Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons needs no introduction.
As arguably the most iconic gastronomic destination in the entirety of the UK, Raymond Blanc’s two Michelin-starred restaurant and hotel is on everyone’s bucket list - and if it isn’t on yours, I’m confident it will be by the time you reach the end of this article.
Since having a baby last year, I’ve begrudgingly accepted that ‘nights away’ will never be the same again, which is exactly why we decided to ship our beloved offspring to the grandparents and enjoy some much-needed respite at one of the UK’s most exquisite hotels.
Blanc’s French-inspired Oxfordshire manor house was the most welcome retreat for this pair of frazzled parents seeking plush accommodation for a rare lie-in, incredible food we could actually savour without interruption and beautiful grounds for a buggy-free meander. Thankfully, Le Manoir offered it all - and then some.
We felt the tension leave our bodies as we drove up to the postcard-perfect, quintessentially British manor house with immaculately manicured lawns and Japanese ornamental gardens. The staff are incredibly welcoming and surprisingly unpretentious. We were led straight to our room, Blanc de Blanc, a serene one bedroom garden suite located in the Garden Courtyard, which takes inspiration from Raymond's travels around France. With its natural white textures, fresh orchids, ornate mirrors, 17th and 18th century furniture with classic armoires and drapes, and Branche d’Olive toiletries, our room was quintessentially Provençal. As you’d expect from a hotel of this calibre, every detail is high-end, be it the Dyson hairdryer, complimentary melt-in-the-mouth lemon cake or flat screen TV in (yes, in) the bath.
If wellness is your jam, Le Manoir offers a range of amenities and activities that can be incorporated into your stay to curate the perfect, personalised retreat such as traditional meditative tea in the tranquil Japanese Garden, yoga mats in each room to allow guests to unwind and recentre, in-room treatments including facials, massages, reflexology and health boosting IV drips in partnership with digital beauty concierge, Ruuby, and an extensive pillow menu to be tailored to guests’ preferences and sleeping positions (yes, really).
Following a suitable soak in the roll top marble tub, we enjoyed an early evening tipple in the winter dome, which makes for the perfect Instagram feed fodder and a fantastically festive experience. The twinkling fairy lights adorning the winding pathway leading to the dome itself are reminiscent of a trip to Narnia (or what I’d imagine it to be). Inside the dome, you’ll find cosy tartan blankets to wrap up in, a roaring fire, cards, magazines and - I save the best ‘til last - mulled wine on tap. After a few competitive, mulled wine-fuelled rounds of Sevens, we made our way into the main house for our dining experience.
The merriment continued inside and seated by a roaring fire, we were handed an iPad from which to choose our cocktails (I’m still thinking about that margarita). Friendly waiters handed us copies of the seven course menu so we could peruse (and salivate) ahead of the main event and by magic, Mr Blanc himself made an appearance to run us through his exquisite offerings. Le Manoir is the only British restaurant to have held two Michelin stars for more than three decades and Raymond’s passion and dedication to his ‘baby’ is surely to thank.
After a delightful chat with the affable Mr Blanc, we made our way into the dining room to devour a seven-course taster menu. Flanked by amuse-bouche and petit fours, the £230 tasting menu was carefully curated using some of the hundreds of seasonal organic vegetables and herbs grown on site. Our gastronomic journey kicked off with my favourite: a French onion soup with Baron Bigod (a creamy Brie type cheese) and a deliciously light potato foam. Naturally, this clinched the title of the best French onion soup I’ve ever tasted but I’d expect no less.
The warming soup was succeeded by the most refreshing hand-dived scallop with a drizzle of sharp citrus and generous smattering of Oscietra caviar. My husband said he could eat ten portions.
The show went on with Les Champignons Sauvages - a moreishly delicate risotto of wild mushrooms laced with possibly Blanc’s greatest creation: truffle ketchup. Still with me? Good. Next came a hunk of Cornish turbot served with spiced crab, coconut and ginger, followed by the dish that I’d argue should replace the classic turkey we’re so accustomed to on Christmas day: Rhug Estate venison with red cabbage, cranberry and orchard apple.
Dessert was a refreshing palette cleanser: Fraîcheur lemon with mint, olive oil and pistachio. I have no idea how but we managed to make room for a delightful selection of petits fours and cheeses served from an epic battle ship-esque trolley that caused much fanfare as it made its way through the restaurant. We washed it all down with the entry-level 'selection classique' (£129) wine pairing for good measure.
Raymond himself so aptly writes in his welcome note: ‘The table remains a powerful symbol of friendship and celebration of life’ and we couldn’t agree more; as we looked around at all the delightfully stuffed friends and families enjoying an evening at Le Manoir, we mused over exactly why it's the bucket list destination of choice for so many. Now I implore you to add it to yours.
Church Rd, Great Milton, Oxford OX44 7PD, England.01844 278881, belmond.com
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