Restaurant at Esseborne Manor in Test Valley

We ate three breakfasts and suppers and enjoyed the bar as well during our three-night stay. I have to say with all honesty everything was always perfect, from the food to the service. The ambience of the manor also creates a positive mood, classic yet relaxed. We also enjoyed seating outdoors with relaxing green views.

We received a buy a gift voucher for afternoon tea. The location is very pretty and the service was good. Contrary to the other reviews, we found the afternoon tea average at best. The sandwiches were a little lack lustre, it appeared to be a cheap/catering jam and whilst you got two scones the quantity of jam/cream to scone wasn’t quite right. The saving grace were the cakes they were the best part, especially the posset. We were in and out within 40 minutes, perhaps an offer for more tea or to walk around the grounds would have been welcomed but we just were left to sit…..we wouldn’t return.

I would like to thank Ian, Mark and supporting staff for helping to arrange a fantastic 60th birthday party for friends and family. As we have been to the restaurant many times for Sunday lunch and the the tasting menu so we know how fantastic the food and service is so it was nice to hear from everyone that they also loved the food. The buffet starter, selection of main courses and buffet dessert’s was perfect as usual. The vegan guest was very impressed with her special menu. I spoke to many guests who said they are planning a follow-up visit. It was nice to be able to support local small businesses from Dotty Dot Balloons for the table decorations, Gilmore’n Jaz and Amy on sax for the Jazz music, Michael King for the close-up magic and Beautiful Birthday Cakes for the birthday cake. As a result of all this the party was enjoyed by everyone and can not recommend Esseborne Manor highly enough and a big thank you from all 41 guests.

My wife’s brother lives past Stonehenge whilst we hail from Buckinghamshire. Where to meet to chat, share news, exchange gifts for some mature split Hostas which needed a new home We met at noon and had arranged to have private dining as the brother is profoundly deaf. The perfect spot. A delicious crispy egg starter, really a poached egg in breadcrumbs but served warm and by magic a runny yoke!!! Sea bass, crispy skin we were split so two had roasted pork!! A generous wine by the glass, a full flavour Chenin Blanc from South Africa, crisp, great fruit and served by our charming front of house host. We were not rushed, ate dessert and three delicious coffees and a very reasonable £77 per couple. Well done. The gardens looked to be the perfect setting for a Summer Lunch, a celebration or a wedding. Sadly the weather today did not allow us to dally.

Very friendly people, asked if we had any dietary requirements, which were fulfilled when our tea arrived.Extensive range of tea choice , and the cream tea itself was superb, lovely Sandwiches on white and brown bread, fruit scones with cream and jam and a lovely mix of patisseries .. we cannot fault the cream tea, it was really nice. We couldn’t eat it all and we were given boxes to take the remaking patisseries home.

We finally got to have our fine dining experience which was a Christmas gift from my son and his girlfriend in 2019! We chose Essbourne as it is the closest to where we live and it definitely met our expectations. From the gazpacho soup hors d'oeuvres to the desserts the food was excellent. The fish cake starter was the highlight for me with everything else very close behind. The waiting staff were top notch too! We will definitely be returning.

Excellent food, which was served beautifully. Which considering normal wedding charges was fantastic value fro money.

Absolutely gorgeous!! The meal was faultless with delicious dishes and wonderful service. Highly recommended.

A very warm welcome staff were friendly but efficient. The food was superb and plentiful. At Esseborne you always know that you will get excellent value, Have been many times and will always come back.

This is our 5 visit and the food and atmosphere is always very good and you are spoilt with some amazing rooms to pick to stay in.we highly recommend a visit any time of year and a top chief and staff alway at hand enjoy 🥰

Today I went to a Ruby wedding occasion at Esseborne Manor. It was perfect. The food was delicious. The service was excellent. Everything was very well presented. We loved it and we will certainly go again.

Ate on the evening of our overnight stay and it was perfect from the fantasic food to the wonderful service. Paired wines were also excellent - will definitely return!

Hadn’t seen my sister since March 2020 because of the pandemic so we booked a night away, plus the tea and taster dinner. It was a delightful visit and I would thoroughly recommend. The food was amazing and beautifully presented. The staff were lovely.

