Rookery Hall Hotel & Spa

15 minutes drive from Crewe in the charming village of Worleston is Rookery Hall, a luxury country house hotel with a modern spa and AA Rosette restaurant.

First built in 1816 for the wealthy landowner William Hilton Cooke, Rookery Hall is a fine example of Georgian old-world charm. In 1867, the hall was purchased by Baron William Von Schroeder, who transformed it into a sort of French chateau, complete with its iconic tower. Rookery Hall has moved with the times to become a fine upmarket hotel with modern amenities.

There are 70 bedrooms and seven bespoke feature rooms, including three junior suites named June, January and Schroeder. As you’d expect, the most extravagant one is the suite named after the great Baron himself; the Schroeder room is a generous-sized family room with period features and a sumptuous roll-top bath in the ensuite. Don’t worry if the top-end suites are beyond your budget. You can still enjoy a taste of luxury with one of the many executive rooms that boast ‘Tilevision’; televisions set into the bathroom tiles. What will you watch while you’re having a scrub in the tub? Answers on a postcard.

Whether you’re itching to explore everything that Crewe has to offer or you’re looking for a cosy bolthole, Rookery Hall is magical at any time of year. Snuggle up in the hotel’s Drawing Room and enjoy the green hills of Cheshire against the roar of an open fire. Dine al fresco on The Terrace with a grazing platter or afternoon tea and a view of the beautiful gardens. Built in the original stable block of the estate is also an award-winning spa, health club and indoor swimming pool.

The restaurant has been awarded an AA Rosette for its simple yet elegant take on modern British food. On the a la carte menu you’ll find Anglesey mackerel, ribeye of Cheshire beef, and millefeuille and raspberry crème diplomat. Jason Hodnett is the executive head chef; you might recognise him from BBC2’s Great British Menu, but he’s also got lots of experience in AA Rosette kitchens, including Peckforton Castle in Cheshire.

You can’t throw a stick in this part of the world without hitting an historic hotspot. Fortunately, Rookery Hall offers dog-friendly breaks so that your canine companion can stay over for long strolls across 38 acres of estate. After a hearty breakfast of ‘woofles’, we imagine.