Yahoo Finance Inside Kent's Goodnestone, the Jane Austen-approved party house
In deepest Kent, this Palladian mansion gets the mix just right, managing to be effortlessly stylish while retaining a vivid sense of history. Jane Austen was a frequent guest for dinner and dancing in the 18th-century and Goodnestone hosts 21st-century guests with continued aplomb. Expect top-of-the-range appliances, interiors that form the backdrop to fashion shoots and not an inch of fustiness. The only formality to be found is in the neatly-clipped, box-hedged parterre - a reminder that Goodnestone’s gardens have been hailed as some of England’s best.
The House
It's not often that a historic house can be this comfortable without losing something of itself, but Goodnestone has character in spades. Pronounced “Gunstone”, this Grade II-listed, cream and red-brick mansion dates from 1704 and was passed down through generations of FitzWalters.
Jane's brother Edward married into the family in 1791, leading to claims that Pride and Prejudice might have been inspired by society gossip she picked up as a guest here.
The drawing room and library are convivial spaces for enjoying a nightcap by the fire, with antique tables, jewel-toned sofas and satin curtains that crumple artfully into shimmering pools on the floor. At the bottom of the sweeping main staircase, a piano centres the house. The huge dining room table seats 24 and there is also a breakfast room for more casual dining.
Upstairs is a quiet reading room, while outside, lawn games available include croquet, boules, table tennis and skittles. For the more energetic, there is a shed full of bikes to ride.
The location
They call Kent the garden of England and life is certainly good here. Goodnestone is a 20-minute drive from Canterbury and a heartening sight at the end of a gravel drive that curves through parkland populated by fat game birds. The grounds include a hidden walled garden that looks towards the village church, an arboretum that's a hit with bumblebees and a polytunnel bursting with home-grown salad leaves.
Though the house and the lawn terraces immediately surrounding it are private, Goodnestone's gardens are open to the public and a tearoom operates in its grounds in summer.
The estate is ringed by the Serpentine, a gentle walk through wooded glens offering views of the house. Beyond it, there's a farm shop full of local goodies; in the other direction is Goodnestone village and the snug little FitzWalter pub.
What to expect
We enjoyed a weekend cooking in the modern, superbly equipped shaker-style kitchen (we counted four cookers) and playing lazy lawn games, gin and tonic in hand. Occasionally we popped to the nearby pub or paused to wave at dog-walking locals we spotted beyond the walls bordering the home's private, picture-perfect lawns.
Freshly baked cookies and decanters stocked with port and whiskey turned the house into a home, while inconceivably fluffy robes and towels added a luxurious touch to the bedrooms. As a Sunday morning treat, the managers put us in touch with a spa company who arranged for a masseuse to visit. Those celebrating a special occasion here can also ask caterers to arrange afternoon tea, canapes or a sit down meal.
Standout feature
The history. Some houses of this scale and reputation have changed hands so often that their histories have become lost or muddied. Not so here, as you can tell from the family resemblance in portraits on the walls. At Goodnestone, the eyes that follow you down the hall or observe you sipping whiskey in the library are the eyes of those who once lived here themselves.
Not so keen
The dining room lacked pizazz. Aside from the beautiful, hand-painted de Gournay wallpaper, it felt sparse and underdone compared to other rooms.
The rooms
Each named after a family member, the 12 bedrooms are spread across the first and second floors. The biggest, the vast and beautiful FitzWalter room, has a four poster bed that seems almost insignificant sat behind three enormous windows overlooking the gardens. Most of the bedrooms have ensuites and all are attractive, with sumptuous beds,love seats and chaise longues in heavyweight, William Morris-inspired fabrics.
Who it’s good for
Groups of friends. Though only eight of the bedrooms are ensuite, there are enough additional bathrooms for occupants of the other roomts to claim one as their own. Family groups will also enjoy the size and layout of the house, as one end is not too far from the other and the communal spaces, while featuring old family heirlooms, also really work as spaces for relaxing. Two cots and highchairs are available also.
Wedding ready?
The house is open for weddings from 2017. Handily, vows can be taken in the 12th-century church on the edge of the estate, where Austen attended her brother's wedding, making this a dream venue for lovers of the classics.
Getting there
It’s a 90-minute drive from London or a 20-minute taxi ride from Canterbury train station.
Cost and how to book
Goodnestone Park (01227 806987) offers a three-night minimum stay from £5,760 for 24 guests. It is also available for 18 guests for a three-night minimum stay from £4,320. Prices are the same all year round.
