EATING OUT
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Hambleton Hall
FURTHER AFIELD
Barnsdale Hall Hotel North Shore, Rutland Water, LE15 8AB Tel: 01572 757901 www.barnsdalehotel.co.uk Celebrate at one of their Christmas party nights, which include a three course dinner with crackers, hats and novelties, followed by music and fun provided by resident DJ, Disco Dave. Great value at £29.95. Barnsdale Lodge The Avenue, Rutland Water, LE15 8AH Tel: 01572 724678 www.barnsdalelodge.co.uk Barnsdale Lodge has some really lively events lined up for the festive Season: Festive Party Nights on Dec 7, 13-14,18-21; The Barnsdale Christmas Ball with live music from The Hound Dogs on Dec 22; New Year’s Eve dinner & dance to include a 6 course meal, live music and fireworks. Oundle Mill Barnwell Rd, Oundle, PE8 5PB Tel: 01832 272621 www.oundlemill.co.uk Oundle Mill is the epitome of ‘rustic chic’, combining a classic gem of an old mill house with stylish modern décor and an informal, relaxed feel. It was named Restaurant of the Year in the Northamptonshire Food Awards. The Christmas Party Menu (which you can find on the website) looks excellent value at £29.50 per person for 3 courses (book in advance). I like the sound of every course, but especially the dessert choice: “Plum pudding, brandy sabayon, clotted cream with nutmeg”, or “Cranberry and walnut tart with vanilla ice cream.” There is also A Christmas Day dinner for £70 and a very good value NYE party at £35. The Olive Branch, Clipsham Michelin Star Main St, Clipsham, LE15 7SH Tel: 01780 410355 The Olive Branch is a wonderful place at Christmas, a traditional village inn with Christmas trees and sparkling decorations, log fires and candlelit dining rooms. They have a selection of festive menus to suit every occasion, from a relaxing dinner party
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to a to a merry pub knees up. The seasonal set menu at £16.95 a head for 2 courses and £19.95 for 3 looks incredibly good value. All the menus are up on the website at www. theolivebranchpub.com
charge of 10%, but no room hire charge. New Year’s Eve is a fabulous night too, with a celebration menu at £69 and a room offer of £60 for 2 people inc. B&B - so you don’t have to worry about driving home.
Hambleton Hall Michelin star Oakham Rd, Hambleton Peninsula, LE15 8TH Tel: 01572 756991 www.hambletonhall.com Hambleton Hall is stunning at Christmas time. They have the most wonderful Christmas tree and decorations throughout the house and roaring log fires. If you have a party of between 6 and 16 people then ‘The Study’ could be the pace for you - a delightful room which you will get all to yourselves, for lunch or dinner. Canapés and a 3 Course Dinner followed by Coffee & homemade Chocolates Is £50.00 per person. Menu: Salad of Crab, flavoured with mango & lime leaf Free Range Turkey cooked in a salt crust pastry with traditional accompaniments Chocolate Truffle flavoured with olive oil, baked banana, pistachio sorbet & salted caramel Or you can enoy the Christmas menu in the main dining room.
Stoke Rochford Hall Stoke Rochford, Grantham. NG33 5EJ Tel: 01476 530337 www.stokerochfordhall.co.uk Christmas is always a magical time at the magnificent Stoke Rochford Hall. Roaring log fires, traditional festive decorations and soaring Christmas trees welcome you on arrival. An array of fabulous Christmas events is planned: Christmas party nights: Dec 7,8,14, 15, 21, 22: £35-£45 a head, including welcome festive drink on arrival, Three-course seasonal menu, Coffee and cream served with festive chocolate truffles, party novelties and crackers and Dancing to resident DJ. Festive Lunch: Dec 18-20: three course lunch for only £19.95 Christmas Sunday lunch: Dec 9, 16, 23: a traditional festive Sunday lunch, in the elegant Mansion banqueting rooms, tastefully decorated for the festive season.£35-£45 a head
Marquess of Exeter, Lyddington 52 Main St, Lyddington Tel: 01572 822477 www.marquessexeter.co.uk The Marquess is one of my favourite spots to eat, combining great ambience with really excellent food. Brian Baker’s Christmas menus are definitely worth the trip. This year the kitchen has been strengthened with the arrival of Scott Williams, a very experienced chef with a track record including Hambleton Hall, The Feathers in Woodstock and Richard’s Branson’s Necker Island. Latterly he was Head Chef at Ragdale Hall, where he became much more conscious of issues around health and allergies. Their Christmas lunch is a very good value £17.50 for two courses, with local turkey as the centrepiece. Christmas dinners are £19.95 for two course and £25.95 for three. If you have a larger group of up to 14 diners, then why not hire ‘The Snug’, a private room at the side of the pub that allows you to let your hair down that little bit more. There is a service
Talbot Hotel, Oundle New Street, Oundle, PE8 4EA Tel: 01832 273621 www.thetalbot-oundle.com The Talbot Hotel has gone through a massive refurbishment over in the last year under new ownership and is now a great place to go in the heart of Oundle. They have some fabulous plans for Christmas. Festive lunches and dinners are available from the 1st December at £20 for lunch and £26 for dinner - three courses, with a choice of four dishes per course. Or come on a Saturday evening and enjoy a disco party night. Christmas Day lunch is £70 per person, and the New Year’s Eve 6-course do is a black tie affair for £75 a head. There is also an accomodation package available, which represents good value for money. We really recommend you take a look at the Talbot, it is totally transformed from what you will remember.
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