Here at Top 50 Boutique Hotels, we know what wins hearts: it’s good food, good drink, and an excellent night’s sleep.
So, whether you’re looking to woo a new flame or toasting to decades of marital bliss this Valentine’s Day, our hotels can help you celebrate in style.
Thyme, in Southrop, the Cotswolds, doesn’t mess around when it comes to Valentine’s Day. In fact, it actually celebrates the occasion for the entire month of February. “We call it the ‘Month of Love’, and we have an offer running through the month, in the sense that one day isn’t enough to celebrate the one you love,” says the hotel’s general manager Milly Hibbert.
When guests book the offer (starting at £400), they bag a complimentary bottle of pink Castle Brook, as well as a room upgrade.
In the Ox Barn restaurant, Thyme will host ‘dinners by candlelight’ on the Friday and Saturday of Valentine’s weekend, which is actually inspired by the “amazing” feedback the hotel received when it was forced to light candles during a power cut.
The menu will include sharing specials like grilled Langoustine with chilli & garlic, a chicken & truffle tagliatelle dish and a rhubarb roulade for dessert.
From a Valentine's truffles class, to painting to cookery courses, there’s plenty of chances for couples to get hands on throughout February. “At Thyme, the environment feels grown up, and it can feel very celebratory,” adds Hibbert.
Couples for whom food is the language of love should also look to the Fife Arms, a 19th century landmark showcasing world-class contemporary art in the postcard-perfect village of Braemar, in the Scottish Highlands.
Its five-course Valentine’s menu, at £120 per head, will showcase the best of Scottish ingredients. Cape Wrath Oysters, Beef Wellington and Valrhona Chocolate Delice will all feature, and the feast can be chased by bespoke Couture Cocktails, inspired by fashion designer Elsa Schiaparell’s signature style and passion for pink. To top it all off, guests will receive a selection of hand-crafted chocolates to finish.
Rachael Henley, general manager of the hotel, says: “The Fife Arms offers an unforgettable stay like no other and is the perfect setting for a romantic Valentine’s getaway to enjoy exceptional Scottish cuisine, unwind with relaxing spa treatments and embrace the stunning great outdoors.
“With a picturesque location and a unique blend of history and art, couples can discover luxury in one of our 46 uniquely decorated rooms and suites, each with its own tale of Braemar.”
Another hotel that’s going above and beyond in the name of romance is Grantley Hall in Ripon, Yorkshire. “The charm of Grantley Hall exudes romance all year round, but for Valentine’s Day, we aim to elevate the experience even further, making it extra special,” a spokesperson for the luxury country house hotel & wellness retreat says.
For lovebirds seeking an afternoon of indulgence, Grantley Hall has partnered with British jewellery brand, Boodles, to offer an Afternoon Tea experience from 10 February to 19 February.
And those looking to go the extra mile can indulge in the Overnight Stay Experience, which includes a chauffeur-driven visit to Boodles Boutique in Leeds.
All details of the experience are designed to create an “unforgettable, romantic stay.”
A Valentine’s dessert, crafted by Grantley Hall executive pastry chef Stefan Rose, is a layered glazed entremet of raspberry rooibos tea compote, vanilla rooibos tea; raspberry mousse, lemon almond sponge & a vanilla sable. Its name? ‘The Key to My Heart’.
“Grantley Hall provides an atmosphere of timeless romance and meticulously curated experiences for guests,” the spokesperson adds.
