There is something quietly radical about choosing croquet as your sport of the season. In a summer dominated by thunderous serves at Wimbledon and the roar of stadiums hosting the World Cup, the gentle arc of a mallet, the satisfying click of ball against hoop, and the unhurried pleasure of a well-manicured lawn feels almost subversive. Entirely, unapologetically refined.
Grantley Hall, the five-star Yorkshire estate that has quietly established itself as one of England’s most distinguished luxury retreats, has recognised something the rest of us are only beginning to catch up with: croquet is having a moment, and it deserves to be celebrated properly.
The hotel has launched a new experience, Clicquot and Croquet, developed in partnership with Veuve Clicquot. The result is an afternoon of leisurely competition, effortless socialising, and elevated indulgence, set against the backdrop of Grantley Hall’s immaculate grounds on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.
A Partnership Written In Bubbles And Sunshine
The pairing of Veuve Clicquot and croquet is not simply a marketing exercise. It is a meeting of two deeply complementary worlds. Both carry a sense of heritage, of occasion, of a certain knowing pleasure in doing things properly. Veuve Clicquot, with its instantly recognisable yellow label and centuries of prestige behind it, has long been synonymous with celebration, sporting elegance, and the kind of effervescent joy that feels made for long summer afternoons. Croquet, meanwhile, carries a rich tradition of garden-party glamour, country-house wit, and a competitive spirit wrapped in the most civilised of settings.
Together, at Grantley Hall, they form the centrepiece of what is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about summer experiences in the north of England. Guests taking part in Clicquot and Croquet are invited to take to the hotel’s sweeping lawns for a friendly game, accompanied by a curated picnic of seasonal dishes prepared by the estate’s kitchen team. A bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne is, naturally, part of the arrangement. Some things in life simply should not be negotiated away.
The picnic draws on the finest local Yorkshire produce, a decision that speaks to Grantley Hall’s broader philosophy of celebrating the extraordinary larder that surrounds it. The Yorkshire Dales, visible across the grounds from the hotel’s lawns, are among England’s most celebrated pastoral landscapes. The produce they yield, from artisan cheeses and cured meats to seasonal vegetables and heritage-variety fruits, gives the kitchen an exceptional canvas from which to craft a genuinely memorable spread.
38 Acres Of Possibility
Grantley Hall sits within 38 acres of landscaped grounds, and it is difficult to imagine a more fitting stage for the revival of this most elegant of pastimes. The estate commands the kind of quiet magnificence that feels almost theatrical in its beauty. Rolling lawns give way to mature woodland, while the honey-stone façade of the hall itself provides a backdrop of understated grandeur that no set designer could improve upon.
As a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, a collection that represents fewer than 400 properties globally and demands the highest standards of luxury, service, and distinction, Grantley Hall has built its reputation on offering guests experiences that feel genuinely extraordinary rather than merely expensive. The Clicquot and Croquet launch fits naturally within that approach: it is an invitation to slow down, to connect, and to inhabit the afternoon with a sense of playful purpose.
The hotel itself offers 47 beautifully appointed rooms and suites, five restaurants spanning a considerable range of culinary styles and ambitions, and what is widely regarded as one of the most advanced hotel spas in the United Kingdom. It is a destination that rewards those who arrive with the intention of staying a while, and the addition of a croquet experience only enriches the case for doing so. For those drawn to the idea of refined wellness experiences, Grantley Hall’s spa offering is equally worthy of attention.
Why Croquet, And Why Now?
The timing of Grantley Hall’s Clicquot and Croquet launch is astute in ways that go beyond obvious seasonal logic. Heritage and old-world glamour have reasserted themselves with considerable force across popular culture in recent years. From the global appetite for period drama to the resurgence of interest in traditional craft, tailoring, and artisanal food and drink, there is a clear and growing desire among discerning consumers for experiences that feel rooted, considered, and genuinely pleasurable rather than merely novel.
Croquet speaks directly to that appetite. It is a game that requires skill and strategy. Do not be misled by its genteel reputation. But it wears those qualities lightly, inviting conversation and laughter without demanding the kind of intense focus that precludes enjoyment. It is competitive without being aggressive, and it looks, it must be said, wonderfully photogenic on a sun-drenched Yorkshire afternoon.
There is also something to be said for the deliberate pace of the game. In an age of relentless acceleration, of notifications and deadlines and the permanent hum of digital demand, an activity that invites you to stand on a lawn, mallet in hand, glass of Champagne nearby, and simply play. That is not nothing. That is, in fact, quite a lot.
The Grantley Arms: Where The Competition Continues
For those whose competitive spirits refuse to be quieted by the final hoop, Grantley Hall has another option. The recently opened Grantley Arms, the hotel’s own country pub, offers an ideal setting for a post-match drink, whether in celebration of victory or commiseration after a narrow and entirely disputed defeat.
The Grantley Arms brings a warmth and informality to the estate that perfectly complements the grandeur of the hall itself. A country pub done properly is one of England’s great contributions to civilised life, and the Grantley Arms appears to understand this instinctively, offering the kind of convivial atmosphere and well-chosen drinks that make the ideal landing spot after an afternoon on the lawns. It is the sort of place where the afternoon’s croquet rivalries can be relitigated at length, where friendships are deepened, and where the day extends itself in the most agreeable fashion.
A New Chapter For Country House Luxury
What Grantley Hall has achieved with the Clicquot and Croquet experience is something that the best luxury hotels understand how to do and the rest merely aspire to: it has taken something familiar and transformed it into something that feels genuinely special. Croquet is not a new invention. Veuve Clicquot is not a new discovery. A picnic on English grass in summer is not an untested concept. But the particular alchemy of this experience, the quality of the setting, the calibre of the Champagne, the expertise of the kitchen, the sheer scale of those Yorkshire acres, produces something that transcends its individual parts.
It is also a reminder that luxury, at its most considered, is not about the extravagant or the excessive. It is about the quality of attention brought to an experience, the thoughtfulness of its construction, and the genuine pleasure it delivers to those fortunate enough to enjoy it. An afternoon of croquet on the lawns of Grantley Hall, glass of Veuve Clicquot in hand, a picnic of exceptional local produce spread before you, the Yorkshire Dales shimmering in the middle distance. That is luxury as lived experience, not performance. Much like the handcrafted seasonal celebrations at Annabel’s, it is the precision of execution that elevates the familiar into the truly memorable.
Plan Your Visit
The Clicquot and Croquet experience is available to guests at Grantley Hall, situated in Ripon, North Yorkshire. The estate encompasses 38 acres of landscaped grounds, 47 rooms and suites, five restaurants, and one of the UK’s finest hotel spas. For reservations and further details, visit www.grantleyhall.co.uk.
