Caroline Banks

The Ollerod Hotel

Photo by Caroline Banks PIN IT

I haven’t done a hotel visit for a while and this one was almost accidental. As part of ArtCan I’m participating in Wanderlust, a group show currently held in the public spaces of The Ollerod, a 4 star boutique hotel run by Chris Staines and Sylvana Bandini.

More accurately a restaurant with 14 rooms, it’s a haven of serenity in the picturesque village of Beaminster, Dorset. I swear relaxation begins as soon as you walk through the door. I even did a spot of therapeutic weeding in the garden within 5 minutes of arriving (and I wasn’t even a resident!)

One of my paintings (sold at the opening) is on the left in the sitting room below.

Photo by Caroline Banks PIN IT

Peeking into the kitchen from the corridor.

Despite not actually staying at The Ollerod, I did spend most of my long weekend there and ate my way through most of the menu, which was the best restaurant food I’ve had for a very, very  long time. The main dining room below is just one of the spaces to eat.

Photo by Caroline Banks PIN IT
The bar is intimate and cosy, connecting directly to the sitting room, great for a chat and nightcap after dinner.

Photo by Caroline Banks PIN IT

They even have a treatment room off the garden.

Photo by Caroline Banks PIN IT

Photo by Caroline Banks PIN IT

Part of the kitchen garden.

I’m not in the habit of gushing but I really loved this place.