Both the fantastic taster menu and the al la carte meals were wonderful. Enjoying aperitifs and after dinner drinks in the bar area was very pleasant too.

Sunday lunch, long overdue birthday celebration for 2 of us. As always, better than good service, delicious lunch served in sensible size portions, leisurely lunch thoroughly enjoyed.

The Manor has fabulous service. The decoration is vibrant and the chairs in the restaurant are very comfortable. Perfect for relaxing and enjoying the wonderful food. The two or three course menu is really good value and you can really tell that the restaurant cares...

We arrived early but were made to feel very welcome.The service was good from start to finish and we really enjoyed our 3 course lunch,couldn't fault it in anyway so thank you.

The 7 Course Tasting Menu is well worth having and such good value. Everything was tasty and so well presented. The chef must be congratulated on the presentation of each dish. One of our party had the 3 course menu which had a good variety...

Great choice, of starters, main and dessert. All cooked to an excellent standard. Complementary tapas with pre meal drink. All making you feel that this is a top class place.

I had been to Esseborne previously but my husband had not so I booked for ourselves and another couple to go for the 20 pound three course special on offer until the end of March. As usual we had a warm welcome and enjoyed a...

We had a delightful lunch there last week. Food was very good and the restaurant was full. We were looked after well by the staff and all in all I would recommend.

10 of us had dinner here. The people who had pork sent it back, it was very pink, roast potatoes were tasteless, the only decent thing was the cabbage, which was very tasty For sweet, if you didn't like chocolate there wasn't much to choose...

So we had the 7 course tasting menu which was brilliant the food was great the service was good my partner had the wine flight to accompany the meal which she said was also very good the breakfast this morning was also very very good

Here for the 7 course tasting menu which was a delight. Pleasant service, great food and all evening to enjoy it. Meal was accompanied by a wine flight. and we were given just a brief introduction to each wine and this was spot on ,...

A wonderful time at essebourne. Lovely welcome and perfect sandwiches and yummy cakes. Such good value for money. And no pressure on how long we where there. Will return. A lovely afternoon with friends in a beautiful place. Thank you to all the staff for...

We had such a wonderful experience here at Essebourne Manor. The level of care and attentiveness from the staff was second to none. The atmosphere was very chilled and restful with a sense of the guests being spoilt and well rested. The evening meal, cream...

Superb accommodation in lovely grounds. Friendly and very accommodating staff. 7 coarse taster menu was excellent as was breakfast and regular evening meal menu.

We stayed for one night and dined in the hotel restaurant. The staff were friendly and helpful, the rooms were very comfortable and beautifully clean. The food was excellent, we had the 7 course tasting menu and the matching wine flight, both were absolutely fabulous....

We went for 1st Wedding Anniversary Champagne dinner. They have redecorated the Sitting Room, Main Dining Room and the Bar area, very tastefully furnished. The dinner selection was small but really adequate and actually quite varied. It's a busy hotel so you will need to...

Spent a couple of days there with friends. Lovely cost place if a little tired. Food and service good if a little chaotic at times. Quality and presentation were delightful as were the staff. Portions were a little small but I have a big appetite!...

The location and restaurant are lovely, as are the staff. The taster menu great value for money.

Lovely relaxing setting, with a warm welcome and attentive service. The food was excellent, with lovely surprises. Would highly recommend.

Celebrated our wedding anniversary with the 7 course tasting menu and accompanying wines. Every course was excellent with an exciting mix of flavours and textures. The restaurant space is a good size to create a nice atmosphere. Will return as soon as possible.

We have not or shall not be dining/staying here, this review is on customer service treatment only!

We love to try new venues and this one popped up to tempt us! I asked about a menu when I booked and was told it changes frequently depending on local produce, good sign. Having booked a lunch to take a dear relative for a treat, we arrived and recieved a great welcome. The lunch menu had several choices, more than enough for any taste and the meal was fantastic, along with attentive but not over intense service. To have such a good meal at the price outside London was a treat in itself...highly recommended. The Sunday Lunch menu looked fab so a return visit will be a must.The flavour in every course was sublime..thank you.

