Hambleton Hall in Rutland

Hambleton Hall, Lincolnshire: A Timeless Retreat Hambleton Hall is one of England's most celebrated country house hotels, nestled in the picturesque countryside near Rutland Water in Lincolnshire. Although technically located in Rutland, England’s smallest county, it is easily accessible from Lincolnshire and serves as a luxurious retreat for those seeking elegance, history, and relaxation. History and Heritage Hambleton Hall was built in 1881 by Walter Marshall, a wealthy bon vivant, as a hunting lodge. Over the years, it transitioned into a country house hotel, maintaining its Victorian charm while incorporating modern luxury. The property’s heritage is evident in its architecture, which showcases intricate brickwork, gables, and period detailing. Inside, the hotel retains much of its historic character, from opulent fireplaces to rich wood paneling, providing an ambiance of timeless sophistication. Luxurious Accommodation Hambleton Hall offers an intimate experience with 17 individually styled bedrooms, each exuding charm and comfort. Rooms are elegantly decorated, combining antique furnishings with contemporary touches. Many rooms offer stunning views of the Rutland Water or the meticulously maintained gardens. Modern amenities such as plush bedding, en-suite bathrooms, and complimentary Wi-Fi ensure a perfect balance of tradition and convenience. Dining Excellence One of Hambleton Hall's standout features is its Michelin-starred restaurant. The kitchen, led by a world-class chef, serves innovative cuisine inspired by local and seasonal ingredients. Guests can savor dishes such as roast venison with beetroot or sea bass with saffron velouté, paired with an extensive selection of fine wines from the cellar. The dining experience is further enhanced by attentive service and an inviting atmosphere. Afternoon tea at Hambleton Hall is another highlight. Served in the drawing room or on the terrace overlooking the gardens, it includes a delectable assortment of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and pastries. Gardens and Surroundings The hotel is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens that provide a tranquil escape. Strolling through the grounds, visitors can admire manicured lawns, colorful flower beds, and serene water features. Beyond the gardens lies Rutland Water, a sprawling reservoir and nature reserve. It offers activities like birdwatching, sailing, and walking along its scenic trails. Activities and Relaxation Hambleton Hall caters to both active and leisurely pursuits. Guests can explore the nearby market towns of Oakham and Stamford, rich with history and boutique shopping. For those looking to relax, the cozy library and lounge areas provide perfect spots to unwind with a book or enjoy a quiet drink. Reputation and Awards Hambleton Hall is renowned for its impeccable service and attention to detail. Over the years, it has received numerous accolades, including recognition as one of the UK’s top luxury hotels. Its Michelin-starred restaurant is frequently lauded as a culinary gem, making it a destination for food enthusiasts. Conclusion Hambleton Hall embodies the quintessential English country house experience, combining historic charm with modern luxury. Whether visiting for a romantic getaway, a special occasion, or simply to escape the everyday, this iconic property offers an unforgettable retreat in the heart of England's serene countryside.

Recently had the pleasure of dining at Hambleton Hall with friends, and it was an experience to remember. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm hospitality, setting the tone for a delightful afternoon. The setting is nothing short of stunning. The hall itself is elegantly furnished, blending classic charm with modern touches. The views of Rutland Water from the dining room are breathtaking, especially on a sunny day, making it the perfect backdrop for a leisurely lunch. The service was impeccable and the menu showcased a range of seasonal dishes, all beautifully presented. Each course was a delight, with fresh, high-quality ingredients that truly celebrated local produce. Would highly recommend.

Had a wonderful Sunday lunch it was perfect.

Ridiculously expensive for the food they offer! Menu is pretty standard but the prices are outrageous

I loved it here thank you for making my weekend special

A lovely place to stay in a well managed and high standard hotel

Had the pleasure of spending two nights at HH. It is a magnificent hotel with a warm welcome from start to finish. Log fires to welcome you prior to pre dinner drinks. Our room, Lake was delightful, with expansive views over Rutland water. Dinner on both nights was truly magnificent. The Executive chef has been at the hotel for over 20 years and still on top of his game. It has one Michelin star but could easily have two. Good wine list and Dominique the sommelier, another with 25 years service, knows his stuff. Can’t rate HH highly enough.

What a place! Beautiful gardens, peaceful surroundings and a stunning meal. Would highly recommend a visit, we had the lunch menu and can’t speak highly enough of the food and the service was top notch 👌🏼 Friendly and highly professional staff ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Wonderful place to dine. Incredible food and the sort of customer service you dream about. All-round fabulous experience

One of my all-time favourite places. It's totally wonderful.

I ate at Hambleton Hall for both my 60th birthday and my son's birthday a few months later snd was not disappointed on either occasion.

We just LOVE LOVE LOVE this hotel. We only managed to stay for one night en route to The North, indeed we actually plan our journey around it. Everything is superb here and they have fully recovered from the pandemic with vigour and enthusiasm. The food, staff, service, ambience and overall styling is outstanding. Truly five star.

