Bethnal & Bec. A luxury eco escape with your dog
Bethnal & Bec: 24 Hours, in this super dog friendly, uber cool, eco conscious retreat
We’d heard a lot about this place from the dog friendly community, so we thought we best go take a look for ourselves…
Arrival
Tucked away in the stunning Hertfordshire countryside, it was the kind of place that instantly made us feel like we’d escaped the chaos of everyday life — even though we were only there for 24 hours. Having travelled over 3 hours to get there it was a great relief to plug into the pre-booked EV charger. (Those that know, know!)
When you arrive, you’re greeted with a funky entrance hallway that really sets the tone and expectation for what’s inside. Bethnal (1 of 3 retreats) is a beautifully eclectic hideaway — it feels like stepping into a funky magazine that effortlessly blends urban cool with countryside tranquillity. A vibrant neon sign sets the mood against the bare plaster walls, tempting you to pour a drink, spin some vinyl and have a boogie around the kitchen (well it did us anyway). The open-plan, underfloor heated, interior of Bethnal is an exceptionally well thought out space. It packs so much in. Consisting of a bougie freestanding bath at the foot of a large, inviting bed - itself a statement thanks to its feature headboard and pendant lighting - a cute little wood burner (wood provided!), gorgeous sofa and footstool (with throws provided for puppa) and a well-equipped kitchen with honesty pantry and fridge. A sliding door to another room reveals a stunning double shower set-up, that evokes ideas of late morning amours moments (let’s just leave that there)
Sustainability
Chris and Vicky of Bethnal & Bec have made a real effort to showcase that a beautiful home-from-home stay can also promote sustainability. Their eco-ethos runs through the entire stay - from the wildflower meadow and beehive, water harvesting, use of upcycled furniture, through to their zero-to-landfill policy - but you could be forgiven for not noticing the eco angle and that’s credit to the way they’ve incorporated all these eco initiatives so expertly
Pawfect
Of course, we travelled with our little working cocker, Lola and she is our top priority on these furcations, so let’s speak about why this place is so great for them too…
Lola was greeted with her very own ‘amenity’ hamper — full of those useful things you can easily forget, such as dog shampoo, towel, poo bags, bowls and of course those delicious (according to Lola) gravy bones. More treats could be purchased from the honestly pantry which was another nice nod to Bethnal’s dogfriendlyness.
Patio doors and the scenic backdrop usher you and your dog outside to your private garden - perfect for dogs and we could breathe easy knowing it was secure. Attached to the private garden is the communal ‘paddock’ (no horses in sight) which is ideal for quick a ball chuck, frisbee session or good old sniff around. Conveniently, the paddock grants you to walks directly into the Hertfordshire countryside. As we only had limited time, we took a short walk to the windmill at Cromer and on our return, set about filling up that Jacuzzi bath and luxuriated with a bottle of fizz to the sound of Rumours by Fleetwood Mac. Our private garden also contained a small, heated-water, doggy shower which is an absolute god send after muddy walks - they’ve really thought of everything for those travelling with doggos in tow!
Evening and the morning after the night before
Later we headed off to a local pub; The Sword in Hand at Westmill. The walk was lovely and took around 1.5 hours, so we were more than ready for the beautiful food and refreshments on offer.
On our return to base, we had ambitions to stoke-up the fire pit, but it had dropped a little-chilly, so we opted instead to fire-up the wood burner, stick on some tunes, uncork another bottle and unwind indoors. There is no better sight than that of your contented dog snoozing in front of the fire, while you unwind with a night cap – or two! (from the complimentary Whisky and Gin decanters no less)
The next morning, after a lazy start, we cooked up our pre-ordered breakfast hamper in the well-equipped kitchen, swung open the patio doors, sat on the patio, filled our bellies and discussed when we might be able to get back again…
Summing up
Bethnal & Bec is a wonderful, quirky, gem of a place that invites you to relax, unwind and explore. A home-from-home with a funky, eco spin, oozing personality. It is ideally suited to those looking for a dog friendly getaway that does not compromise in the style stakes. You might even take home some sustainability tips that you could incorporate into your own home. It’s certainly got us thinking!
Dan, Leah, Lola
Bethnal & Bec, Nottinghams, Cottered, Hertfordshire, SG9 9PU
Instagram @bethnalanbec