Getaway Middlethorpe Hall & Spa
Tom Goodhand relaxes in York at a historic country hall turned hotel, restaurant and spa
Getaway: Middlethorpe Hall & Spa
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You’d be right to expect that Middlethorpe Hall is going to be flashy. It’s pretty much next door to York racecourse, its website tells you how to get there by helicopter and its in a National Trust owned property, built in 1699.
Except Middlethorpe Hall isn’t actually quite as flash you might expect. It certainly oozes class and professionalism, but there is a certain quaint homeliness about the place: it’s in the open fires, narrow weaving passage ways, the artwork and antiques that fill the communal rooms and the impeccable but very friendly service that stops it from seeming dauntingly seeped in cash.
While a night at this York hotel is going to cost you (our stunning four-poster bedroom in the main house comes in at £350 per night, while the cheapest double rooms will set you back £190), you’re paying for a very special experience. This red brick country hall is a truly historic building, and boasts immaculate grounds, a stunning restaurant (more on that later), a spa (use of which is free for guests), an award-winning wine cellar plus loads of extra little details (tea brought to your door in the morning, chocolates and fruit in your room).
We come to the hotel on a snowy January evening, the house looking even more picturesque under the glowing layer of white than it does in the brochure, and as we rush in, there’s someone waiting by the door to open it up and great us in front of a proper wood fire.
Although we’re told we’re in the four poster room, nothing quite prepares us for the room we’re shown into. The door opens into a long, beautifully furnished space: antique dressers, wardrobes, writing desks, sofas and chairs line the walls, and sitting at the head of it all is a gigantic four poster bed. Suffice to say, it’s every bit as comfy and glamorous as you might expect.
What we were most looking forward too, however, was the dinner. We took a seat on a massive sofa in the drawing room (again by a roaring fire), ordered a couple of drinks which came with a great selection of nibbles, and perused the menu. Unsurprisingly, the food doesn’t come cheap here (starters range from £9.50-£15.50 while mains can set you back anything between £16.50 and £24.50), but you’re paying for quality. Our meal includes a stunningly succulent loin of Yorkshire venison, complete with a giant haggis tortellini and my partner’s very impressive starter of Jerusalem artichoke velouté. The cheese board we took on later came with a dizzying choice of cheeses.
Just as mouth watering as the food selection, though, are the wines on offer. Their cellar recently received a double commendation from the AA and Conde Nast Johansens and it’s no wonder. Picking a wine takes longer than choosing the three course meal, but as we make our choice, our French waiter gives us a pleased and knowing smile, as our choice inevitably came from his homeland.
A good night’s sleep was necessary to process the tastes and textures on offer in the restaurant, but luckily our massive, comfy bed made that pretty easy. And, just as we’d struggled back into our clothes in the morning (after tea and newspapers had been brought to the room, obviously) we had breakfast to attend to. The options range from porridge and pancakes to pastries and cereals and, of course, a sumptuous full English breakfast, always a good indicator of the quality of a hotel, and this didn’t disappoint.
After all that, we needed some exercise, so we headed to the spa. While there was a good sized pool and a well-equipped gym, it was the jacuzzi, sauna and steam room that really caught my eye, and I left a good hour later feeling very relaxed indeed.
As we drove off through the snow (which the obliging staff merrily dug us out off), we couldn’t draw up a single quibble about our stay. Quality like this doesn’t come cheap (or even reasonably priced) but if you’re looking for a really extravagant getaway, Middlethorpe’s the place to visit.
Middlethorpe Hall Hotel, Restaurant and Spa, Bishopthorpe Road, York, YO23 2GB, 01904 641 241. Visit www.middlethorpe.com for more information and special offers
Posted on Wednesday 3rd February 2010
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