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Last week my friend K and I treated ourselves to a mid-week day out in scenic Rutland. As it was a special occasion we decided we deserved a Michelin-starred venue for lunch and Hambleton Hall’s ‘Lunch 4 Less’ deal was irresistible!
It's grand Victorian architecture looks over the huge reservoir and even though it was midweek they were fully booked and the dining room had (as always) an excellent atmosphere. The hotel is more like a rustic home than a posh hotel. Hidden away down a wooded gravelled driveway. Apparently the Latin above the front door says ‘ do as you want’ and they certainly are keen on their guests taking part in fishing, cycling or walking around the Water’s paths.




But we were here for Aaron’s famous food. In a recent review "Hambleton Hall stands at the forefront of that dying breed of quintessential, personally run, unmucked-about luxury country-house hotels". And has been known for some time as 'best restaurant outside London'..
So after the obligatory glass of champers;) K had the Beetroot assiete to start (Mmmmm interesting – not as good as a rhubarb favourite of mine from a certain other Michelin place) and I had the ravioli mushroom thingy (very mushroomy) and for our mains we had veal bolognaise (not too rich and served in a separate little pot to go over the pasta – very stylish) and the organic wild salmon (lovely and the mushed peas it was served on even better). We especially enjoyed earwigging others conversations “would you believe – the new vicar is a woman!” And laughing at the walking party who left all their muddy boots and Barbours in the porch, as the head of the group discreetly handed the sommelier two (duck or pheasant)? eggs saying (in his middle class accent): “would you ask the chef to poach one and fry the other – we’ll have them before the starters”.


Eccentric bunch these middle-of-week- Michelin-star-lunchers. The rain outside was pouring down. We enjoyed the relaxed, comfortable lounge, warm from the open log fire, full of plump feather cushions and the scent of its enormous vase of lilies.

Fortunately the rain held off when we left, and the spring-time sun appeared. Hambleton Hall is just down the road from the late BBC gardener Geoff Hamilton’s ‘Barnsdale’ – which is a maze of little gardens all with an individual theme. It held a special significance for K, so I was glad to walk around and enjoy learning a few new names for all the plants. Each garden has a seat to sit and enjoy the plants and we had the place virtually to ourselves apart from the few staff busy weeding away. The peace was only shattered occassionally by the aircraft from the local MOD site. After a cream tea in the café, we walked around the shop and each bought a new colourful addition (or two) for our gardens. Ladies who do lunch? We must do this more often!