Soulton Hall in the Press: Media Reviews
Observer Magazine and The Good Hotel Guide list Soulton Hall in Britain's top 10 bolt holes.
The Good Hotel Guide and the Observer Magazine have included Soulton Hall in a selection of ''Britain's top 10 Bolt holes''.
The article, HOMING INSTINCTS, ran:
The 10 chosen here show the quality of accommodation and food to be found in Britain. Only three could strictly be described as hotels. Some are pubs or restaurants with rooms. Others are B and Bs , popular for the personal touch and the value they offer. The geographical spread provides alternatives to the tourist honeypots of the West Country and the Lake District. There are two in North Yorkshire, a renovated inn near Flodden Field in Northumberland, and fine dining in a remote corner of the Highlands.
This year we have also uncovered modern B and Bs in areas not always noted for such quality: there are two good B and Bs in Stratford-upon-Avon (one is listed here) and a striking house with astonishing views on the Isle of Skye. While the choice could hardly be more diverse, they have a common bond: each one puts the guest first.
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7. Soulton Hall, Wem, Shropshire In the hands of the same family since 1556, this impressive Tudor manor house is very much the home of John and Ann Ashton. It stands on a 500-acre estate with a working farm. The hall has a collection of antiques from various periods, old family portraits, original fireplaces, and sofas and armchairs. Four of the bedrooms are in the main house; others are in buildings close by. Ann Ashton cooks traditional meals, served in a small candlelit room.
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The Lady and Signpost UK feature Soulton Hall
Soulton Hall was included in a feature in 'The Lady'. Called ''RUFF GUIDE'', the feature began:
Organising a holiday takes time, especially when you're taking your pet. But don't worry, Sophie Butler's 'Ruff Guide' will ensure your holiday is the cat's whiskers...
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Listing with The Good Hotel Guide
Described by The Daily Telegraph as follows :
''The clear leader in recommending hotels of quality and character while not accepting payment for inclusion or free hospitality.''
The Good Hotel Guide entry for Soulton Hall is thus :
On a 500-acre estate with a working farm, this ''impressive'' Tudor manor house has been in the hands of the same family since 1556. ''It remains very much the home of John and Ann Ashton,'' say inspectors in 2010. ''They are hard-working hosts, happy to advise on local places of interest.''The hall has a ''remarkable'' collection of antiques from various periods, old family portraits, original fireplaces, and ''a happy mix of comfortable sofas and armchairs''.
Four of the bedrooms are in the main house; others are in the Carriage House and Cedar Lodge close by. ''Our room in the main house was a generous space with stone mullioned windows. An immense Victorian wardrobe provided ample storage. Armchairs and a desk in an alcove encouraged relaxation.'' Dinner is served in a small candlelit room by the host. His wife, aided by a new chef, Justin Fenwich-Scott, cooks traditional meals: ''She delivers spot-on seasoning in dishes like spinach timbale with crunchy elements of other vegetables; main courses came with vegetables from local producers, which were full of flavour and cooked with care. The cooked breakfast was of prime quality.''
You can see the original entry here.
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The Guardian's Directory of Britain's finest B&Bs
The following entry appeared in the above directory:
"Soulton Hall is set in 500 acres of its own private park and farm land and has been run by the Ashton family since 1556.
Guests have access to most of the Estate, which includes 50 acres of oak woodland, Soulton Brook, the River Roden, the archaeological remains of Bronze-age ring ditch and a medieval castle.
The eight bedrooms have mullioned windows, oak floors, beams and wood panelling.
"Soulton Hall is set in a timeless, peaceful rural location and provides charming spacious rooms, full English breakfast, superb candle-lit dinners. Soulton Hall is a distinctly special place thriving on personal service."
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Our Entry in Alastair Sawday's Guide
Here's our entry in the Sawday's Guide:
There's been a house on this land since 1066, but Soulton goes back to 1430, a fortified house that was home to the first Protestant mayor of London.
It stands magnificently in 500 acres of pasture and woodland, yours to roam. It's a family affair: John farms, Ann looks after the house.
