Rural manor turned hipster community resort just north of London

Birch / Cheshunt / Hertfordshire / Great Britain

I don’t even know where to start to describe this hotel. Actually the word ”hotel” just doesn’t cut it. Birch kind of feels more like an after school youth club but for adults. A summer camp where city dwellers looking for a country escape can come together and hang, eat, drink, party, work out, swim and take all kind of different classes under the sun (Pottery? Sourdough starting class? Wine tasting? Pizza master class?).

Birch has been created by the former Ace Hotel London MD, Chris Penn and is located on a 22-hectare property near Cheshunt. Hertfordshire. The Grade II listed property that houses Birch used to be the party pad of 19th century socialite, Lady Valerie Meux. She was an eccentric American know for throwing wild weekend-long parties, painting her horses in a zebra pattern and building an indoor skating rink.

Today it is a members club, a hotel and a working-, events- & meeting space. Penn’s ethos is: To give a shit, To be accessible and to be a festival at a hotel. The space has a very East London kind of feel where everything is casual and relaxed. Maybe it is no surprise that the real East London is only 30 min away with the train.

When you enter the main building it is like the most eclectic place ever. I saw an article in The Guardian where the journalist describes Birch as ”the most chaotic Pinterest board made real.” Not sure it was meant as a compliment but I think the description is on point and I love it! There are ceiling roses, heavy drapes, mahogany coffee tables, original mosaic flooring, exposed pipework, a massive rocket, colorful artwork and cobalt blue grand stairway.

If the common areas are eccentric and colorful the rooms are fairly discreet with washes of lavender and candy floss pink paint. Sparsely decorated with only a bed, night stands and an abstract clothes horse designed by Jan Hendzel Studio. There is a total of 140 and none of them has a TV. You don’t come to Birch to hang out in your room. This place is all about joining the community of likeminded people and just take the day as it comes.

There is a plan to roll out more Birches around the UK and if they are anything like the original Birch I am sure they will be an instant hit.

The eccentric lobby with original mosaic floors, modern art and gilded arcs. Birch had me at hello.

Everywhere you turn there are these interesting rooms/spaces. Like this sitting room with rattan furniture, original wooden floors and heavy mustard colored drapes.

The design is so playful where colors and materials have been mixed freely, resulting in a unique look.

The hotel room keys with bespoke key chains in different colors.

I love that there is so much for the eye to take in when walking through the halls of Birch...

…both when looking up and down. The mosaic floors are stunning. Especially next to my fancy yellow sneakers.

This cobalt blue grand staircase is so powerful. A real statement.

This photo of the wall next to the staircase is my favorite photo from Birch. I love the different tones, the distressed wall and massive moon-like lamp.

Our room was fairly discreetly designed (compared to the rest of the hotel) with a rattan headboard and ceramic lamps.

The terrazzo bedside tables wanted to move home with me but I had to leave them where I found them.

Hotels with real keys for the rooms always score high in my book.

The radio (with the most perfect name) was playing when we came into the room. A good way to create a welcoming ambience.

The pool, or lido, was located across the grounds and had a vintage kind of vibe with painted walls.

I think I’ve changed my mind. This is probably my favorite photo from Birch. A deflated crocodile floating above the colorful tiles in the shallow kids pool.

M is taking a shower before a fresh morning swim.

Birch isn’t only a hotel but also an events space and work-/meeting space. This is from the latter where members can come and use this as their own office.

Just a cool photo of a vintage phone booth.

The gym at Birch is the most complete hotel gym I’ve ever seen.

The grade II listed manor is a real stunner. Especially as the sun is slowly setting.

Everyday from early afternoon the DJ booth that I standing in the middle of the park, is opened up and it is time to start the party. The afternoon starts with soft tunes and the party vibe is increased gradually into the night.

A new day has broken at Birch and M and I are out for a morning walk before…

…breakfast finally starts and we can get our coffee fix. These cups are actually made out of used coffee grounds.

We decided to leave the community for a while for a short drive north to classic university town of Cambridge. I can warmly recommend a visit to this cozy little town.

The classic Trinity College in downtown Cambridge. Feels like a place where they take learning seriously.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…miss the days when life was all about having fun. If you want to escape reality for a while and pretend that you are 14 again (but with less awkwardness and more money. And maybe also better fashion?) where you had the opportunity to just do things that amuse you. And if you would like to do this in a rural setting, staying at an eclectically designed manor, then book a stay at Birch right this minute!

My favorite thing about this place is…

…how casual it is. It has such a relaxed vibe in everything from the design to the service to the actual essance of the hotel.

What not to miss when staying here is…

…to take part in one of the many classes on offer. Like sourdough starter class or pizza masterclass. I also want to mention the gym which is by far the best hotel gym I have ever seen. Looks more like a gym at a country club (not that I know how such a gym looks like but what I imagine that it does).

If you like this hotel you might also like…

Ace Hotel & Swimclub, Palm Springs, CA, USA

El Cosmico, Marfa, Texas, USA

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