COTSWOLD Food Fit for a queen
The Greenway was a favourite with the late Queen mother during Gold Cup week and it certainly proved to be fit for royalty during a recent stay.
By Hayley Mortimer
AN exquisite Elizabethan manor house dating back to 1584 on the outskirts of Cheltenham, The Greenway is set in eight acres of stunning grounds boasting fabulous views over the rolling Cotswold hills. I had booked an overnight stay
and dinner, which also included full use of the spa facilities. The charming building is picture
perfect with its warm Cotswold stone exterior draped in ivy and wisteria. As my partner and I stepped
through its grand entrance doors it was evident that the hotel had retained many of its historic features and charming character, with original beams, log fires, stone mullions, chandeliers and oil paintings. We were shown to our room,
called Poplar, which had a rich ruby red décor filled with wonderful antique furniture including an old wardrobe which could have been the entrance to Narnia. Although classic, the room was smartly finished with modern
updates like flat-screen TV and wifi. Before dinner we took the
opportunity to pop down to the Elan Spa in our white, fluffy towelling robe and slippers. The spa offers a range of
treatments and includes a glass walled relaxation area and nail bar which opens out to a stunning decked terrace with lounge seating and a hot tub. The bricked wall hydrotherapy
pool is an oasis of tranquillity and relaxation with adjoining steam rooms and saunas. We particularly enjoyed the
tropical experience showers, from warm rainfall that cascades down to a refreshing and invigorating cold mist that encompasses your whole body to awaken you. Each experience comes with
added light and sound effects to give a unique and fulfilling sensation to refresh and invigorate your body and mind. Before we knew it, it was time to return to our room ahead of our
dinner reservation. The restaurant holds national and
international awards for its cuisine and has been awarded two AA Rosettes. It did not disappoint. We ate in the grand Garden
Restaurant with its silk drapes, original stone fireplace and oak panels with views beyond the sunken garden and ornate lily pond onto the countryside. It was the perfect place to enjoy
fine dining. The food was imaginative and
well crafted featuring locally sourced ingredients and complemented by an outstanding selection of world wines. Starters of crispy pork terrine
served with artichoke puree, rhubarb and candied pistachios and pan roast scallop and cod cheek with pea and ham fricassee and chargrilled gem lettuce were excellent. For mains, we had late season
breast and cutlet of lamb with boulanger potato, carrots and thyme jus and the breast of challond duck
78 COTSWOLDESSENCE | September - November 2013
www.cotswoldessence.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88