When you have had the pleasure of spending a night or two at The Compleat Angler, dreamily set right next to the banks of the Marlow Weir in leafy Buckinghamshire with a quaint church and elegant 1832 suspension bridge as background, it's terribly hard to check out. The bedrooms are quintessentially English in décor (19th century fish illustrations on the wall, lavish drapes over French windows) but with a modern ultra-luxurious twist.
As for dining, tuck into British classics at Bowaters while admiring the elegant swans and quacking ducks as they glide past on the weir or drop into Aubergine which has a fabulous European menu. There's also a relaxed, informal lounge where you can grab a simpler bite to eat and just soak up the atmosphere of this lovely building which has played host to a roll call of the rich and famous, from the Queen to Bette Davis.
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By Adrian Mourby
The Compleat Angler began its life on the banks of
the Thames as The Riverside Inn. For many years it was owned Wethered’s Brewery
but in 1923 it was bought up by the then landlord Robert Kirby who added a waterside
restaurant.
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By Adrian Mourby
There has been a riverside inn at Marlow for centuries and various bridges have spanned the Thames at this picturesque spot opposite All Saints' Church.
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By Adrian Mourby
Dating back to 1640, The Compleat Angler takes its name from Isaak Walton's book of the same name which was published in 1653. Walton's celebration of the art and spirit of fishing finds an echo in this Thameside hideaway whose oak-panelled bar dates back to the seventeenth century.
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