Wivenhoe House Hotel - Our Stay at a Luxury Country House Hotel
The last six months have been rough on everyone and those of us who still work from home, have got used to quite a dull routine. So, when I got invited to stay at the Wivenhoe House Hotel and experience what they had to offer, I could not say no. A short break from the daily life sounded perfect.
I’ve never visited before so, it was really exciting to see the beautiful grade-II listed building, that’s been standing there since the 18th century. And there it was, surrounded by beautiful gardens, keeping secrets and stories from so many visitors. It’s one of those places that you have to stand and look at for a while to take in all the history and beauty it has to offer.
We were greeted by friendly and helpful staff and showed around the main building. I was impressed with the safety measures they have in place to ensure visitors are Covid-19 secure – one-way system, easily accessible hand sanitisers, protective screens and staff wearing masks and gloves.
A long corridor took us to the second building, a short elevator ride and we were at our room. Georgina, the lady who invited us for a stay has organised a luxury deluxe double room for us and oh my, it was beautiful! Spacious, full of light, modern room with a king size bed, huge windows and a massive balcony! What a treat!
Of course, it included all of the other features like writing desk, TV, Wi-Fi, wardrobe, coffee machine, safe and a spacious ensuite bathroom with a large bath.
The room overlooked the garden, a large country field where you can spot people walking their dogs and jogging (for those who love people watch), a gazebo, an ancient tree and of course, a view to the main building.
After we unpacked and settled it was time for dinner. Hotel restaurant offers socially distanced seating which is great for keeping guests safe and for giving them privacy to enjoy their dinner in peace. Once again, the waiting staff were attentive and friendly.
We started our dinner with freshly baked bread, dipping oil and marinated olives followed by an amuse-bouche – potato and leek soup with a potato rosti.
Our starters looked as good as they tasted! I ordered a beetroot and blue cheese salad and the kitchen were kind enough to prepare a smaller version of a main dish for my guest and served it as a starter – panko fried haloumi with veggies, yum!
For the main we both ordered an 8oz rib eye steak, grilled mushroom and tomato served with hand cut chips and salad garnish, completed with béarnaise sauce. Several cocktails after, including a gorgeous Bloody Mary (huge compliments to the bartender) we somehow managed to fit in a scrumptious chocolate and lemon cake served with mandarin ice-cream. Safe to say, we were glad to take the elevator back to our room as this was a huge amount of food and we were extremely full!
A bit of evening tele and we were off to the dreamland…. Zzz….. the best night’s sleep I had in ages!
The hotel offers room service, so the next morning we ordered some breakfast and enjoyed it while watching the garden. Our breakfast consisted of eggs benedict, fruit, coffee and fresh juice.
We then took a stroll around the garden and enjoyed the peace and quiet it had to offer. At the back of the garden, there are these magnificent oak trees that have been planted by the owner of Wivenhoe House, Major-General Francis Slater Rebow over 200 years ago. Magical.
It has truly been a fantastic experience and I cannot wait to go back for another lovely stay at one of the most historic hotels in Colchester.
