Set on the outskirts of Midhurst in East Sussex, this top quality rural hotel is a mini oasis of…read morerelaxing luxury. Comprising of an old manor house which has been kept authentic and tasteful, a health spa offering treatments, swimming pool and Jacuzzi, and a world class restaurant and gorgeous old country bar with huge leather sofas and a moose head on the wall, there is no better place for getting away from it all within an hour of London. The rooms themselves are antique-cool, with a fresh, clean and traditional yet funky feel. The food in the restaurant is simply outstanding: melting smoked salmon and beer-battered oyster or hearty smoked ham and haddock fish-cake with a poached egg and béarnaise for starters, ranging to delicate lemon sole and rich moist calf's liver for mains. Everything is so well-cooked and taken from the finest local produce. If you're looking for that ultimate relaxing weekend break, treat yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Having had a rather hearty full English breakfast in Chichester, my girlfriend & I decided to skip…read morelunch & go for broke with an "full English" afternoon tea in Midhurst after visiting the Cowdray ruins earlier. OK, it wasn't cheap - we went for the cream tea with extra cake & biscuits for £19.50 for the 2 of us. We could have gone elsewhere & saved a bit but to hell with the expense - we were on holiday! The hotel is wonderful with a grand atmosphere. We sat out in the conservatory & awaited the arrival of out tea. 15 mins later & 4 scones, a large bowl of clotted cream, 4 mini pots of Tiptree Raspberry jam, 2 flat round shortbreads, 2 round chocolate biscuits, 2 pieces of date cake, a large pot of tea, extra water, milk & assorted sugar cubes were placed on a large tray before us! The scones & biscuits were obviously fresh & by the time it came to the biscuits, we were both moving a little slower! There was also a wedding reception taking place. I walked past where the staff were putting the finishing touches on the deserts with pride & care. Leilah walked past earlier & said that the beef looked & smelt spectacular. Well worth the money!

Stayed here for two nights with my wife whilst attending a wedding in Midhurst. Owner Claire has…read moreonly been here since March, but is already making great strides in gradually improving what may have once been a rather tired establishment. There is a little way to go, eg in carpet and curtain dept but she appears to be making a darn good job of it. We had a spacious front bay windowed room with all that we required. She makes a delightful and attentive host , and goes out of her way to satisfy her guests. Other than for the excellent breakfast, we didnt get chance to try the restaurant as we had a wedding reception first night, and had arranged to have Sunday lunch with some local friends on the Sunday lunchtime. But I understand a new chef has arrived, and they certainly had a good number of casual people coming in for Sunday lunch without bookings. We arent often visiting this area, but I wouldnt have any hesitation in coming here again. Its about 3-4 miles west of Midhurst, down a country road on the left , just before Trotton bridge.

The Forrester's Arms is well worth the twisting drive up to Kilburn, North Yorkshire. Attached to…read morethe pub/hotel is the famous workshop that produces "mouseman" furniture, and it's great fun to search for the mouse carved onto each piece of furniture in the pub (including on the bar itself!). In winter this is a warm and welcoming place, with an excellent traditional menu (the deserts are my particular favourite!) whilst in summer it's wonderful to sit at the tables outside and look out onto the square, with its church and stream running at the end. My parents used to bring me here for lunch as a child, and the staff were always wonderfully friendly (even now that I'm somewhat older!)