The UK has some beautiful countryside hotels and the 18th century manor house, Chesterton Hotel is one of them.
Located in Bicester, the hotel is close to Bicester Village for those who like their shopping and to Oxford which is the “The City of Dreaming Spires”. They also have a deal with Bicester Village where you can enjoy an extra 10% off. If you want a shopping weekend away this is the spot. You can book a room with a chauffeur dropoff at the shopping village too.
There are 23 bedrooms in the boutique hotel. Sliding doors lead you to a warm reception and lobby area that smells of mahogany. The lobby has chesterfield sofas and a fireplace giving it a cosy feel. Lucy was working at the reception and she made us feel welcome.
The corridors are decorated with dark grey paint and striped wallpaper. Paired with monochrome pictures and plants dotted around, there is a warm ambiance. It is modern yet classy.
The hotel has 2 acres of beautiful gardens which includes soft meadows, water features and a lovely floral pergola. There is seating dotted around, making it a perfect spot to chill out and read a book or have some drinks while the sun is setting.
It is a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle. The hotel also has a banqueting suite making it a perfect venue for weddings and conferences.
Rooms
Each room is unique. They have Superior and Deluxe Rooms that all face the garden.
We were checked into a Deluxe room which has a Juliet balcony, with a view of the water garden. In the morning I opened the doors and the sound of the water and the chipping birds was bliss.
The room was spacious and had a couple of cosy sofas, a tv, a bathrobe, slippers, safe and a Nespresso machine. The bathroom had Ritual toiletries and was a beautiful design. What I loved about the set up was the mirror light came on when you walked in which is perfect in the middle of the night.
The four-poster queen bed, wooden beams, oak furniture and gold fittings give it a luxury yet classic touch. The mattress was comfortable but the pillows were a bit on the hard side. There is no air conditioning in the room however fans are provided.
Restaurant and Bar
The furnishing at the restaurant and bar area is sleek and contemporary. There is a black and white floor which lifts the dark blue and bottle green chairs. The gold fittings continue throughout adding that luxe feel.
The hotel sources local ingredients where possible. It describes its food as fresh & simple yet inventive and contemporary- I agree! Each dish is presented with care and thought has gone into the combination of flavours.
Starters
In the evening we started the meal with a selection of warm bread and a trio of dips including olive oil and balsamic vinegar, hummus and guacamole. The bread was warm and dips moreish.
I went for Panko Breaded Duck Egg as my starter. This came with grilled asparagus, Parma Ham and Hollandaise Sauce. The perfect combination. .Kev had Pan Fried Scottish Scallops which came with some pea purée, chorizo, cauliflower purée, black garlic Mayo and a Tapioca crisp. The textures and flavours worked so well in the dish.
Mains
For mains we both went specials.
I had the lobster ravioli. A big ravioli stuffed with lobster served with lobster meat, caviar and some bisque. It was delicious and the amount of lobster was generous. Kev went with the pork belly which was cooked to perfection. Paired with buttery potatoes, spiced red cabbage and gravy this was definitely a winner for him.
Dessert
To end the meal we shared a Magic Mushroom dessert. Everything was made in house and was so creative. It had a combination of chocolate mousse, cake, chocolate pots with baileys, cocoa nibs and strawberries.
Calvin and Rosie served us in the evening and made our meal enjoyable. To go with dinner, I had a candy floss cocktail and Kev had a cider. It was a warm summer evening and this is exactly what we wanted.
For breakfast, there is a selection of fruit, cereals, pastries and cold meat to choose from as well as a menu to select the hot breakfast you want. I went with avocado on toast and Kev had Eggs Royale. Both were enjoyable and a great start to the day. We also enjoyed the continental options available and had all the energy for a shopping trip to Bicester Village after.
More details on the hotel and rates can be found on their website.
The Chesterton Hotel, Chesterton, Bicester, Oxon, OX26 1UE
Neha
x
Disclaimer [AD]: This was an invite/gift. All views, opinions and photos are my own unless otherwise stated.
