THEY work hard entertaining guests all year round, but how will the owners of our luxury halls and hotels be celebrating Christmas this year, asks Jenny Needham?
MIDDLETON LODGE
Rebecca Allison
What are your Christmas essentials?
CHRISTMAS is such an evocative time! It’s all about family, taking stock and making wonderful memories with those that matter most. My mum still keeps all the decorations we’ve collected over the years (including some we made), so bringing them out is always a bit nostalgic, and full of memories. There's something about the twinkly lights on the tree that still feels like magic is afoot - we would always light the fire, dad would get mulled wine on the stove, so the house would be filled the scent of pine needles, mulled wine, baking and woodsmoke.
I started a bit of a Christmas tradition when I lived in London of going to Liberty to buy something new for the tree each year, and I’m always on the lookout for interesting things to add. These days we’re also getting our own home-made decorations from the girls (and we’ve got some fabulous decorations in the shop, so it’s not far to go!). I love that we’re now creating traditions and memories for the children that they’ll remember when they’re older, it feels as though we’ve gone full circle. The tree was also about stories - we always have a little bell (we would sit by the tree to read The Polar Express), an angel, a robin, and a nutcracker.
If money were no object, what would you most like Santa to bring this year?
Well, if money were no object, I’d want world peace, and end to poverty, and inject a bit of pragmatism into the crazy political rollercoaster we have these days, not to mention sorting out climate change and an end to wastefulness. On a more personal Christmas morning sort of level, for any husbands out there, I’d really love a long soaky bath with no kids in it, an early night, cuddles with my well-behaved children, and a tidy house and supper by a roaring fire. And maybe a nice soft jumper. As for the kids, I’m fairly sure they get more fun out of unwrapping and playing with the boxes than what’s inside them…
We all have stockings in our family, from the youngest to the oldest (and she’s 95) and Father Christmas (never Santa) tends to bring homemade jam, pickles or damson gin, little packets of cereal, chocolate, or something useful. And always a walnut and an orange. FC hopefully does not bring anything plastic, but someone did once get a potato peeler in the shape of a potato which caused much hilarity. Less is definitely more though, and someone once told me the key to gift giving is something that says to the receiver “I know you and I care”, which I thought was lovely.
Your favourite Christmas music?
Nothing sets the scene like a good Christmas song, I love the old classics like Eartha Kitt’s Santa Baby, Bing Crosby’s White Christmas, and Dean Martin’s Let it Snow! and we’ll have the Nutcracker on somewhere. James’s favourite is the Fairytale of New York by the Pogues. Daisy spent most of last year singing When Santa Got Stuck up a Chimney, and I imagine Poppy would like anything that sounds like Baby Shark. But there’s something magical about getting out there to sing carols by the tree before coming inside for mulled wine or hot chocolate. We love going to midnight mass at the ancient local village church, and it feels wonderful to have all that tradition and sense of community there – my great grandmother was married there, as were we.
What will you be doing on Christmas Day this year?
We’re opening the Estate up to hotel guests for the first time this year, so we’ll have to get up super early for stockings and time to make it magical for our little ones before we go out. I should imagine there will be lots of excitement and squealing! We’ll probably start with smoked salmon and a glass of something bubbly. James is an amazing cook, but we’re keeping it simple this year - at the last big family blow-out in the main house we had 40 guests for Christmas and a seven-bird roast. We’ll be having turkey with all the trimmings, vegetables from the garden and you can’t beat a Delia bread sauce. I love a homemade Christmas pudding (and brandy butter even more) but I doubt our fussy urchins will eat it, so we’ll do a chocolate roulade too. And probably lots of cheese from Neal’s Yard (I spent two Christmases very pregnant so am still catching up on the blue cheese)... Then the obligatory Queen’s speech, and we’ll hopefully find a family film that everyone wants to watch to curl up with. At some point I’m sure we’ll catch up with family too. I can’t wait! Boxing day will be a day for brisk walks around the estate and blowing away the cobwebs.