Glorious location. Comfortable luxury. Professional, attentive, friendly staff. Fabulous food. Outstanding in every way.

Such a beautiful place and exceptional food.

This remains an exceptional restaurant. Beautiful setting, exemplary service, delicious and imaginative food. Good weather to enable drinks and canapés to be served on the terrace enhanced the experience.

We went for lunch yesterday. It's a lovely setting overlooking Rutland Water and the interior is stately and has a opulent feel. We were invited into the drawing room for drinks and canapes which were lovely and were then taken through to the dining room for food. Everything was great and the food and service was about as expected for a Michelin star restaurant, although my dessert, while still good, was slightly underwhelming compared to our main courses. One thing to note which very few reviews have mentioned is that while the tables in the dining room are a reasonable distance apart, there is no music at all and it's a hushed atmosphere which makes conversation difficult even when the room is full. Some light background music would have made the whole experience so much more pleasant.

Amazing lunch here at Hambleton Hall. Such a special experience. Would definitely recommend!

It’s been a few years since our last visit and the tasting menu is now a la carte, but the food is still exceptional. The menu is interesting, the food is beautifully presented and the flavours are wonderful. The setting at Hambleton Hall adds another dimension. Drinks on the patio over looking the water and immaculate gardens, then into the elegant restaurant to dine. Service remains impeccable. An exceptionally good restaurant.

Hambleton Hall has a wonderful position with magnificent views across Rutland Water. It has the feel of an English Country House - with superb service throughout. The gardens lead down to the water and are beautiful. The pool would be inviting in the summer. Our room was both pretty and comfortable. What was outstanding was the bed. The monogrammed linen is charming and the bed itself wonderfully comfortable, as were the pillows, leading to great reluctance to leave it in the morning! It would be nice to have a Tea/Coffee tray in the room, you can order one but we only found that out too late when I read the room notes. We had a Bar lunch which was very good. The canapés served before dinner were delicious, full of subtle flavours and, indeed, the dinner that followed was exceptional throughout. Our cooked breakfast, accompanied by freshly made warm toast, was very good but the fresh fruit salad was dull and disappointing.

A wonderful lunchd. Exquisite food and drink. Highly recommend the rhubarb champagne cocktail.

I was disappointed that the 'lunch for less' deal had no vegetarian options.

The food was delicious and to a very high standard. We chose from the lunch for less menu.

Exceptional food and service, such a special place.

The December seasonal lunch was superb. We agreed that the starter was one of the most delicious things we have ever tasted.

Sunday lunch £84 for 3 courses (no other choice) plus 12.5% service plus even 1 drink means over £100. Additional £7.50 for coffee and 3 chocs. Roast beef came with 2 roast potatoes (not very nicely roasted) and 1 dry yorkshire pudding. Very little vegatables to speak of (e.g. 1 small carrot). Halibut had no real veg and no potatoes at all. Nobody checked that our mains were ok and nobody aksed when paying if everything was ok. Lovely hotel and appreciate fine dining but that shouldnt mean you go home hungry plus quality of cooking not top rate. Lovely setting but not worth the money - £324 for 3 with no alcoholic drinks. Impression given very complacent as know they can fill it out.

Wonderful food, service & environment. Have visited several times over the years & and have never failed to deliver excellent quality in all aspects. Thoroughly reliable.

We were spoiled with the level of service, care and standards offered on a celebratory overnight stay (Dinner, bed and breakfast). Nothing was too much trouble. The personal touches and warm welcome were especially enjoyed along with the delicious dinner. We have been lucky to dine here previously, but this was a first time with accommodation. We can't fault the experience and thank Tim and his team for making it truly memorable.

My first dinner in the restaurant and while I had high expectations there were things that disappointed: 1. Pre-drinks not being taken to the dining table 2. Very cold dining room (we were the first to be seated and asked for the heating to be turned on) 3. Some food items overly seasoned (very salty foie gras mash, short rib, halibut) 4. Being served 'Cheddar' in the cheese course which was actually Cheshire 5. Being poured the dregs of the red wine resulting in a mouth full of tartrates Perhaps all first world problems but when you are paying @£200 per head you expect everything to be right. Overall the food was lovely and the wines excellent. Shame.

Took my partner for a birthday lunch on 27/9. Wonderful experience. Great food and wonderful service. Enchanting setting inside and out. Very impressed that the details and requests I made at point of reservation were delivered as requested. Very impressed. Thank you.

A perfect start to our visit with comfortable seats in the garden, wonderful countryside views, and a perfect rhubarb cocktail! Friendly, helpful service, moving on to the cosy restaurant, a wonderful set menu with useful choices, a varied wine menu and very delicious food. A perfect lunchtime.

