Chewton Glen – Hampshire`s Must-Visit Five Star Hotel and Spa

At the end of May, as you may have noticed, there was an astonishing heat wave, and everyone was suddenly desperate to get away and make the most of the sun. Well, we wanted to get away too, to try new things and sample new pastures. Luckily, when the heat wave hit, we were privileged enough to be invited along to lunch at the beautiful 5 star Chewton Glen Hotel, and I can certainly say that this was the perfect way to spend a summer’s day. The hotel is nestled within the finest and most beautiful parts of the stunning New Forest, to find out more, please click here for more details on the area http://www.thenewforest.co.uk/.

Chewton Glen is a multi-award winning, privately owned, 5 star hotel, with a delightful golf course and a spectacular spa. Rooms begin at a very reasonable £310, a snip for such a luxurious experience, and they go up to £1,505 for their top Marryat Suite.

Dining at the Vetiver restaurant

On the day of our visit, the thermometer was pushing a good 28C, so we decided to sit outside and take in views of the beautiful grounds. Sweeping lawns and well pruned gardens, make up the foreground of the scene, and give way to the back setting of the New Forest. Perfect. But before we went outside, we were shown the fabulous indoor restaurant; the restaurant is open, airy and the décor is fresh, and invigorating. Furthermore, there is ample private space to hold parties and gatherings.

With 3 AA Rosettes and an AA 5 Star Rating, we were expecting great things from the hotel`s Vetiver restaurant – we were certainly not disappointed. Head chef, Andrew Du Bourg, has built his menu around only the best ingredients; there is no sacrifice on quality and expense here, as a result, the dishes are stunningly fresh and flavoursome.

My meal kicked off with the Yellow Fin Tuna Nicoise salad – this was perfectly light and made for an ideal summer`s day dish. Generous amounts of gentle flavoured tuna, is complimented by anchovies and olives, making for a really interesting and well balanced dish. The other starter we tried, was the Chewton Glen Twice-Baked Emmental Soufflé (£16.50) and as you can imagine, this was quite a different offering, if not another tasty one.

The mains were also delightful. I would like to make a special mention the Hay Baked Lamb, with summer vegetables and a homemade mint sauce. The baking of the lamb in hay lends the lamb a slightly smoky flavour and makes for very tender piece of meat. This was beautiful, if not more suited to a winter`s day, rather than a sweltering day in May.

You could also have this top quality food for lunch, but with the fantastic price of only £20 for two courses, or £25 for 3. This is one of the best lunch time deals around, as the quality of the produce and the food, far outstrips this modest price tag.

I should also add that the staff and service here is certainly of a five star level – everyone we came across was attentive, polite and extremely friendly, this made for a fantastic visit.

Exciting news – Chewton Glen`s to launch TreeTop suites

Aside, from the stunning hotel rooms, the Vetiver restaurant and excellent spa facilities, there is a very different offering being developed in the midst of the hotel grounds – the hotel has developed 6 treetop suites, which nestle within the grounds` forest.

Designed to make you feel a part of the forest canopy, these beautiful treetop suites are a real revelation and highly unique; I can`t think of many, if any, similar offerings out there on the UK market, and we were lucky enough to take a look. The suites are incredible; room sizes are extremely generous, their lounge areas offer great views of the forest, they are finished with only the most luxurious fittings and they have a really warm and homely feel. We are really, really excited about these suites! Also, their ecological design means there is no impact on the environment, and there certainly isn`t any sacrifice on quality. Visitors can expect to travel to and from the main hotel building using golf carts and breakfast is delivered each morning, just to make sure you can fully immerse yourself in the forest experience. It is little touches of class like this, which will make these suites so idyllic and enjoyable.
One of the best parts of these suites is their price; they will be no more expensive than a room in the hotel, so there are no excuses for not taking a loved one or your family here, as an extra special treat.

Click here to book your stay at Chewton Glen