I had never considered visiting Faversham, that is until I discovered Shepherd House. Clare Weston and her husband Simon have recently bought this beautiful Georgian property and have decorated the period house into what is now Kent’s most stylish b&b.
The boutique accommodation is minutes away from Faversham station, where a fast train takes just 1 hour to get to London King’s Cross, making it the perfect weekend escape. We arrived on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, greeted by the lovely smiley Clare. I fell instantly in love with the house and felt like Clare was an old friend welcoming us into her home. Downstairs, we admired the vibrant green and yellow living room, which embraces the Georgian features while adding a contemporary personality and sense of fun with modern artwork, fresh flowers and patterned rugs. Vintage jazz music was playing and a small spirit collection is left out for guests who wish to relax with an evening aperitif.
Currently there are three bedrooms of varying sizes, though work is underway to open a few more soon. We quickly settled into the ‘Very, very large double’ bedroom, our home for the night. Clare has a real talent for interiors – each of the rooms has a subtle colour theme with vintage and modern touches that are carefully balanced to create a sophisticated but relaxing environment to spend time in. All of the bedrooms feature indulgent bathtubs, ours was a freestanding masterpiece from Albion Bath Co. The room was decorated in a palate of pinks and greys with the original floorboards, fireplaces and grand windows still intact. Appealing coffee table books and seasonal flowers adorned every surface and the king size bed was topped with a soft duvet and cushions.
The bathroom was my favourite part, with luxurious his-and/hers rain showers, expensive Kiehl’s toiletries and views overlooking the town. Shiny grey and black tiles contrast with the dusty pink paint and give a glamorous retro feel.
We spent as much time as possible in our bedroom, flicking through the books, listening to music from the retro Roberts radio and making good use of the coffee facilities… the Tanzanian Garage Coffee was the best I’ve ever tasted in a hotel room. I slept for much longer than I normally would, my body relishing the opportunity to truly unwind. In the morning the large windows let in bursts of sunlight, it was bliss.
Guests are encouraged to enjoy the whole property and the spacious garden at the back is particularly lovely on sunnier days. Breakfast in the morning is served in the living room and Clare cooked up a feast for us to devour, it was as delicious as it looks. Fresh juice and coffee, fruit salad, yoghurt and pastries arrived first. We picked at things while catching up on emails and reading the days’ news. Then came the main event, hot dishes from the lavish brunch menu. The full breakfast and French toast with blueberries and bacon were both delicious, so good in fact that I wondered if Clare had thought of opening up as a brunch parlour for outside guests too.
Nearby, guests may choose to visit picturesque Whitstable for fresh oysters or hip Margate where the new Dreamland and Turner Contemporary gallery are boosting tourism. Foodies will delight at the opportunity to visit Britain’s no.1 gastropub, The Sportsman in Seasalter. Needless to say there is more than enough to keep you busy for a weekend minibreak, though I wouldn’t blame you if you barely ventured out, Shepherd House is pretty difficult to say goodbye to.
More information and book a room at Shepherd House here.