What a way to end my holiday! And my very 1st Michelin Star Restaurant. This beautiful stately home was once a Hunting Lodge & the gardens are just divine. The food & service were impeccable & I felt like a Queen. I could think of nothing nicer than a romantic weekend; a special occasion; an engagement or the perfect wedding here!

We had a two night stay with dinner both evenings. Our room (Middlehurst) was very tastefully decorated with stunning views over the gardens and Rutland Water. Food was excellent as was the wine - we recommend the English Sparkling Rose Gusbourne

Food was exceptionally good but service was flawed. We arrived and were warmly greeted and with acknowledgment of my birthday - it was a nice touch to have a personalised menu with mention of my birthday. Drinks were served promptly in the sitting room however when we were told our table was ready nobody offered to take our drinks through despite other guests in the room being offered the courtesy. We were shown to our table which already had our red wine on the table however nobody came to serve the wine so we helped ourselves. After the main course a wine waiter did appear and ask if we wanted any wine poured (bit late!) So finally we asked for the bill and was told we just pay in reception !!! Not what you’d expect from a Michelin rated establishment

My wife and I ate lunch here today and had an amazing experience. The staff are attentive without being intrusive and incredibly polite. We only had the main course as the food is pricey but I had the best lamb I have ever eaten. We were seated at the window with a beautiful view over Rutland Water. This is a truly exceptional place, not to be missed for a special occasion. The staff made our visit very special indeed.

Last minute booking so we were not sitting in the shared dining room overlooking the lake (in the distance) but the hotel driveway, some beautiful old trees nearby - started with a pre lunch cocktail around the fire place, so e delightful canapés hot and cold, relaxed order-taking and competent wine recommendations Then off to pur private room - beautiful decorated with printed wallpaper, two original bronze statues and a relaxed atmosphere Food was for sure on 1 star level, main course and dessert very very good, the starter ( tuna tartare I had better before and also on the small side) Very attentive, friendly and efficient service … we had a laugh when we saw lateron the descriptions of ourselves on the order sheet which was left behind on the sideboard ( old lady, ginger hair, white shirt, young guy, etc) Overall a 100% enjoyable luncheon, slightly pricy at 130£ per person for a 3 course but for sure ambiance, service and culinary skills of the team made it worth a visit Two small recommendations - ask the guest first before adding a 12.5% tip fee - a visit of the white brigade to ensure satisfaction would be appropriate at those prices

This is a lovely spot for lunch, looking out onto Rutland Water. Spectacular views. Sit in the Drawing Room for a drink before lunch, and again for coffee at the end of the meal. Flooded with light, it lifts the spirits. There is a £49 "Lunch for Less" 2 course menu, and a £95 three course. I had one, my partner had the other. All food was excellent, but they do use MSG in some dishes, so if you have a reaction to this additive, be warned. Always ask before you go anywhere, even when the restaurant has a Michelin star. Formal, but friendly staff. Just the right balance we thought. We would go again, but stay on the property if in the area.

It’s a shame that Hambleton no longer has a tasting menu, although for understandable reasons. The three course dinner menu, however, still presents beautiful food and the service and ambience is second to non. At £130, including service charge, however, I am just left with a niggling doubt that, compared to many tasting menus, dinner is a little overpriced.

4th. visit to this Michelin Starred restaurant and, as with all previous visits, it was exceptional. It is not just the food, which is absolutely superb, that draws people to this establishment but the entire experience. The location surrounded by Rutland Water and miles of beautiful countryside; the stunning building; the warm welcome; the impeccable (but discrete) service; all add to the experience. Okay, it's not cheap but nevertheless, the experience is well worth the price. 3-course lunch for 2 was just short of £250 including a magnificent meal, excellent wine and aperitifs.

This is a restaurant-only review for dinner as we were not staying there. The Hall is impeccably presented and we were welcomed into a bar room for pre-meal drinks. There is an extensive wine list from wines-of the-moment to country-specific and a decent range of...

Really comfy beds and luxurious bedding. I normally bizarrely take my own pillows to even the top hotels but Hambleton is the exeption as everything is of the very best quality. The restaurant has not succumbed to the awful modern trends of eating out of...

Exceptional food and service, lovely bedrooms, great warm pool, oh what a view. Thanks v much, see you soon.

Last night my husband and I treated ourselves to a meal at Hambleton Hall. I had always wanted to go and could not have been more impressed. Upon arrival (though we were uncharacteristically early) we received a warm welcome and was shown to he lounge...

2nd time at Hambleton as birthday great and again lived up to expectation. Food and service faultless and very tasty. Fine dining but food that you can recognise and taste. It is not cheap but worth splashing out as very special.

An excellent experience. A welcome initial greeting to drinks on the patio to three fabulous courses and then to walk the grounds. We could not fault anything. Will definitely be back.

