Chewton Glen Revisited

Some have said that a good hotel should be like a song, that you never grow tired of. 

Chewton Glen Hotel, part of the Relais and Chateaux group, should be one of those hotels but falls down partly through their pricing and then through the quality of the food.

Much was made of having dinner at the Chewton Glen and the service here is possible a little over the top but excellent none the less. We were escorted to our table by one waiter, served water by another and then our drinks order taken by another, before our food order was taken by, yes you guessed it by another waiter. This is very impressive but who is your point of contact, who do you ask for a side salad you forgot to order. 

I ordered chilli beef on a bed of salad for my starter and Susan ordered smoked salmon and giant couscous as her starter. Mine was actually deep fried bits of chewy meat on a tablespoon of weird salad but Susan was very happy with a large portion of salmon and loads of couscous salad. 

Then we were served our main course, again Susan an excellent dish of lamb. I had sirloin with seasonal vegetables and roast potatoes, covered by a red wine sauce. Actually what I was given was two thin slices of roast beef, a small carrot, slice of butternut, 3 French beans and 2 half roasted baby potatoes, covered in a burnt beef gravy. We finished our meal and decided against dessert. Now if I pay £128.00 for a dinner for two without drinks, I would expect something with a wow factor and never to be forgotten, sadly this is best forgotten. 

Do not get me wrong, we really enjoyed ourselves and it is always good to spend some time together without the stress of modern life intruding. I learnt that Susan want to learn to play Golf, ride a horse, play table tennis and croquet. Unfortunately the weather was not suited to outdoor events and I did not get the opportunity to expertly teach Susan.

The coffee is good and the relaxed atmosphere has recharged our batteries. Susan has really enjoyed the Spa, mainly the swimming and I have enjoyed the quiet, comfortable lounges, a place to read, write and relax. Would I come back, probably not, but worth the experience.