• Home
  • Cocktails
  • Culture
    • Dance
    • Opera
    • Theatre
    • Outdoor
    • London Sights
  • Featured
    • Books
    • Home Delivery
    • Recipe Kits
    • Giveaways
    • Homes and Gardens
  • Recipes
    • Meat
    • Soups
    • Lunch
    • Starters
    • Mains
    • Sides
    • Desserts
    • Cakes and Sweets
    • 5:2 Diet Recipes
    • Fish and Shellfish
    • Meat
    • Poultry
    • Vegetarian
  • Restaurants
    • Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia
    • Bermondsey, Borough and London Bridge
    • Chelsea
    • Camden
    • City of London
    • Clerkenwell
    • Covent Garden
    • Docklands
    • East London
    • Kings Cross
    • Knightsbridge
    • Kings Cross
    • Kensington
    • Marylebone
    • Mayfair
    • Oxford Circus
    • Oxford Circus
    • Paddington
    • St James
    • Soho
    • South Bank
    • South London
    • The Strand and Embankment
    • North London
    • Victoria and Pimlico
    • West London
    • Out of London
    • Miscellaneous
  • Travel UK
  • Travel Europe
    • Belgium
    • Croatia
    • Czech Republic
    • First Visit
      • Bulgaria
      • Netherlands
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Slovenia
    • France
    • Germany
    • Greece
    • Italy
      • Sicily
    • Ireland
    • Portugal
    • Spain
    • UK
  • Travel Other
    • Caribbean Travel
      • Antigua
      • Barbados
      • Grenada
      • St Lucia
    • Ecuador
    • Egypt
    • India
    • Qatar
    • Mexico
    • Oman
    • Rodrigues and Mauritius
    • Sri Lanka
    • USA

London Unattached - Luxury London Lifestyle

Luxury London Lifestyle for Metropolitan Singles and Couples - food, travel, restaurant reviews - London Unattached

You are here: Home / Travel / UK / The Manor Country House Hotel

The Manor Country House Hotel

June 27, 2019 by Madeleine Morrow Leave a Comment

Tweet
Pin
Share
Flip
Share

Last Updated on June 27, 2019

To the Manor Born – An Oxfordshire Escape.

The peaceful country welcome that greets the visitor to The Manor Country House Hotel belies the fact that it is a mere hour’s drive from noisy North London. While the weather was not much different – frequent rain showers in June – the atmosphere was a world away as we turned into the gravel drive that leads up to the hotel.

Manor Country House Hotel, entrance

Situated in Oxfordshire, near the village of Weston-on-the-Green, the hotel is a perfect place from which to venture forth to explore some of the highlights of the area. Blenheim Palace is 10 miles away in Woodstock, while Waddesdon Manor is a 15-mile drive. Both provide a good day out amidst the splendour of a bygone age. A visit to Oxford is easily accessed too. For those who enjoy retail therapy, the shopping village of Bicester is literally down the road and the hotel has a variety of packages on offer.

The Manor Country House Hotel is itself from a bygone age and one of the pleasures of staying there is dipping back into its past history. This may not be of prime concern to the many wedding parties that frequent the hotel, but I like a bit of dynasty with my dinner. On arrival at the hotel, I noticed a pamphlet entitled History of Weston Manor which related the story of the house and the area since the Domesday Book.

Manor Country House Hotel gardens

Our bedroom overlooked the front of the hotel and the parking area with many trees and much greenery. I threw open the two sash windows to enjoy the fresh country air. The room itself – a standard double – was simply decorated and ticked all requirements. A comfortable bed, two small armchairs, a few lamps, desk and bedside tables.  There was plenty of cupboard space and enough room to move about comfortably. The tea making facilities in the wardrobe included a kettle and a couple of biscuits, tea bags and sachets of instant coffee plus long-life milk. Guests can ring down to reception for fresh milk to be delivered if preferred. Another cupboard housed a fan, ironing board, iron and hairdryer along with two fluffy, white bathrobes. Should guests prefer a more elaborate affair, rooms with four-poster beds and some suites are also available. 

Manor Country House Hotel bedroom-

The bathroom had a small bath and over bath shower. Ebony soap and shampoo were provided along with fluffy towels. The decor was rather dated but the refurbished bathrooms in some of the other rooms perhaps indicate that this too will have its turn to be modernised. 