Perfect simply perfect , every thing from the welcome at reception through the pre dinner cocktail to the fantastic dinner. Everyone played their part perfectly, worth every penny. Wish I could bring every other restaurants staff I have visited to show them how it can...

4 of us went for a birthday lunch. It was a sunny day and we had drinks outside overlooking Rutland water. The lunch menu was 2 courses for £45 and 3 courses for £95 with an £8 supplement if the steak was ordered. The observant...

We had lunch under the 'lunch for even less' menu, which was understandably limited, but lovely. We both had the pheasant which was beautifully cooked with a lovely sauce and other accompaniments - not even sure what they were, but the taste of everything was...

We went for lunch as a Christmas treat. It really didn’t disappoint. From the greeting when we arrived to the moment we left, the staff were friendly, attentive and professional. The food was amazing and more than met my expectations. Just wonderful!

This hotel is hidden away on the Hambleton peninsula overlooking Rutland Water. Happy when we arrived to find electric charging available. Very cosy small hotel almost feels like a grand house you are staying in rather than a hotel. Staff very friendly and professional! Cosy...

Words won’t describe the utterly amazing dining experience during the past 3 days. Have been coming to Hambleton Hall for many years and still so impressed with the Menu, execution and expertise of Aaron and his amazing team. I wouldn’t dream of ‘name dropping’ but...

This is in the context of a Michelin star and the expectations that creates. Ultimately, many aspects of our dining experience would warrant five stars, but I have be brutal, when my other reviews include Noma, Petrus, etc, My only real criticism is of the...

Everything was perfect. We were a party of 5 for lunch and the attention to detail was faultless. Immaculate service, delicious food from a highly original menu, carefully selected wines and delightful surroundings. Highly recommended.

We were part of a party of 12, invited to celebrate a friend’s birthday with a Sunday lunch. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed and escorted to the terrace for champagne and divine canapés. We were blessed with sunshine, so we could enjoy...

Had a couple of dinners when staying the other week, good local produce used (some from the gardens) which was well cooked and presented although some of the sauces could have been a little less rich. Everyone was very helpful although some of the brigade...

We dined at Hambleton Hall for my daughters 21st birthday. We started with cocktails on the terrace and they were served with canapes. The view is lovely and the surrounding gardens extremely well maintained. The starters were a mix to suit a range of tastes:...

Excellent Hotel and restaurant that is perfect for a special treat. We had a second floor room (Treetops) and was very impressed by the bathroom. The staff were very efficient and friendly. Our evening meal and breakfast were first class. Covid measures in place made...

Our visit was a present from our son. It was very memorable . It was a sunny day, so sat in gardens with drinks until going for dinner. The service and food was excellent.

Hambleton Hall is in the prettiest of settings on the edge of Rutland Water. It was a beautiful sunny day and therefore was able to leisurely enjoy an aperitif in the stunning garden terrace overlooking the water. Service throughout our lunch was extremely timely, friendly,...

Been many times to Hambleton Hall so wanted and somewhere special for the first post lockdown trip. Didn't disappoint! Top class service, attentive and subtle. Classic country house decor. And the food...sublime. Worth a detour for a special meal. Three courses £83 and worth every...

Oh how lovely it was to be out with friends and family in the wonderful Hambleton Hall in Rutland. A Bradbury haunt for many years. Graham and team did us proud. Thanks all for the efforts and chef for the scrumptious lunch. Bloody freezing though!...

Definitely the best lunch we have had for a long time. All the staff were friendly and experienced. Every aspect was amazing

I am sad to be writing this review as we have been loyal & enthusiastic customers of this hotel since it opened in the early 80s. Over the years, we have come for birthdays, special occasions, lunches, dinners & we have always felt we could...

My Wife surprised me with 2 hours warning. A warm welcome, incredible food and exemplary service. A must. I cant wait to return. Awesome views over Rutland Water.

Always good with a great ambience and special service. Dominique served us a beautiful Viognier from Constantia. Oliver was an excellent waiter and served my foie gras and then my roast venison cooked with squash and dark chocolate. I finished with a delightful passion fruit...

Simply sublime throughout. Uniformly high quality for all dishes. The team at Hambleton should be proud of the standard they achieve.

Whenever one dines anywhere, naturally one wants their expectations to be met or exceeded, and in these uncertain times, this is the case more so than ever. As we were staycationing in the area once again we took the opportunity to enjoy Hambleton Hall's excellent...

It’s a stunning location and we stayed in the Bay room with fabulous views of the lake. Everyone was so friendly and felt very COVID secure too. The food was outstanding - and so beautifully presented. Great midweek stay before further lockdowns.

After such a fantastic experience dining here last year, we decided to treat my mum for her birthday and take her to Hambleton Hall for Friday night dinner. Drinks, service and the amuse-bouche on arrival were excellent. My mother and I were left slightly underwhelmed...

