Monkey Island Estate Opens Six Private Residences
YTL Hotels’ Monkey Island Estate in Bray is delighted to announce the opening of six beautiful Private Residences, offering guests a choice of charming period accommodation. Just 40 minutes from London, these private countryside escapes are the ideal option for the first staycation to reunite with family and friends once lockdown lifts.
Endearingly named to reflect their individual nature, the residences blend classic style and the warmth of a period home with contemporary and luxury comfort, each with its own intriguing history and story to tell. Guests staying in the residences can enjoy the freedom, space and privacy of staying with loved ones, whilst taking advantage of the hospitality and services of the hotel, just a stone’s throw away.
Guests can look forward to a fully stocked fridge on arrival along with pre-arranged food orders collected on their behalf in advance so they can rustle up simple suppers or gourmet meals as they please. Those looking to enjoy a taste of Bray will be delighted to discover that several local businesses have adapted to the times and can opt for delicious meals to be delivered to their doorstep. Here are a few exceptional options guests can enjoy:
- Caldesi in Campagna: Authentic Italian food & produce for takeaway or local delivery prepared by celebrity chef, Giancarlo Caldesi just a three-minute walk away. In addition to the gourmet menu guests can request fresh fish, pasta and a wonderful selection of larder delights!
- Sunday Roast by Jack Blumenthal: Heston’s son and trained by the best, Jack is donating 20% of profits towards the NHS. Roasts are delivered with all the trimmings requiring only a 15-minute warm up.
- Roux at Skindles: A fantastic takeaway and delivery service masterminded by Alain Roux from the stunning French – try the steamed mussels marinières and a charcuterie & pate platter.
- The Beehive White Waltham: A takeaway grocery service offering a brilliant British menu masterminded by Chef Dominic who used to work with The Fat Duck Group.
- Bakedd: A family business providing beautiful fresh bread, croissants, pastries and cakes delivered straight to the door.
As well as fine dining, guests can look forward to making the most of the fresh outdoors, something of a luxury after weeks of lockdown. The surrounding countryside has a multitude of walks to enjoy, from picturesque Bray to the famous Dorney Lake and Bray Nature Reserve. Idyllic boat trips and electric bikes are also available to hire, ideal for a sunny day out exploring – just pack a picnic, or perhaps try horse riding on offer just 15-minutes away.
The Residences:
Long White Cloud is an embodiment of homely elegance, where Edward Elgar is known to have stayed and composed some of his greatest works. More recent residents include Formula One racing legend, Sir Stirling Moss. The magnificent 19th Century property has four large bedroom suites accompanied by an impressive kitchen and a charming garden, ideal for alfresco dining in the summer months. Sitting on the banks of the River Thames, Long White Cloud also offers a private pool and jetty, ideal for those who may wish to arrive by boat.
Brook House embodies another spacious offering with four generously sized suites, a lavish living room and a large garden with private outdoor/indoor swimming pool perfect for hot summer afternoons.
Sundial Cottage with its secluded secret garden is quaint yet spacious, steeped in the same exciting history as Monkey Island itself. Sundial Cottage boasts three gorgeous bedrooms with a kitchen-diner and cosy living room. Those staying in Sundial Cottage will share the same four walls as the famed Sylvia Anderson, the creator of Thunderbirds.
Bray House is a bijou gem just steps away from Bray’s church, offering the ideal country bolthole for those looking to escape the city. The three-bedroom residence has undergone multiple transformations over the years from stable block to cobblers’ shop, antique centre and family home.
Dormer Cottage enchants guests with standout features including wooden beams, a welcoming open fireplace and a dramatic silk-clad wall. The 500-year-old one-bedroom residence offers guests immediate access to the heart of Bray.
Lavender House also sits in the heart of the village offering three bedrooms. With an impressive double fronted cottage façade believed to date back to the early 1700s, the impressive property was once home to several local families in three terraced cottages.
When guests staying at the residences can pull themselves away from the fluffy white pillows and idyllic surroundings of their private home, they can enjoy all that Monkey Island Estate has to offer. A stroll around the estate’s seven acres offers beautiful country garden and river views. Guests can discover the herb garden, experimental teahouse, two beehives and even meet the estate’s resident hens, named after iconic female figures that have visited in years gone by. After working up an appetite, make the most of a 10% discount on all food and drink at the island’s renowned Monkey Brasserie and Bar. From sipping cocktails beside a crackling fire, enjoying afternoon tea in the shade of the beautiful gardens or Shepherd’s Hideaway to enjoying classic locally sourced British fare, Monkey Island Estate has something for even the most discerning diner.
Monkey Island, with its intriguing history dating back 800 years, has been the haunt of monks, monarchs, aristocrats and writers alike. Surrounded by elegant gardens, Monkey Island is accessed only by footbridge, boat or helicopter, offering a secluded country venue, yet is conveniently located less than an hour’s drive from Central London. The addition of the Private Residences offers those who want to enjoy this historic landmark and the delightful village of Bray even more opportunity to do so, in true comfort, style and privacy.