Best hotel for couple’s long weekend away

JonW

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3,259
Right then - time for stage 2 of planning, and I’m now after some restaurant recommendations from locals who know Bath well.

We have just booked Lucknam Park for a long weekend at the beginning of Feb (Thursday - Monday) and are going to eat in Bath on Saturday night... On the Friday we are going to be in the Hywel Jones restaurant in the hotel, so don’t really want fine dining two nights in a row. However, if there was a great tapas place, small plates, or casual Mediterranean / Lebanese / Greek / french bistros, etc that would be perfect...

So, where is good to eat in Bath?

Also, if any one knows a decent local car service / taxi company that would be great as well? I want to book a car to take us into and out of Bath on Saturday evening so we can both have a drink...
 

Ewan

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6,757
Can’t go wrong with the Ivy. Though before the rugby this coming Friday evening I’ll be eating in the White Hart, which is good pub just outside of Bath (10 min walk to the ground).
 

Contigo

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Linthwaite house in the lakes , stunning.
Russels of Broadway (Costwolds)
Queensberry, Bath, lovely.
Savoy, nice but a little Chintzy.

Have you seen the series The Trip on BBC 1 with Coogan and Brydon. Check series 1 which includes Hipping Hall and also the stunning Inn at Whitewell. Well worth a watch as all those are 5 star including L'Enclume in Cartmel.

Jon can you narrow it down to a region?
 

Contigo

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There is a Tapas bar call Pintxo (the Basque version of Tapas and far better imo) which I hear good things about.
 

Ewan

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6,757
Avoid the Ivy, it's a chain now and is just so flipping commercial it's unreal. Every large town now was one, it's a joke.
True enough. But doesn’t stop some of them being good, the Bath one being a case in point. Sometimes reliable is what I want, as opposed to the hit-and-miss of a more hipster place, invariably run by two old school buddies, one of whom can cook a bit (on a good day).
 
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6,001
I've had enough of the Ivy chain, disappointed in York, Covent garden (x2). Overpriced and not great
Sorry Ewan no offence
 

bigbob

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8,952
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!

Took the family to Lucknam for Christmas, brilliant hotel.
 

CatmanV2

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48,547
This place is decent:


One of the most extraordinary experiences. I won't be hurrying back though. Totally not because I didn't enjoy it, but because there are plenty of places (from experience) where the food is within a hair as good and the cost is a lot less. Plus, in most cases, we find them more accessible. You have a different, less formal relationship with the staff. Claude Boisi at Bibendum was case in. Literally half the price, but a truly lovely evening.

Very glad we did The Manoir, though :)

C
 

AP1971

Junior Member
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5
- gleneagles in Scotland, great service, very good spa, few restaurants (including a 2 michelin star), and various activities (from golf, to off-road driving). Less then 1 hour from Edinburgh airport

- Adare Manor in Ireland, as above but better. Only problem, over 2 hours driving from Dublin airport or just over one hour from Cork