Luxury Country House Stay: Our Review Of Leamington Spa's Mallory Court Hotel And Spa

Following my excellent experience at The Greenway in the Cotswolds earlier this year, I couldn't resist a trip to the equally enticing Mallory Court Country House Hotel And Spa - also a part of Eden Hotel Collection. An Elizabethan property emulating Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens' famous architectural style, this relaxing retreat is set among ten acres of grounds near Leamington Spa, giving way to views of rolling farmland beyond. From rogue gunshot holes in the dining room's oak panelling to rose gardens that have stood for over a century, stories are plentiful in this great house's history - and the staff's enthusiasm for that legacy is both welcomed and heart-warming. The result? A hotel awarded four red stars for luxury by the AA, as well as three rosettes in culinary excellence for The Dining Room at The Manor House restaurant. Naturally, there was much excitement on my partner and I's drive over for our one-night stay at Mallory Court.

Already a fan of the Eden Hotel Collection, I wanted to see what Mallory Court was made of.

Having recently undergone renovation, with works on some parts of the hotel still taking place when we stayed, the space here feels fresh and stylish without compromising on elements of quintessentially English country house style. We found a lounge with bar service adjacent to reception, a drawing room behind serving afternoon tea by a charming fireplace and bookshelves, a sun-trap garden room with doors opening onto the south terrace, and an open-aspect glass walkway between the original main house and the newer wing of suites and master bedrooms. Immaculate grounds surrounded us including lawns for croquet and weddings, a pond, hives where a local beekeeper operates, and even a designated helicopter landing zone (crazy, right?). In awe of the whole venue already, we were ushered to an equally impressive room: Blenheim (Manor House Masters and Suites from £405 a night).

Found in the main house, and what would have been the man of the house's bedroom in years gone by, our room's huge stone bay window looked out onto the original rose gardens below - complete with two regal armchairs to create the perfect reading nook. Plush cream carpets and calming blue tones made this quite the sanctuary, while a coffee bar with hot drinks and buttery shortbread biscuits added to the amenities. From the clawfoot tub and large rain shower to the humongous, marshmallow-like bed, every comfort was catered for.

Between check-in and dinner, the Elan Spa was in order. Found on the grounds with its own Japanese restaurant, the spa has been built in the last few years - yet its style still feels in-keeping with the grandeur of the rest of Mallory Court. Each treatment room is named after precious gemstones and this opulent feel is further reflected in the sultry dark tones of the decor; perfect for my 55-minute drift away massage (from £99). With every treatment, you'll also get an hour of complimentary spa facilities access (£15 per person if you don't book a treatment). There's an indoor thermal suite - salt sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy swimming pool - alongside an outdoor thermal suite where the glass-fronted sauna and hot tub boast panoramic views of Warwickshire countryside. My experience here was one of total bliss.

I'd describe Mallory Court as a place for stepping back in time and luxurious, modern comforts in equal measure.

Prior to dinner in The Dining Room at The Manor House, we were seated in the lounge next to the restaurant space half an hour before our reservation, with complimentary amuse bouche and snacks provided to get us started. This allowed us time to pick our drinks for the evening, while food menus were also available to peruse so that we could pair our chosen bottle of wine to our intended meal - a nice touch that went the extra mile. With the two of us having our eye on the duck main, we went for the Chianti Classico DOCG Reserva from Villa Antinori in Tuscany (2020 vintage), which was both recommended by the sommelier and was the dish's assigned wine pairing on the tasting menu. We were, however, here for three courses instead; a steal at £80 per person when you consider the quality of food (more on that to come). 

Mini hard-shell tacos consumed and vino chosen, we were whisked to our table where our bottle awaited - open, ready to be poured and tasted. Again, this really highlighted the care taken in service, which was exceptional across our meal and entire stay. Given Chianti is one of my favourites, I naturally found the wine delightful, although this bottle was particularly impressive. A ripe berry and cherry blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah grapes, this wine's oaky-vanilla hints and round, velvety tannins sealed the deal for me. Moreish shallot and bacon butter to slather all over sourdough bread was also brought to the table next, leaving us feeling like very happy diners before we'd even truly begun.

Then we delved into our starters of buttery Cornish cod with meaty prawns and zingy, fresh dashi. Having previously been head chef at Michelin-starred Whatley Manor in Malmesbury and Adam’s in Birmingham, The Dining Room at The Manor House's Keiron Stevens comes with a fair few accolades to his name. This becomes immediately apparent when you try the high-quality cooking here, which focusses on seasonality and uses many ingredients grown on Mallory Court's grounds.

Our Mallory Court Hotel review? Glowing, of course.

Continuing the trend? Our previously mentioned free-range Creedy Carver duck, served alongside spring asparagus, hen of the wood mushroom, punchy black garlic, and a rich jus. When a knife cuts through your meat like butter, you know it's the one. Last up in our dinner dishes were two desserts that felt indulgent yet light on our already almost-full bellies; a Manjari dark chocolate and coffee-layered pud with yoghurt and lime for him, and a Gariguette strawberry cake decorated with sakura blossom and marigolds for me. During our meal, we were even treated to stories from a nearby table who appeared to be regulars, saying they travel to Mallory especially for the restaurant - high praise indeed. Satiated by exceptional food and in agreement that The Dining Room at The Manor House is well worth a visit even without a hotel stay, we tottered off to bed for a night of deep sleep.

The morning meant even more food at breakfast, with British staples found across the hot menu and a continental station on offer too. We happily devoured some avocado on toast and a full English featuring quality produce, but I would have preferred breakfast to be held in the main house's dining room. The set-up over at Sencha (the spa's Japanese restaurant) felt a tad too casual for me compared to the elegance of the rest of our stay - although this is a very minor sticking point when you consider that the rest of our experience was faultless. 

The DesignMyNight Digest

Mallory Court Hotel and Spa was a dream that I very much wish to repeat. The property, its grounds and history blew me away, while extra touches at dinner service really elevated the experience beyond that of other luxury hotel restaurants. And with a Michelin star chef at the helm, food ticks every box too. Overall, we could tell the team here cared deeply about our stay and that every aspect was held to the highest of standards. We'd return in a heartbeat.

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