Hampshire’s Lime Wood Hotel named UK's best boutique hotel

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Lime Wood Hotel in Hampshire’s New Forest has been named the best boutique hotel in the UK.

The venue is home to restaurant Hartnett Holder and Co, led by chefs Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder, as well as Herb House Spa, complete with indoor and outdoor pools with forest views. It also has a range of style of accommodation, including a forest cottage and cabin, lodges, hideaway suites and a lake cabin.It rose 18 places from last year’s position on the list, where it made debut at number 19.

Last year’s top hotel The Newt in Somerset was ranked at number two this year with Heckfield Place in Hampshire taking third spot and The Pig at Bridge Place in Kent ranked at number four.

Lympstone Manor was ranked at number five, making it this year’s highest new entry. Michael Caines’ Devon-based country house hotel is set in 28 acres of grounds, including a 10-acre vineyard, and has elegant estuary suites and cosy shepherd huts located by the water.

The award for Food & Beverage was claimed by Number One Bruton, in Somerset, whose partner restaurant Osip is currently ranked at number 65 on the list of the UK’s Top 100 Restaurants. Most Unique Experience went to Gilpin Lake House in Cumbria, which has six bedrooms set in 100 acres of private grounds with its own private lake.

Beaverbrook in Surrey is this year’s Highest Climber, moving up from 45th to 13th on the list.

The results of the Top 50 Boutique Hotels, sponsored by Taylors of Harrogate, were revealed yesterday (22 November) at a special awards ceremony at Berkshire's Lillibrooke Manor. Created by William Reed, the list is compiled based on the votes of leading industry experts, hoteliers, travel writers and influencers based across the UK.

Overall, the southwest of England dominated this year’s list with hotels located in the region taking 14 of the Top 50 spots. Close behind, with nine is the southeast, with the northwest of England having seven boutique hotels in the list.

Four hotels are located in Scotland.  

“We’re delighted to be revealing this fantastic new list and see such strong movement in this year’s Top 50 Boutique Hotels,” says Chris Lowe, group director, hospitality and manufacturing at William Reed.

“Our number one has jumped up 18 places from last year and the highest new entry is number five, which is testament to those teams’ stellar efforts. With staycations continuing to be a focus for Britons, it is encouraging to see such strong regional presence this year and such a wide range of unique hotel experiences to enjoy.”

The Top 50 Boutique Hotels List 2022

1    Lime Wood Hotel, Hampshire

2    The Newt, Somerset

3    Heckfield Place, Hampshire

4    The Pig at Bridge Place, Kent

5    Lympstone Manor, Devon

6    Grantley Hall, Yorkshire

7    Artist Residence London, London

8    Idle Rocks, Cornwall

9    Thyme, Cotswolds

10    Padstow Townhouse, Cornwall

11    Yorebridge House, Yorkshire

12    Hambleton Hall, Rutland

13    Beaverbrook, Surrey

14    Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, Cumbria

15    The Fife Arms, Scotland

16    The Queensberry, Somerset

17    Foyers Lodge, Scotland

18    Another Place, Cumbria

19    The Mandrake, London

20    Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Lancashire

21    Scarlet Hotel, Cornwall

22    Hotel Tresanton, Cornwall

23    Titchwell Manor Hotel, Norfolk

24    Watergate Bay, Cornwall

25    Wild Thyme & Honey, Gloucestershire

26    L’oscar London, London

27    Middleton Lodge, Yorkshire

28    Rothay Manor, Cumbria

29    The Gallivant, Sussex

30    The Tawny Hotel, Staffordshire

31    The Wild Rabbit, Oxfordshire

32    Calcot Manor Hotel, Cotswolds

33    Grays Court Hotel & Restaurant, Yorkshire

34    Number One Bruton, Somerset

35    Hampton Manor, West Midlands

36    The Rectory Hotel, Wiltshire

37    The Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell, London

38    Hipping Hall, Cumbria

39    Cliveden House, Berkshire

40    Links House at Royal Dornoch, Scotland

41    Great Fosters, Surrey

42    Dormy House Hotel, Cotswolds

43    Henrietta Hotel, London

44    Gravetye Manor, Sussex

45    House of Gods, Scotland

46    The Samling Hotel, Cumbria

47    Seaham Hall, Durham

48    Linthwaite House, Cumbria

49    Grove of Narberth, Pembrokeshire

50    Number 38 Clifton, Somerset