Pensons

Tenbury Wells, Herefordshire

With just two rooms, Pensons is ‘possibly Britain’s smallest Michelin-starred restaurant-with-rooms’. More

Good Hotel Guide Review

With just two rooms, Pensons is ‘possibly Britain’s smallest Michelin-starred restaurant-with-rooms’. Added to the successful restaurant in 2021, they are ‘certainly no afterthought’, says our inspector. ‘As much care has been lavished on them as on the food.’ Styled in azurites and sea greens, they are ‘compact’, with a super-comfy bed and ‘a walk-through bathroom behind a statement headboard, fresh milk in the minibar, home-made cookies’. Guests can roam on the Netherwood Estate; there is a deep sense of place here. ‘Fabrics are made on the estate’s mill, local artists’ works hang on bedroom walls, where furniture is made by the estate joiner.’ In a double-height beamed barn, walls display ‘items unearthed on the estate, including Jacobean smoking pipes and a mammoth set of bellows from the farm forge’. Chris Simpson’s estate-to-plate tasting menu was ‘exquisite, starting with individual loaves and yeast butter. John Dory with crab butter sauce was particularly good, and a starter of mushroom, hazelnut truffle, artichoke and sourdough was memorable.’ In the morning, ‘young, smiling staff’ serve a ‘perfectly cooked’ breakfast.

Hotel details

Address

Pensons at The Netherwood Estate
Tenbury Wells
Herefordshire
WR15 8RT
England

Telephone

01885 0188 5410333

Bedrooms

2. In separate building across courtyard.

Open

all year, Wed dinner–Sun lunch, closed Christmas.

Facilities

restaurant (vegetarian/pescatarian menus), snug, in-room TV, kitchen garden, courtyard, access to 1,200-acre estate, restaurant fully wheelchair accessible, adapted toilet.

Background music

soft jazz in restaurant.

Children

all ages welcomed in restaurant, not under 16 in bedrooms.

Dogs

not allowed.

Credit cards

Amex, MC, Visa.

Prices

D,B&B doubles £440, single occupancy £345. À la carte lunch £48, nightly tasting menu £95.