We've picked some of our favourite romantic restaurants around the country where members can escape for a quiet and indulgent evening with their partner. Call us to book any of the below or for more suggestions across the UK, and ask us for more venues that marry fine food with boutique accommodation.
The Witchery by the Castle
352 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NF
There’s plenty of choice when it comes to memorable meals in Edinburgh. Number One at the Balmoral Hotel, The Kitchin and 21212 all boast Michelin stars and are renowned for their cooking, but members choose the Witchery when they want to conjure up a romantic sense of occasion. ‘Visiting the Witchery is, according to members, a sumptuous, theatrical experience,’ says Hernan Castro-Vidal, one of our restaurant experts. ‘The 16th-century building is located by the magnificent Edinburgh Castle, on the Royal Mile, and while its lavish gothic rooms are popular for romantic breaks, the dining room is its heart.’
The menu shows off the best of Scottish produce, from Isle of Mull shellfish and smoked Loch Duart salmon to Aberdeen Angus beef and wild Cairngorm venison, all of which is, Hernan says, ‘innovatively and enticingly prepared’.
The Vineyard at Stockcross
Newbury, Berkshire RG20 8JU
This former hunting lodge is surrounded by the stately homes, picturesque villages and verdant countryside of West Berkshire, but with lavishly appointed bedrooms and an award-winning spa, it’s unlikely that guests will want to set foot beyond its grounds.
The seasonal menu is immaculately prepared modern European cooking spiked with playful twists: the steamed fillet of John Dory is served with a honey and chilli glaze, pan-roasted Scottish scallops come with caramelised endive, and apple jelly accompanies the foie gras. The Vineyard’s cavernous wine cellar features vintages from across the globe, and the spa has an equally extensive selection of treatments, steam rooms and saunas that will rigorously remove any tension from stressed-out guests.
Driftwood Restaurant
Driftwood Hotel, Rosevine, Portscatho, Cornwall TR2 5EW
Perched high on a cliff in the middle of the rugged Roseland Peninsula (a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), this pastel blue, clapboard-clad hideaway is home to Cornwall’s second Michelin-starred restaurant.
Cornish chef, Chris Eden – formerly of London’s The Square – was awarded the accolade in 2011 for his creative pan-European cuisine, made entirely with locally sourced ingredients. The menu ranges from Lanihorne rabbit and hand-dived scallops to the signature whole lobster, roasted in the shell with garlic and herb butter (available with 24 hours’ notice).
Call your lifestyle manager to reserve an intimate corner table in the new extension, or request table six in the conservatory for views of the bay and the hotel’s own private beach.
The Crown at Whitebrook
Whitebrook, Monmouth NP25 4TX
This tranquil 17th-century inn in the Wye Valley offers a secluded retreat for a weekend of pastoral relaxation and good food. Chef James Sommerin’s Michelin-starred cooking applies classic French techniques to seasonal British produce, resulting in unpretentious, flavoursome and elegantly presented dishes such as Welsh spring lamb with spiced tomato, courgette and red wine, poached and roast sea bass with langoustine, artichoke and butternut squash, and nose to tail Woodland pork.
The Crown is urbane rather than rustic – take a romantic stroll in the Welsh countryside then kick off the walking boots and slip into something more glamorous in time for dinner.
Sat Bains
Lenton Lane, Nottingham NG7 2SA
Chef Sat Bains’ eponymous restaurant is now the proud holder of two Michelin stars. Tucked away in the grounds of a golf course, this converted barn has seven boutique bedrooms and serves a selection of cutting-edge tasting menus that feature innovative dishes such as salmon with oyster emulsion, duck with beetroot ketchup and wild brill teamed with Hereford snails.
Thankfully, it remains extremely good value when compared to its London counterparts, with the seven-course menu priced at £75 per person. Front of house is overseen by Sat’s wife Amanda, whose charming waiting staff serve the smartly laid tables at a measured pace.
Call to make bookings or for more recommendations in the Midlands.
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