Somewhere across the verdant acreage, the grounds end and the rugged wash of the Isle of Wight waves begins. But before you take the steps down to Villa Judapa, you’ll want to be detained by the delights of an English garden seemingly hewn from a Balearic villa.
Palm trees sway above the bay. On a summer’s day, you could walk the geometric grounds and imagine yourself preparing for chickpea, chorizo or paella. The barbecue station is ready for your BBQ to sizzle and the choice is yours.
For al-fresco drinkers and diners, the terrace table seats 18 and sits at the head of a long, keyhole-shaped pond. The blue horizon, bedecked with ships and gulls, lies enticingly beyond.
Walk off any excesses beyond the garden gate, along the cliff path and down to the sandy, Blue-Flag beaches. Take a swim or follow the coastal path from Sandown to Shanklin. At Villa Judapa, the draw of the gardens and the turn of the tides seem as undivided as the centuries.
Slip back to a time when the well-off lived well, when jazz spiced the air and swing swung the national mood. The art-deco movement was symmetrical, indulgent and exuberant. It’s alive and well at Villa Judapa. Immerse yourself in a world of stained glass, oak panels and decadent drawing rooms.
Get giddy in the gaudy and geometric living spaces. Take in the sunrise by day and illuminated bay by night in the upstairs sun room with its sliding picture windows. Retiring for the night is a pleasure, as you walk the stained-glass hallway and follow the magnificent staircase to the galleried landing.
Before that, you can choose your gathering places. Light the logs in the drawing room, break out the cards or games, or just chat by the firelight. The downstairs lounge comes with squishy sofas and a flood of light through the stained glass. Get together and get reacquainted over drinks. Or just stare at the views.
Villa Judapa’s vast spaces, tall rooms and elaborate elegance hark back to a time long gone when the well-heeled were on the up. Put on some jazz, break out the cocktails and tap into the national mood.
Villa Judapa is self-catering but not as you know it. The range kitchen is choc-a-bloc with conveniences and set fair for mucking in and preparing multi-generational dining.
Get everyone together around the 22-seat dining table and pop a cork or two. Discuss the day, make plans for tomorrow. On sunny days, take the doors into the sunroom and invade the garden for al-fresco dining in the seaside air. Alternatively, follow the rambling geometry of the grounds and take a picnic by the ponds.
If you’d rather put your feet up than turn your hand to cooking, whistle up our chef and hostess and enjoy everything from an afternoon cream tea on vintage china to a special dinner.
Or maybe you’d prefer to dive into our delicious drop-off meals? Just heat, serve and relax. Special event? Ask about our cakes.
You’ve six bedrooms to squabble over, and the master offers the suite life par excellence. Flexibility is key here – day beds and pull-outs abound.
Downstairs is the wheelchair access twin bedded room with wheelchair access to outside and en-suite wet room with toilet, additionally the Morning Room has two single day beds and can be a seventh bedroom if you wish.
Take the sweeping staircase to the galleried landing and five doubles that take your breath away. Two come with an additional single; one with an additional single bed and pull-out single bed; one with en-suite shower room with toilet.
All bedrooms have TVs, so you can flake out over a film. All the upstairs bedrooms have sea views, with three having access to the upstairs sun room with its sliding picture windows. The cavernous master suite, with its stained-glass windows, geometric beauty and acres of floor space, looks like only tuxedos and tiaras could do it justice. Don’t worry: PJs are fine.
