The Ollerod.
3 Prout Bridge, Beaminster, Dorset.
The Ollerod is a little piece of heaven for foodies, and a great place to stay while exploring this little-known corner of England. Just six miles from the Jurassic Coast, The Ollerod is a former priest house with parts dating from the 14th century, set in the picturesque country town of Beaminster.
Along with great food and wine, the bar is the heart of The Ollerod. Guests can relax and enjoy a cocktail, a cup of tea or a glass of wine in the bar or the snug, which is home to a huge open fire in the cooler months! When the weather is fine, the beautiful terrace and garden make the perfect spot for a drink and a snack, or even a meal, in the sunshine. Blessed with some of Britain’s finest farmers, growers and fishermen on the doorstep, Chef Chris takes pleasure in sourcing the best produce from the surrounding areas, as well as growing vegetables and herbs in his own kitchen garden. The signature 15 Leaf Ollerod salad is sourced entirely from the Ollerod garden.
Chris held a Michelin star for nine years at the The Mandarin Oriental before branching out on his own, so he knows a thing or two about food. His Small Plates and A La Carte Menu are always evolving and changing, with new dishes introduced every couple of weeks.
The Ollerod offers 13 individually styled hotel bedrooms from cool modern to classic English, all with en-suite bathrooms, organic toiletries and the finest Italian Frette bed linen. These rooms range from the Tiny (perfect for the solo traveller, or two very good friends!) to the gorgeous Four Poster rooms. The Coach House rooms are a few steps from the main building and the two on the ground floor welcome well-behaved dogs. On the first floor of the Coach House is a family room with a double bedroom and two single rooms, and back in the main house the Superior Family Suite has one bedroom with a double bed and another with twin beds. The Superior Rooms are unsurprisingly lovely, and one of the deluxe rooms on the ground floor has a large walk-in shower making it ideal for someone a little less mobile.
The Dorset coast is famously known as the Jurassic Coast so a stroll on the beach may reveal the odd fossil or two. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site with long stretches of undulating cliffs including interesting features like Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and the now-famous "Broadchurch" cliffs. Meanwhile Beaminster itself is a pretty little town surrounded by miles and miles of unspoilt countryside.
And the name? Ollerod is an old Dorset dialect word for a cowslip. Thomas Hardy would have known what it meant.