With the March magazine deadline upon me it was great to escape the pressures of finalising a chunky edition and make a long overdue return to Rockliffe Hall.
I’d stayed at this wonderful venue on two previous occasions many moons ago and played the championship golf course a number of times in the intervening period but this was my first visit in ‘Northern Insight days’.
Lisa and I set off on a crisp Sunday afternoon, journeyed down the A1, and reached this oasis of luxury in less than an hour.
We were greeted by the warmest of welcomes from receptionist Thea and told that we’d been allocated a room in the Old Hall which has been sympathetically restored. It’s a lovely building with original features which provide a happy mix of timeless, classical style with a modern twist. It’s absolutely stunning.
As is befitting of a five star hotel, our Old Hall suite (they’re all different by the way) was a joy to behold. Huge comfortable bed with Egyptian cotton bedding, massive smart TV, lounge and seating area, great bathroom and mini fridge. The views across the gardens and surrounding woodlands are lovely.
We quickly changed into swimming costumes and bathrobes and made the short walk to the luxury spa.
Due to a frozen shoulder injury which took a long time to heal, this old publisher hadn’t done any swimming for two years so it was a joy to get into the huge pool and try the gentlest of breaststrokes. Lisa, a committed non swimmer, made full use of the poolside loungers. She pretended to be reading the newspapers…I suspect she was making sure I didn’t sink!
Paddle complete we adjourned to the accompanying sauna and jacuzzi and then made our way for a rather exclusive Spa Garden experience. This is in a separate building adjacent to the main spa and comes complete with another huge communal spa, heated loungers and relaxation area. The jewel in the crown however is the heated outdoor infinity pool with breathtaking views over the golf course and surrounding countryside. Absolute bliss.
Feeling ultra-chilled we returned to base camp and changed to enjoy a pre-dinner ‘loosener’ in the wellstocked bar before dining in The Orangery which is a truly sumptuous restaurant.
As is befitting of the venue, the food and service was exemplary and the menus, which have been devised by new Head Chef, Paul Nicholson, are varied and hugely imaginative. Their a la carte and tasting menus feature carefully crafted dishes using as much local produce as possible…including from the Rockliffe Hall gardens.
Due to the simple fact that Paul Nicholson constantly changes the menu, largely to reflect the seasons, the dishes we went for may not always be available.
We went for the tasting menu.
For starters I chose the Risotto which came with celeriac, tarragon and Hen of the Woods which is a type of mushroom. Lisa went for the Confit Salmon which contained truffle, leek and whey.
When the waiter puts the plate in front of you, you stare down at a work of art. It’s a shame to break into it.
Onto the main course. Have you ever been to a restaurant and spotted someone nearby eating their meal, or seen a waiter walk past with a plate for a fellow diner, and thought…ah ha…that looks really nice? And then you go for it as well.
That’s what Lisa and I did. We both went for the Short Rib of Beef. It came with brassicas, malt and smoked bone marrow.
And to finish off, I chose one of my all-time favourites… Granny Smith Apple Pie. Delightful, with a tangy yet smooth yoghurt texture.
As for Lisa, well anything with chocolate invariably gets the thumbs-up. The 64% Valrhona Manjari contained hazelnut, banana and passion fruit. It hit the spot.
Oh, and the wine menu is vast. They have over 400 available. We took advice on what would go best with the dishes we’d chosen and plumped for the Little Beauty, Black Edition, New Zealand Marlborough. As sauvignon blancs go, it was one of the best we’ve ever tried…lightly oaked with a seriously tropical zing. Lovely.
After a wonderful night’s sleep and a relaxing breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for me and full English for Lisa, we made the short trip back up the A1 ready to tackle the deadline ahead in a positive frame of mind and fully relaxed.
Couldn’t recommend more highly. We’ll be back.