Dine out like a celebrity at the wonderfully refurbished Carden Park Hotel
| 6th December 2021
Tis the season, well for a little R&R and another staycation as VIVA checked in at Carden Park, the Cheshire country estate that’s undergoing a stunning refurbishment.
We were there to celebrate phase three, the opening of its world-class development programme with the opening of The Carden Park Lounge, which follows hot on the heels of its £10 million spa.
Set in gorgeous Cheshire countryside, it’s the perfect getaway for those wanting fantastic food, a pamper, golf or hiking and near to historic Chester if you want a base to explore the bustle of the Roman city. The hotel also hosts many famous guests including the cast from ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ when they return to their luxury lifestyles.
Carden Park Hotel setting is in the beautiful Cheshire countryside with 1,000 acres of estate that give peaceful vistas as you approach through the winding drive and looks particularly pretty this time of year with the Autumn leaves creating a tapestry of colour.
We were there for the opening of a new luxurious lounge space, opposite fine dining restaurant, The Vines which launched earlier this year, the perfect space for guests to relax pre and post dinner at the hotel.
THE NEW LOUNGE
Dining out like a celebrity at the wonderfully refurbished Carden Park Hotel
The estate has spent £1.5 million on the lounge and it shows as we enjoyed a lively Bollinger-fuelled reception.
There’s stylish seating in nooks and crannies with a wonderfully sophisticated vibe and beautiful room that’s completed with hand-painted, golden coffers on the ceiling and large Crittall style windows giving a bright and open atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the oversized doors, which lead onto the canopy covered veranda, blend the outside world with the inside, allowing guests to soak up the natural healing elements of nature too.
It has capacity for 130 including the veranda, takes inspiration from the hotel’s dining spaces and award-winning spa, acting as an interim between the two.
Open to both hotel residents and day visitors, the new lounge is the perfect place for guests to continue enjoying the slow pace of their rejuvenating spa day or play on the championship golf courses, before gently coming back to their surroundings with a refreshing pre-dinner drink or light lunch. With creative cocktails and delicious afternoon tea also on the menu, the tranquil space has been designed to keep guests calm and relaxed whilst also still feeling luxurious and glamourous.
FOOD FIT FOR A KING & QUEEN
Dining out like a celebrity at the wonderfully refurbished Carden Park Hotel
Well, they did a great job and then it was onto The Vines a short walk across the carpet where Executive Chef Graham Tinsley, MBE had created an eight-course tasting menu to celebrate the lounge opening.
Famous for his royal connections, where he was part of the team that created Kate and Wills’ wedding cake and has cooked for the royal household on numerous occasions, this was a real treat.
Like the lounge, The Vines is stunning, a beautiful room all creams and gold, making us feel like royalty.
Graham told the throng of diners that this was to be the first of many food and wine special events, so do look out for them as it is indulgent.
We started with a choice of breads and of course butter as the introduction to the eight-course dinner with accompanying wine flight.
Artichokes with a goat’s cheese mousse that Graham came and topped our dishes with, was a wonderful intense flavour whilst the next course of chicken whipped parfait was my favourite dish of the evening. A light wonderful mouthful that I could have dined off all night.
The wine accompaniments throughout were plentiful and of the quality you’d expect to match this standard of cuisine, starting with crisp whites and moving to the earthy reds as the courses flowed.
The fish course was a delicate turbot that melted in the mouth followed by the meat course of venison, a personal favourite cooked to perfection and working wonderfully with an elderberry jus.
The cheese course came in the form of a tasty tartlet and was followed by two desserts, a passionfruit syllabub and then hazelnut torte for those that could manage it.
Then it was time for a good night’s sleep, waking up to the majestic countryside before a wonderfully hearty breakfast, where you can enjoy a lovely buffet style full English as well as the continental.
ROOMS WITH A VIEW AND SO MUCH MORE ON OFFER
With 197 stunning bedrooms including four Carden Luxury Suites, we checked in to a twin room, where each bed was a super comfy King. Gorgeously soft and inviting with plenty of space and all the facilities you would want, including a roomy new looking bathroom with power shower, plenty of space, iron and hairdryer and the robes and slippers you could spend your entire stay in. There’s a range of packages available depending on what you want to include from simple B&B to golf, spa and other deals.
It’s a sprawling complex with tartan carpets winding to the new refurbished areas, a lively bar, fabulous reception staff and a new £10 million spa with one of the largest spa gardens in the UK.
There’s a newly refurbished Leisure Club, two Championship golf courses, award winning restaurants and highly acclaimed conference and meeting facilities, Carden Park is unrivalled as a venue for pleasure and business pursuits.
VISIT LUXURY CARDEN PARK HOTEL
Carden Park is located just off the A41, close to the village of Broxton and is 14 miles from Chester railway station and approximately 40 minutes by car from Manchester International Airport.
To book and for further information visit Luxury Country Hotel Near Chester, Cheshire | Carden Park. You won’t be disappointed!