Posh food and pretty places

It’s my 10th wedding anniversary this summer and so I’m looking to surprise Mrs Lunge with a night or 2 away and some good food.
Requirements are:
Michelin starred (or similar) food
Pretty, countryside based location
Ideally a restaurant with rooms
Within 2 hours drive of Birmingham

Go!!!!

Pentonbridge inn but probably above your 2hour limit. Bloody good though, good wine/beer and lovely rooms.

https://www.cowleymanorexperimental.com/

https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/uk/oxfordshire/belmond-le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons/about

Both fairly wallet denting I’d imagine

Push the 2 hr limit a bit and go to L’Enclume.  They have some lovely rooms scattered around various building in Cartmel. I think they do packages of dinner at L’Enclume, a room and breakfast at their other restaurant.

This is a nice place. I actually like just eating in the bar area. Often stop for a pint mid road ride.

The Hand at Llanarmon Hotel Review, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Wales | Telegraph Travel

Stunning countryside. Unfortunately not that much walking or running in the immediate location, but not far from a walk/run up Cadair Berwyn. Once you get away from Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfalls, Wales you may not see a single other person.

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, A Belmond Hotel | Raymond Blanc, Oxford Hotels is interesting. The food is good, but its a turn up and stay within the hotel grounds. Its great that you can walk around the garden kitchen etc. It is mega ££££ though, and almost slightly corporate too.

That Raymond Blanc one is amazing. Even just walking around the kitchen garden is fab.
During the meal I was sitting there thinking I could do with a bit more butter. The next thing a ninja waiter has snuck it onto my plate.
Made me realise that waiting is a proper professional job.

The Fox at Oddington near Stow on the Wold is very nice.
Starts at approx £300 per night B&B
It’s owned by Daylesford Organic so the food is very nice. There’s plenty to do in the local area too as it’s in the heart of the Cotswolds.

Possibly pushing the 2 hours mark, but The Star Inn at Harome is meant to be very good and in a lovely village setting on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors.

2nd vote for L’Manoir, You’ll need to book lots of time in advance though for one of the rooms.

2nd vote for L’Manoir, You’ll need to book lots of time in advance though for one of the rooms.

oh yes we had to book a year in advance !

Made me realise that waiting is a proper professional job.

Yep –  thats the difference IMO between a good food restaurant and one that really know their onions, its the very subtle service that can make all the difference.

Hambleton Hall ticks your boxes, stared, nice hotel, food uttar very good without being fancy and an hour and a half from brum.

Baslow hall in the peaks lost their star a couple of years ago but may have it back by now. Again lovely hotel (though I’ve not been in anything like recently) great location.

As above L’Enclume and rogan and Co a very good call too though a bit further to go.

Similar vein, black swan at old stead Abbey Inn at Byland and roots in York all Tommy banks. Abbey recently opened so not been yet but expect it to be very good. Accommodation packages at the swan /Abbey.

Long way to go but arguably the best restaurant I’ve ever been to is the raby hunt. Mucho costly though.

Moor hall near Liverpool also excellent though the countryside is less exciting.

I was a bit disappointed by the star at harome to be honest, don’t get me wrong, all good but not brilliant. Angel at Hetton would get my vote for though. Grantley hall is supposed to be excellent but I’ve not been, it is eye-watering.

I know I linked to it, an it’s getting some love here, but MrsIHN took me to Le Manoir for my 40th and we were both a little underwhelmed. Dunno why really, just didn’t really get it.

The French at the Midland in Manchester is probably the best meal I’ve ever had, but it doesn’t really meet the pretty countryside element of the brief.

Another one that is a bit over your two hour target but very much enjoyed The Black Swan a couple of years ago and would happily go back if it wasn’t for those (our) pesky kids.

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I know I linked to it, an it’s getting some love here, but MrsIHN took me to Le Manoir for my 40th and we were both a little underwhelmed. Dunno why really, just didn’t really get it.

I know what you mean. To me it had sold its sole a little and become a bit corporate. The food was good, but Ive had better elsewhere ! We also had the wine taster menu with the taster menu, we were a bit disappointed with it. The wines/drinks  just didnt appear to compliment the meal. unlike when we ate at The Man Behind the Curtain in Leeds where the wine taster menu completely made the meal

unlike when we ate at The Man Behind the Curtain in Leeds where the wine taster menu completely made the meal

Unfortunately the food and wine whilst very good couldn’t atone for the god awful website.

Don’t fall into the trap of assuming a Michelin star means excellence. It’s a strange system that rewards restaurants that aspire to have a star, and those seeking to add more stars. It’s no guarantee of a great meal.

Plenty of places were excellent before they were awarded stars and many more are excellent, don’t have a star and don’t want one.

Waterside at Bray on Thames would tick all your boxes. We really enjoyed the food there and would compare it favourably alongside Le Manoir. Michel Roux Jnr.

Don’t fall into the trap of assuming a Michelin star means excellence

This is very true, one of the most disappointing meals I’ve had was at the waterside in bray which I have to assume got all three stars on the back of its wine list.

One thing the stars should be though is an indication of consistency. They’re useful for travelling because it should be reliable and trustworthy.

I’m honesty their bib and plate are usually very dependable too – often more so for a not-an-occasion type dinner.

Waterside at Bray on Thames would tick all your boxes

Well there’s a cross post 😂

It’s 3 hours from Brum but the Angel at Hetton Michael Wignall’s food surpassed L’enclume and Moor Hall (Ormskirk) for me.

