10 December, 2015
Soho House has been building a faithful patronage of creatives with its properties across the globe for 20 years, but its newest venture brings the brand back to its British roots and takes the concept of community one step further. "A small town, large village," is how the staff jokingly refer to their new property, Soho Farmhouse, but make no mistake, this quaint expansion is yet another confirmation of Soho House's plans for world domination in the hospitality industry.
An hour and a half drive from London, and set on 100 acres of gentle Cotswolds countryside, Soho Farmhouse could pass off as the world's most idyllic village. Here, the only vehicles on the road are vintage duck egg blue milk trucks with perfectly worn leather seats. Countrymen cycle in matching Wellington boots on teal Foffa fixie bikes from their cabin and gather in the Farmyard where wild flowers spill from the Farmhouse florist and the Deli serves perfectly baked goods with homemade jams.
Cabins are dotted throughout the property, with robes personalised to height, rocking chairs on the patio and outdoor baths. Deliveries come in the form of cocktails from the 24-hour milk truck manned by mixologists or bacon butties from the travelling greasy spoon café. Country-folk will laugh, Londoners won't know the difference, but one thing's for sure: Soho House's cult status just went up another notch.
There are 40 cabins dotted amongst the land with a seven-room farmhouse and a three-room cottage. As for décor, just think of all of Pinterest's top search terms - country chic, rustic charm, cabin porn, etc. We've never wanted to have a party somewhere more than the seven-bedroom farmhouse (but Mark Ronson beat us to it). Doubles from £220 (non-members).
A full English delivered to your doorstep by the roaming greasy spoon café or fresh juices, homemade granola, and perfectly runny poached eggs at the Main Barn restaurant.
Modern British fare from Tom Aitkins with ingredients used from the farm on-site. Restaurants are housed in the main barn with two child-free dining options located on opposite mezzanines - Comfy Farm with low sofas and a wood-fire and Fancy Farm offering a more traditional dining experience. There is also Pen Yen in the boathouse, a Japanese grill restaurant.
There's a bar in the Main Barn but we love the Mill Pub, which stays open until the last person leaves
Here goes...There is a Cowshed spa, Electric cinema, an ice rink, a boathouse with indoor and outdoor pools, a gym and spinning centre, tennis courts, a football field, a horse stable, adventure park for children, a cooking school and farm, a deli, flowershop, Alex Eagle's The Store (hyperlink) and a homeware shop with everything you have cooed over, available to buy.
This is one of Soho House's kid-friendly properties so there are a lot of young children running about (who will probably take your job in 10 years).
A less exciting village. Don't leave. Bicester Village, however, is a 30-minute drive in the direction of London. Soho House has it's own restaurant Farmshop at the outlet shopping centre to break up the withdrawal.
1 Tracey Farm Cottages, Great Tew, Chipping Norton OX7 4JS, United Kingdom, sohofarmhouse.com
