Review: Four Seasons Hampshire

Review: Four Seasons Hampshire

If you think five-star should be avoided at all costs with children, think again. We enjoyed a night at the Four Seasons Hampshire and discovered an impressive but super family-friendly hotel that has thought of everything.

Our previous experience of staying in hotels as a family has been a little ‘mixed’. Hungry children waiting impatiently for a late tea. The panic when you realise you’ve forgotten something vital to their happiness (and therefore your own). Sharing a room with three children in assorted camp beds who are too excited to sleep. When they finally give in at 10pm, being confined to the hotel bathroom with nothing more than a hot chocolate sachet for entertainment.

As soon as we swept up the driveway towards the Four Seasons Hampshire (passing an equestrian centre and children’s playground), we knew the experience would be quite different. The whole family was welcomed warmly and shown to our beautiful adjoining rooms complete with blissfully comfortable beds. As for forgetting the essentials, it would be a challenge to think of anything missing. The spa offered complimentary swim nappies and arm bands. The restaurant bathroom had a fully stocked nappy changing station. Our girls thought they had struck gold when they discovered children’s toiletries, dressing gowns and slippers in our marble bathroom. Tea was available at a time that suits young diners, with a small buffet table to avoid any grumbling while they await their main course.

But the thing we – big kids and small – were most excited about was the spa. A luxurious experience for adults with an Olympic-sized pool, steam rooms, relaxation rooms and an impressive list of treatments. But let’s not kid ourselves we were there for the hot stone massages or adults-only vitality pool. For us, it was all about the new Sharkie’s Reef – a funpacked family adventure pool, complete with 4m slide, a rotating umbrella fountain and bubble jets.

When the children finally allowed us to dry off, we discovered a wealth of other activities amongst the 500 acres of stunning parkland. The hotel’s mascots, Shetland ponies Milo and Dougal, were grazing outside the equestrian centre. There is also a high and low ropes course, cycling, clay pigeon shooting, falconry and fishing on the lake. We barely scratched the surface in our 24-hour stay (although we do know Sharkie intimately). A creche is available during the school holidays, babysitting can be arranged, and there is a games room for teens.

It is certainly not a cheap break, but we felt the price was justified by the quality of the environment, the entertainment and the most attentive service imaginable. It would be the ideal venue for a special family celebration. In many hotels, we have found that children are tolerated – at the Four Seasons Hampshire, they were truly welcomed. We cannot wait to return!

Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire: Dogmersfield Park, Chalky Lane, Dogmersfield, Hook, Hampshire, England RG27 8TD 01252 853000; fourseasons.com/hampshire).