One For The Jetsetters

With the light falling just right, you can imagine yourself in Tuscany when at Beaverbrook. While the setting is European, their Dining Room whisks you to the Land of the Rising Sun. Matthew Williams visits

- Matthew Williams

 FROM junction 9 to Japan, Beaverbrook takes you on a round-the-world journey that would leave Phileas Fogg dreaming of jet propulsion while lazing in the Parrot Bar with an Old Fashioned cocktail.

While many worried about the future of the estate formerly known as Cherkley Court and this corner of the Surrey countryside, such is the style and swagger of the resort’s transformation that there are already some claiming it might well be the coolest new hotel in Britain. Certainly, with the light falling just right, you can easily imagine yourself in Tuscany while relaxing on the luxury country house hotel’s terrace with its views across the Surrey Hills.

Found on a road between Box Hill’s summit and the Leather head junction of the M25, once you’re through the estate gates a magical spell is cast. You’re greeted at the gatehouse with a “would you like directions to The House” and, having chortled at the thought at first, we find ourselves quite relieved that we receive them having forgotten the scale of Lord Beaverbrook’s famous former country home.

Globe trotting

While the setting is firmly European and the rain during our visit firmly English, head chef Taiji Maruyama aims to lead you on an epic adventure to the Land of the Rising Sun with his modern approach to Japanese cuisine.

Despite finding myself in the surreal position of having to avoid chop stick embarrassment next to Chef Nobu last year (see breakout, right), as well as having grandparents who lived in Tokyo for many years, I’m very much a learner still when it comes to Japanese cuisine.