Last week I spent an inspiring day at Soho Farmhouse with the super fun Pinterest team and to my added delight, some of my favourite people! I left home under the cover of darkness at 6.30 am, with rain pouring down, but after a couple of cosy train journeys I ended up in a sunny Banbury – for an extraordinary visual feast for the eyes and soul.
We were there to celebrate the launch of Soho Houses second book – Morning Noon Night. The beautiful book invites readers behind the scenes at Soho properties, following a day the ‘Soho House way’ from the second you wake up to the moment you go to bed. Stunning interior design, food and drink are all tied together with insights into House style and tips on favourite sources and suppliers – all designed to help you take a little of the ‘House’ home.
Our day was just that – a taste of all the magic this beautiful setting has to offer, from delicious food to relaxing spaces and plenty to see and do.
Set in one hundred acres of Oxfordshire countryside, the whole place is quite simply put – perfection. With beautiful scenery and surroundings in every direction.
Rustic charm with sparkling accents in the dining areas, roaring fires, glinting silver and comfy chairs. We chattered over breakfast, wandered the grounds and had a peek at some of the highlights all guests can expect during a stay here.
Fancy a row in a boat? Swim in the open air heated pool or a horse and cart back to your cabin after dark – this place has it all. A modern day country paradise.
From the soft colours of zinc, wood and stone, to outdoor fire and bar areas, everything has been carefully considered and chosen (as we found out in an afternoon Q&A with the founder Nick Jones) and it all looks so, so good together!
We flicked through the book over cocktails when the rain returned, I took pictures of the floral arrangement class from the sidelines, (I can’t handle the self-inflicted pressures of group floristy) and met some of the makers of the beautiful modern and traditional items used throughout the farmhouse, rooms and communal areas.
Each of the cabins is rustic on the outside and luxurious on the inside. The boathouse was all moody watery blues and the decor inside fun and fresh with botanical prints and poolside dining.
Taking a walk around the kitchen garden and greenhouses when it cheered up again outside was a highlight. Apples were ripening in the kitchen garden, with sprigs of kale and cabbage growing up underneath and just look at that sky (below).
Afternoon tea was classic finger sandwiches, scones, cakes, (pies, tarts and bakes, what?!) all along a huge table and served on classic Burleigh plates. It was a scene of spectacular baking and I even managed to get a slice for my train journey home.
Finally a birds eye view of my favourite cabin, from up on the dining terrace above. It comes complete with bikes at the ready to get about the grounds and a stoop just perfectly sized so two can watch sun up or sun down. I hope you liked this mini tour around these magical grounds. I hope I get to visit again, Dean would love it!
