Hotel review: The Four Seasons Hotel, Hampshire

The Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire review

AOL Travel reviews the historic countryside hotel The Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire

Written by: Ruth Doherty

The Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire

Date published: 09/01/2011

5 / 5 stars

Four Seasons

What's to love?
An imposing Georgian building accessed via a picture-postcard winding road set in 500 acres of heritage-listed Hampshire countryside. You can even say 'neigh' to the horses at the in-house equestrian centre on the way in...

First impressions
This sophisticated retreat oozes a quiet elegance that's reflected throughout the hotel. If you so desire, you can pull up right outside the historic entrance and have your Porsche (or, ahem, your Renault) valet-parked before taking in the impressive reception, with its beautiful fresh floral arrangements and original wooden flooring. But sitting alongside refinement is a very obvious family-friendly approach and superb friendly service.

Best rooms in the house?
From the Mews room through to the Four Seasons Executive Suite, there's six stunning options to choose from. Even the most 'basic' room offers views over the stables, luxurious marble bathrooms and an evening turndown service. And if you're looking for an extra level of Four Seasons sumptuousness, there's eight suites available offering everything from dining rooms to 'guest powder rooms' - a dream home from home.

Where to eat
Head downstairs to the Bar 1086 for relaxed bistro dining. A crackling fire, decadent chandelier and magnificent views over the countryside (not to mention mouthwatering takes on old favourites like fish and chips) will guarantee a casual but chic dinner. Otherwise, Bar 1086 makes the perfect pit-stop for a pre-dinner Champagne cocktail before making your way across to the formal restaurant, Seasons. Choose from locally-sourced starters like roast boneless New Forest quail lined with foie gras, glazed black cherries, bulgur wheat salad, and sherry vinegar jus, and must-have mains like tenderloin of Casterbridge beef, prosciutto butter, sweetbreads, and crème fraîche potatoes. All the while sipping on a top-notch wine...

This place is perfect if you're...
Looking for an upmarket family holiday, but don't fancy the flights; a something-for-everyone weekend getaway (spa for mum, fishing, golf, falconry for dad, horse riding on the estate for kids); or an easy one-night country escape for Londoners (it's only an hour from the city centre).

Don't leave without...
Going horse riding around the estate on one of the hotel's well-behaved and we-want-one-now horses. It's not just a brilliant way to keep the kids entertained, it's a fabulous and fun way for the whole family to see the property's woodlands and rolling hills. Plus, it makes you feel a bit like the Queen for an hour...

Top tip?
Not only are kids catered for, but teens are too. At that age, they like nothing more than their own space, and Rose Cottage offers their very own away-from-adults retreat, featuring table football, air hockey tables, TV and computer games - just for the over 10s.

Four Seasons

Things to do, places to see...
Included in the price of a stay here comes use of the two pools, two tennis courts, a fitness centre (and workout clothes), a croquet lawn and equipment, two tennis courts, and kite-flying, frisbee and football for the children. If you're prepared to splash out (quite a lot), a trip on the estate canal boat is magical, or there's fishing in the lake that dates back to 1191, clay pigeon shooting and falconry.

And, of course, don't forget the pampering...
An absolute must-not-miss is a trip to the spa and pool. We didn't even unpack our bags before making the hop, skip and jump through the glass corridor to the stunning site set in the Grade II listed 18th century old stable block. The glass-covered indoor infinity pool packs a wow-factor punch, and you can even swim through an opening into an outside vitality pool with massage features, a surrounding sun terrace and alfresco menu - make ours something bubbly...

Price
From £205 per night.

Find it
Dogmersfield Park, Chalky Lane, Dogmersfield, Hook, Hampshire, England RG27 8TD, 01252 853000, fourseasons.com