FESTIVE HIGHLIGHTS AT MIDDLETON LODGE
The Main House, Coach House and Farmhouse will be open on Christmas day for the first time this year. With cosy bedrooms, lots of Christmas treats and the estate to explore, it’s the perfect place to sit back and settle in. The events carry on into the New Year with a big New Year’s Eve party in the Fig House, with a modern swing band and a three-course feast. If you prefer a relaxed supper at the Coach House or a fine dining feast at FORGE, guests can reserve a table and make their way to the Fig House to welcome in the New Year afterwards.
LARTINGTON HALL
Shona-Harper Wilkes
What are your Christmas essentials?
THERE are so many things I love about Christmas that in our house we’ve declared it a full season, running from December 1 to January 1, but before the ’season’ starts, eating mince pies, putting up decorations or listening to my beloved Christmas music collection is strictly forbidden! We love to fill our home with friends and loved ones throughout the festive period and find ourselves entertaining nearly every day between Christmas and New Year – it’s such a special time.
Styling is my big Christmas essential, together with church and carolling on Christmas Eve and toasting marshmallows in front of a roaring fire on Christmas afternoon. We love choosing the trees together and I enjoy even more letting my husband struggle getting them home in the car and the inevitable argument that ensues about whether they’ll fit in the first place! I do tend to style each of the trees differently in the various rooms of our house, but it’s become a new tradition of ours that my four-year-old can stage a takeover of one and decorate it herself. We’ve named it the Nutcracker tree. It’s filled with old-fashioned multi-coloured lights, ballet dancers, brightly-coloured baubles (and a few home-made ones!) as well as the Nutcracker himself. Although I don’t like to admit it, it’s really become my favourite tree because it’s so like the ones I remember at home as a child and Christmas before the days of tasteful white lights, LEDs and expensive ornaments. Because the fragrance of Christmas is so important to me and brings back the very best of memories, we always have a real tree, cinnamon pine cones on the fire, Diptyque candles, towers of oranges and evergreen foliage adorning staircases and mantles.
If money were no object, what would you most like Santa to bring this year?
I really am so blessed already that time is the thing I’d love most, something many busy mums might relate to! However, if Santa absolutely insists, then it would be a Hermes Kelly bag, as it’s a true icon that will always be incredibly stylish (plus Santa is probably the only one who can get his hands on one!)
Your favourite Christmas music?
My favourite carol is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen as it completely embodies the spirit of Christmas for me and my favourite festive song is Sting’s version of I Saw Three Ships, although I also love Steeleye Span’s Gaudete.
What will you be doing on Christmas Day this year?
Christmas Day itself will be an intimate family gathering before the chaos of the next few days ensues (including Juliette’s 5th birthday party on the December 27). We love a traditional Christmas lunch which will include roast goose and the Christmas pudding we always make in October half term - we will all have stirred it and made a wish – then it’s steamed overnight in the Aga and matured in a dark place. It is light as a feather on Christmas Day – scrumptious!
FESTIVE HIGHLIGHTS AT LARTINGTON
Lartington Hall is opening its doors on Saturday, December 14 for a pop-up restaurant. Head Chef Richard Picard-Edwards will be preparing an indulgent seven-course Christmas-themed tasting menu with paired wines. Rooms are available for those who want to stay overnight.
WYNYARD HALL
Allison Antonopoulos
What are your Christmas essentials?
IT would have to be dressing the tree and decorating the house for Christmas. I love fresh foliage, lots of scented candles, fur throws and twinkly lights. Attending the Northern Sinfonia Xmas Concert at Wynyard and one of the carol services in the chapel make me feel that Christmas is finally here.
If money were no object, what would you most like Santa to bring this year?
This sounds really cliched, but there is nothing I really need… possibly a free personal trainer for the month of January or converting a room at home into a spa and having a therapist on standby!
Your favourite Christmas music?
O Come All Ye Faithful.
What will you be doing on Christmas Day this year?
I will be spending Christmas Day at home with my family and parents (Sir John Hall and Lady Mae) opening presents and having a traditional lunch. The run-up to Christmas at Wynyard is very hectic so we make Christmas Day at home very relaxing.
FESTIVE HIGHLIGHTS AT WYNYARD
Festive Shopping Fayre: November 15-18.
Wynyard on Ice: Strap on your blades and glide around the ice rink in the picturesque historical parkland, until January 13.
New Year’s Eve Gala Ball: Great Gatsby is the theme. Tickets £89.
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