We had dinner and stayed at this hotel for one night in July. (Hotel reviewed separately). We had high expectations as some friends choose this as their favourite hotel / restaurant in the UK. The setting of the hotel is very unusual (Rutland water is incredibly peaceful). It has an old fashioned air about the restaurant which I liked, but it was almost a bit too hushed, there were moments of silence in the restaurant as there were only four tables allowed (due to lockdown) so it may not have appeared quite as it does at full capacity when I'm sure there would be slightly more atmosphere. The service was excellent and the individually printed and personalised menus were very pretty and a nice idea. However, there wasn't much choice - my partner chose the octopus starter (out of only 3/4 options) and the waiter had to come back and apologise as it wasn't available. Very unusual for a Michelin-starred restaurant. There were no vegan options on the menu. I have harped on about this in my recent reviews of restaurants, but veganism is growing in popularity and vegan dishes can still use high quality ingredients and be presented in an extraordinary way. Anyway, I had to turn a blind eye for an evening, and wracked with guilt ate the amuse bouche topped with bacon, and chose a cheese starter and a beef main. We both found that our starters were rather bland despite being immaculately presented. Our beef mains were excellent. Despite the small criticisms it was a special evening. (Ps. the breakfast was incredible...more in my hotel review.)

I booked an overnight stay and evening meal here for my Husband's Birthday treat. We have stopped here before and eaten so I was expecting more than we got. For the first time ever we chilled next the pool on a lovely Summer's afternoon. A waiter was getting other residents drinks o we asked for some, it seemed like too much trouble though!Our friends were coming to surprise my husband for dinner with us, I did inform the restaurant, however one of the young waitresses let is slip!! I felt the service wasn't Michelin star, little finer details not being completed like you would expect.However the food was excellent and at its finest.We weren't informed that we had to complete the breakfast menu out on arrival. We found out when we got to breakfast. It seemed to be our fault, but nobody told us! However it was soon solved and our breakfast was exceptional.Overall disappointed from what we have had previously.

We arrived, thrilled to be taken to this beautiful place for lunch. The menu came and the heading was........Congratulations on your Golden Wedding anniversary. How lovely that they went to this trouble! The food was delicious, we were served water and endless bread. In my view a sign of a good restaurant. They accepted dietary difficulties without being condescending and explained what could, or could not be adjusted. The duck was perfect, in a perfect sauce. And the soufflé fab.

For the whole of August we were staycationing a mere half hour's drive away so took the opportunity to dine here no less than half a dozen times and yet we still wish we had managed to add a few more lunches to that total.Hambleton Hall is a very charming English country house hotel with lovely views over its immaculate gardens and fields beyond that meander down towards the water's edge. The restaurant marries perfectly with the rest of the place; just like the hotel it offers comfortable surroundings, charming service and of course wonderful food and wine.In the UK, the general standards of Michelin starred restaurants versus their continental counterparts is typically lower. In Hambleton's case, their star is more than justified as the level of cooking here is very strong. The kitchen produces dishes that their clientele want to eat rather than some nordic style self-indulgence from the chef. If you think fine dining is about "challenging" dishes and miniscule portions then this restaurant isn't for you.The wine list offers a superb selection with some of their mid to top-end wines also available by the glass as they use the Coravin system. Much like the food, the wine list comprises bottles that one wants to drink with a heavy weighting towards France; there is a wide range of prices so there is something to suit all budgets. The mark ups are very fair unlike so many of its peers which really gouge customers on wine pricing so this truly is a wine list for wine lovers.We sampled each of their different menus: their excellent value "lunch for less", Sunday lunch and their standard price menu. Unfortunately (and of course most understandably) due to the current pandemic, they are not offering their full tasting menu so we weren't able to try that. The canapes that we were offered were different on each of our 6 visits which was most impressive as many other restaurants would have had some repetition. All of the dishes were delicious and all of them were very well balanced. There were always lots of vegetables - including the clever use of pickles to add an extra dimension - to accompany the protein elements and a beautifully made sauce to bring everything together; this is food where you want to mop the plate clean with a piece of bread (in this case made by their own bakery)! Their pastry section deserves a special mention; each of the 5 different types of souffle that we tried were outstanding. The souffle itself was always perfectly light and full of flavour whilst the accompanying sorbet or gelato added an extra hit of flavour and texture; truly superb. Even the chocolates that accompany the coffee are exceptionally well made with a thin chocolate shell and the centre having a good hit of flavour whether it is lime, raspberry or Irish cream liqueur.This is a restaurant where one could dine daily and never get bored. It is a very customer centric experience; their focus is on ensuring that their guests enjoy their time there which is of course what true hospitality is all about. We enjoyed it so much that we've already booked a stay later this year.

