A few months ago, I received an email inviting me to come for a complimentary stay at the Lords of the Manor Hotel in Upper Slaughter in the heart of the Cotswolds in exchange for a review on the blog.
Dave and I were really excited, we rarely get a chance to go away just the two of us, but unfortunately, (and typically!) he was unwell in the week leading up to the stay and so I took my lovely daughter for a girly night away instead!
Where is the Lords of the Manor Hotel?
Lords of the Manor hotel is situated in the picturesque village of Upper Slaughter, a quintessentially perfect Cotswold village with butter coloured stone houses around every corner and a river running through the nearby Lower Slaughter with little stone bridges criss crossing it everywhere you look.
How far away is the hotel from Cheltenham?
Only 35 minutes drive, this is easily accessible for a night away but feels like a different world.
The Hotel
Recently redecorated, everything about the hotel is beautiful and incredibly stylish. The attention to detail is just wonderful, with patterns in the wall paper picked out in curtains and cushions throughout the rooms, bringing it all together. It has a very modern and yet classic feel, with beautiful colours, pheasant and bird patterns and a lovely neutral grey theme to the dining room. The hotel is set in large grounds with paths to explore, taking you down to a large stream and lake. Behind the hotel are manicured gardens and an extensive herb patch that still smelt incredible on a frosty November morning.
The Rooms at The Lords of the Manor
There are a variety of rooms available at the hotel. We had a very lovely room in the main house, called a Rectory room with a big bed and the bathroom of dreams. The was an enormous old style bath, a gigantic shower and double sink. More than enough space for us both to be in there, the bathroom is very modern and was spotlessly clean, with huge fluffy white towels but still retaining all it’s charm with an original fireplace and wooden chest.
The bed was very comfortable and the duvet was like being enveloped in a toasty warm cloud. Despite the room having old style windows, it was still lovely and warm and we were very comfortable.
The Fine Details
The attention to detail in the Lords of the Manor hotel was incredible. There were plenty of wellies to borrow for walks, and umbrellas if it was raining. There were games in the many cosy sitting areas and fires roaring in the grates of most rooms. We mentioned in passing that it had been my daughter’s birthday the week before and at dinner she was presented with a cake with ‘Happy Birthday’ written artfully next to it in chocolate sauce. After unloading our bags, my car was parked for me in the car park at the back and we were helped to the room with our case.
There was a tea tray with biscuits in the room and plenty of toiletries that were replenished while we were out to dinner. There is also a ‘turn down’ service, something that surprised us, they even tidied up our slightly messy room for us!
The Staff at the Lords of the Manor Hotel
The staff were all fabulous. We were so well looked after, everyone was polite, friendly and incredibly welcoming. Nothing was too much trouble. I’m always aware that people know I’m there for review but I overheard a gentleman at dinner discussing with his wife the fact that they would have to get down early to breakfast as he’d missed the croissants that day. The next morning, as he came in, he was informed that they had put a plate aside with 3 croissants just for them. I also noticed that they remembered people’s tea and coffee orders when they had been in for more than one night.
Family Friendly hotel stay in the Cotswolds
It was supposed to be a couple’s night but as it happened, I had a good opportunity to test out the family friendliness of the Lords of the Manor hotel. They couldn’t have been more accommodating and offered us a twin room once they had established we didn’t need a cot. I opted to stick with our original room as I’m more than happy to share with my daughter and it had amazing garden views I didn’t want to miss.
There is a children’s menu in the restaurant with really great options, it’s not your usual nuggets chips and beans but more options like garlic bread and goujons for starters and tagliatelle with bolognaise and grilled fish and potatoes and a sticky toffee sundae that apparently “is suitable for those children who eat a lot but not ones with a small appetite” according my daughter. Who managed it all! I’m still not convinced I wouldn’t feel nervous about bringing very noisy children to dinner though, and I’d also worry about them getting sticky hands on the beautiful furnishings, but that’s my own personal feeling as it’s such a nice hotel, the staff never gave me the impression that it would be an issue.
Are dogs welcome at the Lords of the Manor Hotel?
Dogs are very welcome! We didn’t bring Hendrix but could just imagine him strolling around the gardens and trying to stop him jumping in the lake at the bottom! They give them beds and toys and they even get a delicious dinner! (Although they aren’t allowed to eat it in the dining room!)
Food at the Lords of the Manor Hotel
We had dinner in The Dining Room, included for our review, they have a new system if you have visited before, in The Atrium, they have space for just 14 and do an 8 course taster menu with some of their finer dining options and The Dining Room is a la carte and more relaxed but still with great food. A friend of mine replied to one of my instagram stories saying they’d been before but the portion sizes were very small, I can confirm that thankfully this is no longer the case and we had a delicious meal and left very full indeed! Everything was very fresh and seasonal and they had a separate vegetarian menu for me. They also offer a vegan menu and have all the suppliers they use listed on their website, along with the very impressive credentials of their Head Chef Charles Smith.
I don’t know about you but breakfast is a massive part of the reason I love hotel stays and the Lords of the Manor Hotel didn’t disappoint. There were plenty of cereals, yoghurt and fresh fruit, home made pastries and bread and cheeses and meats. There were also apricots poached in vanilla which were a big hit with my little girl. Then there are the cooked options, which are made to order and include things like a Full English breakfast and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. All with plenty of loose leaf tea or freshly brewed coffee to accompany it.
How much does a stay at the Lords of the Manor Hotel cost?
Ok so I’ll start by saying that this for us, would a special occasion hotel, it’s not cheap by any means, but the quality of the service, the food and the comfort level of the surroundings make this a very lovely option for a birthday or anniversary treat and certainly worth the money in my opinion. For a night on a Friday at this time of year, the room we stayed in is approximately £340 which includes breakfast. (There are different options available and obviously prices may vary through the year.)
For 3 courses for myself and my daughter, (eating from the vegetarian and children’s menu which are both a little cheaper), it would have cost £61, not including drinks. I don’t actually think this is particularly expensive for the level of expertise you are getting from the chefs, plus the fresh ingredients and the quality of service we received, or out of line with the pricing of high quality restaurants in this area. Once you add drinks and wine, it can really bump up the cost, depending on what you choose. We paid for our own drinks and two (absolutely delicious) mocktails, a bottle of sparkling water and a tea came to £24. The tea was £6.00 for context, but it was a pot of loose leaf and I did get about 3 cups from it.
In Conclusion
We had an absolutely wonderful night away at the Lords of the Manor hotel. It’s a really lovely place in stunning surroundings with exceptional service, high comfort levels and outstanding service. Close enough to get to in good time leaving Cheltenham at 4 o’clock on a Friday afternoon and yet picturesque enough to feel like a real break away. I woke in the night and was struck by the complete silence in the hotel. I couldn’t even hear a single owl or even a pipe gurgle!
manor hotel..
High comfort levels of the bedrooms, bathrooms and communal areas and truly beautiful surroundings mean that you really do feel rested and well looked after. This is going to be our new go-to special occasion hotel and somewhere I would happily recommend.
If you would like to read a review from further afield, find out what we thought about our recent hotel stay in Greece here.
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