Impeccable manors... visits Hampton Manor, a country retreat just south of Birmingham
YOU can’t beat good manors. And Hampton Manor, a boutique countryside retreat where the rooms, food and service are all exceptional, is very hard to beat.
From the moment we walk through the imposing doors of this gloriously grand Gothic mansion, nestled in the chocolate-box village of Hampton-in-Arden south of Birmingham, we know we’re in for a treat.
The spectacular light fitting in reception gives a big clue to the sumptuous decor that is a feature throughout.
All 15 of its individuallystyled bedrooms have the wonderful wow factor that’s a must in this type of establishment.
Owners James and Fjona Hill and their eager young team have breathed spectacular new life into a country house built in 1855 by Sir Frederick Peel – son of Bury’s greatest export after black pudding, reforming prime minister and police pioneer Sir Robert Peel.
We stay in the Maria Henrietta room, named in honour of the wife of King Charles the First, one of several noble characters with links to the Hampton estate whose history dates back eight centuries before the Peels made their mark.
It’s certainly a room fit for royalty, with a breathtaking William Morrisinspired pastoral frieze taking up one wall and a deep six-foot bath framed by a giant bay window at the end of the king-size bed (don’t worry, we’re a floor up and there are modesty-protecting curtains).
Luxury furnishings – I don’t think I’ve seen so many high-end cushions in one place outside John Lewis – adorn the main chamber and soothing teal paintwork extends into a stunning shower room housed in an adjoining tower.
You can pamper yourself with full-size bottles (a literally refreshing change from the commonplace miniatures) of high-end toiletries from 100 Acres Apothecary, or work up a sweat by making use of the in-room map of walks around the 45 acres of grounds and beyond.
You’ll certainly want to work up an appetite because the food is as glorious as the accommodation – the hotel’s restaurant, Peel’s, is already mentioned in the Michelin Guide and it can’t be far away from earning a coveted star.
After perusing the menu over drinks next to a log fire in the grandiose Parlour (where you can also enjoy afternoon tea), we opt for the four-course tasting menu accompa- nied by a flight of wines – for the hungry souls there’s a seven-course version or you can go a la carte.
The four courses actually turn out to be double that with miniature predinner snacks of sardines on toast, an amuse bouche of celeriac soup and pre-course appetisers adding to a tastebud-tickling experience.
We’ve been lucky enough to have eaten in Michelin-starred restaurants and this is as good as any – all the better for the absence of pretentious foams and smoke and eccentric combinations of ingredients.
The dining room is beautifully-lit and boasts a magnificent mix of wood panelling, wildlife scenes and leather-topped tables.
The atmosphere is relaxed and jovial, even on a busy Saturday night.
The staff, who are resplendent in country- style jackets and waistcoats, clearly enjoy working here, which has to be a good sign.
We feast on a selection of small but beautiful dishes: freshly-baked bread with beef butter; smoked salmon with caviar; beetroot with goat’s cheese; octopus with black garlic; Wagyu beef with potatoes and gravy (previewed by cube- shaped ‘pie’ of beef cheek); peach mousse, and a show-stopping dessert built around a homemade recreation of the filling of an Aero bar.
The four main courses are complemented by various glasses of red, white and dessert wines, with the reasons behind each perfect pairing explained by the resident expert.
The end of dinner doesn’t mean the end of the night – you can keep the drinks flowing in Fred’s Bar where a cocktail craftsman will create anything you desire.
The manor, which also offers spa treatments including massages and facials, is a perfect place to unwind or enjoy a romantic weekend away.
You can even spend the biggest day of your life here, with a range of wedding packages on offer.
It is an ideal base from which to explore Birmingham or nearby Shakespeare country and is only a short drive from the shoppers’ paradise of Solihull. Hampton-inArden boasts a couple of pubs (we had a nice dinner and drinks at the Franco-English White Lion) and a handful of shops. The only possible downside to Hampton Manor is its proximity to the flight path for Birmingham Airport.
But once you’re inside you hardly notice the planes as you’re transported to a haven of relaxation.
This really from heaven. is manor