Climb the steps, slip through a spectacular stone doorway, arrive in the hall, sink in a sofa in front of a fire. Potter about and find an attractive dining room and a cosy bar, but it's the bedrooms in the main house that leave the big impression. You'll find them up an old oak staircase (and you glimpse a section of original wattle and daub on your way up). Four grand country-house bedrooms wait. They come with timber frames, mullioned windows, the odd panelled wall and polished floors; three have fancy bathrooms. It's all splendidly regal, and while simpler bedrooms are also available, it's worth bagging one of these.
Back downstairs, you eat in style, perhaps carrot and coriander soup, lemon sorbet with sparkling wine, chicken cooked with hazelnuts and cream, sticky toffee pudding.
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Review --- secretdiner.co.uk
Quality*****
Value*****
Staff*****
Facilities*****
Access*****
Highly Recommended
Impressive............that's the term to think of when describing Soulton Hall, a romantic Elizabethan manor house and home of the Ashton family for more than 450 years. Comfort, luxury and providing a friendly and helpful approach to everything - it is certainly hard to beat.
Wem is a thriving market town in rural Shropshire and Soulton Hall is easily reachable from it or from roads such as the nearby A 49. Parking is no problem and once welcomed as a guest we had access to the 500 acres of surrounding estate, with interesting scenic and historic attractions.
We had passed this way before and been disappointed that lunches were not available, so when in the area at dinner time we thought that we would call again and see if we would be lucky -- and so we were indeed. A true country house, Soulton Hall is all one would expect and all American tourists could wish for -- with a comfortably furnished lounge, bar area and small dining room in the main house and with developments in a converted barn area nearby to cater for larger numbers of guests.
Having been made very welcome on our (unexpected) arrival, it was a member of the family who took charge and provided all the care and attention we could need, even showing other guests some of the secret places inevitable in such an ancient structure. After a suitable wait we were shown into the candle-lit dining area (very atmospheric) and our meals soon arrived and were very tasty indeed. There can be no doubt that those seeking both a good dining experience and a romantic experience would be hard put to to find a better location.
Clearly such an experience would not be cheap, but we felt that we had certainly had very good value for money and left thinking that we should return as soon as our travel itinerary allowed.
Sometimes we stumble upon special places -- this is one. Go there and enjoy.
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Our Lisiting with Conde Nast Johansens
A delightful approach precedes your arrival at this manor house hotel through the unspoilt, tranquil Shropshire countryside, over a babbling brook on an ancient stone bridge and up into the estate, which surrounds Soulton Hall.
This family run property has exceptional facilities and service that is difficult to beat. Luxury and elegance are words that perfectly describe the interior design, which features stunning antiques and well-preserved architecture that hark back to the Hall's historical roots. Dining is a treat in itself: Ann Ashton is a wonderful cook who uses as much home-grown produce as possible; even the game comes from the area. If you feel like a stroll on their private estate, don't forget to explore the delightful walled gardens, a quiet sanctuary. Soulton Hall offers an extraordinarily peaceful experience, yet is close to the cities of Chester and Shrewsbury.
"A superb country manor...luxurious guest accommodation" ---- Country Living Magazine
"Idyllic retreat" ----The Observer
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Listing with Signpost UK: Recommending the UK's Finest Hotels since 1935
''16 generations of the Ashton family have cherished this ancient Shropshire manor house, set in 500 acres of private country estate and woodland as John and Ann Ashton do today.
The 4-course evening meals, served in the elegant candle-lit dining room, use local ingredients including game from the estate and fruit from the garden. Rooms in Soulton Hall boast wood panelling and mullioned windows, while further ground floor accommodation is available in the Carriage House and Cedar Lodge. The 18th century Soulton Court (across the lawn) provides a unique setting for weddings and conferences. Soulton, with its walled gardens and extensive grounds is a peaceful spot in which to just relax and also is an excellent base from which to explore the beauties of the Shires of the Welsh Marches, as well as the Ironbridge Gorge and the cities of Shrewsbury and Chester. The Welsh hills and border castles are also within easy reach.
You are welcome to bring your pet to the hotel, for a small fee.''
Seventh in AA top ten bed and breakfasts.
