Fact Sheet - Boys Hall
BOYS HALL RESTAURANT & ROOMS
Nestled in Ashford, Kent (a 35-minute train ride from London St Pancras), Boys Hall is a lovingly restored 17th-century Jacobean Manor right on the doorstep to the garden of England. Located on the southern edge of the North Downs in Kent, Boys Hall has undergone months of restoration to transform into a beautiful restaurant with rooms set within 3 acres of grounds.
The restaurant opened to the public in September, and 7 stunning bedrooms opened on Jan 18th, with 2 further bedrooms revealed in July 2023.
Boys Hall was originally built in 1616 and is Grade II listed. Husband and wife team, Bradley and Kristie have painstakingly restored the house to its former glory with the help of family, friends and a variety of local specialists. Bradley was the former operations director of East London Pub Co, and Kristie is the founder of Drink, Shop & Do as well as Keystone Crescent members club in London’s King’s Cross. The couple departed the capital in 2019 and on finding the hall, a mere 35 minute train ride from London, set about using their combined wealth of experience to create the ‘getaway destination of their dreams’ which is now open to the public.
The property has 9 ensuite bedrooms, two cosy reception rooms, private dining rooms, plus a 70 cover restaurant and their very own wood-clad pub for a pint of local ale and bar snacks.
THE BEDROOMS:
Designed by Kristie, with the help of Kagu Interiors, the bedrooms each have their own unique character and are named taking inspiration from the local area and the people that Boys Hall holds close to its heart. You’ll find both classic & modern furnishing as well as all the little luxuries you could want for a cosy retreat to make you feel right at home.
There are currently 5 suites, each with super-king beds, spacious bathrooms and features including rolltop bathtubs, idyllic window seats overlooking the estate and original fourposter beds. There are 4 smaller bedrooms, though cosy only be name as all 9 bedrooms are luxurious and stately sized. All rooms feature drench showers, fluffy towels, Roberts Radios, fine English linen on Hypnos beds, deliciously nurturing toiletries, locally roasted coffee complimented by a range of Debonair teas and infusions, complimentary water, wi-fi (convenient for those must-do emails), and of course, homemade treats from the kitchen. The interiors are a combination of Farrow & Ball hues (Green Smoke, Preference Red, Ball Green), bold fabrics from Lewis & Wood, Linwood and Sanderson and a wonderful array of vintage furniture and eclectic finds from antiques markets ensuring no two rooms are the same.
BISHOP'S QUARTER - THE MASTER SUITES
Restoring this beauty has been a love affair since the start. Prepare to be wowed by this, Boys Hall’s grandest room in the house. Steeped in history, it even features the 17th century panelling from Windsor Castle that was gifted by King Charles himself. Stone mullion bay windows provide the frame for sweeping views across the gardens which can be enjoyed from your superking hypnos bed. The bathroom, which is frankly larger than your first flat in London, has checkerboard marble flooring, an opulent roll top tub and a walk-through drench shower. From £350 B&B.
THE RESTAURANT:
The restaurant is housed in a capacious new beamed dining room, constructed with local oak that was cut and shaped to size on site with a local carpenter and features a stunning open fire place. With glass walls on both sides, every guest can enjoy views over the stunning gardens and terraces.
Head Chef Charlie Dilworth (promoted from sous chef in Sept 2023) has created delicious menus centred around seasonal, local produce from the Garden of England with daily changing dishes taking influence from home-cooked favourites, elevated to new standards. At lunch you can enjoy 2 courses for £25, 3 for £35 and feast on the likes of Ham Hock Terrine with Apple Piccalilli and black pudding crumble followed by Steak & Stilton pie or Roasted Butternut Gnocchi with Salted Ricotta and Sage. Dinner menu examples include delicious Chart Farm sticky braised venison, grilled crumpet, Dijon, pickled blackberry, fine herbs (£16) and mains cooked over the fire including Coal Fired Turbot, Kentish mussels, savoy cabbage, Kent cider, saffron (£30) or 35-day aged beef from the local farm and butcher Chart Farm.
The inviting pub with original wood cladding is just the place for a pint of local ale and snack, and is open to the public and residents alike. A premium wine cellar sits beneath and is brimming with Kentish and international vintages from unique producers from around the world.
STEEPED IN HISTORY
Boys Hall was built by aristocrats Thomas & Margaret Boys in 1616 and has since entertained royalty, knights and the literati, sheltered fleeing Kings and clergy, facilitated smugglers, concealed hoards of gold, courting drama, romance and tragedy for over four hundred years. If only walls could talk…
The estate remained with five generations of Boys’ and eventually passed to the Knatchbull family. Thereafter the house exchanged hands fairly frequently which has led to a house steeped in history.
Here are a few of our favourite stories:
HIDDEN TREASURE - In 1972 during renovation works a hoard of seventeen medieval gold coins were discovered in a broken pot below the floor boards, three of which were quickly declared as treasure and are now pride of place in the British Museum.
A SMUGGLER’S TALE - It is said that the remains of underground tunnels in the cellar were in frequent use by smugglers, most likely for contraband spirits and wool from the local Romney Marsh.
A ROYAL AUDIENCE - Boys Hall played host to Charles I who stayed while fleeing the forces of Oliver Cromwell. Samuel Pepys, the saucy 17th century British diarist, is also understood to have been among its visitors.
THE GROUNDS
The large, landscaped grounds have become a passion project for Kristie and include a rose garden, a formal front lawn (featuring garden games in the summer months), beehives producing the hall’s own honey and of course the all-important kitchen garden for growing herbs and flowers for the restaurant and bar. Future plans are afoot to further extend the food and drink offering in a few years’ time to open a garden room bar with outdoor pizza oven.
““We have loved every minute of restoring this timeless and beautiful period property. We cannot wait to see life back in the venue with people being able to enjoy themselves whether they choose a cup of tea in one of the reception rooms or a Gin & Tonic out on the lawns admiring the gardens. Located in the heart of Kent we are very lucky to have some incredible producers and suppliers work with us. ‘It’s been such a privilege to be able to combine our background and love of home comforts and become a part of the rich history of this house, which we immediately fell in love with. It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to combine our backgrounds and love of home comforts and become a part of the rich history of this house and its stunning, evolving gardens. We want our guests to feelat home and for everyone who stays in the first year, a tree will be planted in the gardens.””
Kristie and Brad plan to add more exciting elements to the garden in the years to come, including treatment rooms and 8 luxury cabins around a wild pond. Watch this space!
Double rooms are available from £160 per night, bed and breakfast.
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www.boys-hall.com
@boys.hall