Just when you think you’ve stayed in the best hotels in the Cotswolds, along comes Whatley Manor luxury hotel and tops the lot. From the moment the gates opened to reveal a beautiful cobbled courtyard, the entrance garlanded by wisteria and lavender, through to the spa, private cinema, a Michelin-starred restaurant and superb gardens, Whatley Manor five-star hotel and spa didn’t disappoint in any way.
Whatley Manor is surrounded by 12 acres of land
[Note: this review of Whatley Manor hotel and spa in the Cotswolds was first published in 2016. For a more recent review go to https://aladyofleisure.com/whatley-manor-review/]
Bedrooms at Whatley Manor hotel and spa
Our suite, overlooking the lush garden terrace at the back of the hotel, was immaculate and managed to walk the line between modern luxury and classical English charm. There was ample storage space, a very smart bathroom, a good-sized bedroom and a contemporary-design lounge with vast sofa.
The bathroom was immaculate and had great views of the gardens
Our room, number 11, had a large bedroom, bathroom and a separate lounge area
Downstairs was surprisingly large and spacious for a hotel with just 23 suites and rooms – there was a large central lounge off which was a light and airy drawing room, another lounge and an adjoining bar.
To book directly with the hotel, go to: Whatley Manor hotel
To compare prices for Whatley Manor click on: Trivago – Expedia – Hotels.com
To read more reviews click here to go to Whatley Manor on TripAdvisor
Most of the rooms led outside, either to a broad terrace, overlooking the gardens and bordered by a trickling water feature, or to a courtyard where there was an abundance of cosy chairs, or to a little ornate walled garden.
The view of the grounds from our bedroom window
Exploring the grounds at Whatley Manor hotel and spa
For those in need of a longer walk, there were maps at reception showing the way down to the fast-flowing river at the bottom of the gardens, or to the gazebo at the top of the hill with fairy lights and hanging chairs. We didn’t see another person on our stroll, and it was so beautifully quiet and tranquil that we could have been miles from anywhere, rather than just 20 minutes from the M4.
A walk around the gardens yielded some surprises, such as a walled garden with a gazebo and ornamental pond
Things to do at Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds
However Whatley Manor isn’t a hotel dependent on the weather: not only is there a 40-seat private cinema for guests to hire – it also does monthly screenings – there is a very impressive spa in what used to be the stables. Much bigger than it seemed on first impression, the spa includes a hydrotherapy pool , four steam and sauna rooms, treatment rooms, salt scrub showers and a lovely outside space where you can sunbathe surrounded by Whatley Manor’s beautiful gardens.
The spa was surprisingly large and on sunny day you can relax outdoors
Dining at Whatley Manor
A highlight of our stay at Whatley Manor was the tasting menu at its two Michelin-starred restaurant run by chef Martin Burge [note: the restaurant at Whatley Manor now has one Michelin star and is run by head chef Niall Keating]. From the perfectly-formed amuse-bouche trio to quail breast, pan-fried scallop, fillet of veal and even black truffle ice-cream with creamed Roquefort cheese, the meal, in the smart and beautifully-lit dining room, didn’t put a foot wrong. A glance around the room proved that all the other diners were equally charmed, including a couple celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary.
The tasting menu included beautifully laid out dishes such as pan-fried scallop and red mullet topped with bouillabaisse consomme
One of the dessert dishes was black truffle ice-cream with Roquefort and deep-fried goat’s cheese
Breakfast was in the less formal brasserie restaurant and had everything you’d hope for in a country house hotel – terrific bacon, sausages and black pudding as well as other more inventive options such as crepes with orange honey.
The ample breakfast buffet in Whatley Manor’s less formal brasserie restaurant
Huge attention to detail at this Cotswolds gem
Afterwards as I reluctantly prepared to leave, I was struck by the huge attention to detail shown by the owners Alix and her son, Christian. The hotel isn’t cluttered at all but from little hedgehog bookcases and mouse-doorstops, to massive pot plants under stairwells and an abundance of cosy sofas, you feel as if a lot of love and thought has gone into the hotel.
Whatley Manor is prepared for all types of weather…
The central lounge – just one of several large rooms which are perfect for relaxing in
With rooms starting at £325 a night, Whatley Manor isn’t a budget option but I would say it is worth every penny.
To book directly with the hotel, go to: Whatley Manor hotel
To compare prices for Whatley Manor click on: Trivago – Expedia – Hotels.com
To read more reviews click here to go to Whatley Manor on TripAdvisor
Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa
Easton Grey
Malmesbury
Wiltshire
SN16 0RB
Whatley Manor is a member of Relais et Chateaux, Pride of Britain Hotels, is a five-star AA Hotel and is featured in the Good Hotel Guide
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