Our fourth visit over about 6 years - all have been great but this was even better. Fantastic personalised lunch menu, drinks in the sunshine overlooking lake, amazing food and brilliant service throughout.Despite being very covid safe it felt normal which is a real credit to everyone involved

Our 2nd visit to Hambleton Hall. Last time was fantastic but the weather poor so we didn't get to experience the beautiful terrace overlooking Rutland Water. This time we did and we were not disappointed. Upon arrival we was instantly impressed. We arrived in a taxi and they welcomed us by name! Taken through to the terrace to have a drink before we sat down for lunch. All the staff we encountered we attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. We were brought some lovely canapes and had a glass of lovely English pink sparkling wine. Whilst we chose our food and wine. The sommelier was excellent and helped us choose an excellent Borolo. Once at our table we had amazing Hambleton bakery bread and another treat from the kitchen. I've eaten in quite a few Michael starred restaurants and this is right up there. Food was perfectly cooked, not over seasoned and full of flavour. We had the gazpacho and octopus dishes to start and the duck and lamb for main. The cheeses served were explained perfectly and informed which order to eat in. Souffle and apricot tart for dessert both stunning and delicious. Portions were spot on and we left full but not stuffed. After dinner we asked if we could stay on the terrace for another drink before leaving and this was accommodated. We will be back for a 3rd visit. Thank you to the whole team who made our 2nd visit memorable.

We have not had too many Michelin starred meals in our lives but this would definitely be up there with the best. The menu has plenty of variety and there is no nonsense about trying to make food look like something completely different. It was quite hard to choose which is always a good sign. For starters I had the gazpacho with the basil ice cream on the side - quite different from normal gazpacho, really intense flavours and a delight to look at. One of the joys of meals of this quality is that when the dish arrives it is nearly always a surprise - words can't quite describe what you are about to receive.For the main I had the Iberico pork which was just exquisite, not like any pork one has had before. My husband had the lamb, beautifully pink and he loved it. The garnishes with both dishes were unusual and delicious. For dessert we had the apricot, raspberry and almond tartlet which was just perfect. We really couldn't fault the meal and there was a selection of wines at reasonable prices. The tables were only just about far enough apart, the staff were not wearing masks, and the wine list was handed to us by the waiter. I think a place of this standard cannot rest on its laurels when it comes to Covid precautions.

They have, of course, only recently reopened after lockdown so that may be the reason for feeling that service was not the well-oiled machine that you’d hope it might be. We’d arranged to be having aperitifs at 7.15 for a 7.45 dinner. Whilst drinks appeared quickly, it was pushing 7.45 before we got to see menus, let alone order any food.Current Covid-secure guidelines indicate tables can be only 1 metre apart “with mitigations” but it was difficult to see what mitigations were in place. Unlike other meals we’ve had since early July, staff do not wear masks or visors, tables were quite close together and the service style seemed as it probably was before Covid, with no attempt to do things at a distance. It was a slightly unsettling experience rather than the very relaxed one you’d expected. This does not detract from the skill of the kitchen.The amuse bouche was lovely. A very citrussy sorrel cream, topped with smoked salmon and chopped nuts. Both starters were very summery. A very delicately flavoured crab salad was held in place by a strip of cucumber, giving a nice texture contrast. The other starter featured San Marzano tomatoes, dressed with a cream, flavoured with the elements of gazpacho and, on the side, a little basil ice cream.It just worked.Beef fillet was perfect at medium rare and came with some long cooked Jacobs Ladder (or shortrib as Americans call it). There’s a couple of shallots, mushrooms and some wilted greens. A piquant sauce brings it together. Quail was the other main. The breasts nicely pink. And the legs, still on the bone, waiting to be sucked clean – a finger bowl is thoughtfully provided. That sat on a bed of very seasonal veg – peas, broad beans, mushrooms and greens. And there’s spinach tortellini, topped with a fried quails egg. Two good plates.Tiramisu is a favourite dessert and I’m always going to order it in a new place, if it’s on the menu. This is not a classic version but more a deconstructed affair, featuring the elements of the dessert. Really enjoyable – but tiramisu, it ain’t. A blackcurrant soufflé was a knockout. Perhaps the best thing either of us ate. A perfect accompaniment was ice cream, flavoured with star anise. Tricky to get the spice balance right here, but the chef had it absolutely nailed. Coffee & petit fours were good. Second nightEating a second meal in a hotel restaurant of this quality is usually tricky. The chef has put so much time and effort into perfecting his Michelin quality dishes that there is little room for menu changes from one night to another. But, fortunately, there was enough change that we didn’t feel that this meal was in any way second best. In fact, we generally found it more enjoyable than the first.It was another lovely evening, so we had aperitifs and canapés on the terrace. As the previous night, drinks had been drunk, fingers had been tapped before menus arrived and orders taken. We both ordered the same starter. Now, call me a Grumpy Old Pedant but I reckon when a menu refers to scallops – in the plural – there’s a reasonable expectation that there will be more than one scallop on the plate. But there isn’t. The single scallop was perfectly cooked and came with a sort of “textures of leek” set of accompaniments - charred leek, grilled baby leek, leek puree, etc. It’s lovely. There’s good bread to go with it which is just as well as the main courses didn’t come with any carbs.There’s thin slices of roasted Iberico pork, perfectly cooked to medium and completely delicious. And there’s classic pork accompaniments in the form of roasted fennel, fennel puree and apple. New seasons lamb had travelled less than 10 miles from Launde Farm. Loin was served pink and came with some long cooked belly. Accompaniments were restrained – a couple of pieces of tomato, a few shreds of wilted greens, garlic and a rosemary puree.One dessert was bang-on for British seasonality, featuring strawberries, both fresh and in an ice cream, along with a sable Breton biscuit topped with an elderflower mousse. The other was a lovely crisp tart filled with frangipane and an apricot mousse, with sliced apricots decorating the plate, along with an apricot ice cream. Both dishes were really good and benefitted from not being overly sweet.We reckoned that, on the basis of our two meals, the Michelin people have it about right awarding the restaurant one star. It does, however, make us wonder how other places known to us , cooking at similar or higher level, do not get a star.