Sit you in another room and insist on purchasing extra drinks while booking all you can eat Sunday lunch. Shame! Do not go back.

We had the 7-course tasting menu, accompanied with wines and it was first rate, highly recommend, we will certainly return in the not too distant future.

The owner must keep his chef, he is the tops. Superb food served with class by staff who care.I specifacly chose courses I would not normally choose such as the main course of duck and was not dissapointed.

Came here last night as part of our package as we stayed at the hotel we opted for the seven course tasting menu with a wine flight to accompany the food was incredible and the whole experience was great well worth coming here to try this

Went here with my husband , mum and dad for Sunday lunch . Lovely surroundings . Room and tables set out well with plenty of space . Buffet starter lots of choice I had the soup which I enjoyed . Roast rib eye was so tender and tasty , Vegs were fresh - only gripe would be the roast potatoes which has the texture and taste of frozen . Lots of desserts to choose from including 2 hot puddings and a tray of fruit . Throughly enjoyed the whole meal and experience . Will be keen to visit for an evening meal

From pulling up at Essbourne we were not disappointed , very friendly staff , traditional Manor House decor , wonderful tasting menu and very reasonably priced food and drinks. Was not disappointed , we will be returning.

We visited again for pre Christmas lunch and had a great time. This is an annual event for us (although we've been back during the year) and it was so much better than last year's disappointing visit. The hotel felt warm as soon as we stepped through the door and there was a roaring fire in the bar. Drinks and an amuse bouche were served with the usual high quality attention. Lunch was served in the Tapestry Room which was excellent as the sun was flooding through the windows. We all had the three course lunch and my fish, followed by fish was excellent. The cheeseboard had some variety and although I ordered an extra side of veg, the portion sizes were much improved. We had an excellent time and we'll be back before next Christmas. Maybe for one of the brilliant Sunday lunches.

Go for the 7 course taster menu and a flight of wine. It would have been nice to have included a dessert wine to finish the meal.

The best resturant meal I have had in years , although my initial impression of this venue was a little negative I was blown away by not only the presentation of each course the sheer excellence of the chefs was superb .

We’ve lived close to Esseborne Manor for over 30 years but never visited or dined there so took the opportunity of a special deal for lunch. A friendly welcome when booking and arriving at the hotel from a gentleman who turned out to be the owner. Pre-lunch drinks (including beers from our local micro- Brewery) in the quaint bar followed by an excellent 3 course lunch in the modern spacious dining room. The meal was faultless with a good choice of well prepared dishes all served by the friendly and helpful staff. Although the restaurant was busy, the tables were separated such that adjacent conversations from larger groups did not intrude. All in all, a most enjoyable meal. We shall return.

Came here with friends because the Manor had a special lunch deal.

My wife and I had the 7 course tasting menu....sorry not impressed.

I visited this restaurant with my partner for a 7 course tasting menu! I got a really good deal from Groupon for £67, otherwise its £55 per person.

We stayed here as part of a Virgin package & weren't disappointed. Location is excellent, only a few miles outside of Andover & although on a busy main road, you don't hear the traffic. The building & grounds are delightful with adequate parking. The staff are excellent, very attentive & helpful. Our room in the annex was huge & well appointed, with a king size comfy bed. Our meal of lamb roll & plaice fillets for my wife & scallops & duck was fine (see below). Breakfast was good, my wife had salmon & scrambled eggs & I had sausage,bacon & scrambled eggs, apart from the sausage! The only criticism of this establishment is the food. 1. Two tiny scallops for starters isn't enough. 2. The duck breast was warm not hot. 3. Without doubt the sausage was the worst I have ever tasted! Not just the anaemia appearance, but the near inedible content. This made Richmond sausages seem like fine dining! Sounds a bit picky but all hotels need a bit of fine tuning.

Visited for the three course lunch with wine and this was the first visit. The grounds driving into the house don’t leave you particularly inspired but once inside the staff were fantastic from start to finish.

Had the 7 course taster menu following a voucher deal.

