It's good to get away from the city every now and then, and recently I had the pleasure of visiting Crazy Bear in the charming Buckinghamshire town of Beaconsfield. A mere 25 minutes from London by train, this luxurious retreat has transformed a 15th-century coaching inn into a boutique hotel, spread across nine different neighbouring buildings.
There's a hidden pool here, something of a rarity in the UK and one of the parts I was most looking forward to. It's also home to a cocktail bar, three restaurants and even a private karaoke room, meaning your whole trip is sorted without ever having to leave the premises.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Crazy Bear In Beaconsfield
A room at Crazy Bear Hotel.
Need To Know:
- Address: 75 Wycombe End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, HP9 1LX
- Area: Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
- Hotel type: luxury, boutique
- Room price: from £114 per night
- How To Get There From London: around an hour's drive, or a 25-minute train from Marylebone to Beaconsfield (followed by a 15-minute walk)
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: there's a quirky but cool vibe to this hotel - the dark, over-the-top decor juxtaposed with the traditional wooden beams and inn-style exterior creates an overall look that I'd never come across before. The reception area leads through to the bar and restaurants, which made for a lively atmosphere in the evening with guests drinking and eating, and the pool can be found tucked away behind the dining area. Everything felt very elegant and decadent, from drinks served poolside to the welcoming staff, offering something truly special.
- Perfect For: a couples' trip, weekends away, pool days
Service & Price
- Service (Out Of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For Money (Out Of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost (Stay + Dining Combined): around £300 for a night's stay, dinner, breakfast and drinks (room prices vary)
Room Quality & Comfort
The decor is dark and sultry within Crazy Bear's bedrooms.
Room: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Each one of their bedrooms is totally unique, with four different price categories to choose from: snug, cosy, boujee and decadent. We stayed in one of the larger rooms, which was a short walk up the road from the main building (where reception and the restaurants/ bars are located), and the second we stepped in it's safe to say I was impressed. The room was pretty much all black, including the walls, floors and sofa, though the ceiling was padded with grey velvet and the bedsheets were a crisp white.
A real highlight was the shining copper bathtub in the bedroom area, free-standing and filled by a tap that poured from the ceiling. This was separate from the bathroom (which was separated from the sleeping area by a stylish living space), which featured a huge mirror, a wet room-style shower and opulent black marble decor. I will say this is probably one to stay at with a partner rather than a friend though (unless you're very close), as there was no door to the bathroom - though I can't speak for all the rooms. My only slight issue with the room was quite how dark it was - it was a little hard to get ready with the limited light, and a few more lamps might have been useful.
Pool
The pool is a real draw of this place, and it's available to use for all hotel guests. There are plenty of seats in the courtyard area surrounding the water, though you can also book one of their day beds for an afternoon or evening slot (from £25 for six hours). We had one reserved for the day, which included towels, slippers and even suncream, with changing facilities by the pool that either guests or day visitors were able to make use of.
Luckily, the September weather was on our side, and we spent all afternoon relaxing on the bed, while enjoying Champagne and a couple of bar snacks. We also had a dip in the pool, though we were slightly disappointed to find that the water was incredibly cold, despite the website advertising it as heated. However, in the height of summer the water would definitely be very refreshing. It's a gorgeous spot in the evening too, with pretty fairy lights and outdoor tables for cocktails.
Be sure to pay their pool a visit.
Dining Highlights
There is both a British and a Thai restaurant on-site, and we chose the latter (where breakfast was also served the next day). They also offer a popular afternoon tea, though we didn't try this. We were lucky enough to have a table overlooking the pool, which added to the charm of this cosy dining space.
Dinner: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Vegetable spring rolls (£8) - one of the many small plates on offer, these crispy spring rolls were packed full of flavour. They featured a mix of gently spiced vegetables, perfect for dipping in the sweet chilli sauce.
- Salt and pepper tofu (£8) - this was some of the most tender tofu I've ever tried, coated in a moreish spice mix that had just the right level of kick to it. Equally delicious was the sauce it came with, made up of chilli, onion and sriracha.
- Vegetable Thai green curry (£15) - this classic dish had a base of Thai pea aubergine, bamboo and basil in a rich, creamy green sauce. I chose the vegetable option, though they offered everything from prawn to duck as well, alongside a portion of sticky rice (£5). It featured broccoli, carrot, pepper, mushroom and more, overall creating a warming and very filling dish.
- Vegetable pad Thai (£14) - sticking with the staples again, my partner chose a pad Thai, but there was nothing basic about this dish. It had a delicate mix of flavours and a hearty portion of vegetables on top of the egg noodles, served with chilli flakes and peanuts for some added crunch.
Thai green curry and eggs Florentine from the Crazy Bear restaurant.
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Banoffee martini (£11) - a sweet tooth's dream, this dessert-inspired cocktail featured vodka, banana and caramel, topped with cream and crumbs to make you really feel like you were tucking into a banoffee pie. If you love the dessert, you'll adore this drink
- Honey, I Drunk The Fizz (£13) - another one of their excellent signatures, this gin-based blend was made with honey, rhubarb, lemon and Champagne - making for a sweet but sophisticated sip that complemented my meal nicely
Breakfast: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
We had breakfast included in our room price. It was full table service, even the drinks, so guests didn't have to lift a finger.
- Eggs Florentine - their eggs were perfectly poached, sat on a fluffy English muffin and drizzled in an abundance of hollandaise sauce that ensured no bite was left dry. There was also wilted spinach under the eggs, as well as chives to finish off the plate
- French toast - a more sugary option, this hearty dish was crisp, flavourful and topped with icing sugar and chocolate - the perfect sweet start to a morning
My Overall Experience At Crazy Bear
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Crazy Bear, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a weekend break or midweek getaway not too far from London. The outside of the building fit in perfectly with the charming, old-school feel of Beaconsfield - you'd never know there was so much going on inside. The rooms are truly some of the most unique I've ever seen, with a decadent, romantic feel to them, and the pool is the icing on the cake. I'd advise you try out their bar and restaurant too - the atmosphere was buzzing and the food was fantastic. Overall, I'd head back in a heartbeat.
