THE new restaurant at a historic country house presents a sublime marriage of the modern and the traditional - not to mention a great choice of food and drink.
Upon entering the Courtyard Kitchen at Hanbury Hall near Droitwich, owned by the National Trust, you are immediately greeted with a sense of airiness and space.
The large window means you have a terrific, almost uninterrupted view of the historic courtyard - it is almost as if there is no glass at all.
The design, though modern, is unobtrusive and sensitive, respecting the more traditional architectural fabric around it.
It is as if the architects were determined that it should complement the history of Hanbury Hall without overshadowing or overpowering it. There is an almost studied invisibility about - as it is seeking to convince you it is not even there at all. That is why it is such a triumph.
It is like a glass case in a museum through which the jewel of the property itself may be viewed in all its glory.
Despite that illusion of being 'outdoors', you naturally have the added benefit of being inside in the warmth with all the modern luxuries and comforts, perfect on a cold and wet winter day.
There was plenty of seating inside with a good choice of hot and cold food, including sandwiches and cakes.
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A smooth and evenly paved ramp and automatic doors make it perfect for wheelchair access and for those with pushchairs. As a dad with a pushchair I found this made the experience much less stressful and it was easy to find a seat.
My impression is that this will be a great spot all through the seasons with a large outdoor space to make the most of the summer days.
The work has been completed by Howells and lies next to the National Trust’s 18th-century house.
The Courtyard Kitchen is described as having 'charming views into the Parterre garden'.
It is fully accessible and provides more generous facilities as a response to the growing number of visitors to the Grade I-listed, William and Mary-style stately home and its 20 acres of landscaped gardens and 400 acres of parkland.
A spokesperson for Howells said: "The new structure connects to Hanbury Hall with a subtle glazed link, reanimating the historic courtyard and improving level access within the site, while revealing never seen before areas of the Hall such as the service bells."
Howells designed a coordinated palette of painted wainscotting, exposed timber ceiling beams, fine timber battening and light-reflecting glazed wall tiles extending across the new spaces, which connect to the main house.
The restaurant also benefits from renewable energy in the form of two new biomass boilers recently installed on-site to power the underfloor heating and hot water.
The project saw intense collaboration between Howells, heritage experts Donald Insall Associates, National Trust, Historic England, Croft Building & Conservation Ltd, and the local planning authority to ensure the architectural integrity of the historic estate including foundations.”
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