Very small portions complimented with very rude staff. We paid a lot of money for a three course dinner but the portions were incredibly small to the point of being ridiculous. If this was a 7 course menu I might understand but a baby tomato for starter followed by six chips and a sliver of steak for main is just tight. I could have put all three courses between a couple of slices of bread and eaten in a few bites. At least what was flowing freely was the rudeness from the staff - no scrimping here! My wife and myself were made to feel insulted and left feeling very awkward when I dared to question the portion size. A horrible experience!

In 2014 a group of 50 had an excellent hot and cold buffet lunch at The Esseborne Manor. Yesterday, 42 returned for a similar occasion. In all respects it was an excellent event. Ian and Mark made the initial planning process very straightforward. We were welcomed with non-alcoholic punch on the terrace before transferring to the lovely dining/function room for a delicious hot and cold buffet lunch consisting of a selection of starters, mains, pudding and cheese. There were ample amounts of each course. Finally, there was a choice of tea or coffee.

Enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea served with vintage crockery/ tea ware. Unlimited Tea and coffee was served alongside a lovely selection of sandwiches, scones and cream ten a fine selection of puddings and cakes. Staff really welcoming and friendly. Thank you to Esseborne staff

As a gift from our family to which we added Bed an Breakfast we visited this establishment on 7.7.18

Bought the 7 course taster menu/ overnight stay. The room was noisy (sounded like generator)and the light over the bathroom mirror was broken. The bed however was comfy. Disappointed with the Taster menu. 1st course of chicken skin was fantastic and then it was downhill from there. Every dish apart from the duck(which both myself and husband left as was tough) were luke warm.

This was our first visit, we were both very impressed. The staff were friendly and efficient. Nice lounges to sit and relax in. The restaurant is airy with plenty of room. Food was very nice, a great selection of starters and desserts. The shingle drive is awkward for wheelchairs and strollers.

Visited with my other half about a month ago. Food and presentation excellent, service very good and comparing price to quality it was worth every penny. Steak was beautifully cooked and well seasoned. Hoping to visit again soon.

As we walked through the hotel door we immediately felt a sense of relaxation. Our room was comfortable and very clean, with welcoming biscuits and tea. We wished later that we hadn’t eaten the biscuits as for dinner, we were treated to the most wonderful 7 course tasting menu imaginable. All served to us at exactly the right time so that each course could be savoured. They should be very proud of their chefs ( could probably give the Masterchef contenders a run for their money!)

I had a fairly simple meal, fish croquette and a chicken dish, but they were superbly cooked. It made me want to try the tasting menu. Next time!

Fantastic 7 course tasting menu - food was excellent! The decor is qwerky - almost feels like someones living room and dining room! Staff were attentive, and the wine pairing was great too - large glasses with each course!!

Absolutely stunning food. I couldn't fault anything. I would definitely like to return again. The staff were very attentive without being invasive which is a true skill.

The Taster meal was such a treat with different tastes on each course a experience not to be passed bye

It is not the best appointed restaurant but the food was excellent. The menu gives little away, potato and chicken skin doesn’t sound a great starter but wow! Highlights were the cod with seafood Bolognese - the fish just cooked, still translucent; the apple posset - looked creamy, tasted of Granny Smith that point just between sweet and sharp. The lamb needs a bit of work and the duck would benefit from a steak knife. The accompanying wine selection was rather safe and uninspired.

Food was excellent. Innovative and beautifully presented. Lovely intimate dining room with attentive but not intrusive waiting staff. A wonderful experience.

We have had the tasting menu a few times and are never disappointed. The food is better than at the...

Stayed on a travelzoo voucher and upgraded our meal for £10 each to the 7 course taster menu So glad...

We've been visiting Esseborne for probably 20 years. I'd expect change but I think that most changes have been for...

We went for a celebratory family Sunday Lunch at Esseborne and the food was very good. Liked the choices available...

My wife and I opted for the 7 course tasting menu which was excellent, chef take a bow. The only...

This is a well established hotel in the area good for outings and weddings. Accomodation is also good.

