NEWS FLASH - ARCHIVE:

"FIT FOR A QUEEN"

March 27, 2004

The Hundred House Hotel,
Shropshire
Kitsch factor: 8

Former medieval courthouse (with old stocks and whipping post outside) converted into a friendly, family-run, cosy old inn with 10 bedrooms, a gourmet restaurant and beautiful garden. Decor is a riot of English chintz with lots of pink, rosebuds and heart motifs a-go-go.

Most outlandish feature . . . Padded red velveteen swings chained to the rafters in the superior bedrooms.

Not so sure about the . . . stone teddy bear's picnic scene in the garden, and the proliferation of patchwork.

But definitely worth booking if . . . you're a foodie. Head chef Stuart Phillips, the son of owner Henry, is a Michelin Bib Gourmand and the combination of his skills and the adjacent herb garden make for delicious dining.