Bethnal & Bec
South East England Hertfordshire Stevenage
- From £197.50 a night
- 3 Properties sleeping 2
- Cabin
These three Hertfordshire country retreats provide the ultimate venue for a luxury chill-out weekend.
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Not far north of London, in the relatively rural wilds of leafy Hertfordshire, Bethnal & Bec is all about luxurious escapes. When owners Vicky and Chris left London a few years ago to open this eco-chic and very comfortable property, they wanted to create the ultimate adults-only, dog-friendly chill-out venue for weary folk looking to escape for a weekend or even longer, and do... well.. nothing in particular. Made up of three extremely comfortable self-catering retreats crafted from a former stable block, it's just 40-odd miles from London and very easy to reach from other parts of the country but it feels very rural and away-from-it-all – with countryside views and pretty much every home comfort you could imagine laid on by the thoughtful Vicky and Chris.
The retreats are beautifully kitted out, and super-cosy, with wood-burning stoves, bathrooms with rainforest showers and complimentary Aromatherapy Associates toiletries (towels, waffle robes and slippers are provided); each has its own outdoor soaking bath, fast wifi, Bluetooth speakers and good-sized Smart TVs if all you want to do is binge-watch your favourite dramas.
There's an honesty pantry, stocked with a large selection of snacks, drinks, frozen meals and locally made gin and vodka which you pay for on your in-room iPad. They also have pre-ordered dine-in food which on warm days you can enjoy at your own patio table; there are also sun loungers and your own firepit.
Of the three retreats, the newest – The Foaling Box – is also the largest. The luxury bathroom has an antique rolltop bath and a separate rainforest shower. The bedroom has a superking bed with a drop-down cinema screen. There is a big kitchen, a TV snug complete with a bespoke arcade games machine and a chaise corner where you can look out onto the Hertfordshire countryside.
Of the two original retreats, Bethnal is the larger and has a rolltop bath at the end of the bed so you can watch TV while basking in the tub. Bethnal also has a DVD player and DVD library, while Bec has its own cinema projector screen for watching movies in bed and a unique 'bath for two' with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside through the postbox windows.
Vicky and Chris meanwhile are as attentive as you want or need them to be – content to be invisible hosts but also happy to help whenever the need arises, whether it's with tips on the best walks and pubs or just advice on how to operate the unique vinyl record players they provide with the Bluetooth speakers.
In terms of environmental credentials, sustainability is at Bethnal & Bec's core: Vicky and Chris are 100% committed to becoming a net-zero business. Indeed, they're proud to have won awards and recognition for sustainability initiatives implemented so far. As part of their eco-forward ethos, they've installed electric vehicle chargers, there are e-bikes to hire, and the retreats were built using reclaimed, repurposed, recycled and rescued materials where possible. What's more, Vicky and Chris offer a free dine-in box to people arriving by train (they're just a 20-minute journey from London King's Cross).
You could spend a very happy weekend at Bethnal & Bec just making the most of your retreat, wandering down to the local pub, The Bull, where they serve excellent food, enjoying a massage, or a spot of yoga in your room (which Vicky or Chris will arrange). But there's also plenty to discover further afield – country houses like Audley End and Knebworth, breweries and wineries to visit, and a whole host of country walks as well as some great country pubs to walk to. All in all it's an incredibly relaxing place to spend the weekend. Vicky and Chris know exactly what weary city folk want – once upon a time, they were those people!
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Details
Facilities
There are too many to list, but the outdoor Whirpool baths, vinyl record players with a 50 strong album collection, amazing pizza ovens, a cinema screen that descends electronically in front of your bed, double baths, double showers, eccentric art and wonderful antique furniture plus a 6ft tall bespoke House of Hackney fabric headboard.
Suitable For
Couples mostly, but also close friends or family. We've had quite a few solo travellers too looking for some quiet time in a luxurious environment.
We host many mini-moons, anniversaries and birthdays, as well as quite a few proposals, all of which were successful :)
Dog owners are well suited to a stay in either our Bethnal or Bec retreats (please note The Foaling Box is strictly no pets/dogs) with 2.5 acres of grounds leading directly onto public footpaths through lovely countryside as well as secured private gardens.
