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House with History THE GROVE Nestled in Hertfordshire, just a short journey from London, this former party manor for royalty and aristocracy has been returned to its glory days WORDS BELINDA WANIS

he turn-off for Te Grove is quite auspicious. But as you wend your way through the golf course and over the bridge nothing prepares you for the commanding Georgian manor that comes into view sitting atop the hill. Set in 300 acres of rolling Hertfordshire countryside, this former home of the Villiers family – the Earls of Clarendon – has a rich history dating back to at least the 1500s, though there is archaeological evidence on the grounds of Bronze Age pottery. Attracting Tthe aristocracy and artists alike, painter George Stubbs regularly graced its grounds, inspired to create his famous equine portraits. Towering over the terrace today is a beautiful black walnut tree, one of the first to be brought to Britain and presented to the Earl of Clarendon as a sapling in the 1770s by the great explorer Captain James Cook. When the fifth Earl became secretary and aide to Queen Victoria in 1846, he decided to throw lavish house parties for the Queen and British gentry who would travel up from London for the weekend parties – a new phenomenon which Te Times described as ‘weekending’. However, just before the Great Depression, Te Grove suffered a downturn as the Villiers family was forced to sell up to reduce the burden of estate tax. Te mansion was used variously as a college of nutrition, riding and boarding schools, before it was requisitioned as the secret headquarters for the railways during World War II. Guards patrolled at night and six air-raid shelters were built on the grounds. In 1996, despite Te Grove being in a derelict state, the Ralph Trustees saw beyond the ruin to the beauty of what the house once was and with the help of architects, interior designers, landscape gardeners and golf course architects, it was transformed into the luxury resort it is today. ‘When we The former home of the Earls of restored Te Grove 15 years ago, it was in a dilapidated state. Clarendon, The Grove has been In some rooms you could look up and see the sky,’ award- renovated into a five-star hotel winning interior designer Martin Hulbert of Martin Hulbert

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escapes INSPIRATIONS Mama

ISLAND LIFE ELIVI SKIATHOS The hotel has announced the opening of its kids club. Children can now enjoy a range of activities while parents relax at the resort’s four white-sand beaches, or AUGUST 2019 • ISSUE 31 soak up the outstanding natural beauty of the surroundings. elivihotels.com MODEL MAMA mama’s Natalia Vodianova’s FUN The Magazine for Stylish Mums new business venture FOOD TRAVEL Angellica Bell’s new cookbook NOTES Helen Baron rounds up the most exciting GET destinations at home and abroad OUTSIDE NON-PLASTIC OUTDOOR TOYS we NOW OPEN love FAB FINS THE GROVE HEVEA New to our favourite country-house A new launch from the hotel is the refurbished Glasshouse pioneering eco-brand, these Green restaurant. A triple-height glass innovative fl ippers are made extension has been added, so with partly upcycled raw guests can enjoy views of the natural rubber. Flexible and garden and terrace as they dine comfy, they come in peach Mother while the kids are in the creche. and mint colours. €30; MILK FUTURE thegrove.co.uk heveaplanet.com BREASTFEEDING Helen Skelton on TIPS AND ADVICE 3 for OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES being more eco SONNWIES Sonnwies Les Carrasses Green Spa Resort TYROL LANGUEDOC STANGLWIRT From guesthouse beginnings on the At this upscale but super family- A fi ve-star bio resort where you can owner’s farm to a modern family friendly chateau you can take enjoy hiking, tennis, horse-riding 31 • AUGUSTISSUE 2019 paradise. On-site activities include a group horse-ride into some and golf as well as a stunning water slides, climbing walls, pony of France’s fi nest countryside. natural swimming lake, set against riding, zip wires, hiking, Nordic Meanwhile, the kids club of ers the backdrop of the Wilder Kaiser walking, tobogganing, mountain plenty of outdoor games and even Mountain. There’s a farm and biking and ice skating. trips to local sites of interest. waterworld for little ones too. sonnwies.com lescarrasses.com stanglwirt.com