Waterside at Bray on Thames would tick all your boxes. We really enjoyed the food there and would compare it favourably alongside Le Manoir. Michel Roux Jnr.

+1

I popped the question to my wife there and we are already booked to go back for our 20th anniversary in a couple of years, stunning service and a lovely place.

Similar vein, black swan at old stead

Yep and good for countryside.

It’s 3 hours from Brum but the Angel at Hetton Michael Wignall’s food surpassed L’enclume and Moor Hall (Ormskirk) for me.

Just up the road from me. Didn’t realise it had got its star back. It was trading on its reputation for a long time. Have you been recently?

There are number of excellent restaurants in the Bowland area which might be a bit nearer to the 2 hour mark. Inn at Whitewell (also featured on ‘The Trip’ with Rob Bryden and Steve Coogan).

2 Hours on a good run up the M6 would get you to Northcote in Langho.

Have you been recently?

Just before covid or possibly the summer of freedom. They lost their star a number of years ago but traded on that for a while, closed for a few years then with nail bought it. Got a star in his second year (iirc)

Food was very good, especially the tomato thing I didn’t order because it sounded rubbish.

Have you been recently?

Last summer most recently

Pretty place: Falkland Arms, Great Tew, not a starred restaurant but worth a glimpse

I was a bit underwhelmed by Hambleton Hall and the posh one at the Midland.

There have been a few glowing media articles recently on the gastro-pub/fancy resto scene in the Ribble Valley in Lancashire. They’re a great option as they’re right next to the Forest of Bowland and easy access to the Yorkshire Dales.

e.g. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/jan/27/clitheroe-top-gastropubs-lancashire-uk

Re: Moor Hall, Mana, The French, Simon Rogan etc.

The first two in this list have challenging exec chefs like a mega-shouty Gordon Ramsay on steroids on a bad day. There have been several interesting pieces on Mana in the foodie press in the last year covering issues from dodgy CVs to in-house bullying and beyond.  I’m not sure I’d hand over my hard earned cash to either of those places.
The French was in the Simon Rogan group until he stepped back and Adam Reid took over (you might remember his amazing apple dessert from Great British Menu in 2016/7??). Rogan has L’Enclume in Cartmel and another place around the corner.

There are loads of options out there. If it was my cash I’d look at the exec chef and try to find out who actually owns/funds the restaurant – they all have millionaire backers or development companies behind the glitzy websites.  The notion that they are 100% focused on delivering moments of unparalled pleasure is fanciful at best. They are hardcore commercial enterprises. Some are amazing, some are not.

I went to L’Enclume and rogan and Co for my 40th. L’Enclume was an amazing experience, the service and paired wines especially stood out. There’s decent riding nearby too.

In Bray there are also Heston Blumenthal’s Hind’s Head (1*) and Fat Duck (3*) restaurants. Both are excellent.

The Fat Duck is getting a bit spendy these days*, and is mostly serving up dishes from the past 20 years rather than doing anything new. That said, it does mean it’s actually possible to get a table these days and if you’ve not had any of those dishes before then the experience is truly magical. The first time we went we both agreed that while it was the most expensive meal we’d ever had, it was also the best value. It’s that good.

The Hinds Head has been going from strength to strength over the years. When we first went we thought it a bit “meh”, but more recently we’ve found the food to be fantastic and the staff very friendly. Far better IMO than the Hand & Flowers (2*) in Marlow. During the COVID lockdowns the Hinds Head saved our sanity by providing “finish at home” menus which were just incredible (in both taste and value) and when we visited afterwards they gave us 10% off to say thanks for being loyal – so the absolute opposite of some of the more corporate Michelin-starred places out there.

Neither of the above have their own rooms but Bray is a small village and there are cottages and rooms available there, or failing that it’s a short taxi ride from either Windsor or Maidenhead.

* £300-350 per head, plus drinks and tip

Stow in the wold – for food the old butchers, probably not Michelin (*as I really enjoyed it and didn’t feel mugged) but it was imho (and gf who is much more foodie than me) among the best meals we’ve had (*same standard next time we visited) , lots of other places locally and a range of accom to make a weekend of it

We stayed at b- simply rooms, stow, which I’d highly recommend (bed only) but maybe not for you as it might not be upmarket enough.

Not sure it suits your current requirments, for travelling away to some-one nice, but close enough I’d recommend it for another time

Restaurant, Wedding Venue, Hotel, Country Pub

A massive recommendation from me for the Losehill Hotel and Spa at Edale in the Peak District. Food is not starred but very high quality about £300-400 for DB&B depending on room and time of year. We stayed in March and saving up for a return trip!
https://www.losehillhouse.co.uk

Also there are towns like Ludlow with a long established foodie reputation.

Maybe a nice hotel in one of those towns with plenty of eating out options will work?

2 star place with rooms on the west coast of Wales, just over 2hrs from Birmingham – this place is supposed to be v good Ynyshir

Cartford inn

Also there are towns like Ludlow with a long established foodie reputation.

On the whole I wasn’t that taken with Ludlow for food, we stayed at fishmore hall, the food there was good, but the town is self? Not so much.

this place is supposed to be v good Ynyshir

I’ve heard Ynyshir is good too, you’d hope so for the price mind.

Not sure about locations near you but having experienced it recently I’d suggest any meat eater experience Kobe beef done properly at some time in their life. Unreal.

Holy thread resurrection Batman:

Has anyone been to a nice country pub with rooms recently that does great food and drink and is not bonkers expensive?

Within 90 mins of Huddersfield too.

Guess who hasn’t done anything for his wife’s birthday…🤦‍♂️