We purchased a Groupon voucher for the seven course taster menu, which is brilliant. On arrival you buy your drinks and get given a few canapès before being called through to the dining room. With fresh warm bread on the table, you eagerly await your first course! The staff are very polite and attentive. After the seven courses you can retire to the lounge or library for coffee and tea with petit fours. The experience is just perfect.

We had a Travelzoo deal which gave us bed, breakfast, tea and the evening meal. We bought two which we used consecutively. The tea was served in the lounge. The scones were warm and crispy. Amazingly good.

There are maby plus points to this quaint restaurant. The food was amazing well cooked, good herb and flower use to complement the dishes but small portions and slow service. Wasn't a problem as food was worth the wait. Lovely hand made breads and presentation of food was remarkable. Very reasonable on price. Beautiful surroundings and settings with fields all around. Food was definitely to 2 rossette standard. Would love to visit again

I spent two nights at this hotel and was very pleasantly surprised. The hotel is situated in beautiful country garden surroundings in the middle of countryside. While whole place has a gentle rather bygone feeling. The highlights are the very personal service, cocktails with very generous alcoholic measures. inexpensive wine list. What sets this apart of anywhere else is the high quality of the evening meals. in my opinion better than some of the finest restaurants in London. There are 7 course tasting menu's from only £35 each course of which outdoes the best I have tasted in London. The food is sublime . it is worth a trip here to have a single meal. the hotel is not slick not contemporary, but the food would have hard to match, anywhere. it is worth a trip from London just for the tasting menu alone. There is a vegetarian tasting menu each plate is a wonder.

The unpretentious nature of this restaurant is refreshing when it actually delivers what is reasonably expected and promised. Adequate choice of 'wines by the glass' and reasonably priced wine list.

Lovely choice in fixed price menu and very reasonably priced. Good amuse bouche while having G&T in the bar. A good find.

Think Michelin star and taste. Great presentation and fair wine selection. Service can be slow at times. Value for money +++

Met friends for lunch today. We needed somewhere central to all three of us as coming from all directions. What a find this is. We opted for the 3 course lunch which at £23 including a glass of wine represents excellent value. The food was all beautifully presented and delicious. Nice touches of an Amuse Bouche and sweet treats with our hot drinks. Would thoroughly recommend.

We had the tasting menu, 7 courses I think, all were really good and the service was excellent. We also stayed the night in the hotel

Simply exquisite 7 course tasting menu - excellent value if you book the DB&B as a package - £159 for two approx.

We had the Severn course tasting menu which was gorgeous the portions were small but just right for the 7 courses for us on a hot summer evening. If you have a big appetite or are really hungry you may need to ask for extra bread that are really good.You can tell the chef really enjoys & has a passion to serve stunning dishes. We enjoyed every course we felt the fresh strawberries were much better than the freeze dried.The wine flight was not the best we liked 2 out of the four so were a little disappointed with that but would definitely recommend for a special evening.

Excellent 7-course tasting menu with wines to compliment the courses. There is a vegetarian taster menu on offer plus a "Grill" menu which we tried the second night. Food superbly well cooked and served quickly and competently by lovely staff

Having eaten here a few times now, I can wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant. The seven course tasting menu is amazing - small portions of exquisitely tasting food which delight the palate. Although the portions are small, due to the taste sensations, you are not left feeling hungry, but feel satisfied and pleasantly full. We have also had their fixed price lunch menu and the taste sensations are no less exciting. We are always amazed at the value. We have heard of their Sunday lunch buffet - and hope to try it soon as I'm sure that it will be wonderful. The hotel/restaurant management and staff are always happy to help and service is exemplary. All in all, a wonderful dining experience in a lovely setting.

I strongly recommend the seven course tasting menu. Thoughtfully combined ingredients bring interest and delight to each course, and the chances are you will encounter something you haven't tried before, or in a different context to normal. For me, the combination of rhubarb and sorrel was amazing. This approach makes and interesting and pleasant change to the normal three course meal.

Each course was beautifully presented, full of subtle flavours and good on the palette and the eye. Delicious

What a find, very helpful staff serving excellent food in a very comfortable cosy dining room with lovely views across the garden.

