Mrs Oscarmac is 40 this year.
Discussion
As the title suggests Mrs Oscarmac has one of the "big" birthdays this year and I would like to treat her to a special meal/night away. We live in Worcester and because of baby sitting arrangements can only do the one night away in July. Any suggestions for an outstanding meal and good place to stay within about 100 mile radius?
Meal and place to stay do not have to be the same. I have been considering Le Manoir for food but couldn't justify the price to stay there as as well! A separate party for friends and a present need to be budgeted for. Any suggestions gratefully received.
Thanks.
Meal and place to stay do not have to be the same. I have been considering Le Manoir for food but couldn't justify the price to stay there as as well! A separate party for friends and a present need to be budgeted for. Any suggestions gratefully received.
Thanks.
Le Manoir is a good choice, you don't have to stay there are plenty of good B&B's around the area to use instead.
Premature finish there.
Nottingham - Sat Bains Rooms on site, sort of heston flavour but more accessible and real, he did well on the Great British Menu and his tasting menu is excellent. Rooms were pleasant. I'd go back without a doubt.
Oakham - Hambleton Hall I did Sunday lunch here for my 40th, good food and service but a weird mix of old school formal service with very modern food didn't quite gel for me. Nothing wrong with either approach but I prefer all one or the other. I really enjoyed the food though, perfectly cooked and served.
Grantham - Harrys Place - Tiny and intimate (10 covers). Not been myself but my brother said it was brilliant. No rooms but plenty of B&B in the area.
Clipsham/Rutland - The Olive Branch - Lovely rustic pub serving brilliant local produce. Not fine dining but very good.
Premature finish there.
Nottingham - Sat Bains Rooms on site, sort of heston flavour but more accessible and real, he did well on the Great British Menu and his tasting menu is excellent. Rooms were pleasant. I'd go back without a doubt.
Oakham - Hambleton Hall I did Sunday lunch here for my 40th, good food and service but a weird mix of old school formal service with very modern food didn't quite gel for me. Nothing wrong with either approach but I prefer all one or the other. I really enjoyed the food though, perfectly cooked and served.
Grantham - Harrys Place - Tiny and intimate (10 covers). Not been myself but my brother said it was brilliant. No rooms but plenty of B&B in the area.
Clipsham/Rutland - The Olive Branch - Lovely rustic pub serving brilliant local produce. Not fine dining but very good.
Edited by Bullett on Thursday 14th April 10:09
There was a 'Le Manoir' thread here recently, saying not to bother staying etc. I'll try to find it.
You could try the Crazy bear down the road in Stadhampton, its only a 5 minute drive, so you could get a taxi back, it also has a nice bar for a drink on your return.
ETA: My advise is pretty much the same!
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
You could try the Crazy bear down the road in Stadhampton, its only a 5 minute drive, so you could get a taxi back, it also has a nice bar for a drink on your return.
ETA: My advise is pretty much the same!
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
leothetiler said:
lauda said:
Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham gives Le Manoir a run for its money from a quality point of view and is considerably better value for money. Plenty of nice places to stay in the area as well.
+1 
Its just about 100 miles 
http://www.lainstonhouse.com/EXCLUSIVE_HOTELS/the_...
My girlfriend took me there for my birthday last year, stayed in a junior suite and had dinner. The suites are excellent and the food is outstanding.
Can be a bit pricey depending on what you drink
The Grovesnor in the centre of Chester is also a very nice hotel, that is quite pricey though.
http://www.lainstonhouse.com/EXCLUSIVE_HOTELS/the_...
My girlfriend took me there for my birthday last year, stayed in a junior suite and had dinner. The suites are excellent and the food is outstanding.
Can be a bit pricey depending on what you drink
The Grovesnor in the centre of Chester is also a very nice hotel, that is quite pricey though.
The trick here is to absolutely wow her. Give her something to tell all her friends about and score you brownie points well into the next decade.
