Oddfellows On The Park

A 19th-century Victorian mansion in a park outside of Manchester could be a recipe for a dreary time, but not only is this no ordinary park — Bruntwood, in Cheadle, is a vibrant public space, full of woodlands, ponds, and a sporting complex that includes a BMX track — but Oddfellows is no ordinary Victorian mansion. On the architectural level it’s a faithful restoration of a Gothic Revival structure, but its interiors mix period details with elegant modern design and plenty of quirky, light-hearted visual fun.

The rooms, in keeping with the theme, preserve Victorian detail but introduce playful touches and modern luxuries, and they vary widely in size, plan, and individual style, from the Park rooms, with king beds, spa-like bathrooms, and Nespresso machines, to the Bridle Suite — pun absolutely intended, it’s a three-story tribute to the house’s equestrian heritage, occupying the Hall’s tower.

In a similar vein, the hotel’s spa, in an outlying building, is called Pigsty, and includes a mud room among its therapies. Meanwhile the Galloping Major restaurant serves modern British cuisine and the Stud Room bar pours inventive variations on classic cocktails. It’s the modern country house hotel for a generation that cares more about comfort than correct etiquette.