Excellent all round - the amuse bouche was lovely as well on top of the degustation menu. Wine selection very good apart from the Rose which could do with an upgrade - anything that bright pink simply can't be any good. Staff were generally very good as wellWhat would I change apart from the Rose? Maybe spruce up the bar area a little and perhaps have someone in their F/T between 7pm and 8.30pm when busy.Also, the main wine list could do with a few more higher end selections.Hotel and Breakfast - way above expectations for what is billed as a 3 star, but could easily be a 4 star, but that would mean room service and 24 hour reception etc which they really don't need.The change the taster menu 4 times a year - we will be back.....

Had a lovely meal on the Saturday night here. Service was excellent and the food was beautifully presented. Chef obviously likes to experiment and some of the combinations worked better than others. Definitely somewhere I would go again. Overall I would score 8/10.

Had a cream tea with lovely homemade scones and then the tasting menu in the evening. All the food was cooked really well and tasted great, empty plates all round. Also had breakfast in the morning which again was great.

I stayed at the hotel and have reviewed that separately but as far as the restaurant goes I have to say that it was one of the best taster venues that I have ever had. Superb.

Took a friend to lunch hoping to impress,couldnt have chosen better,first class food,excellent service.Deffinitly a place to visit again

We visited in November after purchasing a groupon voucher for the 7 course tasting menu. We couldn't fault the food or service. The wine flight at £15 to accompany the meal was excellent value for money. We will certainly be going back when the next menu comes out.

Just been to Esseborne Manor. Its the first time we have been but went with friends who go quite often and they love it there. £25 for Sunday lunch. All you can eat starter and puddings with a main of your choice. They also cook the meat to how you would like it and as I can't eat pink meat that was a bonus. A couple of our party had the beef, a couple lamb and a couple sea bass and we all thorough enjoyed it. Then cheese and biscuits and coffee after that if you are still hungry !! Its in a beautiful location and in summer you can sit out on the patio and soak up the sun.

This was the perfect place for a lunch to mark my friend's 90th birthday party. The food was excellent: gravadlax, beef and lemon posset. The home-made bread is special. The staff were unobtrusive but the service was slick. We had a room to ourselves and there was no question of hurrying us on. I like the old-fashioned feel and Mr Hamilton was flexible: we made changes almost at the last minute.I maintain you can tell a lot about an establishment by the state of its loos. The ladies' at Esseborne is a treat.

Six ladies had afternoon tea to celebrate a special birthday and everything was perfect. The staff were very polite and attentive and the 3 courses of afternoon tea were delicious and beautifully presented.. Instead of sitting in the dining room, a large round coffee table surrounded by comfortable arm chairs were set up in a snug which was much more relaxing.

Great evening with friends using a Travelzoo voucher for the taster menu. Very friendly welcome to this slightly out of the way in a very scenic area hotel and restaurant. Aperitif in the late summer sunshine followed by the nice and well selected taster menu. We enjoyed all dishes, nothing too pretentious. With a good and reasonably priced wine selection to the support the meu we had a great evening.

We were treated to Sunday lunch by friends and what a delight! The starters are buffet style cold cuts, salad, prawns, salmon, potato salad, coleslaw plus soup of the day if you fancy. Followed by a waiter served main course of your choice. We chose the beef and it was cooked to perfection, along with the usual accompanyments. For dessert you could once again revert to buffet style where there was a large choice from fresh fruit through to cheesecakes and mousses and then hot crumble or sticky pudding and custard - take your pick, you will not be disappointed. Cheese and biscuits followed by coffee served in the Library. The surroundings suited us as we just wanted to be able to chat and chill with friends. The staff were friendly and helpful - a thoroughly enjoyable visit at a lovely venue.

I stayed here in July on business.I drive up and thought it looked grand but that was not the case.The hotel was tired and needed a bit of tlc.The staff were friendly but the service was average.The evening meal menu was a little mixed up and there was a lack of selection.All in all this place has potential but at the moment that potential isn't being realised.

Lovely stay at this quiet and friendly hotel. The taster menu was without a doubt the best meal I've ever had out. Going again next week and cannot wait!,