Surrey Summer Getaway At Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel and Spa

Looking to escape the rat race this Spring and Summer? If so, you may want to consider the secluded Macdonald Frimley Hotel and Spa. An elegant 4-star country house retreat, there is plenty of character and charm to be admired in the exterior aesthetics of this stunning building. Set within private gardens and surrounded by woodland, there is a sense of seclusion and a welcomed feeling of isolation.

But that’s not all – the hotel boasts a 2 AA Rosette awarded restaurant too for a fine dining flourish, set within a romantic and contemporary setting. Plus, there is a fully equipped spa for full relaxation and treatments. All of this can currently be experienced for £199 for two people, thanks to BuyAGift, which is a great deal. Was it a perfect experience? Not quite, it almost was, but there were a few elements which let this stunning building down. 

Dining

The Macdonald website described Linden restaurant as a “Decorated in contemporary natural colours and retaining a welcoming feel, the air-conditioned, award-winning Linden Restaurant is a fine setting for any occasion. Bright by day and intimately candlelit by evening, this elegant hotel restaurant is perfect for get-togethers, romantic occasions, or Sunday lunch with the family.” We have to agree. Contemporary, light and modern, this was great space to enjoy a foray into 2 AA Rossette dining.

The food was excellent. Smoked mackerel rillettes were a sublime start to the meal. Packed full of mackerel flavour, yet refined and smooth on the palate.  A standout dish in the mains came in a slow-cooked beef with a rich, red wine reduction sauce and seasonal, refined vegetables.  Providing a cleaning finish to the meal was a trio of lemon. Comprised of a light lemon posset, a particularly zingy lemon sorbet and a lemon coulis, this was a strong finish for any lemon fan.

Great food, great service and a strong wine menu. Linden restaurant is somewhere we would visit again.

In addition to the restaurant, there is also a quaint bar in the centre of the hotel and a drawing room, in which you can enjoy an afternoon tea and glass of champagne.

Staying

Dining was a real highlight of our stay. Unfortunately, the accommodation and quality of the rooms was not.  As you would expect, Classic Rooms provide amenities such as broadband access, flat screen tv’s and some offer extras ranging from domed bathrooms to four-posters.  Across the hotel, period features have been retained and the hotel even boasts listed wallpaper.

The décor is promised to be classic and in-keeping with the building; however, what we experienced was a room that needed love and attention. There was a feeling that the hotel had dated well from the exterior, but our classic room seemed to have been left behind. Peeling wallpaper and an exposed wire in the bathroom were not what we expected to find. Disappointing!

Relaxing

Included with the BuyAGift stay was the use of the Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel Spa. Whether you are looking to relax in the steam room or let off some steam with a swim in the 17 metre pool, the spa is fully equipped for your needs. Plus, thanks to a full team of masseuses, you can also enjoy a spa treatment or two!

The spa offers everything you need to relax and unwind. Definitely a plus point of our visit.

Although slightly let down by the room, the visit as a whole was a great success, with sublime food and a great spa offering. Would we recommend this experience based on the £199 value, yes we would!