Best hotel for couple’s long weekend away

dickygrace

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Agree on Rudding Park. Swinton House near Masham is also supposed to be very good (though I've not stayed there).

Rudding Park is lovely but middle of the countryside and dear. My sister got married there and when I checked in they said £350 for a room, I said I was with the wedding party thankfully on the reduced rate. The response was that it was the reduced rate, it’s usually £370!! Good night, split the **** of my tux doing a somersault on the dance floor after a light ale or 3.
 

tokyomb

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264
I was going to suggest the Manor House in Castle Combe. I've stayed there a few times and enjoyed them all. My brother stayed there and at the Lords of the Manor in Upper Slaughter for his honeymoon and preferred the latter - so may be worth a look.

I wouldn't have put the Clive near Ludlow in anything like the same class, but it has had an expensive refurb in the last 18 months and I can certainly vouch for the food both there and in the Ludlow Kitchen (the cafe associated with the farm shop known as Ludlow Food Centre) - both regular weekend lunch stops for us. Others in that area that are good for food, include The Checkers in Montgomery (no longer Michelin starred, but run as a B&B and cafe - still serving very good (lighter) food) and The Coach House at Norbury (near Bishops Castle, home to the UK's oldest brewery) - although that has a change of chef coming up in the New Year - so will have to be revisited.
 

Scaf

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Take a look at Gara Rock, Salcombe


It’s a lovely hotel with decent restaurant and awesome location on the cliff edge.

It is remote though as it’s located on the other side of the estuary to Salcombe itself (there is little ferry) or you drive round.

warning !
This hotel is a poor approached down narrow lanes and my GT dragged it’s bottom a bit - with it though
 

zagatoes30

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JonW

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Thanks all,

Mrs W has decreed that she doesn’t fancy a city break, and doesn’t want to do a trip into continental Europe. Therefore, we’re looking for a luxury hotel, with good restaurants either attached or nearby, plus a decent spa and pool to laze by... somewhere relaxing and restful, where we can just chill and enjoy spending some time together instead of running around like blue arsed flies.

We are semi-regular visitors to Chewton Glen, so have discounted that. Clivedon is a definite maybe, as is Rudding Park (may be a bit northern for us maybe), or I really like the look of some of the places in Ireland (which would be fairly easy in terms of a flight and a transfer). I‘m pretty sure we have stayed in the Lords of the Manor before, so also a good one to think about.

Thanks for the suggestions, and happy to be of service to others for the future!
 

tokyomb

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If Rudding Park is too far north, then my other suggestion of Northcote (just outside the Forest of Bowland AONB) will be similarly so - but may be of interest to others.

Another suggestion (again without spa and pool), but offering great food, is Ynyshir - more of a restaurant with rooms, but a great place to stay for a relaxing night or two if you like the outdoors. Just south of Snowdonia National Park on the Dyfi estuary in west mid-Wales.
 

Ewan

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6,757
You might like Whatley Manor near Malmesbury. Excellent food and a lovely spa. Had my 50th there. Also hired their cinema for a private screening of the England rugby so I could watch it by myself, with cold beers, with no interference from the children etc. You and your wife could have a private screening of your favourite movie, a bottle of champagne, etc.

Or maybe Lucknam Park between Bristol and Bath. Again, very good food, and lots of other excellent restaurants in those two cities. We hired it for a family get-together between Christmas and New Year a couple of years ago. And they have horses, if you fancy a gallop around the estate.

In Ireland it has to be Ballyfin. I think it was voted the Best Hotel in the World when it first opened. Just glorious. Warning - it's not cheap!
 

safrane

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Agree with The Manor House at Castle Combe - We go most weekends for a meal or drink.

Luckham Park is also a great shout.

Barnsley House near Cirencester is also lovely.
 

JonW

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3,259
Thanks all,

Interestingly, Mrs W‘s research has also identified Lucknam Park as a strong recommendation , so think we will give that a try...

many thanks
 

safrane

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You could visit Castle Combe village from there in less than 20 mins or Bath in half hour... Christmas market is in too.

Oh and LP has stables if you want to take the horse. .. not much outside of the hotel though.
 

Hurricane52

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1,211
The Westbury and the Shelbourne in Dublin are both very good and there’s plenty to do for a few days in Dublin. A good friend is the manager in this excellent seafood restaurant as well just round the corner from the Shelbourne.

My missus has a 9pm reservation at Matt the Thresher tonight based on your recommendation. A pure coincidence that she’s in Dublin and I’m looking after the boys here in West Wales. Who’d have thought that SM would be more useful than Tripadvisor. Thanks Dicky.
 

dickygrace

www.richardgracecars.co.uk
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My missus has a 9pm reservation at Matt the Thresher tonight based on your recommendation. A pure coincidence that she’s in Dublin and I’m looking after the boys here in West Wales. Who’d have thought that SM would be more useful than Tripadvisor. Thanks Dicky.
Hope she has a good meal.
 

Goodfella

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One is safely assuming you’re a Maserati owner and as such is not brash despite having a pocket full of cash.

Arrive by Maserati at The Savoy, London

Or arrive by boat at The Waterside Inn, Bray.
 
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