hotel review
GREAT FOSTERS, EGHAM HIS T ORIC ESC APES
Surrey Magazine was invited by Alexander Hotels to step back in time to experience a magical and memorable mini break at Great Fosters, a stunning 16th century Tudor mansion which originally lay within Windsor Great Park.
S
et within a glorious 50-acre estate of
picturesque formal landscaped gardens and parkland enjoy a unique
and magnificent, luxury countryside hotel boasting over four centuries of fascinating history. It has to be one of the most phenomenal places to stay in Surrey!
In Summer, sweet scented pendants of purplish wisteria drape on a Japanese bridge framed on three sides by a Saxon moat. The gardens are amongst the finest Arts and Crafts gardens in Europe and designed to reflect the intricate beauty of a Persian rug. The knot garden is embellished with fragrant circular beds of flowers and herbs bordered by immaculately sculpted topiary and hedges to create a breathtaking display. Indulge in lazy days with picnics, deliciously tempting lunches,
Sunday roasts, or
afternoon teas and fun-filled evenings enjoying cocktails and al fresco dining on the garden terrace. On selected dates during the summer those fascinated with bee-keeping can “Meet the Bees” for an entertaining and informative lunch with chilled honey beer and see the gorgeous gardens in full bloom. There is a tennis court and an outdoor swimming pool, built in the 1930’s with wonderfully eccentric bathing huts, now a listed feature.
Great Fosters was built as a royal hunting lodge for King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in 1550. Much of the Grade One- listed main house has unique features that date back and reflect its royal ancestry including an original royal crest of Queen Elizabeth I on the ceiling above the porch. At the heart of the gardens, a sundial (dating from 1585) was thought to have been donated by Sir Francis Drake.
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In 1930, Sir Harold Sutcliffe bought Great Fosters. After extensive refurbishment, it became a hotel and a premier destination following Queen Mary’s stay in 1931 and the Ascot Ball which was held at the hotel in the June of that year!
Following almost 90 years of ownership under the Sutcliffe family, Alexander Hotels purchased the property in 2018 to add to their impressive luxury hotel collection in Sussex, Surrey and Kent which consists of Alexander House, Langshott Manor, Rowhill Grange and Barnett Hill. The historic bedrooms and many of the public areas have had a stylish makeover with bold vibrant colours and textures to bring this hotel right up to date.
Great Fosters has an array of individually designed
historic suites and rooms to
suit everyone. We stayed in the gorgeous honeymoon / bridal two room suite “The Queen Anne” with silver velvet chaise- longue and a grand four poster bed with spectacular views overlooking the gardens. No impersonal numbers on doors, just the name eloquently in a brass frame with a real key.
The perfect balance of old and new continues into the fine dining Michelin Starred Four AA Rosette restaurant “Tony Parkin at The Tudor Room” where you can enjoy culinary delights of new head chef Tony Parkin. He has created exquisite tasting menus offering an intimate
dining experience
for only 24 diners at any one time in the historic dining room in one of the oldest parts of the house. Service is flawless with a smile. Expect precision cooking and complex flavours using locally sourced ingredients inspired by the seasons (four
course lunch menu at £40 and seven course tasting dinner menu at £95). To start we loved a delicious light and frothy amuse-bouche of mouthwatering roasted almond and cucumber soup, followed by Tony’s signature scallop dish with cool and refreshing summer flavour combinations of tomato essence and elderflower followed by beautifully presented Monkfish with cucumber garnish, razor clam, sea herbs and horseradish foam paired with a German Pinot Noir. For main classic Beef with tender grelot onions and potatoes with an amazing chocolate dessert with kaffir lime bursts and tasty salt biscuit base to close.
Their second restaurant, The Estate Grill offers a more informal dining option and has an attractively presented breakfast buffet of fresh fruit, homemade bircher muesli, pastries and jams/honey and a la carte options cooked to perfection.
Great Fosters is ideal for a special occasion and perfect for lovers of good food and traditional English
hospitality and of
course it’s not every day that you can claim to have slept in the same hotel as royalty!
For more information about Great Fosters or make a booking please call 01784 433822 or visit
www.greatfosters.co.uk
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