“A boutique gem, nestled in lush gardens, with sweeping views of the Golden Valley; with captivating charm and a splash of luxury”.
Our stay at the graceful property of Burleigh Court Hotel was that and more. Our room was a lovely combination of blues and neutrals, contemporary and antiques blended to create a stylish décor. The windows were open, with a light breeze and dappled light danced through the curtains and fluttered as far as the four-poster bed.
With our robes wrapped around our swimming costumes, we made our way to the pool at the rear of the hotel. The gardens here gently slope towards the manor house and there are various walled gardens and courtyards where you can sip coffee or enjoy freshly baked pizza from the stone oven.
A graceful property
Past these courtyards, we discovered the Art Deco plunge pool, as you can imagine during the height of summer this is a refreshing oasis on a hot day. We succumbed to its charms and almost gave in to the button (for drinks) on the side of the pool for refreshments, having decided to save ourselves for pre-dinner drinks.
Said drinks were at the front of the Burleigh Court manor house, we sipped them overlooking the lawns and the valley. Dinner followed in the dining room and that in itself deserved a separate review. I always look forward to eating somewhere new as a plant-based diner.
This kind of cuisine here though I thought would be incredible as I saw the kitchen garden out of the corner of my eye when we were outside, and this did not disappoint. A starter of vegan cashew parfait on brioche garnished with caramelised onion and pickled mushroom was followed by wild garlic gnocchi for the main.
This was a perfectly presented plate of pillowy soft oversized gnocchi with local wild garlic pesto, broad beans and asparagus; topped with a crunchy tempura oyster mushroom. The portion sizes were filling but not uncomfortably so (I could have quite easily eaten more of my delicious main course). The pudding was Pear & Ginger cake with pear sorbet, compressed apple and toffee sauce, once again this was plant-based perfection.
Unfortunately, during our visit, we were unable to take part in the food foraging, which usually includes a five-hour Wild Foodie Foraging Experience with the Foraging Expert Emanuelle Paulson priced from £69pp or £138 per couple and includes lunch; but one could only imagine how interesting it would be if the food we ate during our stay only reflected a small part of the knowledge that is ingrained in the kitchen and the staff.
Plant-based aside, the award-winning, two-rosette restaurant is led by a dedicated kitchen team led by head chef Shaun Jones and should you rather sample the locally reared meat or game; there is a wonderful variety that I can imagine changes on a regular occurrence (the duo of new season lamb was incredible).
Even if you aren’t staying over (and this I highly recommend!) you can still eat at Burleigh Court. all ingredients are sourced within a 30-mile radius, even some of the wines chosen to match the dishes are organic from local vineyards.
After such beautiful food, we decided on relaxed drinks outside as we discussed plans to explore the local villages the next day whilst bathing in the golden light of the setting sun as its glow reached across the valley and beyond.
Of course, one of our favourite parts of staying in a hotel is the breakfast; I always think that this is a reflection on the establishment and of course, this was an eagerly awaited start to our day. Breakfast is served in the dining room, with an option of freshly baked pastries, fruits and cereals or a menu of locally sourced traditional plates with a twist, from the porridge with the Burleigh Court honey or the traditional breakfast (this I was informed, was another delicious hit).
The staff really do go that extra mile to make sure things are totally perfect for you throughout your stay. So if you’re looking for a relaxing staycation this summer Burleigh Court Hotel is certainly one not to miss out on.
Burleigh Court is a boutique hideaway hotel with a 2 AA Rosette restaurant in The Cotswolds. Stays are priced from £139 per night for room only. Dinner, bed and breakfast packages are available too. To book a stay at Burleigh Court, please call 01453 883 804 or visit online.
Burleigh Court Hotel – A Cotswolds Restaurant & Hotel
The Roundabouts
Brimscombe
Stroud
Gloucestershire
GL5 2PF
United Kingdom
