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As soon as we turned into
the entrance to Weston Manor Hotel we were immediately
hit by the beauty of the house, which is steeped
in history, is large enough to be imposing, yet
not so grand as to be unwelcoming. A warm greeting
awaited us on our arrival into the grand hall
by one of the reception team. And we can most
passionately say that this friendly smiling attitude
was demonstrated to us at every opportunity when
ever we met a member of staff during our stay.
Our room for the night, was beautifully decorated, and presented us a
perfect home-away-from-home feel. The décor was in keeping with the
16th Century Manor, but with the modern bathroom facilities you would
expect. You can even lie in the bath & admire the gardens! Our room
was somewhere in which you can relax, rejuvenate and refresh.
Before dining we took a stroll around the house, to have a snoop at some
of the historic rooms. They all have their own unique character, whether
it be burnished oak panelling, exquisite ornamental plasterwork, rich
fabrics, extraordinary antique furniture or superb views over the gardens.
We were amazed at just how peaceful it is here, whether you’re in the
house or in the gardens. We make this statement purely because the
house is so conveniently located to the A34 & M40 Junction 9 that you
would expect some traffic noise, but there was none to be heard.
Dining: We took pre-dinner drinks in the lounge bar, which is quite modern in
comparison to the rest of the hotel but very comfortable. We spent quite
a time browsing the menu as everything sounded so delicious. In the end
we decided to select different flavours for each course to really appreciate
the most of what was on offer.
On the front page of the menu there was an introduction from Vicky
Newitt - Weston Manors Chef de Cuisine. “In writing this menu my aim is
to offer a well balanced and exciting variety of dishes using the freshest
local ingredients. I hope you enjoy.” We can safely say that after
sampling Vicky’s menu she has achieved her aim.
After ordering we were escorted through to the most stunning baronial
dining hall. The tables look beautiful and the linen was crisp & fresh. Our
waiter offered us a selection of warm, flavoured home made breads to
accompany our wine and starters, which were all delicious and you just
wanted to try each one! To begin we sampled the, Seared Hand-dived
King Scallops with Chorizo, Essence of Basil and Roasted Capsicum and
the Crab Cakes with Avocado Salsa, mixed salad leaves. They were both
skilfully presented, and the flavours were just amazing. To follow we
chose the Pan fried Halibut, Beetroot & Orange Salad, New Potatoes and
the Roast Rack of New Season Lamb, New Potato, Aubergine Caviar,
Spinach Puree and Red Wine – Balsamic jus. Again the presentation was
beautiful & everything was taken into account, colour, aroma & most
importantly flavour. The Lamb was cooked slightly pink and just melted
in your mouth & the Halibut simply came alive with the rich flavours of
the Beetroot and Orange Salad. To finish we settled on the Berry Trio of
Iced Raspberry Parfait, Strawberries in Pink Champagne Jelly,
Blackcurrant Sorbet and a selection of Fine Cheese from the well stocked
trolley. The intense flavours from the Berry Trio were so incredible it was
very difficult to decide which one to eat first …. or should I say finish first!
The Weston Manor Wine list is very extensive, & offers a good selection
for all pockets.
As it was such a beautiful evening we sat on the terrace to have our
coffee and delicious chocolate truffles. They should remind you in the
front of the menu to save room for the chocolate truffles before ordering…
as they are to die for!
After our meal, we took an amble in the beautiful gardens, which extend
over several acres. Here we found feature statuary, immaculate lawns
and a profusion of shrubs. In a secret walled area we came across a very
enticing swimming pool, had we been wearing the right “suits” and not
just eaten a delicious meal we truly would have been tempted to take an
evening dip, but instead we opted for the dryer sport and tried our hand
at a game of croquet! I feel we supplied an hour of entertainment for
some of the other guests; as we were not sure of the rules but had plenty
of fun!
After all this excitement we decided to pass on sitting quietly in one of the
splendid lounges and headed to the comfort of your luxuriously appointed
bedroom and simply relax. Weston Manor really is all about that cosy
homely feeling, but with a few of life’s little luxuries thrown in for good
measure.
We would really love to keep Weston Manor as our secret retreat and not
tell anyone about it …. But as the teams here work so hard we feel that it
is only fare that we share our thoughts with you, and hopefully you will
follow our lead and go and experience this perfect combination of luxury
country house living and city chic.
Reviewd by Tracy Mead
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