If the pace and relentlessness of the capital’s rat race is wearing you down and you’re looking for a country house experience just outside of London, then Shendish Manor and Golf Course in Hertfordshire might be just the escape you need.
Not satisfied with offering 160 acres of splendid, sprawling parkland and gardens, Shendish Manor Hotel in Hertfordshire boasts the Orangery restaurant, where fine dining and a relaxed atmosphere are always the order of the day. And then there’s the golf course, one of the finest within close proximity of Central London, with its Par 70, 18 hole course set with a mix of hazards through both parkland and woodland copses.
Oh, and the best part? Shendish Manor is accessible in a little over half an hour, via a direct train from Euston. Result!
Anyway, we’ve no time for golf today. Instead, let’s explore this hotel’s dining options further.
A GORGEOUS SETTING
Guests will appreciate a wealth of natural light as they set eyes on Shendish Manor’s restaurant, The Orangery, which, as you’ve probably guessed, is located in an orangery.
While the inside decor of the restaurant is of a certain period, the terrace, accessed by sliding glass doors, is just lovely. It opens up to views of the hotel’s gorgeous grounds, with a well-manicured lawn and Dutch Garden, coiffured hedges and towering trees. Enjoying a long languid lunch on the terrace is something you’ll certainly want to do in the summer months here; you’ll know you’ve left the cut and thrust of London, make no mistake.
THE ORANGERY RESTAURANT’S DINING ROOM
Once you’re seated on the terrace or in the bright dining room, it’s time to sample the well put-together menu of confident, classical cookery. The Orangery restaurant uses locally sourced, seasonal ingredients where possible, with nearby Aylesbury providing the duck for an enjoyable main course, paired with blackberries we can only assume were foraged from the surrounding hedgerows.
Starters seem to be a highlight. Here you’ll find a trio of scallops pan-seared, promising to boast that all-important caramelised crust and yielding flesh. When given the perfect support from apple sauce and parma ham, you might even be tempted to order a second round!
Vegetarian options focus heavily on the cheese, with halloumi and Mediterranean vegetables a delicious if somewhat predictable main, and a starter of goat’s cheese bonbon delivering on its brief. That said, diners with special dietary requirements need not worry as the restaurant caters to special diets upon request.
Desserts stick to the tried and tested classics, but they’re classics for a reason, right? Think sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream or warm chocolate browning with a scoop of something cold and sweet. With prices decidedly un-London, you can’t argue with the menu offering here.
Interestingly, if you’d like to have the space to yourself, you can always arrange for private dining. At the Shendish Manor, private dining experiences can be arranged for as many as 320 people. The hotel’s beautiful banqueting suites can be adorned to suit your taste, the occasion or the theme of your event.
COCKTAILS AT THE ORANGERY BAR
With a decent selection of wine and plenty of beers on tap, the Orangery Bar serves the restaurant capably. It can be the perfect prelude to a delicious dining experience or the ideal post-meal debrief – the choice is yours.
Cocktails are freshly shaken and thoughtfully composed. A couple of those enjoyed out on the terrace overlooking the hotel’s gorgeous surrounds is enough to make anyone forget about London for an evening.
ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE AFTERNOON TEAS CLOSE TO LONDON
While it’s of course hard to beat London’s afternoon tea culture (it’s one of the best in the world, after all) The Shendish Manor afternoon tea promises a comparable experience. Moreover, it’s a very much affordable one, at just £18.95 for a selection of finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserve, all before a round of cakes and desserts. Those sweet treats include macaroons, as well as traditional afternoon tea classics like red velvet cake and mini Battenburg log. Heaven!
To top it all off, guests have the option of taking their experience to the next level by adding free-flow fizz for an extra £20. You won’t find prices like that in the capital, and it’s well worth the journey for such affordability and scenery.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Of course, you’ll find more premium fine dining options in London proper, but as an escape from the relentless pace of the capital city, Shendish Manor offers a capable, confident menu in a bright, airy dining room. The views aren’t half bad either.