Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, A Belmond Hotel, Oxfordshire

The setting was perfect for our little group’s celebration. We had a fabulous six-course lunch, and the service was outstanding. Thank you for making the day feel so special.

The room was the most beautiful we’ve stayed in, and the hotel grounds were lovely to wander around. Breakfast was amazing too, especially the raspberry cruffin. Our applause to the chefs. Monsieur Blanc, your staff are brilliant, every one of them. They’re a credit to you and add so much to the hotel and restaurant. Beautiful.

The garden tour was such a lovely way to finish our stay. Our guide, whose name I’m sorry I’ve forgotten, shared lots about Le Manoir’s history and the food they grow. We even visited the Japanese Garden and got to taste herbs and microgreens from the polytunnel. Our 10th wedding anniversary weekend felt magical from arrival to departure. The staff were cheerful, helpful, and made us feel special at every turn, from champagne on arrival to a goodie bag when we left. Nothing seemed too small or too much trouble. We stayed in the original Master bedroom overlooking the courtyard. It was spectacular and luxurious, with thoughtful details, including a handwritten anniversary card. The lemon drizzle cake from the restaurant kitchen was the best I’ve ever tasted, and they’d left cake boxes so we could take some home. Dinner was a highlight too. We chose the tasting menu, with eight or nine small plates that looked stunning and were full of flavour. The bread basket came around several times and was too good to turn down. We were so full by the end that we took the petit fours away and enjoyed them the next morning. The waiting staff were friendly, helpful, and knew the food well. Breakfast was a treat, with fruit, cheeses, meats, cereals, pastries, and breads laid out, plus a cooked breakfast packed with flavour. There was also a Bloody Mary Station and Chamgagne for anyone who wanted them. We also did the Birds of Prey Experience, which was outstanding. Clive and his wife were welcoming and knowledgeable. Clive was friendly and clearly passionate about the birds and his work. He seemed to enjoy our enthusiasm, showed us more birds and how he trains them, and helped us handle them and watch them fly back and forth. His bond with them was lovely to see. I’d recommend this experience to anyone. The time went far too quickly. This wasn’t an ordinary weekend away for us, and we’re grateful to all the staff at Le Manoir for making our 10-year anniversary so special.

The food was fine, though not spectacular, and nothing on the plates was especially jarring. We enjoyed the wines we chose and finished with a good whisky. Still, we asked for the service charge to be reduced because it felt like a few people had already checked out before the renovation. We were celebrating a birthday and chose the seven-course tasting menu. We skipped the preselected wine pairings because that would have been too much alcohol, and I preferred other wines from the general list. No one asked us which wines or menu options we wanted, even when a course offered a choice. The Sommelier then seemed to put down every wine we’d selected, despite them being on their own list. It was odd hearing someone criticize a Margaux and Montrachet from the establishment’s own list. If they think a vintage isn’t good, they should offer a better one. For comparison, we recently stayed at the Grove of Narbeth in Pembrokeshire. Its fine dining was better, and the sommelier was fun, witty, and engaging.