisa recently posted…Hibernating, half term and zombies #LittleLovesMy Profile

    Reply
  16. angela hamilton says

    February 20, 2015 at 4:23 pm

    The hotel looks beautiful. It sounds like you had an amazing time x
    angela hamilton recently posted…The White Lodge CentreMy Profile

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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