Manor Country House Hotel swimming pool-

The rain stopped long enough for a relaxing walk around the grounds. We came across the hidden swimming pool which looked very tempting if only it were a few degrees warmer and a bit less wet. It would be wonderful to sit around the pool on a hot day. Other sports include tennis and croquet but once again the weather was not on our side. I did have a photo opportunity though in the stocks, an Elizabethan artefact we found in the middle of the main lawn.

Manor Country House Hotel, stocks

The grounds are full of mature trees as well as contrasting manicured hedges, topiary and even a sunken garden. I can quite understand why the venue is popular for weddings as there are so many beautiful spots for photographs as well as expansive lawns for marquees. When the weather is favourable, there are benches aplenty to sit on should one wish to rest or read in the garden. There is also a sunny terrace on which one can enjoy tea alongside the garden.

Standing in the gardens one gets a marvellous view of the house which is both historic and handsome. It gives the visitor a good sense of what a country manor house looked like and remains authentic both inside and out.

Manor Country House Hotel, gardens-

The core of the house is sixteenth century, with many surviving Tudor features including the vast fireplace in the entrance. Sitting on a Chesterfield sofa beneath the moulded ceiling and examining the fireplace with Classic FM playing in the background was most soothing. In the corridor, there is a fireplace dating back to the 15th century.  The Baron’s Hall dates back to the medieval period when it became the seat of the Abbot of Osney’s bailiff, who held his courts there. The house remained in family hands for centuries until 1917 when the last Bertie heir was tragically killed in World War 1. It passed through several owners until becoming a privately-owned hotel in 1983.

Manor Country House Hotel, minstrels gallery

The most outstanding feature of The Manor Country House Hotel is surely the medieval Baron’s Hall. Measuring 42 feet x 19 feet, it is an impressive and imposing space. It is wood panelled with a minstrel’s gallery accessed via a spiral staircase.  I had a close-up view of the wooden beams holding up the fifteenth-century roof and the expanse below.

Manor Country House Hotel, Baron's Hall-

We booked a table for afternoon tea which was served in the lovely Morning Room and we were seated overlooking the garden. The cobalt blue walls contrasted with the fresh look of the tables laid with white napery and napkins. Attractive sugar bowls sat on the table and soon teapots arrived with a tasty mix of Assam and Darjeeling. The teapots were refilled on request. We sampled both the Afternoon Tea and the Cream Tea.

Manor Country House Hotel, cakes-

Along with a selection of finger sandwiches and dainty cakes, I was delighted to find that there were really good scones. The quest for a decent scone has become a bit of an obsession as I have eaten through a fair number of afternoon teas where the scones disappoint. These did not. They were light, fluffy, warm and tasty.

Manor Country House Hotel scones for afternoon tea

Before dinner, we popped into Bertie’s Bar – named after the Berties, Earls of Abingdon, one of the landowning families who owned The Manor House in the eighteenth century. It is a snug space with wooden tables and mismatching furniture which gives it a relaxed atmosphere. Meals can be taken here rather than the more formal dining areas.

Manor Country House Hotel, Bertie's Bar-

I had hoped that we might eat our dinner in the splendid surroundings of this historic space but it was not open for dinner perhaps due to there having been a lunch celebration a few hours earlier. Dinner was served in the Drawing Room, this one painted a pleasing grey, offsetting the white framed windows overlooking the gardens.  The menu comprises three starters, mains and desserts. While we perused the options, we ordered a bottle of Andean Vineyards Malbec – Mendoza, Argentina.

Manor Country House Hotel, Malbec

From the starter selection, I chose soup of the day which was cauliflower with truffle oil while my companion chose potted crayfish. The soup arrived hot, just the way I like it, and had a good flavour along with a scattering of chopped chives and a few slicks of truffle oil adding a luxurious touch. The potted crayfish was served with ribbons of pickled cucumber and dill. The dish was rather lacked flavour, tasting of dill but little else.

