RESTAURANTS WITH ROOMS FOR FOOD LOVERS

Britain's Finest Team

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From Michelin-starred restaurants in country house hotels to gastro pubs with rooms, these are the best spots for a sensational supper before spending the night in style.

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

Raymond Blanc OBE was a pioneer of plot-to-plate cooking when he opened his restaurant 40 years ago – and it has held two Michelin stars ever since. Lavender-fringed pathways lead to the Oxfordshire manor house which sits among manicured lawns, apple and pear orchards, and a two-acre potager garden that provides the kitchen (and cookery school) with organic produce. Seasonality, foraging and a zero-waste approach were employed from the get-go and have earned the restaurant an additional Green Michelin star. In celebration of this year’s anniversary, Blanc and executive chef Luke Selby have created a three-course a la carte selection of reimagined classics (including a risotto of garden vegetables for starter and duck served with baby turnip and Provence fig for main) alongside the plant-based, six-course lunch and seven-course dinner option. Afterwards, wander through the Japanese tea garden and wildflower meadow before bedding down in one of the 32 rooms, full of countryside charm.

SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel, Windermere, Cumbria

The Lake District is known for its exciting culinary scene – and there’s no better example than Gilpin Hotel’s flagship Michelin-star restaurant SOURCE. It’s overseen by executive chef Ollie Bridgwater (previously at Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck) who is behind the two evening tasting menus – the four-course ORIGIN and seven-course SOURCE – and lunch menu (available Fridays and Saturdays). Dishes might include, for instance, Cornish lobster with red curry bisque, Gaythorne Farm Pork loin with apple and hispi cabbage, or breast of quail with braised spelt and greens. Most rooms and suites are in the Edwardian country house (the latter come with cedarwood hot tubs) but there are also six at Gilpin Lake House, a rebuilt fishing lodge a mile down the road. For more casual fare, book a table at pan-Asian restaurant Gilpin Spice where you can watch the chefs in the open kitchen knock up mains such as Goan-style tiger king prawns and tamarind glazed aubergine. 

Burleigh Court Hotel, Stroud, Gloucestershire

Since mid-summer, the oak-panelled two-rosette restaurant at 18th-century manor hotel Burleigh Court has been led by head chef David Brown, a champion of nose-to-tail cooking who sources all ingredients from within a 35-mile radius. Organic free-range chicken, grass-fed beef, lamb, venison, and game all come from neighbouring estates; vegetables from the kitchen garden. As well as the a la carte menu (which could include hearty dishes such as venison loin with haggis, neeps and tatties or monkfish tail with cauliflower, aubergine and red pepper), look out for the special seven-course tasting menu every Friday and Saturday. The hotel itself – which has 18 rooms across the main building and coach house – is set within four acres of gardens with panoramic views over Stroud’s Golden Valleys, has a spa with a hot tub and sauna, and excellent hikes from the doorstep.

Latymer at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot, Surrey

Classic combinations refined and reworked in a creative modern style – that’s how the Michelin guide describes the inventive Discovery tasting menus at Latymer (there are six courses plus snacks at dinner, four at lunch) at Pennyhill Park. Head chef Steve Smith (he was previously at Bohemia restaurant in St Helier) is at the helm of the adult-only, Michelin-starred wood-panelled restaurant where all the produce, from Brixham crab to Herdwick lamb and Newlyn john dory, comes from top suppliers. Pre-dinner, guests can explore the hotel’s 120 acres of parkland or relax in the renowned spa's pools, steam room and sauna. Note: supper is typically a leisurely three-hour experience.

The Princess Royal, Notting Hill, London

Since this Victorian Notting Hill pub opened in its latest incarnation two years ago as part of the Cubitt House group, it has garnered a reputation for elevated Mediterranean-inspired fare: specifically, chef director Ben Tish’s favourite flavours from southern Italy, Spain, Portugal and North Africa. As befitting the best kind of pub, there are snacks and small plates to share for those wanting a light bite over a glass of wine at the horseshoe-shaped bar – think burrata with winter truffle, house smoked mackerel with a quail egg and pickled cucumber or spiced lamb polpetta. There’s also a raw bar, steaks cooked on the Josper grill, and signature mains such as The Princess Parmigiana. Choose between eating in the light-filled conservatory or the dining room before nipping upstairs to stay in one of the four characterful rooms furnished with British wallpapers and patterned fabrics. 

Titchwell Manor, Brancaster, Norfolk

If you dream of a foodie escape in North Norfolk, Titchwell Manor ticks all the right boxes. Think mouth-watering meals, boutique hotel vibes, and a location just a hop from the breathtaking Brancaster coastline. This charming former Victorian farmhouse has a friendly welcome, a cosy yet luxurious atmosphere, and dining that’s nothing short of extraordinary.
At the heart of Titchwell Manor is the restaurant, where Chef Eric Snaith works his magic. It’s no wonder foodies flock here – Eric’s innovative take on Norfolk’s finest seasonal produce is something to savour. Whether you’re indulging in a tasting menu at the stylish Conservatory Restaurant or opting for laid-back dining in the vibrant Eating Rooms, every dish celebrates the flavours of Norfolk. Think Brancaster mussels, Holkham venison, and ever-changing menus that move with the seasons. The rooms are just as inviting, with 28 to pick from. Choose the main house for that classic, cosy feel, or opt for one of the garden or shepherd's hut rooms if you’re after something a bit more secluded. Some rooms even come with sweeping views of the marshes and the North Sea, making them the perfect spot to unwind after exploring the stunning Norfolk coast.

The Wellington Arms, Tadley, Hampshire

Simple food cooked well – that’s the premise at two AA rosette The Wellington Arms, which has been run by chef Jason King and his partner Simon Page for nearly 20 years. Expect classics such as chargrilled 28-day, dry-aged ribeye steak with hand-cut chips or Baughurst House roe deer and root vegetable potpie followed by tempting desserts like sticky toffee pudding or steamed marmalade sponge (the menu changes daily). Suppliers include Vicars Game in Reading for meat, Wright Brothers in Brixham for fish; some vegetables, salad leaves and herbs are grown on-site and everything from sourdough bread to ice cream is made from scratch. There are four modern rooms: three barn-like spaces with oak beams, exposed brickwork and flagstone floors; the largest, the Apartment, is above the pub. Preserves, chutneys, sourdough and sloe gin are all sold over the bar – ideal treats to take away and eat at home.