EVERYBODY has heard of the Dorchester Hotel (writes Francis Fulford). Most also know that it is to the world of hotels what Manchester United is to football or the Brigade of Guards to the military. What fewer people knew, until Prince Harry stayed there the night be- fore his wedding, is that it has an outstation hotel on the edge of Windsor Great Park near Ascot, named Coworth Park. Coworth Park is a ‘white wedding cake’ classical building set in 240 acres of picturesque landscape. In such a setting and at such a location—Guards Polo Club is just across the park—it is hardly to be won- dered at that the management have majored in equestrian at- tractions. Coworth Park boasts its own polo ground, a polo school run by Guards, and sta- bling for up to 30 polo ponies. It also has six horses to hire out to guests who wish to ride around the grounds or explore the neighbouring 1,000 acres of Windsor Great Park, including top-of-the-range polo ponies— so if you have always fantasised about what it would be like to play polo on the back of such a skilled pony, then come to Coworth Park and let your fan- tasy come true. In fact, hotels such as Coworth Park are all about fantasy, at least for most of us—but then one of our jobs at CountryClubuk is to help you live out your fantasies at an af- fordable cost. And Coworth Park also has spare stables, so you can take your own horse to stay with you, and ride in the park; now that is a facility few hotels in the world can provide. No modern five-star estab- lishment is now complete with- out a Spa and fitness centre. It goes without saying that here they have attempted, and as far as I can see succeeded, in build- ing the Spa to end all Spas. You may think, as I admit I still do, that Spas are for girls while the boys play golf or polo. Well, not at Coworth Park. Here the boys are far from excluded; for ex- ample, you can enjoy ‘ … a deep cleansing signature facial spe- cially designed to suit the needs of men … ’ or a special men’s manicure during which ‘the arms and hands are exfoliated and massaged and cuticles nourished with oils … ’ and if you understood any of that then you are probably a candidate for a bit of ‘spa treatment’. If you didn’t, like me, then you might be better off pottering down the road and enjoying a round of golf at Wentworth. Coworth Park is not a mega- hotel by any means. The main house has 30 en-suite bedrooms and there are some 40 further bedrooms to choose from in a mixture of cottages and a con- verted stables. The aim of the hotel is to provide a thoroughly friendly, unstuffy atmosphere, at the same time rendering the highest standards of service. This is not necessarily an easy thing to achieve—but they have done so at Coworth Park. It also emphasises the point that Coworth Park is a children- friendly hotel and that does not mean that they ‘tolerate chil- dren’ it means that they have a fully-fledged ‘Coworth Park Kids Club’. I take issue with the use of the word ‘kids’ instead of ‘children’, but apart from that, if you take your children to Coworth Park you can be as- sured that they will be whisked away and amused all day. A Mansion House Superior Double bedroom at Coworth Park, which is in the main house with views over the woodlands, is a spacious 398 sq ft (37 sq m), with linen-covered walls and king-size beds with ornate wrought iron bed-heads, chaise longues and coffee tables. The en-suite bathrooms have under- floor heating, copper roll top baths and separate shower. These rooms have a rack rate of £600 per night plus VAT and breakfast: our Members enjoy an advantageous rate of £329. The Stable Superior room, with a rack rate of £500 plus VAT and breakfast, is £329 for Members. All rates are excluding VAT. CoworthPark,toliveoutone’sdreams 221