Saddlers B&B

Just three miles from Chichester and six miles from Goodwood, the elegant rooms of this boutique B&B offer a great base from which to discover West Sussex. Situated in the rural village of Funtington, Saddlers B&B is an Edwardian building in an English country garden specialising in warm, home-from-home hospitality. The character of this historic place, built in 1901 by the village saddler, has been retained, even though its comfort is thoroughly contemporary and very much the primary focus.

Fresh flowers throughout the house, homemade treats in the bedrooms, smoothies and garden-fruit compote with yoghurt at breakfast, homemade jams… these are just some of the little things that make this place a special gem. Milly, the owner and host at Saddlers, offers a modern take on the time-honoured tradition of bed and breakfast accommodation, and seems, in a very subtle way, to go the extra mile in every direction to make sure her guests have the best possible experience while staying at Saddlers. It’s a refreshing place to visit and a very relaxing place to stay that’s firmly rooted in its location. Coffee table books in the shared Snug downstairs relate to the motor racing at nearby Goodwood along with books on the local attractions and events. Photos on the wall show the saddler himself (Mr Ewens) along with an article about the history of the house. Much of the breakfast is locally sourced from farmers within a five miles radius or homegrown. Even the refillable soaps and shampoos are from West Sussex-based Temple Spa, which means this place is pretty sustainable too.

The decor throughout is elegant – calming, greywashed walls with interest and colour introduced from fabric, furnishings and photography. Outside, a traditional English garden sweeps around the house, where breakfast can be served during the warmer summer months. The interiors are painted in soothing shades and filled with a medley of modern British design, hand-picked antiques and artworks by Milly's family and friends, creating rooms that are as inviting and cosy. But there’s nothing too bright or bold, a tasteful feel that extends to the three well-appointed bedrooms. Each has a light and spotlessly clean en-suite bathroom and either a king, queen or double bed dressed in Egyptian cotton. They are named after racetracks: Brooklands, Le Mans and Goodwood of course. It’s Goodwood (the estate, not the room) that many will be visiting the area for, and in the summer, at Christmas or whenever there’s an event on there, it’s possible to hire the whole house on an exclusive basis. This option is for self-catering stays and includes two extra bedrooms, so it sleeps up to 10 guests at a time, with pets and children all welcome.

In addition to Goodwood, the area has much to offer. Chichester with its historic buildings, mighty cathedral, theatre and harbour is just down the road, and Funtington sits between the South Downs National Park and the coast. It's a great base if you want to walk in the hills or relax on shores such as the famous sandy beach of West Wittering. Funtington itself is surprisingly full of amenities and places to visit: there’s a vineyard a few fields away and Kingley Vale, Europe’s oldest yew tree forest, is two miles away. There's also a great pub, restaurant, and a well-stocked farm shop selling locally-grown products – all within walking distance, as well as a Michelin-Guide pub, the Horse and Groom, a mile down the road.