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Friday, July 26, 2019

freetimeYOUR LOCAL LEISURE GUIDE Popular music Pop-up cinema in and dance hotel’s walled garden festival returns THE Grove has announced a partnership with cinema specialists, Everyman, to provide a pop-up cinema for its guests to enjoy this summer. Throughout the entire month of August, hotel residents and restaurant guests at the fve-star hotel in Hertfordshire will be able to enjoy a variety of popular, classic flms as well as new releases in its secluded Walled JiveSwing Festival is free to attend Garden, complete with bean bags, delicious snacks and beverages. WATFORD Borough Council’s Big Secret Garden will be the overarching JiveSwing Festival returns to the theme of the pop-up cinema – with many bandstand in Cassiobury Park on flms a nod to the lush English garden Sunday, July 28, from 1pm to 6pm. surroundings. The programming schedule The historic Watford landmark will will include a mixture of family-friendly host some of the best internationally flms, new releases and well-known classics. acclaimed jazz musicians, bands Up to 45 flms will be screened throughout and dancers during the afternoon the month, with evening screenings from extravaganza. There will be live Wednesday to Sunday, together with selected cabarets, dance classes for children and matinee viewings and late night screenings. adults, professional dance displays, a A snapshot of the flms on offer include: vintage photo booth and more – all for ● Matinees (exclusively for hotel residents) free. – Saturday-Sunday 3.30pm. Family friendly Elected Mayor of Watford Peter flms, available for hotel residents, including The pop-up cinema is part of The Grove Hotel’s programme of events Taylor said: “It’s great to be able to The Secret Garden, Beauty & The Beast, host our Big Jive Swing Festival for another year. I’m really pleased that Matilda, Jungle Book, Peter Rabbit, Charlie catering for couples and families alike, Thursday, August 1, to Saturday, August 31. despite cuts in our funding from and the Chocolate Factory, Coco, The BFG which will ensure that guests can grab a Inclusive overnight hotel packages invite and Mary Poppins Returns. government that we are able to put on little respite from the city, with travel time guests to experience the cinema at their events like these ones free of charge ● Evening Screenings – Wednesday-Sunday from Central London taking little over 20 leisure, with packages also available for 8.00pm. Aimed at 12+ audience with a more for local residents. Bring your family minutes. The Glasshouse restaurant has guests dining at The Glasshouse or The family-friendly accent at the weekends, and friends, and make the most of this also recently reopened following extensive Stables. including E.T, Jumanji, Isle of Dogs, Black fantastic musical festival!” Panther, La La Land, Pride & Prejudice, refurbishment. For more information visit www.thegrove. Bands performing include the Dirty Dancing, Back to the Future, The The Grove’s pop-up cinema will run from co.uk or call 01923 296010. Mississippi Swing Band, Pete Long Greatest Showman, Mean Girls, Wonder Swing Band, The Jive Aces and The Woman, Sleepless in Seattle, Bohemian Colin Bray Swing Band. Rhapsody, Mrs Doubtfre, Jurassic Park, Big Bandstand – part of the Watford Green Book, Captain Marvel and Forrest Borough Council’s Big Events Gump. programme – will host live bands, ● Late Night Screenings – Friday-Saturday performing for free, every Sunday from 10.45pm. Expect thrills, frights and sheer 2pm to 4pm until September. pleasure in these spine-tingling screenings, You can view the full line-up on the including The Beach, Fight Club, Donnie Watford Big Events website and fnd Darko, Gone Girl, AMY, The Blair Witch out more about the Big JiveSwing Project, Leon, A Star is Born, US and True festival at watfordbigevents.co.uk/ Romance. bigjiveswingfestival Films will be aired on a large screen Over the weekend of Saturday, July within The Grove’s enchanting Walled 27, and Sunday, July 28, the British Garden, which is hidden behind the grand Firefghter Challenge is also taking gates in the heart of the hotel’s 300 acres. place on Watford High Street and by The Walled Garden’s kitchen garden and The Parade. This annual sporting Potting Shed provide the picturesque event, being held for the frst time in backdrop for the cinema, creating the perfect Watford, will see over 250 frefghters haven for guests to relax on a summer from 16 countries being pushed to their evening. Alongside the cinema, there will limits as they compete in gruelling be a pop-up Tanqueray Bar, a Ciroc Shack tasks. Come along with your family and serving vodka slushies as well as a selection friends and watch, and help raise funds of popcorn, ice cream and old-fashioned for the Firefghters Charity. Children sweets for guests to enjoy during the can even take part in mini games. screenings. Find out more at The Grove has an abundance of activities britishfrefghterchallenge.co.uk on offer throughout the summer season, The cinema will be set up in The Grove’s Walled Garden