Darwin’s Townhouse
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Good Hotel Guide Review
Named in honour of Shrewsbury’s famous son, the Grade II* listed Sandford House, moments from the Severn towpath, has evolved into a contemporary B&B. It is promoted to a full entry after Guide inspectors visited, in a spirit of scientific inquiry, and were impressed by the ambience, ‘as if walking into a friend’s home. The decoration is fun and characterful, with animal and plant wallpapers, maps, natural history objets and antiques.’ An octagonal drawing room has ‘a splendid decorative ceiling’ depicting signs of the Zodiac. The snug has a well-stocked honesty bar. Muted bedroom decor offsets ‘Darwinian-appropriate patterning on curtains and cushions’. Two ground-floor bedrooms have garden access. Two superior rooms have a super-king bed, a bath and shower. There is a ‘terrific lawned garden’, a ‘light-filled conservatory’, where a locally sourced breakfast brings artisan jams, free-range eggs from Hollowdene’s happy hens. Guests can claim a 10% discount at two sister restaurants (not inspected). Book one of the ‘more functional, smaller’ rooms in the garden annexe if you want to bring the beagle.
Hotel details
Address
37 St Julian's Friars
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY1 1XL
England
Telephone
01743 343829
Bedrooms
19. 5 on ground floor, 8 in garden annexe, 1 suitable for disabled.
Open
all year, continental breakfast only on 25 Dec.
Facilities
lounge, snug (honesty bar), conservatory breakfast room, in-room TV, garden, bicycle storage, public car park nearby.
Background music
in lounge, snug.
Children
all ages welcomed.
Dogs
allowed in garden bedrooms, not in breakfast room.
Credit cards
Amex, MC, Visa.
Prices
B&B doubles from £135, singles from £90. À la carte (at sister restaurants) £28, residents’ discount cards supplied.
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