In search of an amazing foodie hotel within 1.5 hrs of SE London...

[waxweasel]

DH and I are planning to get away for the night child-free for the first time in 3 years. It'll probably also be the last time for another 3 years since I'm due to have DC2 shortly so no expense spared!

We live in south east London, looking for somewhere ideally within 1.5 hr drive. We did originally want to go to The Pig (which is a little over 2 hrs for us, but willing to make an exception as it looks so amazing....)

Only going for one night so don't plan to leave the hotel. Main thing is the food has to be incredible - we're basically after amazing restaurant with rooms tacked on. Spa would be nice but not essential as I'm pregnant so can't do many treatments anyway. Walks/other activities not necessary as we're lazy and will just be sleeping/eating

Any recommendations?

That's a shame waterwitch so many places fail to live up to the hype and turn out to be style over substance

We stayed near bray and did fat duck one night and hinds head the next.
I love hibiscus.
So many places in London I would check into a hotel and stay there!

Op, where are you thinking of going? Let us know where you end up!

Limewood

(In my view the pig is overrated - had lunch a few times and not been impressed)

Or Alex aitkens new place, Christchurch harbour hotel , his cheese soufflé is amazing, could have it for all 3 courses.

..or Montagau arms in beaulieu is lovely.

Small restaurant with amazing service, like you we only get a very occasional night away and are truly spoil there.

Hello hello! Sorry for the radio silence and thank you for all the amazing suggestions! I haven't had chance to look them all up yet - Imight forward the thread onto DH and get him to take a look too. So far I love the look of Waterside in Bray, le manoir and Walletts Court.

Slight issue is that DH has some food allergies so anywhere with a set tasting menu may be tricky if he cant eat it. And thinking about it, I'd rather avoid a tasting menu since I wont be able to drink the wines! So somewhere where we can order off a menu I think...will let you know where we decide to go. Thanks again!

We got married at Chilston Park - it was really good standard wedding food but I wouldn't rate it as amazing for a foodie experience!

Certainly not on a level with places like Le Manoir, L'Enclume, Gilpin, Morston Hall. Reads in Kent is very good in a traditional way also.

Le Manoir and hibiscus both ask if you have any food allergies before you go. And both have options other than the tasting menu or you can have the tasting menu without accompanying wines.

Have a lovely time wherever you decide!

Oh good tip, thanks!

waterwitch - yep it's scandal!
Maybe I had the wrong things at Hibiscus? Went for a special lunch and just wasn't grabbed.

Fat duck good for spectacle IMO, but not if you don't want set menu! Hand and Flowers is lovely, or what about Heston's Dinner?

I haven't been to waterside but really want to, it's supposed to be amazing!

Atul Kutcher has a new restaurant in Marlow at the Compleat Angler. Beautiful hotel too.

Stay in London and go to Le Gavroche. Their cheese soufflé is one of the best dishes I have ever eaten.

The Hand and Flowers is great but just excellent pub food. If you go to Bray, do The Waterside Inn unless you are huge foodies then go to The Fat Duck.

I liked Hibiscus, but others did not.

If you like Cambridge go to Midsummer House.

Penny hill park near Windsor. Fabulous spa and their tasting menu is incredible.

The Vineyard is a gorgeous foodie hotel with a lovely spa and beautiful grounds. I went there with DH, we were so relaxed after one night it felt like we had been away for a week. The afternoon tea is utterly superb too.

I didn't like The Vineyard but we went AGES ago and I think it has a Michelin star now

I have friends who rave about Midsummer House in Cambridge

Dinner by Heston was ok but not amazing - lots of people really like it though

I bet The Waterside is great

Ooh nice dilemma to have! Let us know where you end up!

Oh The Vineyard website has changed a lot, I bet the hotel has too so ignore me!

GIS we had the tasting menu both times at Hibiscus

The Watyerside Inn is amazing French cooking and you are treated like an A class movie star. If you go in the spring / summer, you can pre book (I believe) the little boat outside for a trip on the water.

Bray itself is pretty and we bumped into Michael Parkinson at The Crown pub. Heston also has The Hinds Head in Bray too which I heard is worth a try.

+1 for the Vineyard. We had a wonderful stay there and the food was superb. It was just what I needed after a week in an eco-lodge in Wales

When we went to Fat Duck we stayed in Coworth Park hotel - I think it was about 20mins in a taxi and the hotel and spa were amazing. Most expensive weekend ever but worth it

I wouldn't do a London restaurant/hotel if you already live in London - you can always do Le Gavroche with an evening babysitter (or do what we do - book a day off work and go for lunch whilst little one are in childcare!).

We went to South Lodge Hotel and ate at The Pass. Matt Gillan is he head chef (won the main course round of he great British menu). It was bloody wonderful. Breakfast was good too!

Just don't eat in the other restaurant at the hotel. Really v average.

Lovely hotel, nice bar and nice grounds.

I was preg when we went and they changed certain courses for me in the night. Excellent service.

Chewton glen in the new forest is nice. Especially if you want to have spa facilities and somewhere to walk locally. I have been when pregnant and they do nice non alcoholic cocktails in spa area ( and you can have foot and neck massage)

Another one here who suggests South Lodge (http://www.southlodgehotel.co.uk/EXCLUSIVEHOTELS/thee_hotel.aspx) nr Horsham, and eating at The Pass. Beautiful grounds, excellent restaurant.