Sitting within the South Cheshire countryside, the medieval village of Malpas was lately topped #1 in The Sunday Occasions listing of the “greatest secret villages to dwell in”, praised for its sturdy sense of group and superb location. On the coronary heart of the village lies The Lion at Malpas, a sixteenth century inn which has undergone a multi-million pound renovation. As a fan of pubs with rooms, we determined to remain for a few nights to see why this pleasant Cheshire gem has change into such a sought-after vacation spot.
The welcome
We arrived at round 4pm and simply discovered a parking spot together with the pub (further areas can be found on the rear if you happen to arrive later). Stepping by means of the principle entrance, we had been greeted by the cosy glow of a roaring hearth which was complemented by an equally heat welcome, earlier than we had been promptly handed our keycards and proven to our room in a close-by constructing.
The room
The rooms are named after villages near Malpas. We stayed in ‘Clutton’, a generously-proportioned room masking 28 sq. metres. Upon getting into, there’s a comfortable porch space with a field for muddy boots — a considerate contact, given the abundance of strolling alternatives within the area, together with the Sandstone Path which passes simply 2.5 miles to the east of Malpas.
The bed room itself exudes a captivating mix of conventional and fashionable design. The mattress is framed by a putting darkish, rustic wood lattice that enhances the uncovered beams, including heat and character. This contrasts superbly with the homely ambiance provided by the lighter tones of the partitions and the wood-effect flooring.
Nicely-lit and thoughtfully organized, the room features a dressing desk, a fitted wardrobe, and a small sitting space with a desk and two snug chairs by the window, excellent for enjoyable after a day of exploring. The en suite rest room lies simply past.
The toilet
The en suite rest room could be very inviting, not least as a result of it has underfloor-heating and at all times felt so cosy at any time when we entered. It’s a up to date room with greenish fashionable subway tiles on the wall (even when they appear extra gray in my {photograph}!), contrasting with the patterned Moroccan-like ground tiles. A glass-screened walk-in bathe, glossy under-mounted sink and a heated towel rail give the toilet a contemporary, basic aesthetic.
Fluffy towels, smooth lighting and a plentiful provide of Molton Brown toiletries supplied a bit added air of luxurious.
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The amenities
Breakfast was included in our keep, and it was a stunning option to begin every morning. It’s served within the pub till 10am, excellent if you happen to favor a lie-in or, like us, fancy a morning run beforehand. Together with a choice of cereals and juices to assist your self to, there’s additionally an à la carte menu. You’ll be able to select from classics equivalent to Eggs Benedict or Eggs Florentine, or bask in a heartier possibility with The Malpas Breakfast or The Cheshire Breakfast—each scrumptious variations of a full English.
Within the evenings, the menu provides pub favourites equivalent to fish and chips, burgers and correct pies, alongside inventive dishes that transcend conventional pub fayre. Suppose confit duck leg with dauphinoise potatoes and squash purée, or complete butterflied seabass with a lemon, dill and caper butter. Among the many starters, you’ll discover every little thing from brûléed figs with a goats cheese mousse and walnuts, to king prawns with a kaffir lime butter, chilli and toasted sourdough for dipping.
The Lion at Malpas can also be very canine pleasant, with our 10 yr outdated Springer, George, capable of be a part of us in most areas of the pub, in addition to keep in our room.
Whereas we spent a lot of our time exploring the native space, there’s loads to maintain you entertained if you happen to select to remain within the pub. Together with a well-stocked bar, books, and magazines, there’s additionally a wide array of board video games to get pleasure from. In reality, on our first evening, we discovered the pub internet hosting a energetic backgammon evening—a captivating reminder of how pubs can convey individuals collectively. It was pretty to see the house being utilized in such a community-driven manner, including to the welcoming ambiance.
Make sure additionally to not miss the historic chair, near the pub’s major entrance and stored in Malpas because of native residents, that King James I is claimed to have used when he stopped at The Lion.
The varied rooms of the pub could be allotted for various features – helpful if you happen to’re internet hosting a small gathering or occasion, or excellent if you happen to’re pondering of planning one thing particular.
The situation
Malpas is an exquisite, historic village – even talked about within the Domesday E-book – within the south-western tip of Cheshire, near the borders with Shropshire and Wales. It’s a straightforward 35-minute drive from Chester, and never a lot additional to Manchester or Liverpool, however nonetheless sufficiently removed from all of them to be actually rural.
We visited Cholmondeley Fortress Gardens which is just a 10-minute drive away and had been very lucky in that we occurred to reach simply in time for an Autumn Tints Guided Tour with Head Gardener Barry Grain – a 90-minute stroll by means of the gardens by which we had been immersed in a wide ranging palette of seasonal colours. The sky was a bit overcast however this solely served to make the fiery reds, deep oranges and golden yellows stand out much more.
Barry’s intensive data was shared in such a relaxed method that the tour was a enjoyable expertise.
The highlights for me had been the magnificent crimson maple close to the decorative lake and the intense yellow, caramel-scented lime tree that capped off our tour earlier than we loved a deal with on the café.
On the day of our departure, we loved clear blue skies so explored a bit of the Sandstone Path at Bickerton Hill on our manner dwelling. We now have walked different sections of the route earlier than, however actually should return to do all of it at some point because it’s fairly stunning.
Different good touches
While it was pretty to take a seat within the pub with a drink, we had been supplied with every kind of considerate extras in our room that it could have been simple to not go away! A small bottle of gin and a few Fevertree tonics with a welcome word, a Nespresso machine and a provide of espresso pods, and mini happer crammed stuffed with crisps, biscuits, Teapigs tea luggage and luxurious scorching chocolate. There have been even canine biscuits for our canine companion and studying materials within the type of a duplicate of Cheshire Life.
The fee
For the extent of consolation, consideration to element, and general expertise, The Lion provides distinctive worth for cash with room-only stays ranging from £99 per evening for two individuals.
A dinner, mattress and breakfast keep in a Nation Double room equivalent to ‘Clutton’, that we stayed in, begins from £199 per evening for 2 individuals.
One of the best bit
The spotlight of our keep was the nice and cozy and alluring ambiance that The Lion at Malpas appeared to create so effortlessly — one thing the perfect conventional pubs are famend for. A roaring hearth, snug lodging and high quality pub meals all contributed to the right mix of cosiness, informality and rustic appeal that made our keep a really homely and welcoming one.
The ultimate verdict
There’s one thing comforting about unwinding with pals or household over a pint by a roaring hearth in a comfortable British pub. It’s exhausting to beat. However by providing the appeal of a pub with the consolation of a restful evening’s keep in high quality lodging, The Lion at Malpas takes the expertise to a brand new degree, with out the formality of a luxurious lodge.
Disclosure: Our keep was courtesy of The Lion at Malpas.
Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxurious Journey Weblog and has labored within the journey trade for greater than 30 years. He’s Winner of the Improvements in Journey ‘Greatest Journey Influencer’ Award from WIRED journal. Along with different awards, the weblog has additionally been voted “one of many world’s greatest journey blogs” and “greatest for luxurious” by The Telegraph.
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