What: Unbeatable Luxury
Where: Hampton Manor
Why: Because there is luxury and then there is Hampton Manor

Every once in a while I feel the need to get out of London, and since I felt like taking my new car for a spin, I decided that a little mini break in the UK was be in order. Quick search online and I came across The Hampton Manor, a place a friend of mine has visited a while back with her boyfriend and she has not stopped raving about it since. So, in order to shut her up for good, I booked myself and the man in for the weekend.

That Friday night, we packed our Mini Countryman, dropped the dogs off and headed to the M1 and towards Solihull. Just under two hours drive later (I may have cut few corners) we arrived to a country road and then we saw what looked like a little castle, set in beautiful green setting. The building has been here since the 19th century and looks like a very stately home. It’s grand and almost statuesque without being imposing or scary. As we walk into the reception, we are greeted what can only be called “out of London hospitality”. We are singed in and taken upstairs to our room. It turned out I had no need to worry about the amount of money I was spending per night as seemed to be very little in comparison of what we walked in to. This was luxury pushed to its limits. A huge bed that seemed like a cloud, free standing cocoon bath by the window and decor like from a luxury interiors magazine. Our bathroom was situated in one of the towers and at night time it lights up in blue. I was home and never leaving.

After settling in, we decided to stroll downstairs and have a pre-dinner drink. The evening sun was shining on the back terrace, so we grabbed our cocktails and sat in the warm, overlooking the gardens. It was quiet and my martini was cold – I couldn’t have asked for more. After few cocktails we headed to Peel’s Restaurant (http://www.peelsrestaurant.co.uk/). The restaurant is tucked away at one of the hotel’s many wings and stands on its own as a very special little corner, decorated with muted tones and little splashes of colour, white tablecloths, shiny cutlery and a round champagne bar in the middle of the room. We sat down next to the window and were soon offered, menus, drinks etc. Our waiter went through the menu with us and suggested the “taster menu”, something I am always a big fan of as you get to taste five to six different courses, with a specific wine to compliment each plate. I was sold and hooked from the first course. Our dinner was a total success, the staff are attentative, friendly and knowledgeable. We were taken care of like royalty.

As we crashed back into our room and laid on the bed, we couldn’t stop talking about our experience so far. This hotel was unbelievable and Peel’s had just cemented itself as one of my favourite restaurants in this country. The next morning we woke up, rested and relaxed. I wanted to spend most of the day in bed as this bed was really like a cloud. If there was any justice in the world, I would have been allowed to stay at Hampton Manor forever. Or at least another week or two.