Just ordered my first take-away from Hambleton, a new venture for them in these strange times; a very poor experience. The main dish, fish pie was advertised for 4 people at a price of £18. Ridiculous! The dish was barely enough for two people and the fish was almost entirely salmon; minimal white and shellfish. The other side dishes were adequate, but nothing more. I emailed Hambleton with my comments, and, despite reminding them directly by phone, have never had a response; very poor from such an establishment. I will not repeat this experience. It's a real shame because the restaurant itself is good; however it is not adjusting to take-away very well at all.

We were treated to a midweek lunch by our boss for being excellent. What an amazing place. The setting. The food. The staff. Everything was top notch. Will definitely be back.

Seated comfortably in the bar for a kier royale and enjoyed the ambience and the amuse bouche.Menu quite extensive for lunch. We chose the gravadlax of salmon which was wonderfully presented and then went on to the slow cooked Jacob’s ladder. It was exquisite as was the chocolate tart with orange sorbet. We went in to the lounge to have our coffee and petit fours. Altogether splendid including the service.

Have just returned from another incredible 3 night visit to Hambleton Hall. Once again, I have to say that the experience here has to be one of the best of anywhere in the World.A beautiful house in a glorious setting with a true ‘Country House’ ambience.Incredible food produced by an astoundingly talented Team using amazing ingredients served by the most delightful Staff whose enthusiasm and knowledge is obvious.The whole team at Hambleton Hall will ensure that your visit will be memorable. I’ll be back again soon!

We were made to feel immediately welcome and enjoyed a pre lunch drink in the drawing room. After which seated in the dining room enjoyed another superb lunch, in elegant “English country home setting”. Food absolutely delicious, innovative menu, meal full of different flavours and textures, beautiful presentation. Wine served exactly correct temperature. The service was attentive, polite and very efficient. Sommelier was on the ball, the staff each knew in detail the answers to my many questions about the amuse bouche to the extensive cheese board. Back to the drawing room for coffee and “treats”. A short walk around the gardens still looking manicured. We were reluctant to leave.

Stayed the night and had one of the best dinners that we have ever had at Hambleton or elsewhere for that matter. Chose from the al a carte (always tempting to go for the tasting) and had a stunningly cooked partridge. Excellent wine choices as ever.One thing that always disappoints - and it may just be the hotel trade all over - but the waiting staff (not the sommelier who has always been there!) are always different - is because this is just a great place to be trained ? We normally visit twice a year and it is noticeable.

Monday evening overnight stay at HH for with my wife (vegetarian) on the occasion of her birthday. Definitely up to Michelin star standard. We went for 3 courses as there was not a vegetarian equivalent of the tasting menu. The sommelier was tasked with matching 6 wines to our 6 courses and he did so very well. Good job I mentioned about dietary requirements before the amuse bouche arrived as that affected 2 of them. We were booked for 7:30 pm and recommended to come down for 7:00pm for a drink in the bar (lovely English sparkling wine by the log fire) but then did not get taken through to the table until 8:00pm, which was a little odd.There are various paintings referencing field sports (hunting/shooting) in the bar which could be an issue for some.Lovely staff who were polite and efficient throughout, without being fussy, despite this being very "old school" fine dining - white tablecloths and napkins, silver salt/pepper pot and cutlery, all-matching fine china etc. Great bread as one would expect given the connecting to Hambleton Bakery.Everything was cooked very well and presented very attractively. Good portion sizes - we were full by the time we finished the very rich chocolate dessert, with just enough room for a final drink back before the log fire.

