Le Manoir or ???

[Bullett]

Gidleigh is another obvious choice.

It's the Mrs 40th in September so I need something special, nice hotel and great food. Distance not too important but say up to 2 hours from Reading area. Her favourite meal ever was atthe Waterside inn.

Can only really stay away for one night though. Happy if the hotel and restraunt are not co-located but close (short taxi ride).

Budget is around a grand.

[Puggit]

We did Le Manoir via taxi from Reading. It was fabulous and I couldn't pick faults, but having visited the Fat Duck too, I was slightly disappointed

[tog]

Whatley Manor? Two star, near Malmesbury. I haven't been yet, but I hear good things from friends who have.

http://www.whatleymanor.com/

[pugwash4x4]

The vineyard at Stockcross

Brilliant food when we went 18 months ago- not quite up to Hestons standards but not a milliaon miles off- John Campbell really konws his stuff.

Hotel is a lot of fun as long as you don't take yourself too seriously- its a bit "footballers wives", but oddly seems to work very well- mainly because everything is fitted to a very high standard. Rooms are lovely anyway.

best of all its close enough to Reading not to be a chore to get to.

[mike325112]

pugwash4x4 said:

The vineyard at Stockcross

Brilliant food when we went 18 months ago- not quite up to Hestons standards but not a milliaon miles off- John Campbell really konws his stuff.

Hotel is a lot of fun as long as you don't take yourself too seriously- its a bit "footballers wives", but oddly seems to work very well- mainly because everything is fitted to a very high standard. Rooms are lovely anyway.

best of all its close enough to Reading not to be a chore to get to.

John Campbell has left the vineyard - its also lost its star(s?).

I loved Gidliegh whwn I went last year great place and wonderful food, even had the pleasure of meeting Mr Cains!!!

Edited to add - could you not get the train into London and stay in a hotel for the night?

Edited by mike325112 on Wednesday 10th March 09:35

[pugwash4x4]

mike325112 said:

pugwash4x4 said:

The vineyard at Stockcross

Brilliant food when we went 18 months ago- not quite up to Hestons standards but not a milliaon miles off- John Campbell really konws his stuff.

Hotel is a lot of fun as long as you don't take yourself too seriously- its a bit "footballers wives", but oddly seems to work very well- mainly because everything is fitted to a very high standard. Rooms are lovely anyway.

best of all its close enough to Reading not to be a chore to get to.

John Campbell has left the vineyard - its also lost its star(s?).

Edited by mike325112 on Wednesday 10th March 09:35

fooking hell- didn't know that, when did that happen? scratch that recommendation then!

[Bullett]

The Vineyard was a choice but as it lost it's star I've ruled it out for now.

London would be a possibility but we did the Soho Hotel + Lindsay House when we got engaged. I would be looking at Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road or Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester

Would Paris or Bruge on Eurostar + Hotel and Food be viable? Anyone done that and have any ideas.

[Rude-boy]

Bullett said:

Would Paris or Bruge on Eurostar + Hotel and Food be viable? Anyone done that and have any ideas.

Yes but you would blow a good size chunk out of the budget on the travel and hotel alone. If you are planning the evening you have in mind cattle class on the chunnel just isn't going to cut it.

[ascayman]

waterside inn.

[Justman]

My fiancee took me to Le Gavroche for my 30th in December. Absolutely amazing!

[mike325112]

Bullett said:

I would be looking at Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road or Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester

I'm taking the Mrs to to hospital road in June for her 30th - cant wait! Alain Ducasse has now gone up to 3 stars too so it must be at the top of its game.

[Bullett]

ascayman said:

waterside inn.

Been there, done that.

Rude-boy said:

Bullett said:

Would Paris or Bruge on Eurostar + Hotel and Food be viable? Anyone done that and have any ideas.

Yes but you would blow a good size chunk out of the budget on the travel and hotel alone. If you are planning the evening you have in mind cattle class on the chunnel just isn't going to cut it.

Fair enough, UK it is.

mike325112 said:

Bullett said:

I would be looking at Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road or Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester

I'm taking the Mrs to to hospital road in June for her 30th - cant wait! Alain Ducasse has now gone up to 3 stars too so it must be at the top of its game.

Exactly, done the Fat Duck and Waterside Inn, just had GR to go and we get another 3 star. RHR is one of the few Ramsay places we've not been too so I think I was looking to move away from him this time.

Justman said:

My fiancee took me to Le Gavroche for my 30th in December. Absolutely amazing!

I'll take a look, thanks.

