Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons ....

[mrs.chappie]

Raymond Blanc's hotel/restaurant in Oxfordshire .... has anyone ever eaten/stayed there?

Was it worth the high price?

[anneasquith]

oooh. mrs c...........are you going ?

[MarkRae]

Yes, and yes.

[mrs.chappie]

Thanks for replies, peeps.

I'm thinking of going .... have always fancied it, but having seen the price of the rooms, I've decided to try to book a table but stay at a nearby (cheaper) hotel.

[boxtops]

My sister's been there, said it was an experience.

[scotman]

Don't you have to book several months ahead?

[mrs.chappie]

I spoke to them this afternoon and they said they've got some availability during the week, at the beginning of May. Would need to wait longer for a weekend booking.

[anneasquith]

why not just " push the boat out " eat and stay and enjoy :)

[Buenchico]

Well-reviewed in The Times and The Telegraph:
http://www.timesonlin...nd/article2394376.ece

http://www.telegraph....ire-hotel-review.html

Most people on TripAdvisor enjoyed it but 23 people (out of 168 = around one in six) only rated it 'poor' or 'average':
http://www.tripadviso...ordshire_England.html

There were also around 10% of people on Holiday Watchdog who only rated it as 'average':
http://www.holidaywat...l-Holiday-Review.html

More press reviews:
http://www.dailymail....aux-Quat-Saisons.html

http://www.independen...fordshire-514904.html

Chris

[mrs.chappie]

Would love to, anne, but their rooms are between £800 and £1,000+ for one night! (with evening dinner).

Just a tad too extravagant for me, I think. I fancy the tasting menu, think it'll be fab, but it's £135 a head. Ouch!

[mrs.chappie]

Thanks for those links, Chris. Very kind of you. x

My OH comes from Oxfordshire and he loves cooking/eating. He's always fancied going there. If it does come off, it'll definitely be a one-off!

[anneasquith]

for a room ????????? id want the bed for that price.

[mrs.chappie]

I expected it to be pricey, but not quite that pricey. :o(

[EcclesCake]

It is absolutely fabulous. If you are not staying overnight I'd recommend going for lunch as you can then take a walk around the gardens, the veg garden is amazing.

[merciasounds]

I was expecting big things when I went, and I (my hubby also) were disappointed. Everything was 'okay', only one thing was excellent (for us) and it was the suckling pig, with paper thin crackling, we both really enjoyed that. The duck was too bloody for me, and the menu was quite heavy on offal - which I'm not mad about. A couple of 'marriages of flavours' didn't work for me, and nothing was hot except the plates. An experience, yes, value - not for us! I Hope this helps

[janbee]

Stayed there last year. VERY expensive but absolutely wonderful. Cannot find fault with it in any way.

[mrs.chappie]

Thanks peeps.

I never thought about having lunch there. Perhaps they do a tasting menu for lunch ... I might look into that.

Mercia, did you have an overnight stay, or did you go just for the food?

[merciasounds]

We didn't stay, we just went to dinner with some friends, it was their wedding anniversary, and it was down to my husband and me that they got together, so they wanted to thank us - we said everything was wonderful to them, we didn't want to upset them as they'd spent so much money!

[mrs.chappie]

I'm still undecided what to do. It's a lorra lorra dosh. :o(

Thanks for all replies, peeps. x

[EcclesCake]

I've been twice and have enjoyed both my visits, and over night stays, and the breakfasts. If you are not staying over, I really do stand by me earlier comment of going for lunch. By going for lunch you can enjoy your time there with a walk around the gardens, which can easily consume an hour or more.

Do go, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

[mrs.chappie]

Thanks Eccles. I'm sure I'll get there one of these days.