Help me find a nice restaurant/country house hotel

[tomw2000]

Looking to take adavantage of collective wisdom please.

Wife's birthday next week. I want a nice place to go to for a good meal and a stay over.

I live in a village near sunny Grantham, so am near the A1. I'd prefer it to be less than two hours drive away.
I want somewhere good that we've not tried before (so not, hambleton, le manior, Sat's, len clume, le champingon de sauvage, winteringham fields, Devonshire Arms). Open to all suggestions.

Doesn't have to be michelin starred (although is preferred), MUST have good wine list.

Chewton Glen? But maybe too far way....

Thanks in advance.

[chuck_ster]

Chewton has always been pretty epic, though there isn't much in the direct vicinity to walk to outside the grounds. A long way away from you however.

Pennyhill park has an EPIC spa, a good (if a little unfocussed for me) Michelin starred resturaunt and lovely big rooms. The service is pretty impersonal though.

Hotel 41 in London has incredible service, no 5* facilities(like pool/spa/food) but it's my wifes favourite Hotel in England despite that. Obviously opens up all of London to dine in.

Lucknam Park and Whatley Manor great, but a little far again.

Fredericks Hotel in Maidenhead is a good base for Bray...10 min cab away from Waterside or Duck. Nice spa and service. Suprisingly cheap for the facilites ..saves you money for Waterside food.

Vineyard at Stockcross is great for food and wine (especially new world) but a little impersonal sservice.

I love food and a good weekend away.
ETA
If you did trek down to the Chewton, Alex Aitken at the Jetty is a great chef. He was at Le Pousiin and earned a star there, messed up and kinda forced out of it when transofrmed into Limewood (I've yet to stay there but looks nice). Jetty in Christchurch therefore a nice destination, especially for lunch(but the Christchurch Harbour Hotel is a bit of a dive)

Edited by chuck_ster on Tuesday 12th June 12:56

[tomw2000]

thanks for reply. We've considered Lucknam Park and Vineyard at Stockcross previously.

Vineyard is @3hr drive away. Might go for it.

[tomw2000]

Holy thread resurrection...

Not wanting to start a new thread, but have a very similar requirement, and would like to draw on the collective wisdom:

Couple of mates and my wife and I are looking for somewhere to go for a Saturday in November.
I wanted to go to the Devonshire Arms which I am huge fan of - but they (like many other places) insist on a 2 night stay over a weekend, and it's not that kind on gig really.

So I am after the following:

1) good restaurant - doesn't have to be Michelin starred, but needs to be good - must have good wine list
2) must be a nice 'country-ish' location/venue...nice sitting rooms/bars/lounges with open fires
3) must be within 2 hours (maybe up to 3 for a place really worth it...) - I live in Lincs (near Grantham)
4) must allow ONE NIGHT STAYS...
5) be nice to be able to take dogs (not a deal breaker)
6) must not be massive...prefer smaller venues, so not somewhere that has 900 rooms

I fancied Gidleigh Park - but too far away or Chewton Glen - min 2 night stay....

here are some of the places I have done:

1) Hambleton Hall
2) Vineyard @ stock cross
3) Le manoir
4) L'enclume
5) Hoste Arms, Morston Hall Norfolk (not done the Victoria since it was done up)
6) Winteringham Fields
7) I am sure they are more but my memory is failing...

Help appreciated.

[blueg33]

Chewton Glen was my immediate thought. Best UK hotel I have stayed in

[tomw2000]

blueg33 said:

Chewton Glen was my immediate thought. Best UK hotel I have stayed in

Reallly fancy it too. But 2 night min stay at weekends.

Maybe Gravetye Manor or Buckland Manor - anyone been to either?

[blueg33]

Buckland Manor is down the road from me. I have eaten there but not stayed. Its very nice but quite old fashioned, eg tie for dinner.

If this area is close enough for you then also look at

Ellenborough Park

and a bit cheaper but nice nevertheless is

Dormy House at Broadway.

Went to Ellenborough Park 2 weeks ago for £250 worth of afternoon tea. The service wasn't great but having discussed matters with the manager I am confident that it was a one off and the issue has been addressed.

[Jobbo]

blueg33 said:

Dormy House at Broadway.

I drove past this a month or so ago and it appeared to be undergoing some substantial renovation works - seems to be open again but I bet it's no longer such good value.

[anonymous-user]

Don't laugh - The Grove, in Watford/Rickmansworth.

Fabulous hotel, lovely grounds (inc. superb world class golf course), very good restaurants, but also very pricey.

Usually a few real A-listers staying over too..

[tomw2000]

Thanks for suggestions thus far. Dormy seems to be booked on that date. And Ellenborough has min 2 night stay.

Still currently pondering Buckland or Gravetye...

Will have a look at the Grove too. Although I think the golf course might exclude it from the list

[brissleboy]

Having the same problem about the 2 night rule at weekends myself... want to take my wife away for her birthday (spa focused then) and have babysitters arranged for the kids but most places insist on 2 days and we only have 1, surely we are not the only ones in this position? Limewood didn't want to know, what about Coworth Park, anyone been?

[blueg33]

Buckland is nice. You need a car to see the area though, the village is small.

If you like nice food and a more contemporary atmosphere, Russell's in Broadway is good (again I haven't stayed there just eaten, but friends who stay there like it)

Do you want a Spa style hotel eg Chewton Glen?

Otherwise, I am told that Lower Slaughter Manor is nice but can't vouch for it myself

[Mark.]

Stayed here last year for a night or two (can't quite remember now).
Smashing place with excellent staff and quirky rooms. Restaurant was very nice too with good selections of food/wine etc. Not sure if it's got the star though.
http://www.charltonhouse.com/

[escargot]

Rhinefield house hotel? http://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/hotels/rhinefiel...

[blueg33]

Jobbo said:

blueg33 said:

Dormy House at Broadway.

I drove past this a month or so ago and it appeared to be undergoing some substantial renovation works - seems to be open again but I bet it's no longer such good value.

The have spent millions creating a new spa etc. I had an invitation to go and look that I haven't taken up yet. Apparently its been pretty busy since they re-opened.

Just looked its £300-500 for bed breakfast and dinner for two. So its gone up a bit, but not by a huge amount

[schmalex]

Angela Hartnet's place in the New Forest http://www.limewoodhotel.co.uk/

We had our wedding reception there (under different stewardship). The location is superb and

[havoc]

Been a while since we were there (3 AA rosettes then), but we rather liked Middlethorpe Hall, on the outskirts of York.

Also heard good things about the Lord of the Manor in Lower Slaughter. Can also rate Le Champignon Sauvage, but obviously that's not a hotel.

Possibly not quite the same league, but the Hotel du Vin in B'ham is supposed to do good food...and there's some cottagey-type place in the Peak District I found on a search a couple of years ago...

[tomw2000]

Thanks for all the recommendations.

Realised I have stayed at Ellenborough

Harnet place looks nice. Full on the date I am after and some of the other places have the good old 'min 2 night stay if including a Sat' rule.

Will keep looking

[Gaspode]

How about Ludlow? Plenty of decent hotels and restaurants. We stayed at the Overton Grange. Nice rooms, lots of character, decent restaurant, good little swimming pool and spa.