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A very relaxed break15/11/2007 11:37
At a rather late stage in December, we discovered Holne Chase Hotel from a "dog friendly hotel" web search and, thank goodness, although knowing absolutely nothing about the hotel beforehand, we (me, wife and Josh, our then 16 week old puppy) decided to book for 6 nights over the New Year period.
Other reviews have waxed lyrical about the hotel's location and wonderful country house ambience and we can do nothing more than to wholeheartedly agree.
That said, whatever the physical presence of an establishment, the key to a successful visit is the food and the staff, First the staff. When I made my telephone booking I spoke to both the owner - a very focussed and helpful Sebastian - and to Fi, his most excellent manager. They were friendly, efficient and as they both sounded suitably nuts with it, I felt confident that we were going to fit right in and have a good time.
And so it proved. we were welcomed with a glass of fine sherry - which went down a treat after being subjected to the rigours of the A303 for 2.5 hours on December 27th when all the world seemed to be on the move. We were first shown to our Stable Suite (as properly described in other reviews) but, as we felt that it was not suitable for so young a puppy, with neither fuss nor difficulty, we were moved into a more suitable room in the main hotel. While the room was at the rear of the building, it was well appointed and worked for us when we went down to breakfast or dinner leaving the puppy within easy reach! The housekeeping staff worked tirelessly throughout our stay and our room was returned to pristine nick day after day. The front of house staff were a joy; they had obviously been going full bore for Christmas but you wouldn't ever have known it; they remained friendly and helpful throughout and we could not find a single cause for criticism.
As December 31st also happens to be our wedding anniversary, we were a tad anxious that the evening would perhaps not meet our hopeful expectations - but - there you go - wrong again! We had canapés and a warm-up glass of fizz in the bar with Fi before going in to a superb dinner. I started with some of the best scallops I have ever eaten (and that's a lot!) followed by a champagne sorbet and pan-fried turbot which, though notoriously difficult to get right, was spot on; not to have a pudding would have been rude, so a black cherry and mascarpone confection followed the fish. My wife had an excellent parsnip and apple soup, sorbet and yummy Gressingham duck - but no pudding (too full!), Accompaniments were imaginative and well cooked. A pretty decent Gevrey Chambertin eased it all down, after which we retired to the bar to coffee, petit fours and liqueurs. A talented local 3-piece band had been laid on for our entertainment (and very good they were, delighting the company with jazz standards we all knew and were terrific to dance to). A slight criticism voiced by wife was that the band ought to been allowed to get going before 10pm as some serenading during dinner would have been wonderful; that said, the champagne flowed and a very good time was had by all!
Then came the piece de resistance - the firework display at midnight; although the weather during the daylight hours had been dire (as it was pretty well all the time we were there!) evening saw the rain stop and the wind ease, so, at the witching hour, everyone piled out of the building to witness what was, in our experience at least, a most wonderful fireworks display. When the bangs and whizzes had finally stopped, several of the canine guests (including our own) came down and joined the well-sated revellers in the bar; at around 02:30 we finally called it a day and went to bed, more than delighted that we had landed on our feet (or paws, in Josh's case) in choosing Holne Chase for our important day.
The food in general was terrific, and the chef did us proud day after day. Running out of black pudding might upset some but it was but a trifling oversight. Our main meals were always first class and value for money and the light lunch bar menu is to be commended, especially for one of the best club sandwiches and chips that has ever gone down my throat!
This was a very relaxed break - other than for the understandable anxieties we felt because of bringing the puppy to so excellent a place - but, thank goodness, he let us down not at all! The location is outstanding, the management and staff were terrific, the marketing of the hotel is first class and we wish Sebastian and his team nothing but continuing success in making Holne Chase Hotel, in our opinion, not just an upper decile 3 star hotel well worthy of it 2 AA rosettes, but an amazing 'find' for us, being as it is within easy range of our Wiltshire home and a worthy competitor to our long-favoured Scottish retreat in Tarbert, Loch Fyne where would normally have gone for Hogmanay.
If they'll have us, we'll be back, in (with luck) more clement weather, but even if it's pouring, somehow the sun will always be shining on this amazing place!!
Any review of this nature has to be made on a level playing field basis; Holne Chase is not and does not pretend to be more than it is; sure, it could use some refurbishment here and there but, in its market and class it is outstanding. It does not offer pampering (save for the dogs). If you have a dog (and even if you don't) , enjoy great food and appreciate lovely surroundings in an hotel run by nice people - just go and find out for yourself.
Mr and Mrs Hill
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