Tylney Hall Luxury Country House Review, Near Basingstoke Hampshire
I have realised that at this time of life it is all about filling your life with incredible experiences and making wonderful memories. To put it simply, you just can’t put a price on wellness and the things that make you happy.
Just a short distance from the M3 near Hook, Hampshire lies Tylney Hall, a luxurious Grade II listed country house with heaps of traditional charm and outstanding original features within 66 stunning acres of breathtaking grounds and gardens. It really is a magical place whether you are staying for business or pleasure.
The winding tree lined drive in to the impressive entrance of this imposing property gives you a feel for the grandeur lying in wait during your stay. As soon as you step foot inside this mansion, the concierge team greet you by name and guide you to reception where the check-in process is seamless and hassle-free. With your bags and luggage whisked away by a member of the concierge team, their friendliness and warmth is well received.
Our recently refurbished State Suite (room 4) was huge and absolutely exquisite from top to bottom, and the waft of newness still very noticeable. There’s something rather nice about fresh smelling paint and learning you are one of only a handful of people to have ever stayed in such a new and radiant room like this! We had a lovely big lounge area with lots of brand new luxurious furnishings including a significant chandelier! It was hard not to spot the fabulous views of the estate, which were incredibly desirable in each of our three rooms. Our bedroom was gorgeous and included a mini bar of non-alcoholic refreshments and Nespresso coffee machine. The pretty chaise lounge looked enticing in front of the big feature fireplace backdrop and we loved the fact, the doors from the bedroom led out onto our own private balcony with one of the furthest reaching and uninterrupted views in Hampshire. Completely breathtaking! Our bathroom was out of this world. Walk past the built-in mirrored wardrobes and custom made drawers, and your eye is drawn to yet another stunning view of the Vista with standalone bath in the foreground. The shower and WC are enclosed within their own cubicles for privacy should you need it but overall we were struck by how well this bathroom had been designed and how incredibly spacious it was.
It is apparent Tylney Hall offers a variety of activities for every type of visitor. It is the perfect for place for business visitors and team building affairs, or those looking for a peaceful break with and without family in tow, indulge in a luxury spa and pamper day and finally without question it is also the perfect venue to enjoy your upcoming wedding day or special celebration. There are extensive walks and jogging trails and guests of all ages can hire bicycles to explore inside and outside the extensive grounds. Dog owners can even bring along their four-legged friends to stay with them and discover these beautiful acres surrounding them. Young children are catered for during the school holidays with activity packs including duck feed and they can have access to a games room including board games and computer games. When the weather is warmer croquet on the lawn is something else to keep them entertained. It really is an idyllic setting to lose your mind, body and soul in.
The spa and wellness facilities are adequate, however one of the highlights is a heated outdoor swimming pool and the lounge area is an absolute suntrap for sun worshipers and bathers alike. In the summer guests will be able to order light bites and refreshments by the poolside, which is a lovely touch and won’t interrupt valuable relaxation time. To top up your wellness experience we would totally recommend indulging in an additional spa treatment. The therapists are lovely and they offer a fabulous menu of beauty and body treats to enhance your spa experience leaving you completely relaxed and utterly pampered. Day passes are also available for non-residential guests, from Monday to Friday (subject to availability) at £25.00 per person, per day, which we think is fantastic value. For any golfers among you, a game can be arranged at the adjoining 18-hole course, and within the grounds of the estate the team can arrange all sorts of outdoor pursuits including tennis, archery, clay pigeon shooting and even hot air ballooning for the more adventurous.
When evening comes around the newly refurbished bar is the place to head for a pre-dinner aperitif or cocktail and an advance reservation should definitely be made in the 2 AA Rosette Oak Room Restaurant. This elegant restaurant has a warm, traditional and intimate feel and has been ranked the Best Restaurant in Hampshire at Bookatable’s Diner Awards 2018. Tylney Hall is very proud that the Oak Room Restaurant has been named the best in the whole county! We can certainly validate how delicious this fine British cuisine tasted and coupled with such attentive service truly made this culinary experience one to remember for sure. There was a lot of passion surrounding this restaurant, which resonated in the food we ate and service we received – five star all the way! The pan seared Scottish scallops Jerusalem artichoke, miso caramel, coriander was the best choice of starter and cooked to absolute perfection. For our main course we could not fault the beef fillet wellington with fois gras, as it was more than divine and melt in the mouth so that every flavour we genuinely had pleasure in tasting. On a personal note, I would love to book in just for dinner to taste this exquisite dish again! We would recommend leaving a short interval between the main course and dessert, however once you’ve made room, the milk chocolate cremeux, nut crunch, caramel shard and dulce de leche is just enough richness and sweetness to send you off to sleep feeling utterly satisfied. The food was an absolute delight incorporating local produce and a rare quality and perfection, making it one of the most memorable gastronomic experiences we have had in a very long time!
Breakfast the following morning was served in the Oak Room Restaurant, which guests can enjoy at their own leisure from 6.30am until 10.00am (Mon-Fri) and from 8.00am until 10.30am (Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays). There was a fantastic choice of continental items including fresh fruit and juices, cheeses, cold meats and pastries as well as a hot cooked breakfast buffet to help yourselves to. A la Carte dishes were also available for those looking for something a bit different or a fresh alternative. What a delightful end to an exquisite stay at Tylney Hall.
To sum up this luxury country house experience it is easy to say you will not be disappointed and there is no doubt you will have a wonderful time, whatever the occasion, creating special lasting memories. We wouldn’t hesitate to come back for more!