Set within 300 acres of Hertfordshire countryside, just 18 miles from central London, The Grove is a truly gorgeous country house hotel. Today it operates as a private resort with five restaurants, a championship golf course, award-winning spa and expansive event spaces but its story stretches back centuries.
The land was first recorded in 1294, with a house established during the reign of Elizabeth I. In the 18th century it was owned by Thomas Villiers, later Earl of Clarendon, and became a gathering place for notable figures including artist George Stubbs and Captain Cook, who gifted a Black Walnut tree that still stands proudly on the Terrace. In 2003, The Grove opened as a five-star hotel, celebrating both its fascinating history and contemporary hospitality.
Inside, designer Martin Hulbert has restored the 18th-century building with a modern touch. Art punctuates corridors and lounges; chandeliers hang above richly coloured seating; French windows open onto manicured grounds. The scheme is impressive but also comes with bags of personality.
At the heart of it all sits The Glasshouse. Featured on Netflix’s Million Dollar Buffet with Grace Dent, this is a restaurant built around theatre and variety. Live cooking stations form the backbone of the concept, with chefs carving, grilling, steaming and finishing dishes in front of guests. The journey spans Asia, India, Japan, the Mediterranean and Britain, with stations such as The Garden Table offering vibrant salads of heirloom tomatoes, beetroot and walnut-studded couscous; Fruits de Mer presenting oysters, crevettes and langoustines; and British roasts showcasing dry-aged beef sirloin, lamb leg and turkey crown. The Sweet Spot delivers a final flourish, from a flowing chocolate fountain to classic puddings and fresh fruit. And, from Friday evening through Sunday, The Chef’s Weekend Edition adds indulgent touches including lobster, beef Wellington, winter truffle and live raclette.
If you fancy a tipple, the adjoining Glasshouse Bar extends the experience with garden views and cocktails infused with ingredients from Jemima’s Kitchen Garden, reinforcing the restaurant’s ethos of bringing the outside in.