I'd go to London, jump on the Eurostar and head for Paris. You can take your own booze onto the train so when you arrive you're already two bottles of champagne to the good. Dump your bags in a cheap'ish hotel before going out to eat on the restaurant on the first floor of the Eiffel tower. Drinks, maybe a dance after followed by viagra-fuelled all night sex.
Train back lunch time and thence home to Worcester. You will be legend. Guaranteed hero status for years.
If you book canny you could do this for around £500 imo
I'd go to London, jump on the Eurostar and head for Paris. You can take your own booze onto the train so when you arrive you're already two bottles of champagne to the good. Dump your bags in a cheap'ish hotel before going out to eat on the restaurant on the first floor of the Eiffel tower. Drinks, maybe a dance after followed by viagra-fuelled all night sex.
Train back lunch time and thence home to Worcester. You will be legend. Guaranteed hero status for years.
If you book canny you could do this for around £500 imo
Just a little update. Opted to go to Lord's of The Manor on their pure seduction package. Champagne afternoon tea, bottle of champagne in the room, three course a la carte dinner and champagne breakfast. We went there with another couple as a complete surprise this weekend.
Food wise the place is stunning. The afternoon tea was a traditional selection to eat but the tea selection ran to 12 choices both traditional and more exotic. Dinner was a triumph I could have eaten everything on the menu. Presentation on the plate was stunning and it tasted just as good. There was an interesting amuse bouche and a very good, seemingly obligatory, pre dessert as well as what you order.
Downsides, not many and none are serious. The rooms in the new wing are smaller than I would have liked and quite surprisingly not air conditioned. The service was generally very good but lacked a small degree of finesse. Hard to put your finger on it, just something not as polished as would have thought. We chose one bottle of wine between four of us and went on to order another. The second bottle had not been in a wine fridge or seemingly cellar at all. If it was me, especially as it was a screw cap, if a party of four ordered one bottle I would anticipate them ordering another so would have been ready.
All in all a stunning location, brilliant food and a wonderful time that I'm sure Mrs Oscarmac will always remember. Many thanks for the recommendations they were greatly appreciated!!
Food wise the place is stunning. The afternoon tea was a traditional selection to eat but the tea selection ran to 12 choices both traditional and more exotic. Dinner was a triumph I could have eaten everything on the menu. Presentation on the plate was stunning and it tasted just as good. There was an interesting amuse bouche and a very good, seemingly obligatory, pre dessert as well as what you order.
Downsides, not many and none are serious. The rooms in the new wing are smaller than I would have liked and quite surprisingly not air conditioned. The service was generally very good but lacked a small degree of finesse. Hard to put your finger on it, just something not as polished as would have thought. We chose one bottle of wine between four of us and went on to order another. The second bottle had not been in a wine fridge or seemingly cellar at all. If it was me, especially as it was a screw cap, if a party of four ordered one bottle I would anticipate them ordering another so would have been ready.
All in all a stunning location, brilliant food and a wonderful time that I'm sure Mrs Oscarmac will always remember. Many thanks for the recommendations they were greatly appreciated!!
£380 per couple without wine at meal for a one night stay. We did manage to get it at a weekend for one night even though hotel policy is only to take bookings for two nights at the weekend. This may have been because we were a party of four.
Dinner normally £65 per head, guessing at £15-20 per head for tea, glass of champagne £8.00 x 2 (one at breakfast one at tea.). Bottle in room Laurent Perrier say £10-15 cost to hotel and breakfast of this quality as room service would have been at least £25 per head in London so all in all good value as well as being superb quality. Wine was all pretty much at a standard x3 mark up. Sommelier himself said so.
Dinner normally £65 per head, guessing at £15-20 per head for tea, glass of champagne £8.00 x 2 (one at breakfast one at tea.). Bottle in room Laurent Perrier say £10-15 cost to hotel and breakfast of this quality as room service would have been at least £25 per head in London so all in all good value as well as being superb quality. Wine was all pretty much at a standard x3 mark up. Sommelier himself said so.
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