Aldermaston Manor - a capacity to delight

Published 24 Feb 2011 09:30

Occasionally, an evening or an event, exceeds expectations.

So it was on a first visit to Aldermaston Manor country house hotel and conference centre. All credit to Dining and Bars Manager Lukas Wojciechowski, when I booked-in for a Thursday evening dinner, he advised that there was to be a school prom party that evening.

On a gloriously warm evening, the route from the M4 involved a pleasant meander through the Hampshire countryside, easily spotting the Aldermaston Manor sign on the left, just before entering Aldermaston villager. The approach to the part-Jacobean but mainly Victorian mansion is impressive.

The evening was intended to be time-out and a catch-up with Christine, a friend and fellow full-time career girl and mum. We were politely greeted and then seated in the wood-panelled William Pear dining room.

Cleverly, Lukas placed us at a table alongside a regular business-traveller guest with whom Christine and I struck up a conversation that continued animatedly throughout the meal. The guest, Chris, said that he much prefers to stay at Aldermaston Manor rather than modern hotels, for the individuality, ambiance, excellent service also, the , lovely grounds and the high standard of cuisine.

The meal, in short, was ravishing. The lovely fresh salad of pomegranate, fennel and feta cheese and a home-made asparagus soup with a teeny poached bantam egg were delightful. For the main course, from a modest, but perfectly-balanced choice, the simplicity of steak and chips belies the degree to which a simple dish, skillfully prepared, can delight.

With no capacity for a dessert, I resolved to make a return visit to attempt the three-course experience another time, soon.

The prom guests caused no disturbance, and, after dinner, taking a walk around the lovely grounds, some of the revellers, in a spectrum of ball-gown styles and colours with their smartly attired escorts, spilled out onto the lawn, to promenade in the moonlight.

In short, full marks to the staff, from front-of-house to chef, for making the evening so successful.

While Aldermaston Manor has the the appeal and attributes of a great British country house, at around £25 per head (three courses) excluding wine, it is also exceedingly good value.

The William Pear restaurant is open Monday to Thursday evenings, 6.30pm to 9pm. Lunches can be taken daily in the lounge and on the terrace overlooking the lake.

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