Edited by Bullett on Wednesday 10th March 13:38

[Justman]

No problem mate. It definately exceeded my expectations, food and service. Here are some websites of interest.

http://www.le-gavroche.co.uk/
(There is a video on there of Michel taking you around the restaurant.)

http://www.michelroux.co.uk/

[arun1uk]

Justman said:

No problem mate. It definately exceeded my expectations, food and service. Here are some websites of interest.

http://www.le-gavroche.co.uk/
(There is a video on there of Michel taking you around the restaurant.)

http://www.michelroux.co.uk/

I'd second that. Went 2 weeks ago and I'm dying to go again!!!

[Jamesf288]

Bullett said:

The Vineyard was a choice but as it lost it's star I've ruled it out for now.

It lost its second star, not only star.

Have a look at the Harrow at Little Bedwyn aswell, also 1 Star; just down the road from The Vineyard.

[tango2]

mike325112 said:

pugwash4x4 said:

The vineyard at Stockcross

Brilliant food when we went 18 months ago- not quite up to Hestons standards but not a milliaon miles off- John Campbell really konws his stuff.

Hotel is a lot of fun as long as you don't take yourself too seriously- its a bit "footballers wives", but oddly seems to work very well- mainly because everything is fitted to a very high standard. Rooms are lovely anyway.

best of all its close enough to Reading not to be a chore to get to.

John Campbell has left the vineyard - its also lost its star(s?).

I loved Gidliegh whwn I went last year great place and wonderful food, even had the pleasure of meeting Mr Cains!!!

Edited to add - could you not get the train into London and stay in a hotel for the night?

Edited by mike325112 on Wednesday 10th March 09:35

John's gone to open The Coworth Park Hotel (http://www.coworthpark.com/) near Windsor due to open in the Summer, so it should be a great experience to go there - I'll certainly be visiting, the Vineyard was great.

[tomw2000]

mike325112 said:

Edited to add - could you not get the train into London and stay in a hotel for the night?

Edited by mike325112 on Wednesday 10th March 09:35

If the OP can make it to London, I'd strongly recommend the Connaught. Stayed they last week (went for friend's birthday) and did lunch there. The rooms are spot on and the lunch we had was very good - so suspect dinner menu would be cracking too.

I've eaten at le Manior and would also strongly recommend it. In fact the friends we went there with, loved it that much, they're getting married there in June - so another excuse for lunch

Interesting to see the Vineyard has lost a star. I did have it down as one to try.

+1 on Hospital road also if you've not been.

[Bullett]

Great tips, thanks all. I think I'm going to try La Gavroche as a 1st choice as it keeps coming up on here and when I've spoken the foody friends, so will also check out the London Hotel recommendations.

[lauda]

tomw2000 said:

mike325112 said:

Edited to add - could you not get the train into London and stay in a hotel for the night?

Edited by mike325112 on Wednesday 10th March 09:35

If the OP can make it to London, I'd strongly recommend the Connaught. Stayed they last week (went for friend's birthday) and did lunch there. The rooms are spot on and the lunch we had was very good - so suspect dinner menu would be cracking too.

I've eaten at le Manior and would also strongly recommend it. In fact the friends we went there with, loved it that much, they're getting married there in June - so another excuse for lunch

Interesting to see the Vineyard has lost a star. I did have it down as one to try.

+1 on Hospital road also if you've not been.

I thought that the Vineyard only lost its stars due to a change of chef during the year and the guide having insufficient time to assess the operation under the new chef, hence no rating this year.

I went there for lunch in early February and the food was top notch - easily worthy of a star, possibly two. Also the new chef had one star at his last place so is clearly going to be aiming high.

Surprised to hear people dismissing the place just because it didn't rate in the guide this year - Michelin is not be all and end all as far as good food is concerned. Did anyone watch the progamme on BBC2 last night in which the latest 3 star place, Alaine Ducasse at the Dorchester, received a fairly savage kicking from the critics?

[mike325112]

I'd read a few journo's and public reviews that the Vineyard was poor now - I wanted to go there but dismissed it. Although I would always take any review about anything with a pince of salt.

I do see your point on the Michelin guide. There was an intresting piece in the Times food supplement yesterday discussing the programme on Michelin. One of the points of which stuck in my mind was "who would you rather have reviewing your food a journalist or a trained inspector"? I have never had a bad meal at a Michelin starred restaurant (although I'm sure one day I will have), I think that the pressure of keeping a Michelin star should ensure more concistency. Its not the be all and end all though - We have all eaten wonderful foor at non starred restaurants.