Came here for Sunday lunch and I was overwhelmed with everything I saw and consumed.The three course dinner was in the top three meals I’ve been lucky enough to eat and the best I’ve ever eaten within the UK. The complimentary amuse-bouche were a great start to a dining experience.I had the pan fried fillet of sea bream to start, but we all sampled one another’s dishes. Every single course exploded with exquisite and delightful combinations. I can’t do this place justice with the superlatives to describe the food we had.My main course was the poached fillet of halibut and my dessert was the first soufflé I have experienced that will always stay present within my memory.Two of our group were vegans and their food was of the same standard as ours and was a delight to taste also.The service was outstanding, expert clarification with regards to recommendations, to the whole waiting team serving piping hot food all at the same time. The Scottish matte day was brilliant.The hall itself was very eye catching with an amazing landscape view over Rutland Water.This place is very special and I will be back very soon hopefully. I like the fact that my aunt could take home the menu that was personalised with her name on also.

Midweek dinner. We started in the elegant drawing room for an aperitif. The tasting menu was a tour de force. When I read the terrine of root vegetables with artichoke ice cream as one of the early courses, I thought this was going to be a dull, warm up act to fill in time before the headline came on but I was dead wrong. It was awesome. The paté de foie gras was delicious and inventive but (the only off note of the night) the accompanying sourdough toast was very not very fresh. Otherwise the bread, from their own bakery, was great.The duck was heavenly and the soufflé perfection.Service all round was excellent.It was £95 per head and a very fair price. I’d go again.

I have been coming here, on and off for the last 20 years and its always been great. On my last visit, the food was ok, but the staff were very poorly trained and the first four staff I spoke to could barely speak English, so a total waste of time trying to ask about the dishes. Orders got mixed up too. The sommelier needs to chill out a bit as well - that kind of attitude belongs on the 80's and 90's Paris restaurants. For what you are paying, it was a real disappointment, after so many years of this being one of my favourite places

Left Hambleton Hall last week after 4 wonderful nights there. It is hard to create a sufficiently high enough review to ensure that Hambleton Hall receives the recognition it deserves for being one of the best Hotels in the World.

Dined in the main restaurant two nights during a recent November visit. One dinner ala carte, the other a full tasting menu. Both meals were superb. Creative, inventive, nuanced, delicious over every course. Some of the best meals we have enjoyed in a very long time. Can't wait for our return next May. The highest recommendation.

This was our first visit for several years and our expectations were fulfilled. Everything was as superb as we remembered. The service was top notch and we ate lunch looking out over the splendid gardens. We chose the a la carte menu and all the dishes were beautifully presented and full of flavour, especially the venison. The wines were excellent, chosen from a very interesting list. We loved the Gusborne English sparkling wine. It was an expensive treat for a special occasion, but well worth it.

Once again an excellent lunch. The whole experience is secind to none. We hold this place as a very special place for those important occassions, excellent

This is a place which holds a very special place in our hearts. We haven’t been for a few years, but it didn’t disappoint. The hotel is in a gorgeous setting overlooking the Rutland water and absolutely stunning. Beautifully decorated, with friendly and courteous staff. Hotel bedroom was beautiful and had lovely little touches. A letter from the general manager to say how nice to see us again, complementary water, shortbreads and turn down service.

Very old fashioned Michelin one star cooking. Great quality ingredients, with their own eggs and homemade breads. The rare breed pork dish I had was one of the best ever.

2 Perfect meals and service for 3 of us. Two of the party were experienced 'foodies'

3 of us booked here for lunch on October 15th, and we arrived promptly at 1pm for our 1-30 reservation.

My wife and I visited Hambleton Hall one afternoon in the spring as walk in guests when we were welcomed having requested a pot of tea and biscuits on the terrace. It was a sunny day with a busy car park and busy terrace but the staff were more than accommodating.

We have wanted to come for lunch at Hambleton Hall for years and this weekend we had the opportunity. Beautiful setting, wonderful food including the best guinea fowl dish I’ve had. Loved the cheese selection, plus all the extra courses. So pleased we have eventually had this opportunity.

Perfect in every way. One of the best meals I have enjoyed for years.

We come here at least twice a year,the food,service and ambiance are 5 star. The grouse main course was the best I have ever had and I regularly have grouse at my club in London.

First of all, I feel quite guilty for giving 3* to such a lovely house with absolutely top notch food. Also to be fair the service was pretty good up to a point. It is pricey, but it was a special occasion and we knew that it would be in advance.

Didnt even know this place existed but maybe that is part of the charm!! Such a gem of a place. A beautiful setting..so calm and relaxing and the views from the garden are amazing over Rutland Water. The restaurant is a fantastic experience and the staff are so friendly and attentive, without being pretentious. I could not fault anything and it is one of the best meals and experiences I have had for a long, long time. The Heritage tomato salad is divine, the fish was perfectly cooked and the ginger and the almond and amaretto souffle is just amazing. Really, I would rate this restaurant and the whole experience in my Top 5. We will be back!!