September 2026
I had booked a week off work and initially wanted to fly to Shanghai and finally tick the Terracotta Army off my bucket list.
However, work had become completely bonkers and, as the trip got closer, I realised it simply wasn’t the right time to go. Instead, I ended up working from home for most of my annual leave.
By the end of the week, I decided I needed at least one night away with The Irishman so the entire week wasn’t a total write-off.
I was actually in the mood to spend some money, largely because I felt slightly aggrieved that Shanghai hadn’t happened. My girl maths was working overtime:
“Well, I didn’t pay for Shanghai flights, train travel and hotels, so technically we can book a really nice hotel for one night instead.”
Many of the hotels I looked at were between £700 and £1,000 per night. Think Four Seasons Hampshire, Beaverbrook and Pennyhill Park. These weren’t even the top-tier rooms. Some were labelled as “cosy”, which we all know is hotel code for small. I was left wondering how these places justify those prices and, more importantly, who is booking them all up at those rates.
I also knew The Irishman would not be thrilled about spending that kind of money, even if I claimed it was for a Cut Luce review. Another one of my classic girl maths calculations.
One hotel I had my eye on was The Cave in Kent. It looked incredibly cool. Dark, moody interiors, sleek design and restaurants called The Korean Cowgirl and The Firepit Restaurant. It looked right up my alley. I checked whether they were dog-friendly and found mixed information online. They had a Junior Suite available for around £600 a night and I was very close to booking it.
Before committing, I called to confirm whether the suite was dog-friendly. Nobody answered. Eventually I got through to an answerphone, left my details and requested a callback. Nobody ever called back.
Meanwhile, I found myself browsing the Young’s Pubs with Rooms website and realised that The Canford, where we’d previously enjoyed one of the most beautiful hotel rooms I’ve ever stayed in, was part of the Young’s collection.
A little more searching led me to Worplesdon Place near Guildford.
Just 35 minutes from home, dog-friendly and with rooms available.
Not only did they have availability, but they also had a Feature Boutique room available.
As you know, I do like to see the best room on offer.
I called the hotel and was answered immediately by a friendly gentleman called Josh. Within minutes the room was booked.
One night’s accommodation came to £168. I added breakfast and dinner, including a £30 per person dining allowance, bringing the total to £274.
Compared with the alternatives I’d been considering, it felt like exceptional value.
Arrival
When we arrived, our room wasn’t quite ready, which wasn’t a problem as we were a little early.
Josh was on reception and informed us that we’d been upgraded.
I love an upgrade.
Apparently we’d been moved into the Bridal Suite, which sounded rather fabulous to me but the sort of thing that would bring the Irishman out in hives.
Whilst waiting for the room, The Irishman and I decided lunch was in order. We ordered a pizza, triple-cooked chips and a glass of Nyetimber.
The pizza was fresh, delicious and exactly what we needed.
At 3pm, Josh personally came over, helped with our bags and escorted us to the room. He mentioned it was one of his favourite rooms in the hotel and that he loved seeing guests’ reactions when they first walked in.
I soon understood why.
The Room
The room was absolutely stunning.
In fact, I had exactly the same feeling I experienced when I first walked into our room at The Canford.
Everything had been thoughtfully designed and beautifully styled. The showstopper was the four-poster bed facing an in-room roll-top bath.
High ceilings, floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains and elegant furnishings created a real sense of luxury without feeling stuffy.
The bathroom was gorgeous too and stocked with Bramley toiletries, which I always love seeing.
The bathroom was gorgeous too and stocked with Bramley toiletries, which I always love seeing.
Afternoon Drinks and Black Swans
The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring the grounds and enjoying a drink outside.
There’s a large beer garden overlooking a small lake and, complete with black swans too.
Dinner
We had dinner at 7pm and were seated in the restaurant area rather than the main bar.
To be honest, I think the main bar probably had slightly more atmosphere, but the restaurant was pleasant enough.
The only minor issue was a large table nearby, including one guest who seemed to possess the loudest speaking voice either The Irishman or I have ever encountered.
Initially it bordered on irritating.
Eventually we found it hilarious.
The woman appeared to be some sort of mobile phone expert and, whether we wanted to or not, we learnt quite a lot about foldable iphones during dinner.
The Irishman ordered fish and chips with curry sauce, whilst I went for the ribeye steak with chips and a rocket and Parmesan salad.
My side order of veg arrived cold, but the staff immediately offered to replace them, which was appreciated.
A special mention goes to Jennifer, who looked after us throughout dinner. She was warm, naturally chatty and genuinely friendly. Service like that feels increasingly rare these days.
A Genuinely Dog-Friendly Stay
One thing that stood out throughout the stay was just how dog-friendly the hotel was.
We were given a lovely dog hamper containing treats and a full roll of poo bags, and a dog bed was offered too.
Every member of staff made a fuss of our dog and took the time to say hello.
Many hotels claim to be dog-friendly.
This one genuinely is.
Breakfast and Final Thoughts
The following morning started with a paw landing directly across my face. That’s quite the wake-up call when it comes from a 45kg dog.
Breakfast included pastries, cereals and toast alongside a cooked menu featuring Eggs Benedict, avocado toast, full English breakfasts and a rather indulgent Viennese French toast topped with mascarpone and raspberries.
After breakfast, whilst The Irishman took the dog for one final walk, I headed back upstairs for a soak in that glorious roll-top bath.
Again, I found myself asking the same question:
Why did I only book one night?
Soon enough, 11am arrived and it was time to check out.
I loved my stay at Worplesdon Place. With so many Young’s properties to choose from, I’m already torn between returning here or trying somewhere new.
The quality of the rooms, the furnishings and the individuality of the design genuinely impressed me. In fact, it left me questioning what additional value some £800-a-night hotels are really offering.
Interestingly, whilst writing this review, I checked the website and realised the Feature Boutique room I’d originally booked appears to be exactly the room we stayed in.
So perhaps Josh’s “upgrade” wasn’t technically an upgrade after all.
Do I care?
Not even slightly.
Josh made us feel genuinely welcome, looked after us throughout our stay and was clearly proud of the hotel.
That kind of hospitality goes a long way. Ask for room 14 if you are staying- it’s a beaut.
If you’re looking for a stylish, dog-friendly escape with beautiful rooms, good food and excellent value for money, I’d strongly recommend checking out Young’s Pubs with Rooms. It’s not a Four Seasons but who needs a Four Seasons on this occasion? Not me, The Irishman or the dog.