The Shropshire Magazine Article: "Where Good Food Flies the Flag"
This article, by Neil Thomas, appeared in the Shropshire Magazine:
"A county tourist guide proclaims Soulton Hall as Shropshire's hidden gem and one of its best kept secrets. Well it's certainly a gem but, at first glance, it seems odd to describe as 'hidden' an imposing Tudor-bricked mansion in the middle of flat north Shropshire countryside and just three miles from the A49, one of Britain's busiest trunk roads. We certainly had no trouble finding it. Yet I know what the brochure is driving at.
The sign at the gate is unimposing to the extent that potential passing trade might assume it's a farmhouse and continue passing. It is beautifully unspoilt, a relaxing haven from workaday existence with an old-fashioned modesty about it... I am all for this refreshing absence of 'in your face' commercialism...
If you are looking for spice soaked fiddly little twirls of this, that and the other lost in the centre of dinner plates the size of bike wheels then dine elsewhere... What Soulton Hall offers is a decent plateful of well-prepared food which makes a virtue of using manly British ingredients. Vanessa started with stuffed mushrooms, a tasty and succulent opener while I enjoyed a delightfully creamy fish chowder. The white bread accompanying the dishes was beautifully fresh.
We washed our starters down with an enjoyably crisp Chablis before further cleaning our palates with a refreshing lime sorbet in sparkling wine - a thoughtful touch.
Vanessa chose pork in a cider sauce for her main course and tucked into a sizable helping. She found the meat was tender and succulent while the sharpness of the sauce provided a refreshing contrast.
I opted for honey roast duck and was served several slices in a rich sauce. Again, the meat was beautifully tender and the sauce, with a pleasant lingering after-taste created a stimulating contrast of flavours.
Sauteed and mashed potatoes, red cabbage, leeks and carrots, all freshly prepared to perfection, accompanied our meat. For desert Vanessa enjoyed a beautifully sweet honeycomb ice cream while I drooled over a tangy orange and chocolate mousse. We washed it down with a first for us - red wine from the Lebanon. The 1997 Château Musar vintage from the Bekka Valley proved richly-flavoured and went down very smoothly.Afterwards it was back to the crackling log fire in the mullion-windowed lounge for fresh coffee and mints and to relax in historic surroundings."
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FarmStay
As we continute to be a working farm, we are listed with Farm Stay.
The entrry is as follows:
Historic Soulton Hall is a striking country house in the intriguing, unspoilt county of Shropshire. Still cherished as the family home of the Ashtons for over 450 years, it combines the comfort of a luxury Country House Hotel with a friendly and distinctly personal approach.
Soulton Hall enjoys a unique location: approached over an ancient stone bridge crossing a babbling brook in glorious Shropshire countryside. Beyond Soulton Hall's tranquil walled gardens lies 500 acres of private country estate and woodland.
While Soulton Hall itself might seem imposing at first, it is a friendly house which loves to celebrate. Centrally located, with good transport connections, it is an ideal place to draw people together from across the UK. Here you'll find exceptional food (much of it brought from our gardens or our farm, or else our wonderful country location), a well stocked wine cellar, and friendly company
.Soulton offers timeless peace and quiet for total relaxation and refreshment, yet the spires of the enchanting town of Shrewsbury and the old city of Chester lie only a short drive away.
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Our Entry in Britain's Finest
Here's our entry in Britain's Finest (we're on this year's front cover):
An historic and imposing building set in 500 acres of park and farmland in the intriguing county of Shropshire, Soulton Hall Hotel is a distinctive place which thrives on personal service.
The comfortable and spacious rooms are named families connected to Soulton Hall’s 1000 year history. Each has its own character with antique furniture and many architectural features dating back to the 1500s.
Across the lawn, the carriage house has been transformed and offers ground-floor accommodation.
Soulton Hall retains a traditional aproach to dining: food is freshly prepared each day using local produce wherever possible and served in a friendly and relaxed setting. Guests begin their evening with a drink in the well-stocked bar, whilst they make their selection from the four-course menu and wine list.
Elegant yet relaxed.
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Shropshire TourisumWe have two listings with Shropshre Tourisum: here and here.
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Visit IronbridgeOur listing with Visit Ironbridge is here.
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Virtual ShropshireWe are listed with Vitual Shropshire: here and here.
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London and Home Counties Today feature Keeper's Cottage
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