What’s more reliably English than a warm summer evening spent outdoors with a drink in hand, good food on the table and live music drifting across the lawn?
Well you could add ‘sudden thunderstorm’ but at Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate, is bringing back Live from the Lawn, the Essex hotel’s open-air music series that has quietly become one of the season’s more enjoyable ways to spend a Friday night.
Set within 110 acres of parkland and gardens, the hotel swaps formality for festival spirit on selected evenings between until September, transforming its grounds into an alfresco stage where guests can settle in for sunset cocktails, supper on the terrace and a soundtrack that stretches long into the evening.
The appeal lies partly in the variety. One week might bring the laid-back saxophone sounds of Greg the Sax, another the Balearic energy of Lovelight DJ. Country, soul, Motown, jazz and crowd-pleasing party favourites all make an appearance across the summer programme, creating an atmosphere that feels more house party than hotel event.
Food plays its part too. The Terrace’s outdoor menu is designed for sharing and grazing, with dishes that suit long evenings outdoors: brisket bao buns, sweet chilli chicken, king prawns scented with lemon and herbs, and stone-baked pizzas arriving fresh from the oven. Seasonal spritzes and summer cocktails complete the picture.
For those reluctant to head home when the music ends, Down Hall is offering special overnight rates throughout the series, making it easy to turn an evening on the lawn into a relaxed countryside escape.
In an age of increasingly elaborate summer experiences, Live from the Lawn succeeds by keeping things refreshingly simple. Good music. Good food. A beautiful setting. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate
Matching Road, Hatfield Heath
Essex CM22 7AS
T: 01279 731441 | www.downhall.co.uk
IG: Down_Hall | Facebook: DownHallHotel | TikTok: Down.Hall.Hotel
- There is no entry fee for the Live from the Lawn events, though advance table reservations are recommended to secure a spot on the lawn.
- Larger groups of five or more will be asked for a £15 deposit per person, fully redeemable against food and drinks on the evening.
- The full lineup is available here: www.downhall.co.uk/upcoming-events/live-from-the-lawn
- *To book a room at the discounted rate, guests should use the code DH02 when booking on the phone or online. Only available when booked directly with the hotel.