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You are here: Home / Restaurant / Out of London / Review: The Beaufort at Ellenborough Park

Review: The Beaufort at Ellenborough Park

January 11, 2014 by Fiona Maclean 8 Comments

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Last Updated on December 12, 2016 by Fiona Maclean

Fine Dining in Fine Style at Ellenborough Park:

Ellenborough Park - Exterior

I love historic houses.  Those, like Ellenborough Park Hotel, transformed from their previous lives into luxury hotels offer a unique experience.  Originally the Baronial Hall Southam House, it is now a stunningly refurbished and comfortable country house hotel, near Cheltenham Spa in Gloucestershire.  More of that later,  I was fortunate enough to enjoy a short stay there recently as a guest of the hotel.  I had no great expectations, although I’d been told the fine dining restaurant had three AA rosettes, I wasn’t sure whether I’d be invited to eat there or in the informal brasserie.  And, in any case even if you place store by Michelin stars or AA rosettes, the proof of any pudding always is in the eating…

Ellenborough Park - Canapes

Dinner started with some little canapes filled with hummus, sun blush tomatoes and pine nuts and with a creamy apple sage and parma ham mixture.  Oh, and some very unusual delicious spiced pistachio and raisin bread that was almost cake like in texture.

Ellenborough Park - Amuse Bouche

Then on to a a cream of cauliflower soup topped with a truffled crisp.  Lovely, perhaps a little light on truffle but perhaps a better amuse bouche for that.

Ellenborough Park - Artichoke Mousse 2

Throughout the meal my wines were matched for me so perfectly that by the next morning I made a point of asking the name of the sommelier who I’d chatted to a little throughout the evening.  Clio Giudici joined Ellenborough Park from Gidleigh Park in Devon and Lower Slaughter Manor in Gloucestershire.  I particularly loved her obvious enthusiasm.  The first wine was a Verdicchio 2012 from Colle Stefano, from the Marche region of Italy.  A minerally, citrussy white wine that worked really well with my starter of warm artichoke mousse, with truffled mushroom fritter, artichoke puree and wild mushroom dressing.  The tiny crisps were morsels of delicate artichoke.  The whole mixture beautifully presented and a wonderful light dish to begin the meal in ernest.

Ellenborough Park Fillet of Beef

I probably shouldn’t have picked the roast Hereford cross beef fillet as my main course, another dish with a truffle sauce, but I am glad that I did.  In fact the focus was firmly on the beef, succulent, tender and perfectly cooked to order (rare).   For me the potato and parsnip puree was the weakest element and just a little dry but nicely tangy with horse radish .  I loved the creamy watercress puree that accompanied the meat.  Wine was a 2011 Clau de Nell cabernet franc biodynamic DOC Anjou wine, with subtle earthy undertones.  I was suprised to be offered a biodynamic wine and talked a little more to Clio who is clearly a passionate champion.

Ellenborough Park - Carpaccio of Pineapple

There are three dessert options on the menu and I could easily have chosen any of them.  I bravely selected what sounded like the least sinful, the carpaccio of pineapple with sesame seed brittle and salted caramel and cashew nut ice cream.  But I was easily persuaded into accepting a small taster of the pink grapefruit baked alaska with dark chocolate and Mandarine Napoleon brandy sauce.

The carpaccio was lovely, elegant and delicate with fine slices of dehydrated pineapple like a lace collar topping the pretty presentation.

Ellenborough Park - Baked Alaska

And, the ‘small taster’ turned out to be a full sized baked alaska which I failed dismally to finish despite all my best efforts to indulge myself (I think I might just have managed all the chocolate sauce!)

Ellenborough Park Baked Alaska 2

All perfectly accompanied with a small glass of dessert wine, I really enjoyed the meinklang pinot blanc 2008 eiswein  from Burgenland Austria.

An excellent experience with immaculate service complementing the beautifully presented and well balanced food.  All of course, in the perfect setting of the grand dining rooms at Ellenborough Park with original fireplaces, wood panelled walls and painted ceilings adding to the sense of place.

Ellenborough Park The Beaufort

Dinner in the Beaufort is £45 for two courses or £55 for three.

The Beaufort
Ellenborough Park
Southam Road
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL52 3NJ

Filed Under: Out of London, Restaurant Tagged With: Fine Dining

About Fiona Maclean

London based freelance writer and marketing consultant. I edit London-Unattached.com and write for a number of other publications. With a music degree and a background in marketing across many sectors, my passions include all types of music, food, restaurants, wine and travel

Comments

  1. Mary @ Green Global Travel says

    January 16, 2014 at 10:20 pm

    Oh wow. Every bit of that looks amazing! Thank you for sharing this little adventure with us.

    Reply
  2. Jess @UsedYorkCity says

    January 14, 2014 at 7:58 pm

    Transformed historic homes are some of my favorite places to travel to and eat in as well, Fiona! There’s just a charm about it that I can’t seem to find in newer places…and all this food looks divine!

    Reply
  3. lisa prince says

    January 12, 2014 at 7:46 pm

    i love it when they present meals like this it makes it more lovely to eat once you have pushed the unedible parts a side x

    Reply
  4. Janey says

    January 12, 2014 at 1:20 am

    Wow – what a lovely place to have a meal. That Baked Alaska makes my mouth water! 🙂

    Jane

    Reply
  5. Hannah Staveley says

    January 12, 2014 at 12:21 am

    That place looks amazing and the food wow .

    Reply
  6. Amy says

    January 11, 2014 at 11:31 pm

    What a beautiful place, and all the food is gorgeously plated and photographed!

    Reply
  7. Joanna Sormunen says

    January 11, 2014 at 10:29 pm

    The place look amazing! So historical and stylish. The food looks divine also. I hope I get the chance to try it out some time!

    Reply
  8. Dr Wixy says

    January 11, 2014 at 10:23 pm

    It all looks absolutely beautiful and scrumptious. I’m shocked that the price was not much higher. Thank you so very much for sharing.

    Reply

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