Hollington House Hotel- Newbury, England

One evening the west wind comes bringing showers,
Scaring, stripping bare flowers, a melancholy pale red.
Boat prows sever lotus stems, but strands unseen hold fast,
For lotus roots, lotus seeds, preserve a mutual bond.
His heart is like the moon, a moon not yet on the wane,
Clear, bright and full of mid~mOnth days.

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Built in 1904, Hollington House Hotel opened as one of England's foremost country-house hotels in 1992. Set in twenty-five acres of woodland garden5~ the hotel is adjacent to 250 acres of parkland. Australia's John and Penny Guy run the hotel, and it has a decidedly relaxed and informal atmosphere. As with many country inns, Hollington House is intimate. Yet its twenty rooms stand above the rest. These luxurious sanctuaries are individually decorated with period antiques and paintings. The spacious bathrooms feature double-headed showers, whirlpool tubs, oversized towels, and robes. The hotel's public rooms match the charm of the bedrooms. A roaring fire warms the entrance hall and fresh flowers accent the parlors with their deep, comfort-able sofas and chairs. The oak-paneled dining room features many traditional dishes and an award-winning wine cellar. During the day, you can wander about the countryside. The adjacent park is a tranquil oasis perfect for a picnic lunch. If you're looking for something more active, enjoy a game of tennis on the hotel's courts. Afterwards you can take a dip in the outdoor pool, or the indoor pool if the weather refuses to cooperate. Perhaps Dick Enberg best describes Hollington House. "Not another structure to be seen. Candlelight dinners... need more be said."

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