Hambleton Hall

British·
££££
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Silver Award
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SquareMeal Review of Hambleton Hall

Silver Award

A breath-taking location overlooking Rutland Water is just one reason why visitors gravitate towards Hambleton Hall – a quintessentially English country retreat done out like a petite French château, complete with superbly landscaped grounds, terraced gardens and magnificent antique-filled interiors. Built in 1881 as a hunting box and transformed into a luxury hotel a century later by current owners Tim and Stefa Hart, Hambleton Hall has received a whole host of accolades over the years, including the longest retained Michelin Star in the UK (awarded in 1982). Long-serving chef Aaron Patterson and his highly skilled team produce top-class food in the modern idiom, and readers confirm that the results are “absolutely spectacular”.

The restaurant occupies an appropriately stately room, while “impeccable” well-tutored staff mix grace and good humour with consummate attention to detail. A prettily-designed menu celebrates the seasons, and the kitchen follows suit – think a terrine of heritage carrots with spiced carrot ice cream followed by duck with kumquat, orange and caramelised endive.

Presentation is picture-perfect, whether you’re in the market for a plate of Presa Iberico pork or something luxurious from ‘gourmet corner’ – perhaps roast leg of milk-fed Pyrenean mountain lamb with violet artichoke, spring greens and creamed potatoes. To finish, signature soufflés and sorbets lead the pack, or you might fancy peach, raspberry and sablé breton. The tasting menu, while not cheap, is good value considering the quality, and will typically include ingredients from Aaron Patterson’s best local suppliers, who have such strong ties they come to the kitchen personally to drop them off.

Meanwhile, the set lunch menu at £31.50 for two courses or £40 for three, is a steal. Vegetarians are well catered-for with signature dishes such as cauliflower cheese with spiced lentils and cauliflower beignets, but vegans will struggle. The authoritative wine list is proudly biased ‘in favour of the little guy’.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
British
Ambience
Fine dining, Luxury, Quiet conversation, Traditional
Awards
One Michelin star
Food Occasions
Dinner, Lunch, Sunday roast
Alfresco And Views
Great views, Terrace
Special Features
Dog friendly, Vegetarian options, Wheelchair access
Perfect for
Celebrations, Special occasions
Food Hygiene Rating

FAQs

Does Hambleton Hall have a Michelin star?

Hambleton Hall has one Michelin star.

Helpful? 0

Location

Hambleton, Oakham, Rutland, Leicestershire, LE15 8TH

01572 756991 01572 756991

Website

Opening Times

Lunch
Mon 12:00-14:00
Tue 12:00-14:00
Wed 12:00-14:00
Thu 12:00-14:00
Fri 12:00-14:00
Sat 12:00-14:00
Sun 12:00-14:00
Dinner
Mon 19:00-21:30
Tue 19:00-21:30
Wed 19:00-21:30
Thu 19:00-21:30
Fri 19:00-21:30
Sat 19:00-21:30
Sun 19:00-21:30

Reviews

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3 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Phoebe W

22 March 2018  
Excellent service, made to feel special.

Ian B

09 May 2017  
Great setting overlooking Rutland Water, good value (for a Michelin starred restaurant) set lunch and excellent service.

Paul A

04 November 2014  
Food & Drink 4
Service 4
Atmosphere 4
Value 4
Modern classic
Hambleton Hall is a venue that has been cited in reverential terms by foodies for decades and as such it had been on our to-visit list for some years. Now at last we had managed to arrange a trip to include it and another long-standing target, and our hopes were high. Everything about Hambleton Hall is classically traditional, and none the worse for that. Because of a wine dinner the same night we were seated in the "small" dining room, which was actually more than adequate and provided plenty of elbow room all round. One thing struck us as soon as we were shown to our table - all the glasses for the wine flight were already clustered on the table, which heralded wine poured at table and presentation of the bottles, but left little space for anything else. We had opted for the tasting menu, with one change we requested, rabbit from the daily specials instead of lamb, which presented no problem for the very accommodating and well-trained staff nor, of course, for the chef. We were amused at the announcement of our "complimentary" canapés, which comprised a pineapple bubble with chilli twist, a parmesan crisp on a flaky pastry biscuit and a very good bream beignet with a tartare dip. An amuse-bouche of hot cauliflower velouté with black pudding and apple set the tone for the evening - everything was packed with taste and every element perfectly balanced with all the rest. And this was certainly the case with the assiette of heritage tomatoes with a perfect goat's cheese croquette, a super tomato crisp, tomato essence foam, cheese disguised as a tomato and tomato jelly on a tapenade base, which really got the palate working. The presentation of the beautifully concentrated foie gras ice cream with its topping of apple jelly, apple purée, cinnamon biscuit and cinnamon powder tucked under the foie gras was picture perfect, and the combination of the sweet apple with the foie gras was absolutely terrific. It is no longer a surprise to find scallops served with belly pork, but this crispy version along with a very good madeira jus, radicchio, hispi cabbage and cured, salt baked turnip made this dish special. Then, the request dish, an assiette of rabbit, which we chose to an extent because we rarely have it at home, but also as a kind of test as we have found that rabbit can sometimes prove too problematic for some chefs to handle. Aaron Patterson came up trumps. Rabbit done three ways, excellent rack, leg and a Parma-wrapped tower of loin, served with a carrot purée, onion, pearl barley "risotto", strips of raw carrot, and a wonderful liquorice jus. A super autumnal feast. The pre-dessert of lemon posset with its raspberry topping made for a good palate cleanser, and our dessert of passion fruit soufflé and passion fruit and banana sorbet was a top-class finale to a top-class dinner in the modern classic style.
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01572 756991 01572 756991

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