Boys Hall in Kent to reopen as boutique hotel this summer

Boys Hall, a 17th century manor house in Ashford, Kent, is being relaunched as a boutique hotel this summer by husband and wife Bradley and Kristie Lomas following a careful restoration.

Bradley was formerly operations director of East London Pub Co while Kristie founded Drink, Shop & Do as well as Keystone Crescent members' club in London’s King’s Cross.

The Grade II-listed Boys Hall, built in 1616 by the Boys family and set to reopen in June, will comprise 10 bedrooms, multiple reception rooms and private dining spaces, a 70-cover restaurant with two outside terraces and a pub.

The restaurant will be housed in a large dining hall with a daily changing menu centred around seasonal, local produce and 'home-cooked favourites'. The pub will be open to the public and residents. A wine cellar will sit beneath with capacity for around 4,000 bottles.

The landscaped grounds will include a rose garden, herbaceous border, a formal front lawn, beehives, an orchard and a kitchen garden.

The couple also plans to extend the food and drink offering in a few years’ time by opening a bar with an outdoor pizza oven in the walled garden, as well as treatment rooms and eight luxury cabins around a wild pond.

They said: “We have loved every minute of restoring this timeless and beautiful period property and cannot wait to see life back into the venue; we want people to relax and enjoy themselves whether they choose a cup of tea in one of the reception rooms or a gin and tonic out on the lawns. Located in the heart of Kent we are very lucky to have some incredible producers and suppliers work with us.

“It’s been such a privilege to be able to combine our background and love of home comforts and become a part of the rich history of this house and its evolving gardens. We want our guests to feel at home and for everyone who stays in the first year, a tree will be planted in the estate.”

Double rooms will start from £160 per night, bed and breakfast.

During its history, the building has been a home, a wedding and conference venue, and a luxury B&B. Christie & Co was advertising the property for sale for £1.55m in 2019.