Well before all who read my reviews think I just holiday in KL I thought it was about time to share with you a gem a little closer to home. Let me introduce you to the majestic grandeur that is Ston Easton Park near Bath in the UK. If you are looking for an amazing romantic getaway then this has to be worth considering!

I had been away in KL for two weeks in March this year and had missed my partner dearly so still having a few days off work we thought why not get a few days away. Ston Easton here we come!

Booking

Ston Easton Park is part of the Von Essen Hotel collection, arguably the UK’s most luxurious country house hotel chain with such properties as the legendary Cliveden in Berkshire coming under their control. As such, they really know how to run a traditional country house hotel and make you feel truly at home!

After reviewing the Von Essen website I settled on Ston Easton as it was part of the UK I had never been to before. I decided that Bath and Bristol would give an interesting area to explore during the days and that this would be suitable place to stay.

When you visit their website you will be greeted by a number of offers and if it is later on in the week and the occupancy for the weekend is going to be low then there can be some exceptional deals, one of which we took advantage of.

I had to call the hotel and spoke to a lovely lady named Becky who dealt with my booking. She advised I could book a classic room that was usually £250 per night for £125 per night and that it would include breakfast for both the Friday and Saturday night stay.

Based on the fifty percent saving I thought why the hell not and we booked on the Thursday to leave the following morning. Becky sent me a confirmation e-mail with all the necessary details and guidance on how to find the property and we both started to pack our bags.

Arrival

With the Sat Nav programmed we took a leisurely drive down to the south west and before long we were nearing Ston Easton. Just ten miles south of Bristol it was relatively easy to find, once we were about a mile away we could see this large imposing house on the horizon. I was excited already.

After pulling through the large entrance gates I drove up the winding gravel driveway until the house came into full view. I was impressed and so was the other half!

After parking up we walked to the main door with our Louis Vuitton in tow and were greeted by the duty manager who welcomed us to the property and directed us to the small intimate reception area.

Check In

In the rather small and intimate surroundings of the reception situated next to this huge country house hallway I met the lovely lady I had spoken to yesterday to place the booking.

Becky took all my details and the manager had whisked our luggage up to the room.

After completing the registration card, Becky advised that due to low occupancy we had been upgraded by two room categories to a Deluxe room which should have cost around £400 a night. At £125 a night I wasn’t going to complain!

We made our dinner reservations at the hotel and off we went upstairs to take in the grandeur of the house and await with anticipation what our room would be like!
==The Room==
Having only 21 rooms the hotel has been able to retain the original grandeur the property had back when it was a private residence. Stepping into our bedroom felt like we were stepping back in time into the world of a Lord of Viscount, never before had we felt so regal.

The room was amazing. It was styled extremely traditionally but had many subtle modern flairs that blended in to keep the theme going. The bed was humungous and was easily the most luxurious bed I have ever seen in a hotel, fit for a king or a queen!

The architecture had been retained and the only indication of our modern era was the LCD TV that was fixed to the wall and the designer telephone next to it. Apart from those items we could have been in the 18th Century!

The bathroom was also to die for with a huge roll top bath in the middle of the floor and a double shower to keep everyone entertained! Everything was so pristine down to the designer toiletries the bathroom had been kitted out with.

The views from the windows over the parkland were amazing and I felt relaxed. My partner thought it was wonderful and we both knew we had the perfect place for our romantic weekend.

The only thing that was different about this hotel room to any other was that there was no tea tray. In true lord of the manor fashion tea and coffee would be served to you in bed in the morning to wake you up for breakfast. This of course came at a cost of £3 per cup but when you are paying for such a luxurious weekend who cares?!

Restaurant/Bar

The hotel uses many of the large lounges and drawing rooms for different things. There are plenty of areas to relax in with chairs, sofas and snug little corners all over the place however there is no bar. Due to the size of the hotel there would never be a large number of guests to require a fixed bar so instead guests are served drinks and snacks wherever they wish to take them. There are plenty of well mannered staff around to attend to your every need. Something that was most appreciated.

The hotel has one main restaurant named ‘The Sorrell’ which serves fine food and wines to award winning standard. Most of the produce is either sourced locally or grown within the grounds of the estate, giving you that true Ston Easton experience!

The artistic flair of the chef is felt throughout the food and both of us enjoyed our meal immensely. The fois gras is to die for and the wine selection is vast. It was a beautiful setting for a lovely evening meal and we were accompanied by a number of other couples dotted around the dining room, all here for that romantic evening.

The food is excellent and you will pay for the privilege, around £120 for two people with a full menu, wine and coffee and be sure to dress smart. At a hotel of this stature jeans are a big no no!

Facilities

The hotel can cater for conferences and banquets but I wouldn’t feel it is the best location for some faceless corporate conference, its just too special!

Instead you expect this to be the perfect wedding venue and I understand it is licensed to host weddings and civil partnerships. Through the Von Essen group you can also obtain luxury wedding cars and executive transport and even charter a helicopter to land on the helipad right outside. It was certainly a sight when a guest flew in for their stay on the Saturday night!

The main facility or attraction is actually outside the property with all the splendor of the parklands and river next to the house. If you want to take a walk around which I heartily recommend then you can even take the house dog with you! The hotel had just taken residence of a young cocker spaniel puppy, which can be taken with you for your walks. Up early on the Saturday morning I decided to take my stroll with the dog and we had a beautiful morning as the sun came up. A beautiful touch that makes your stay even more memorable!

Breakfast

We took breakfast every day in the restaurant. There is a wide selection of continental items and the chef will cook you up an excellent English breakfast with the finest local ingredients. Breakfast was a dream and everyone in the restaurant seemed to love it!

Check out

After our romantic weekend was over the time had come to check out and say goodbye. We had enjoyed our weekend at Ston Easton and had thoroughly enjoyed exploring the local area and Bath and Bristol. It had been a magical weekend and we do hope to return again soon. After paying our bill, which came to around £375 for the accommodation and dinner on the Friday we were on our way. Goodbye Ston Easton but we will be back!

Summary

Ston Easton is a beautiful country house that has been made into an excellent hotel. It is extremely luxurious and is definitely the choice for the romantic getaway!

Saturday was significantly more busy than Friday and the car park was extremely full. When we came back on Saturday evening you could not move for the selection of Bentley, Ferrari and Rolls Royce’ outside!

If you want a luxurious weekend away with a difference then look at Ston Easton, if it’s not in a part of the world that is of major interest to you then have a look at Von Essen, I am sure you will find a property to suit you somewhere!

Stay completed March 2009 booked direct with the hotel. You can also visit www.stoneaston.co.uk for more info.

Enjoy your stay!