Manor Country House Hotel, cauliflower soup-

My companion’s main course choice cheered him up – an 8 oz rib eye steak served with triple cooked chips, Béarnaise sauce, portobello mushroom and tomato. The steak was cooked to order and tender, the sauce was well executed and the chips large, chunky, crispy and rather moreish. My main was equally satisfying. The waiter assured me that the Chicken and Rabbit Tarragon Pie was one of the house favourites and I was grateful for her advice.

rabbit and chicken pie for dinner

A moulded, dome of puff pastry – very pretty indeed – was accompanied by a quenelle of creamed mash potato and a wedge of beautifully grilled Hispi cabbage. The pastry once opened, revealed a delicious filling of cubes of tender chicken, pulled rabbit meat and tiny dice of carrots. The tarragon flavour shone through, assisted on its way by a jug of sauce. I cleaned the plate.

I was really rather too full for dessert but pressed on nevertheless, tempted by the sound of lemon posset, raspberry compote, shortbread and meringue. A glass coupe was filled with a layer of lemon posset in which nestled a shortbread biscuit. On top of this was a layer of raspberry compote and this, in turn, was finished off with a gorgeous swirl of meringue that had just had a short grilling with a blowtorch. It resembled a Baked Alaska perched on a lemon posset and was such a lovely sweet end to the meal that I managed to eat most of it.

Manor House Country Hotel, Lemon posset-

My companion got to work on the Selection of British Cheese – a plate of 4 slices of cheese – Driftwood, Tunworth, Farmhouse Cheddar and Bath Blue. These were accompanied by a small pile of interesting crackers, a puddle of chutney, a couple of slices of membrillo and a small stick of celery.

The service was friendly and attentive which must be said for the whole experience at The Manor Country House Hotel – from the warm reception to the staff throughout.

The next morning breakfast was served in the Drawing Room. A beautiful, long wooden table with a distinguished history (or so it seemed to me) took pride of place down the centre of the light-filled room. On it was an array of cereals in boxes, muesli in packets, dried fruit, fruit salad, nuts, yoghurt, pastries, a plate of charcuterie and one of sliced sandwich cheese.

Poached eggs with a runny yolk at the hotel

Tea and coffee were brought to our table along with an impressive menu of hot breakfast items including eggs every which way as well as the Full English. After such a large meal the previous night I was not especially hungry but managed a single poached egg on sourdough with avocado and tomato. A few cups of tea later it was time to reluctantly pack up and check out.

Manor Country House Hotel bicycles

As we drove down the tree lined drive to the exit, I noticed two lovely bicycles at the gate, an advert for the weddings in which The Manor Country House Hotel specialises. Unless we renew our vows, a wedding is not on the cards, but if I was asked whether I would like to return to the hotel I would have to reply, ‘I do’.

Manor Country House Hotel 
Northampton Road
Weston-on-the-Green
Bicester OX25 3QL

Looking for something similar in a different part of the UK?  We loved Highbullen in Devon, a country house hotel with an 18 hole golf course!  Or how about the charming Peat Spade Inn in Hampshire, perfect if you want to indulge in a little fly fishing.

 

Disclosure:  We were guests of The Manor.  All content is editorially given.

Filed Under: UK Tagged With: Boutique Hotel, Country house hotel, Oxford

About Madeleine Morrow

Madeleine is a freelance journalist and writer for print and digital media. She focuses mainly on food and travel but with a lifelong love of the arts – especially visual arts, theatre and literature – she enjoys writing reviews for London Unattached. Madeleine has lived half her life in South Africa and the other in London which has widened her experiences of multiple cultures, languages and cuisines. Having grown up in a time when travel was restricted to local holidays, she has spent her adult life fulfilling a desire to see the world. She is a die-hard Francophile – speaking French helps tremendously – but put her anywhere and she is happy. Long haul destinations on the bucket list include China and Japan.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Follow Us

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

About London-Unattached

  • Enquiries/PR
  • London Unattached Contributors
  • London Unattached Privacy Policy
  • Media Pack

London Unattached Newsletter

Sign up for our newsletter here. We promise not to spam - and you can unsubscribe at any time

Recently Published

  • Emilia’s Crafted Pasta – Wood Wharf
  • Lotus Beauty – Hampstead Downstairs
  • Ivy Asia Magic of the Blossom Dragon Menu and Beyond

The Frugal Flexitarian

Looking for more recipes? Check out our new site, The Frugal Flexitarian, for easy, cost effective recipes to enjoy at home.
Find My 5:2 Diet Recipes quickly and easily

Find Us

blogl
VuelioTop10Badge2020

Copyright © 2022 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in