CHECKING IN: LE MANOIR AUX QUAT’SAISONS, A BELMOND HOTEL
It was a cold and gloomy afternoon in February when the invitation from Le Manoir arrived in our inbox. Having been on our hotel bucket list for years, we were thrilled with the idea of visiting such a world renowned hotel (plus the thought of having a Spring countryside escape to look forward to did wonders for our winter blues). Fast forward to an otherwise unremarkable Monday in May and we excitedly headed off toward Oxford, bound for what would be an enchanting experience.
setting the scene
Hidden away in the Oxfordshire countryside, at the end of a stone path lined by over 1000 lavender plants, sits Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, A Belmond Hotel. This charming 15th century manor house hotel was opened in 1984 by Chef extraordinaire Raymond Blanc and has since become a world class gastronomic haven.
The setting is truly special, as we arrive flowers and herbs perfume the air thanks to the seemingly endless acres of gardens that surround the manor. Smartly dressed staff are at hand to cater to the whim of guests lazing on the terrace and a sense of quiet luxury is obvious in every detail. It’s late Spring when we visit and the world is lush and green, but as the name suggests, we can predict this charming getaway would be a delight in all seasons.
OUR ROOM
Le Manoir has 32 individually-designed rooms, 16 of which are suites, all inspired by the travels of Raymond Blanc. Each room has been passionately crafted to a theme and the level of detail is something we hadn’t ever experienced before. So much so that even the plants in the gardens at the front door and the scent of the in-room soap is tailored to match the individual themes.
Our home-suite-home for the stay was “Blanc de Blanc”, a white on white one bedroom garden suite inspired by a lavish party Raymond once attended at Versailles. Along with a bed big enough to get lost in, there was a leafy private terrace and airy dining and lounge area, plus a spacious marble bathroom complete with rainfall shower and the coveted ‘TV in bath’ situation (that made 3 TVs in total for anyone counting at home). The minimal colour palate and natural textures made the suite feel serene and inviting and we whiled away the majority of our stay enclosed behind our little garden gate.
THE RESTAURANT / LE MANOIR’S CROWN JEWEL
Just a year after first opening in 1984, the restaurant earned 2 Michelin stars and has (very impressively) managed to retain them for over 30 years since. With a farm-to-table focus legendary chef Raymond Blanc has created a haute cuisine destination as a well earned a reputation as one the best restaurants in England. Most dinner seatings are guests only and we hear any lunch dates that are opened to the public are snapped up months ahead.
During our stay we sat down to the 7 course tasting menu, paired with wines chosen from Le Manoir’s 600 bottle wine cellar. We were so impressed not only with the presentation and taste of the food but also the service from a knowledgeable but still friendly team. The whole experience felt like a special dance, coordinated perfectly from the pre-dinner cocktails right through to tea in the lounge afterwards and will no doubt be the highlight of most guest’s stays.
THE GARDENS AND SUSTAINABILITY
If the restaurant is Le Manoir’s crown jewel then the gardens are it’s beating heart. During our visit a team of passionate gardeners could be seen at work around the estate; planning, planting and tending the myriad of lush gardens and orchards. But beyond being postcard perfect in appearance they are also a hugely practical addition to the hotel’s day to day running and include over 2 acres of organic kitchen gardens and a state of the art compost system which helps the hotel achieve their “zero landfill” policy. A lot of the garden ends up on plates in the restaurant each day and it’s obvious to see the passion the whole team has for the connection between the gardens and restaurant.
Admirably the hotel is actively dedicating itself to sustainable luxury and we noticed little ‘green’ touches everywhere. From the home grown flowers throughout the hotel to the sensor lighting and little fabric bag in our room to take home any unused soap.
*Daily garden tours are available and give guests an in depth look at the everything from the orchards, kitchen gardens and mushroom valley, to the Japanese and English water gardens.
GETTING THERE
The hotel sits within the Village of Great Milton in Oxfordshire and can be reached from Oxford in about a 30minute drive or London within about 1hour30mins. Alternatively, direct trains run frequently from London to Oxford and take less than an hour.
As always with Taxi services in the English countryside it is best to book in advance for our journey.
GOOD TO KNOW
The restaurant is a lovely chance to dress up for a special meal so pack your glad-rags for the evening but your wellington boots for a walk around the gardens.
The village of Great Milton is small but still charming if you fancy a walk but don’t want to venture too far from the hotel. Theres also a pub if you plan on staying a few nights and want to eat a meal away from the manor (check opening times before your visit)
The hotel also run cookery and garden classes which would be lovely to tie in with a stay
We suggest taking the garden tour on your first day so that you can better appreciate the restaurant dishes during your meals
Leaving Le Manoir was a genuine wrench and it was a place that made us feel so truly welcome. Our stay felt far too short and we already eagerly await a return visit!
Simon and Jen
We were invited guests of Le Manoir, but as always our thoughts and opinions are our own
