At the start of the month, we stayed for the weekend at The Manor at Weston-on-the-Green near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire. It was an indulgent, foodie weekend in opulent surroundings to say the least.
After arriving and settling into our room, we went for a little wander in the gardens, enjoyed a round of croquette (like any respectful Lord and Lady should) and then headed into Berties Bar for a leisurely tea, read of the papers and chat with Poppy, one of the Manors resident Labradors.
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| Our gorgeous bedroom right at the top of the hotel, look at our cute little door! |
We ate at the hotel, opting for the 5-course tasting menu from Executive Chef Tyrone MacConnell. Sat in the Baron’s Hall which dates back to Tudor times, it was a lovely meal in really special surroundings. Perfect for celebrating a birthday. You’ll have to excuse the pictures, it was low light so they are all a little in shadow.
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| John Dory with Beetroot |
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| Feather steak with kale and pomme puree |
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| Panacotta with pistachio and poached peaches |
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| Chocolate and cherries |
Overall, the food was of a nice quality although I wouldn’t call this a ‘5-course’ tasting menu as one of the courses was the amuse bouche. In reality, it was a 4-course menu and the portions were very small. However, the ambience was wonderful and the staff were friendly and professional. We can see where the Manor is headed and the chef is clearly trying to take it to the next level. With some crisp white china and some menu tweaks, they will definitely get there. They’re on the way up and I think if we returned next year it’ll be a whole different story.
Staying at the Manor at Weston-on-the-Green was like stepping back in time. We felt like we were staying in someones rather grand home rather than a stuffy old hotel. The public spaces were small enough to feel special, big enough not to feel like you had to whisper. All in all, for something a bit different and with a hint of luxury, I can’t recommend it enough. Rooms in the main room start at around £175 a night, the 5-course tasting menu is priced at £45.00 per person.