Restaurant with rooms, or country hotel, Boys Hall gets a lot of things right! Under 2 hours from London Bridge (direct train), I've stayed there twice (paying for my own stays.) Read on to see what I liked- and what I didn't about it.
One of my favorite things to do in England is to visit country hotels and inns such as The Pig at Bridge and Boys Hall.
I first visited Boys Hall in January 24 and it was so beautiful, I brought my Mom back to stay again in October 24. However, it wasn't a perfect stay so read on to see who would enjoy it and who wouldn't.
Boys Hall is a BEAUTIFUL place to stay- there are 2 comfortable lounges. Perhaps because it's so new, the sofas are nice to sit on (unlike at The Pig at Bridge- the sofas there definitely need some re-upholstering!)
There are 2 lounges- the one next to the reception (shown above) and a 2nd, larger one in between the reception and the bar. In the 2nd room, you'll find magazines and board games.
You're welcomed with a cup of tea and cake at Boys Hall (there's a choice of 2 types of cake) so it feels like you're visiting a posh friend, not just staying in a hotel.
Rooms
Both stays at Boys Hall, I was in the Knatchbull. (The rooms all have different prices and I felt Knatchbull was the perfect balance of comfort and price.)
The rooms are amazingly decorated, SO stylish and comfortable with modern bathrooms. (They're the reason I returned to Boys Hall twice actually.) It's actually more comfortable than The Pig at Bridge, another country hotel I stayed at and really enjoyed, and definitely more luxurious than the New Flying Horse in Wye.
Initially, I was a bit concerned as it was over the kitchens/ restaurant and the site does have a warning about the room's situation. However, it was perfectly comfortable. Having said that, I was there in January and October (i.e. cold months)- I wouldn't choose this room if I was staying in the summer!
When you walk into the room, the radio is on and you're greeted by the calming sounds of classical music. There is water waiting for you on the dresser (along with the customary tea and coffee making facilities.)
It was my first time trying a Hypnos bed and they were comfy enough that I started looking into getting one for my Dad. (I use a Vispring myself but the Hypnos was so comfy- you feel like you're sinking into a cloud- I wondered if I should switch!)
As with period properties, all rooms at Boys Hall have their own quirks. Some of the other rooms are near the bar (i.e. potentially noisy) etc
Gardens
Boys Hall also has a beautiful garden, much prettier than that of the Pig at Bridge.
When the flowers are out, you're encouraged to snip some flowers for your room- this is just one of the examples of how Boys Hall makes you feel like you're staying with a friend and not in an impersonal hotel.
Food
The restaurant is beautiful and comfortable. I love the soaring ceilings and view of the kitchen gardens.
Unfortunately, the food... isn't great. I wonder if it is a cultural thing, since apparently a lot of their income comes from the restaurant (and they're always busy.) However I didn't enjoy the food. (Neither did my Mom.)
It wasn't terrible (I mean, I did return to Boys Hall twice!) but... it felt quite pretentious and lacking in execution. (A lot of very fussy flavors on the same plate but they don't go well together!) I was quite shocked to see that it is mentioned in the Michelin Guide.
In fact, the food is one of the reasons we are not sure we would return for a 3rd time. (Without a car, you're kind of trapped in the hotel and have to dine in it.)
Oh an English lady we met there described the Caesar salad as "grotesque" so.. might not have just been us who weren't impressed with the food.)
The service is terrific though! So friendly and nice (although they did bill me wrongly for a bottle of sparkling water which I didn't order. (My neighbour did- I didn't want to make the waitress' life difficult so I just paid for it.)
Boys Hall does, however, do very good sandwiches. That's the only thing I would order again from the restaurant.
The breakfast is also not bad: it was good on the first visit, and still good (but less so) on the second.
Location
The location of Boys Hall isn't the best. It's quite ugly- a basic commuter village feel- so you won't be inspired to go for a walk outside of the hotel. (And, at least in 2024, the gardens aren't large enough for you to get much of a walk.)
They were, however, doing some construction when I visited so hopefully the Gardens will be expanded.
Basically, there's nowhere (nice) you can go without a car (from the hotel.) I would stay here again if I was driving. However, as a weekend train trip from London, a 3rd time would be too much.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I've pretty much been raving over Boys Hall so why did I say I may not return for a 3rd stay? Besides the bad food, it's also because the standard of the stay has fallen a bit.
For example, whilst the rooms were still spotlessly clean on my 2nd stay, the housekeeping took a very long time to finish the rooms. During my 1st stay, it only took them about 2-3 hours.
On my 2nd stay, it was more like 5-6 hours. Whilst I understand these things take time, it can be quite inconvenient if you've booked a country hotel escape to relax and can't go back to your room. (The lounge is comfortable but it is also very busy so not always very peaceful.)
Getting There by Train
It's a direct train from London to Ashford International.
From there, you'll need to take a taxi to Boys Hall which will cost between £7-£10. (I wouldn't walk it even though it's only 30 minutes, because the walk isn't very nice, and sometimes there's no pavement.)
Note: Ashford International is next to Ashford Designer Outlet so you could grab a bite there before heading to Boys Hall. I would actually recommend that as the food at Boys Hall isn't great.
Any questions about staying at Boys Hall in Kent? Let me know in the comments!
