As you arrive at Beaverbrook House, nestled in a 470-acre estate in the Surrey Hills, you’ll notice something. It springs up from nowhere in front of the main house and adorns every napkin, porter’s cap and staff badge on the property: the Spitfire. But what did the former home of Canadian press mogul Lord Beaverbrook have to do with Britain’s most iconic aircraft? Quite a lot, it turns out. 

Born in 1879, Max Aitken, otherwise known as Lord Beaverbrook, relocated from his native Canada to Britain to fulfil his incessant ambitions on the media circuit. A millionaire by 30 – having owned and overseen The Daily Express during a period in which it grew to become one of the largest newspapers in the world – he bought his eponymous estate for £30,000 in 1910 after spotting it on a country drive with his friend, Jungle Book author Rudyard Kipling. During the early 20th century, Beaverbrook’s newspaper headlines and front pages would make or break political careers, with his whopping readership influenced by his every word. With more power than most MPs at that time could ever aspire to, it was unsurprising when he was invited to join Winston Churchill’s wartime government in 1940. What was surprising, however, was his new post: Minister of Aircraft Production. 

Despite having little expertise in the world of planes – apart from finding them a rather practical and boujee way to travel – Lord Beaverbrook was nothing if not an organiser. Churchill granted him dictatorial powers over all aspects of aircraft production during the Second World War, leading him to famously treble the production of the Spitfires that played a huge part in winning the pivotal Battle of Britain. 

This history lives and breathes at Beaverbrook House. As I wander into the library on a cold Saturday morning, the fire below Lord Beaverbrook’s portrait crackles. Every book lining the shelves is dedicated to the Second World War, while a black and white photograph of Winston Churchill and Lord Beaverbrook sits on the mantelpiece. Quite the dynamic duo, I’m told by our porter, who goes on to say that they remained friends despite Beaverbrook withdrawing from politics shortly after the war. He spent the rest of his days at his country home in the Surrey sticks focusing on his newspaper empire (which had by then encompassed The Evening Standard) and left his huge estate to his wife upon his death in 1964. 

For the duration of Beaverbrook’s tenure at the estate, it had been frequented by not only cabinet ministers but also the crème de la crème of high society, who clamoured for invitations to his notoriously raucous parties (it’s said Paul McCartney once performed on the piano at the bottom of the house’s grand staircase). So when the 18-bedroom home and its endless gardens fell into disrepair, it was bought by a group of investors – one being James Cadbury, the great-great-great grandson of the famed chocolatier (you’ll find his chocolate in your room) – who restored it to its former glory and reopened it to the public as a hotel in 2007. Boasting an authentic slice of history and luxury interiors by some of the best designers in the UK, it was almost instantly fully booked. And interest in the quintessentially English countryside estate has never waned, leaving the team with a constant conundrum that most hoteliers can only wish for: so many guests, not enough rooms. Until now. 

Safe to say it took a village to create The Village – the newest jewel in Beaverbrook’s crown comprising a restaurant, 21 rooms and a new events space. Roughly a five-minute (self-driven) golf buggy ride from the main house, The Village has tapped into a historical and previously lost section of the estate, having been reconstructed on the site of the main house’s workers’ cottages.

It opened just last month and I am one of the first to stay in this new Beaverbrook offshoot – but what I quickly learn is that The Village has a distinct identity of its own, a world away from the prim and proper main house. Cocooned by woodland, The Village possesses a fairytale aura, alpine feel and a sense of adventure that makes you feel like you’re walking around a Disney film set – right down to the inquisitive rabbits and calm wild deer who occasionally cross your path. 

Beaverbrook House isn’t visible from The Village, and despite being designed by the same specialists who created the famous interiors of the main house, the latter feels more playful. The 10 cottages house 21 rooms, thus, successfully doubling Beaverbrook’s capacity. Inside, interior designer Nicola Harding has successfully recreated the look and feel of a traditional English woodland village while creative director Sir Frank Lowe has brought his signature whimsical curatorial flair to the concept. Each luxury suite is named after literary and artistic giants of the Romantic, Victorian and Edwardian eras, such as CS Lewis and the Bronte sisters, with each room exuding its own personality and charm. 

I stay in the William Thackeray suite, which pays homage to the English illustrator’s famous satirical sketches for Vanity Fair with replicas of his works on the wall and a mauve palette in the bedroom. Bright wood furnishings, a KitchenAid kettle, fully-stocked mini-bar and king size bed furnish the space, while underfloor heating invites you into the vibrant green-and-blue bathroom featuring a marble vanity, Bamford amenities and a Velux window above the large bath-shower, so you can watch the stars while you bathe. 

For those with little ones in tow, larger suites start at 53 square metres and many come with private gardens, terraces and balconies, as well as bunk beds or interconnecting rooms for those who want their nearest and dearest close by. Cleverly, those bunk beds can be smoothly tucked away when not in use meaning a comfortable setup for a young family. 

Mrs Beetons, The Village’s main restaurant and reception, takes its cues from a classic Victorian aesthetic. Named after English author Isabella Beeton, who rose to fame in the 19th century for her handbooks on keeping a Victorian household, the eponymous restaurant is decorated in bright green hues, featuring exposed beams and American diner-style booth seating. Guests are first greeted with Beeton’s guide to Victorian dining etiquette, where one must always remove their gloves, never chew with their mouths open and not abstain from taking the last piece of food.

We can certainly get on board with the latter when the menu features American-British classics, ranging from hearty sausage rolls with plenty of Colman’s mustard and spit-roast chicken with homemade gravy, to crispy fried chicken in black treacle, macaroni cheese and the butcher’s burger. Adjacent to Mrs Beetons is The Village’s event space, aptly named The Writer’s Block, which accommodates up to 22 people for corporate meetings, family dinners and much more. 

Each guest of The Village is also granted the keys to their very own buggy for the duration of their stay, all of which are parked in a neat row seconds from the cottage doors. From here, you can access the rest of the estate at your leisure (just watch out for the speed bumps), whether that’s the main house to sample the Japanese grill, the dog-friendly rooms and The Garden House restaurant or, more importantly, visit The Coach House for its serene spa and delectable deli. Here, spa visitors, members and hotel guests are invited to sample artisan flatbreads (I’d thoroughly recommend the prosciutto and mushroom truffle) and superfood salads, before exploring the huge spa for an afternoon well spent. 

Behind the spa doors, you’re met with a barrage of vibrant ruby, navy and forest green tiled walls created by contemporary artist Brian Clarke, while light streams through the stained-glass windows. With six treatment rooms on offer, book a full-body massage with therapist Annie Brown (whose pregnancy-safe and holistic spa products are available to buy at the counter) to unload those new year stresses, before taking advantage of the sauna, jacuzzi and outdoor heated pool. Open to guests from dawn ‘til dusk, it steams away whatever the weather – and was even enticing on a 1°C January afternoon. 

It’s nigh impossible to get bored here. Post-spa, we escort ourselves back to The Village on our trusty buggy, passing Beaverbrook’s tennis, padel and badminton courts on the way, while the rest of the 470-acre playground invites guests to take up horse riding and clay pigeon shooting. So while The Village has solved Beaverbrook’s capacity problem, the expansion of the estate – and specifically what it can offer discerning travellers during even a short stay – may leave guests with another conundrum: so much to do, so little time. 

Rooms at The Village start from £600 per night, visit beaverbrook.co.uk

Read more: London hotels to book for Valentine’s Day