Aug 13, 2026 – 5.00amOutside, a gale is tearing through the Jamison Valley and over the ridge, throwing ornamental shrubs and native gums alike into a wild dance. Inside, Sydney songstress Lauren White is crooning into a mic as her fingers walk the strings of her double bass. Outside the temperature is plummeting towards zero. Inside, two generous fireplaces cast a jolly glow from either side of a spacious lounge filled with clusters of friends laughing, family quartets dining, lovers snuggling on the sofa ... It’s a Saturday evening at Lilianfels, one of the Blue Mountains’ oldest and grandest hotels. Only, it’s also now the youngest – after relaunching last month as the second property of Ardour Hotels & Estates, a newly minted brand with a clear-eyed ambition to become part of the social fabric of well-heeled Australian city dwellers’ lives.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Charis PerkinsLife & Leisure editorCharis Perkins edits The Australian Financial Review's weekly lifestyle liftout, covering the arts, fashion, design, travel, wine, fine dining, sports, motoring and more. Life & Leisure is published online and in the Friday and weekend editions.Fetching latest articles