posh spa hotels around berkshire/hampshire/oxfordshire/bucks

[bednobs]

Hiya, want to take my husband away for the weekend, don't want to go far. Has anyone any recommendations; somewhere they've been to that they loved in the above area? Nice food would be an advantage to.
PS in case JJ looks in, i can't afford le manoir!

[237SJ]

A friend of mine goes for a week at Champneys Henlow Grange every year and loves it. The grounds around it are nice as well apparently.

[NoMercy]

How about a Mandarin Oriental?

[bednobs]

where are both of those please?

[237SJ]

Henlow`s in Bedfordshire. Champneys have got other places as well. I think their Forest Mere one is in Hampshire

[joggerjayne]

How about Le Manoir?

[joggerjayne]

he he ... only joking.

Actually, Le Manoir isn't a Spa, so it would be no good anyway.

[bednobs]

ha bloody ha!!

[bednobs]

also at £800+ a night, i really REALLY can't afford it. Plus i hate that bloke on the TV - 1) he can't talk proper like wot i can ad 2) on the programme he got everyone else to do it for him!!

[joggerjayne]

Yes, he does seem to have an incredible number of little helpers.

[bednobs]

agreed, did you watch the prog of his? He really got everyone to do all the tricky bits, plus hey were all sucking up to him

[joggerjayne]

Yes. He stands by the work station, and tells them all what to do.

Sorry I can't answer the question properly. Those northern counties are a bit off my patch.

[bushbaby_de]

The Vineyard at Stockcross (near Newbury) is very nice. Its restaurant is probably higher rated than its spa but I had an enjoyable weekend there. http://www.the-vineyard.co.uk/spa.asp

[bednobs]

thanks bushbaby. The problem is that i live about 10 mins from there, and although i said i don't want to go far, i probably want to go a bit further.
plus i looked at their menu and i'm afriad that it made me shudder because it had "foam" on some of thhe dishes.
I loathe "foam" with a passion as it looks like someone has gobbed on your plate, and it just puts me off of all the rest of the food :)
i think ive decided on the four pillars in sandford (oxford) - it's a bit further away and at least there are some things to do in oxford (i have a big passion for the cheesy open top bus tour)

[DTCwordfan]

Manoir aux Quatre Saisons - not cheap but spectacular,

Mid market - A really nice pub hotel but not a spa is the Kings Arms in Woodstock - a nice atmosphere and pretty good food.

[DTCwordfan]

What about into the Cotswolds - Lygon Arms or Dormy House at Broadway?

[DTCwordfan]

and Chewton Glen (that is a spa) and Whatley Manor at Malmesbury (also a spa) in Wiltshire.....?

[bednobs]

hmm, i never thought about wiltshire. I did want to go to malmsbury so i might look that one up, thanks

[bednobs]

i take it all back DT - just looked at their menu and it's foam galore, baby!

[DTCwordfan]

shame it used to be very good........there is the bishoptrow house near warminster too.....dont know if it is foamy!

[DTCwordfan]

and doesnt seem to be too foam driven