The Hill family have transformed this once-dilapidated 19th Century country house into a haven for foodies and wine-lovers, a rural escape with three restaurants, an artisan bakery, a walled kitchen garden and 24 bedrooms to allow guests the time to savour everything Hampton Manor has to offer.
A tasteful renovation, rich and characterful, respects the heritage of an estate that was once home to prime minister Sir Robert Peel while combining it with modern craftsmanship. Grand on the outside, the Manor is cosy within, and the relaxed atmosphere and generous hospitality lends it a house party feel.
Each bedroom arranged around the higgledy-piggledy building is different to the next with individual designs inspired by William Morris. They include three suites with a lounge space and bay windows overlooking the gardens. Other rooms might boast an attic hideaway, a bed in a gallery or a bathroom in a tower.
For a romantic escape, nine rooms are built around the walled garden with those in the timber yard offering floor-to-ceiling views from their own sun lounge. They adjoin Grace & Savour, the manor’s immersive dining experience that touches all the senses while embracing a vision of sustainable living. Its 15-course tasting menu, served from an open kitchen, celebrates a revolution in growing that chef David Taylor believes is the key to unlocking flavour. It was awarded a Michelin star less than a year after opening.
Meanwhile, Masterchef The Professionals winner Stuart Deely hosts convivial gatherings in Smoke, where he cooks seasonal produce over coals, aptly enough in the old furnace house, and serves natural wines from the tap. After dinner you can sit around the fire pits with a hot drink.