Nearby
It is wonderful to have such glorious, natural countryside so close to London. Pretty villages, including our own village "Cottered", regularly a winner of best village in Hertfordshire; amazing market towns such as Buntingford and Hitchin and only 30 minutes from the gloriousness of Cambridge.
There are miles of walks direct from Bethnal&Bec Luxury Stays over undulating fields and with pretty pubs to stop at. Many perfect country lanes for cycling enthusiasts. Uninterrupted views from your hot tub to Cromer Windmill, the last windmill in Hertfordshire. And both the most amazing sunsets and view of the night sky.
Food & Drink
The Bull in our local village is highly regarded for its food. The Falcon restaurant in Buntingford just a few minutes drive away is fine dining at it's best. Other pubs with amazing atmospheres and food that we love include The Fox and Duck in Therfield (say hello to the landlord Ivan for us), The Sword in Hand in Westmill and the Brewery Tap in Brent Pelham. Lastly, we recommend a trip to The Cheese Plate in Buntingford, recognised as one of the top cheese shops in the UK, and a great spot for a cheesy lunch too - plus Toby and his daughter who own the shop live in Cottered too and if they know you are staying at Bethnal&Bec Luxury Stays then they give you a fiver off your bill (as long as its over £20).
Pricing
Current offers: we are offering 15% off our remaining October availabililty...no code needed, book via the website (no other offer codes can be used in conjunction with this offer).
We have a lazy weekend policy with no check-out time on Sundays so you can stay as long as you like.
As Vicky has had treatment for breast cancer, they also offer discounts to anyone affected by cancer as well as NHS and other care workers.
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The Owner Says
Bethnal&Bec Luxury Stays was born from our own frustration at not being able to find a truly comfortable and luxurious bolthole in the countryside easily, somewhere you want to escape to for a few days but not have to drive for 5 hours to get to. So we moved our two families together, purchased a 370 year old listed building just outside London and converted the stables into our first two retreats; Bethnal & Bec. This year, we converted the final barn into The Foaling Box - our biggest and most luxurious retreat yet, and indeed, we like to think we give you "All the luxury of a five star hotel whilst feeling right at home".
We found that many rural properties that we stayed at were just not up to scratch. The furniture was tired, the tv was small and old, the shower was weak; and so many properties were designed with families in mind rather than a romantic escape for adults. Many of the "dog friendly" places seemed to lack any type of luxury and were very basic.
We wanted to ensure that our styling, facilities and ambience would at least match people's own homes. The baths and showers would be amazing, the TV would be large and include Netflix (we even added a cinema screen in Bec & The Foaling Box), the lights are controlled on an iPad, the underfloor heating by a google nest, the beds are large; the outside features sun loungers, fire pits and hot tubs with amazing views.
Dogs who visit our Bethnal or Bec retreats are well looked after with their own doggy pantry full of toys and treats, plus a private enclosed garden and direct access to a 2 acre exercise paddock.
As guests, one of the few downfalls of self catering accommodation we found was the need to bring your own provisions such as sugar, tea, salt, milk, herbs etc. So we fixed this issue :) Our retreats are fully stocked with an amazing pantry, and most of the 'staples' are provided for free. In addition we have sourced amazing snacks, drinks, desserts and frozen meals that are available on an honesty system. In addition to the pantry you can pre-order amazing steaks, afternoon tea, BBQ packs, or our 'Pimp my Pizza' package using our own pizza ovens with the ingredients we provide to you. Private chefs, masseuses and yoga teachers can also be booked.
Location
Contact Website 07790 901 051 Bethnal & Bec, Nottinghams, Cottered, Hertfordshire SG9 9PUFeatures
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As featured in
Dog Friendly Britain: Cool Places to Stay with your Dog
A full colour guide, Dog Friendly Britain showcases the very best places to stay in Britain with your dog – everything from boutique hotels and cosy gastropubs to seaside B&Bs, country cottages and the latest glamping sites.
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Reviews
Let us know what you think of your stay.
Add Your ReviewRated ★★★★★ over 8 reviews
Vicky & Chris went the extra mile
Couldn't have asked for anything more from the hosts
I’m sure we’ll be back soon
Will definitely be back!
Could not recommend this place enough
Certainly didn't disappoint
Cannot recommend enough
Amazing time - can't wait to return.
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