There are few places that one might want to retire to after the jolly highs of a Field Macnab Dinner. But after the morning after the night before it was to the elegant tranquillity of The Connaught on Carlos Place in Mayfair that we repaired, ready to be restored. It…
The William Cecil hotel Perfect pit stop Dog friendly Burghley Horse Trials Burghley’s Capability Brown landscape is wonderful. It had been a frenetic month: those end-of-season high days and beaters’ days spent battling bone-chilling conditions interspersed with torrential rain – all while semi-dried-out January wrapped its guilt-inducing tendrils around our…
Don’t miss: Estate tours taking in the rugged landscapes of Glen Lyon in the comfort of the Fortingall Land Rover or renting e-bikes to explore the local trails. High teas, whisky tastings and gourmet picnics are also on offer. Good for: Highland charm, sporting options, enviable interiors. The Fortingall Tucked…
Good for: Racing fans, shooting parties, stately home visits. In days gone by you might have found Spectator ‘Low Life’ columnist Jeffrey Bernard being propped up by the bar, and legendary Daily Express racing tipster Charles ‘The Scout’ Benson lounging on a banquette in the dining room. Next to them,…
“Oh, I think you’re going to be very happy,” confided our twinkly-eyed check in host. I was feeling fairly jolly already, having entered the hallowed Foyer from Brook Street and turned left instead of right, rather like turning the same direction when boarding a plane. Being a guest at Claridge’s…
The Painswick Good for: Luxury Stopover Fine dining On a sporting pilgrimage, whether it is towards Gloucestershire for Badminton or south for the trout, finding somewhere decent to stay on route can be a challenge. I’m a great believer in trying to make the journey as enjoyable as the destination.…
Few of us can resist the chance to go places usually out of bounds or take a peek inside institutions normally closed to the public but Newmarket offers just that. Racing’s ‘headquarters’ has heritage and famous faces (both equine and human) in spades, and The Jockey Club Rooms are no…
Good for: Nevill Holt Festival goers Picturesque market towns History buffs Carrying off the role of both boutique hotel and vibrant village boozer isn’t easy but The Nevill Arms in Medbourne, Leicestershire manages it with aplomb. Any night of the week the pub will be busy with locals and the…
Rothay Manor – good for Food Walking Dogs The Lake District has romance stitched into its reputation: those winsome trees perched atop a rocky outcrop stir even the stultified into creativity. There are the Poets, of course, although I have always found them a little more sapping than spiriting. And…
For many of those who have grown up in or near Rutland, Barnsdale Lodge will long have been a fixture. In my memory it played host to a hunt bash where I was taken with someone particularly unsuitable, but thankfully those murky days (well, they were also quite fun) are…
