The House Rhythm
Your backstage pass
When we say we’re here to feed the curious, we really mean it. This is why we’ve built our house rhythm around getting you closer to our community of creatives. All hosted by one of them. We’ve been speaking to Maxwell Allwood, our director of wine and spirits—and your man on the inside—about what to expect.
Max, what’s the “backstage pass” all about?
Well, at a basic level, three times each day, we host experiences that are an opportunity for all who are staying with us to get closer to the estate. Meet the Makers, Sweet Sounds and Swig involve exploration, wine and cake. What could be better?
On a more cerebral level, the programme is a chance for us to show you our ethos and a little of our personality. And to shed any stiff upper lip country manor house persona you might get from how we look. Terms like “family-owned” and “independent” are banded around all the time. But we truly are both. And our house rhythm is a real-life demonstration of the details that are important to us. They might feel quite different to some more traditional setups but we hope you value them as much as we do.
So, Meet the Makers. What does that mean?
This is the experience where I do the least! As part of a 45-minute amble around the estate, we’ll go and see what our chefs, bakers and gardeners get up to on a typical day. But as you can imagine, no two days are the same.
Typically, chef director, David Taylor and the team at Grace & Savour will be in prep. David might tell you about what’s keeping them busy, or take you through the secrets of Grace & Savour’s amazing library of pickles and ferments that add so much to the incredible depth of flavour the team is able to achieve.
Head gardener, Lou Nicholls might share a little about the estate’s no-dig, organic ethos, give you something to try or reveal her top tips for the season. There remains no garden-related question I have heard asked that she hasn’t had an immediate answer for.
Finally, we’ll head to Smoke and see what our exec chef, Stu Deeley or the bakery team are up to. Many will experience the end results of those potato boulangeres or cinnamon buns, but the process of getting them out to you starts so far before that. With our relationship with millers and growers and asking big questions about the flour supply chain. Watching an expert baker at work is also a super cathartic experience.
Your chance to get behind the scenes of the estate and ask any questions you might have.
Having initially joined us as head somm and with an accomplished background, we’re guessing Swig is where you have the most to say?
You guess right—I could talk about wine constantly for days at a time. But that’s not what “Swig” is about. A relic of our two-night staycations, our informal afternoon wine tastings were so loved by guests that we’ve made them a daily fixture. And letting the wines do the talking is definitely what works best.
We’ll try three wines, always from the adventurous, edgier side of the tracks. We’ll touch on what makes these particular drops worth of your time —whether that’s around natural wine-making vs supermarket-style bottles, rules-breaking techniques or grape varieties.
Either way, this isn’t about me telling you everything I know, or getting preachy. I’m a big believer in choosing wines that tell their own story. And maybe you’ll love them, be surprised by them, or maybe you’ll hate all three. Maybe you’ll find a whole new way of appreciating wine, or a variety you’d never considered trying before. What I can promise is that you’ll have an opinion.
Finally. Let’s talk about Sweet Sounds. An hour of curated vinyl, accompanied by a daily-changing cake. We’re not doubting your wine credentials but what qualifies you for the job of house DJ?
As a restaurant manager and sommelier, a big part of my job is to judge the mood of a room. And soundtrack has always been a big part of that.
Just as the music in Smoke and Grace & Savour is distinct, and with its own personality, my daily selection depends on who is joining us in the Parlour.
I tend towards music with a cinematic feel, to fill what is a deceptively big room. Right now, my go-to decade has to be the seventies. But anything rich, and with layers, that has the ability to evoke a mood—that’s what I’m looking for. And all requests will be considered!
Join Max for as much or as little of our house rhythm as you feel like. The experiences are included for all guests who have booked direct with us and there’s no need to book.
House rhythm
11am: Meet the Maker | A 45-minute behind the scenes experience of our award-winning restaurants and bakery.
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3pm: Sweet Sounds | Daily cake to be enjoyed with an hour of curated vinyl. Inclusive of a welcome drink on day of arrival.
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4:15pm: Swig | Get under the skin of our ethos, with a relaxed wine tasting, from the more adventurous end of our cellar.
Monday to Saturday. Complimentary for individual, direct
bookings. Speak to our team for indirect and corporate
availability and costs.