HOTHOTEL Birch Community
UNITED KINGDOM
Words Cliff Joannou
INNA KOSTUKOVSKY
It’s time to upgrade your staycation experience. And by upgrade, I mean rewrite the rule book. Despite a stopand-start launch last year due to Miss Rona, Birch Community has established itself with fanfare, being hailed by The Times as Hotel of the Year.
When considering a stay at this selfstyled anti-hotel, park your expectations at the door. The Georgian mansion nestled in 22 hectares of woodland in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, presents a grandiose greeting on arrival. Formerly Theobalds House, the estate was once home to Lady Meux, a 19th-century rollerskating aristocrat whose extraordinary life more than merits a deep dive.