Inspiration needed for DPs 50th!

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

DP is 50 in November and I want to book a nice night away - the main criteria are somewhere with great food, in walking distance of either a nice coastal walk / lake walk etc and a small town or village for drinks. A pool or spa would be lovely but not essential. Happy to eat at the hotel or a nearby restaurant but want everything in walking distance once we're there. Wherever we eat needs to be great food bit not super formal, we like a bit of atmosphere. We'd also prefer a hotel with a bit of personality.
Initially I was looking at hotels like The Pig, Thyme, The Fish etc but they all have minimum 2 nights stay and we only have one night.
We would go to a city if it ticked all the boxes.
Any help appreciated - we're in Nottingham and ideally within a 2 1/2 hour drive or train journey. I'm driving myself mad looking.
Also to add - preferably not York as we find weekend evenings a bit stag and hen heavy for us!

You will have to do most things on site or get a taxi, but how about Portmeirion?

Portmeiron would be fab if it was closer but unfortunately nearly 4 hours for us, so to work around childcare we'd get barely any time to enjoy it. Definitely the type of thing we'd like though!

Bath?

We love Bath and have been before but a little too far for this time, we're just north of Nottingham so it would be over 3 hours in good traffic.

Try the Norfolk Mead in the Broads. We did a lovely riverside walk straight from the hotel https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/attraction_activity/coltishall-to-horstead-walking-route We only stayed one night and it was sat to sun.

How about the tawny in Staffordshire

Try one of the Chatsworth properties - either a hotel or inn - they are all lovely, and not far to travel. Good walking in that area too.

Norfolk Mead looks nice, is there anywhere to go for a drink nearby? How's the restaurant? I have a natural aversion to these types of hotel normally as I tend to do a lot of events in similar places for work but it does look nice.
I'll check out the Tawny too.
Chatsworth is lovely but as it's so close we've been a lot and I'd like somewhere different for a 50th. I just feel like do many hotels are samey and I'm struggling to find anything with a different vibe, without going to London.

Yes, the Norfolk Mead has a pub five mins walk in one direction and a tea room 5 mins in the other direction! The restaurant at the hotel was pricey but food was stunning. The atmosphere wasn’t snobby or white table cloths and tuxedos.

I don't mind pricey as long as it isn't stuffy! We want smart casual, nice vibes etc so that goes on my shortlist thank you 😊 @knackeredmumoftwounfortunately the Tawny is showing no availability so possibly another one with a 2 night minimum.

I’ve just remembered Tewinbury Farm! We wanted to stay at the end of last year but they didn’t have the dates we needed, but it looks so lovely and possibly just what you’re after.

Ooh Tewinbury Farm actually looks great l, particularly the riverside accommodation.

I suppose The Priory in Wareham would be too far? It is a lovely place to stay, and to eat.

It looks lovely but over 4 hours!

Cirencester, The Kings Head?