LIVE 24-SEVEN
SWINFEN HALL HOTEL STAFFORDSHIRE’S FINEST
Fine dining and luxury accommodation in the heart of the British countryside
white linen cloths, crystal glasses, polished silver and bespoke Wedgwood china, that sense of occasion yet wrapped up with friendly service so you feel relaxed in the grandeur.
To start we were presented with the most mouthwatering snacks compliments of the Head Chef, Bruce Cheyne. South African-born with extensive experience in kitchens across South Africa, America and the UK, he’s ambitious and creative and has trained with the likes of Tom Aikens, Lee Westcott and Alexander Claridge. He’s headed up the pastry department in Michelin and multi- rosette restaurants, as well as having worked in developmental kitchens. Bruce took the helm of Swinfen’s kitchen in early 2019 and intends to use the estate’s Victorian walled garden and orchards as inspiration to create ever-changing menus.
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Swinfen Hall Hotel is a magnificent Georgian manor set in 100 acres of park land incorporating formal gardens, a private deer park, wild hay meadows and woodland. Although a haven of peace and calm, Swinfen is just 30 minutes from Birmingham city centre.
Recognised by the AA as the only 3-Rosette restaurant in Staffordshire, it has been a regular award-winner. Asked to review the restaurant, we decided to make the most of the opportunity and combined an overnight stay!
Approaching along the beautifully manicured drive, you feel as though you’re arriving somewhere very special as the Hall unfolds before you. We turned to each other and said at exactly the same time…’and relax’…great minds…
Greeted at reception by friendly staff, we took in the immediate environment to include sumptuous sofas, an open log fire and stunning Georgian grandeur. The Hall boasts 17 luxuriously- appointed bedrooms and suites; our room was simply beautiful, so we made tea and took time to relax and enjoy before dinner.
Swinfen staff want to take care of you, making you feel incredibly spoilt and important. We enjoyed pre-dinner drinks in the lounge whilst we perused the fine and varied menu. Spoilt for choice, we decided to sample the incredible sounding seven-course taster menu. Our waiter suggested we also choose the flight of wines that are expertly paired with the menu; confident in his suggestion, we agreed. You have to appreciate how passionate and knowledgeable all the staff are about Swinfen’s offering.
The Four Seasons restaurant is everything you would expect and more, full of Georgian grandeur, yet intimate and cosy at the same time, with soft music and candlelight creating a wonderful ambience. This is exactly how a dining affair should be. Crisp
LIVE24-SEVEN.COM
We started off with Gougères – savoury choux pastry made with mushroom powder filled with Cheddar custard and topped with bacon Jam (crispy bacon cooked down in vinegar and maple syrup) and a confit potato crisp with smoked cod’s roe emulsion and salt and vinegar seasoning. These were all small bites of deliciousness. We could expect great things to follow.
Each time a course arrived we were thrilled by not only the description of what we were about to savour, but also the explanation of the accompanying wine – paired perfectly to draw out the best of the ingredients. The wines certainly added another dimension to each dish, either enhancing, balancing or partnering ingredients for the greater good. What really shone through was not just the skill of the chef, but also the passion and knowledge that came across from our server.
The menu we experienced included cucumber gazpacho, salted cod and pickled apples with daikon radish and tomato concasse, paired with Dopff & Irion Pinot Gris, Alsace, 2016, followed by
WINING & DINING SWINF EN HAL L HOT E L
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