With its stone mullion windows, limestone flooring, suit of armour and grand sweeping staircase, Manor Court is every inch an example of gothic architecture. The atmospheric surroundings feel like they're steeped in history.
But if you think it dates back centuries, you'd be wrong. The building is nowhere near as old as you might imagine. The property was built 22 years ago. The medieval features were put in by architect Hugh Frost, who originally designed it as his family home.
He and his wife Julie never set out to run a hotel - that happened by chance - but it has turned into a popular retreat for celebrities, international guests and anyone who enjoys a break in the lap of luxury. Manor Court is tucked away, down a quiet country lane in the hamlet of Thorpe, around four miles away from Newark. The plot of land was previously a pony paddock, which it turns out has an ancient burial ground beneath.
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Since starting as a hotel in 2010, Manor Court has welcomed a host of famous faces, including Elaine Paige, Kevin Keegan, Steven Gerrard, Michael Parkinson, female professionals on Strictly Come Dancing and Nottingham Forest players, Although a peaceful bolthole in the middle of nowhere, the hotel is actually very close to the A46.
"A lot of Americans, Japanese and Australians come and stay. I think they come and stay because we're in the heart of the country. We are quite central, we are lucky from that point of view," said Julie.
The reaction of guests on arrival is quite something. Julie, who ran a day nursery in Newark until 2009, said: "It has brought tears to people's eyes. There is amazement. People are surprised it's such a new building."
All of the guest rooms and suites at Manor Court have been designed by Julie, who has taken inspiration from something as simple as a beautiful piece of fabric, which has spiralled into the completed look.
Manor Court's six opulent bedrooms include the flamboyantly gothic King's Chamber, with its riot of plush plum, gold and pewter, decadently draped bed and luxurious gold leaf bath. The breathtakingly romantic honeymoon suite is richly draped in shades of champagne and silver with hews of gold and boasts an ensuite featuring a hand-painted slipper bath.
"On the top floor is a huge amount of reclaimed oak that came from Russian railway carriages," said Julie. "That was quite something. To get that quantity of reclaimed oak is near impossible - it just doesn't come in that quantity.
"All the metalwork for the lighting, furniture and staircases, of which there is three, came from the crow's nest at Home Brewery. The armour is from a collector. People get in touch with me to say they've got swords, I've got armoury, and this that and the other. I'm now after a ship's cannon but they are very difficult to find."
The baroque dining room's fireplace, believed to date back to the early 1900s, used to belong to a former Sheriff of Nottingham, and was recovered from his home in The Park. High-backed gothic style chairs in red material with Latin phrases and metal crowns that serve as tealight holders help to set the scene.
Julie, 63, said: "My husband designs properties anyway, he has designed houses for other people and we decided it was our turn so we actively looked for a plot of land and came across Thorpe quite by accident and decided that was it.
"I am all to do with the interior side of things. I've done one or two contemporary properties myself and while I like contemporary interior, I really love the medieval gothic style and back in the late 90s when we started building there was a bit of a gothic revival going on so that's why we decided to go down the route.
"We never set out to be a hotel. It was quite by accident. The owners of Eden Hall (day spa) got in touch and asked me if I'd be interested in doing the accommodation side for them - that's how it started, and then Belvoir Castle got in touch with me.
"I like meeting people. I love the fact that people are coming in from all over the world and I keep in touch with people. It gives me quite a buzz. It's a pleasure to fling the doors open and welcome people to Manor Court."
Guests are welcomed to the hotel with a glass of mulled wine in winter, or Pimm's in summer from their charismatic hosts and the hotel even has a private helicopter landing available.
The latest development is two two-bedroomed self-catering cottages called the Knight's Temple in the courtyard. Both have furniture, silks and drapes from Venice and Florence, open fireplaces and fully-fitted kitchens. One has a hot tub and the other is equipped with a 100in projector screen and Xbox. They are set to open around April.
Hugh, 66, originally opened East Bridgford Garden Centre before selling up, but remains a designer and has his own company, Hugh Frost Designs. His newest invention, which has government backing to go into production, is an environmentally friendly refrigeration system for transportation.
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