Christmas at the Abbey

Nestled in the Worcestershire countryside, with the Malvern Hills in the background is a little gem called Stanbrook Abbey. The Abbey is steeped in history – from 1838 until 2009 it was home to a congregation of Benedictine Nuns until it was sold to a hotelier. The current owners, Handpicked Hotels bought the property in 2018.

Stanbrook Abbey

Christmas 2020 will go down in history as the year Covid-19 impacted plans and celebrations around the world. Having lost my mum suddenly in May, and my brother and family living in Australia, dad and I knew that the festive season was going to feel very different. We decided that a festive break with a hotel group we knew and trusted was just what we needed. Admittedly Covid restrictions nearly got in the way of the plan – but thank goodness the support bubble saved the day! Everyone is talking about feeling safe at the moment – and the hotel team had everything down to a fine art. Greeted at the door by one receptionist, by the time we had walked through to the front desk our paperwork and keys were magically ready for us. With mulled wine and a mince-pie being delivered to the room moments after arrival I knew I was going to feel at home! We certainly didn’t go hungry during our stay – afternoon tea on Christmas Eve was a bit more than a light snack to set us up for the 2 days ahead! 

A light snack!

Every meal we had was lovely, and nothing was too much trouble for the hotel team - who managed well a mix of professional yet informal and friendly. Cold but dry and frosty mornings were perfect for exploring the Abbey Estate and the surrounding lanes – with a firepit being a great backdrop for a Birds of Prey display. 

The Christmas morning firepit

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I loved how the hotel still preserves the history of the Abbey, and that it is respected by the hotel team. Old architecture and the new buildings blend together seamlessly, preserving the integrity of the original build. We learnt more about the nuns from the Abbey Tour – and listening to Carols on Christmas Eve in the Callow Great Hall (formerly the Abbey church) was so memorable (and a return visit when it can be live singing is a must!). 

The Callow Great Hall

Walking through the tranquil lavender garden is a permanent memorial to the nuns that had lived in the Abbey over the years. The remaining nuns now live in a new Stanbrook Abbey in Yorkshire but return annually to visit their original home. I think the hotel basement may have changed a bit since those days ...

The wine cellar in the basement

A quick trip up the 140 tower steps, with great views over the Malvern Hills and the surrounding countryside meant that all Christmas calories were burnt off (who I am kidding?!) before departure. Stanbrook Abbey is definitely on the list of hotels to return to. Mum would have loved it … and in a world beyond Covid, I think it might just be close enough for Sunday lunch or an afternoon tea!

Until the next time ...