Jetsettersblog

An exclusive chance to see the private Japanese garden in the grounds of the Farncombe Estate which is home to the Dormy House Hotel, near Broadway, accompanied by its award winning designer Julian Dowle, are highlights of the hotel’s first ever residential garden tour to be held this autumn.

The Japanese garden was designed by Julian Dowle for Mr Jørgen Philip-Sørensen who has owned the Dormy House Hotel and the Farncombe Estate for over thirty years. Julian was the first garden designer to win 3 gold medals at Chelsea Flower Show, a feat he accomplished in 2005 for his garden “A Soldier’s Dream of Blighty” which was designed with the Chelsea Pensioners and sponsored by Mr Sørensen’s other business interest – Ecover.

Guests will not only be shown around the garden by Julian himself but will also have the chance to hear expert tips on how to make a garden into a show garden in an after dinner formal talk.

Being held over the course of 3 days from Wednesday 9th to Friday 11th September 2009, the residential tour at the 4 star hotel in the Cotswolds will also take in tours of local gardens including the privately owned Kiftsgate, Hidcote Manor, Sezincote and Sudeley Castle.

The £350 cost per person covers all formal meals, accommodation in luxury rooms and transport over the 3-day period from arrival at midday on the Wednesday to departure at 3.00pm on the Friday. Dormy meals are inspired by locally sourced ingredients but rely on tried and tested French techniques. The price also includes an official guide and a talk by a leading professional photographer on how to capture gardens on film.

There is also a special preferential rate offered for guests attending the garden tour wanting to arrive a day before the tour begins or an extra night after the tour comes to an end. Booking early is recommended as places are limited.

Dormy House Sales and Marketing Manager Orazio Pollaci says of the decision to launch the tour: “it’s an exciting new opportunity being offered by the Dormy House, incorporating some of the most beautiful and picturesque gardens to be found in the country, just a stone’s throw away from our doorstep.

There is plenty for other halves to enjoy too, with local walks and sightseeing either locally, or in the nearby historic conurbations of Cheltenham and Stratford”.

The tour also coincides with the launch of the newly built Garden Suite. The Garden Suite features under floor heating, scene setting lighting free WiFi and has access to a garden area at the hotel. It has been designed in Scandinavian inspired neutral tones by hotel director Ingrid Philip-Sørensen.
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A recent refurbishment programme has also seen makeovers of 3 deluxe bedrooms. The hotel now has 9 suites in total contributing to the total of 45 bedrooms.