The Credentials
Weekend trips to greener pastures is what keeps us city dwellers refreshed and revitalised, and my recent visit to Norton Hotel & Spa did exactly that. The hotel is a 20 minute drive from the beautiful market town of Winchester, which is just under an hour’s train from Waterloo, or 1-2 hours by car (depending on traffic).
Surrounded by rolling fields and with a spa offering everything from a sauna, steam room and pool to treatment room – it’s a peaceful escape, where you can be as active or sedentary as you like.
I visited the hotel on Mother’s Day weekend, so, of course, took my mum with me. It isn’t often we get a whole weekend together! We began our trip with pastries and coffees in Winchester, followed by a walk around the town and a little shop, before heading to the hotel for an afternoon in the spa, where we had the most wonderful massages.
Sleep
Our twin room was complete with two incredibly comfortable beds, crisp white sheets, a TV, and a mini bar. It wasn’t the type of room you’d want to sit in all day, but with the hotel spa just a few minutes walk away, you won’t be doing much more than sleeping or slumbering in your robes post massage.
Dine
For a hotel that has a broad audience, I was really impressed with the standard of food at the hotel’s main restaurant, Scene. The smoked salmon starter wasn’t just ‘any’ salmon, it was beetroot-cured, delicately smoked and melted in the mouth. Other starters included fresh scallops and terrine, blue cheese soufflé and salt and pepper squid. My mum and I both chose the salmon, pairing it with a celebratory glass of Moet Champagne.
Main courses ranged from tender lamb rump, cooked to the customer’s preference and served with carrot puree and dauphinoise potatoes, to confit duck, parsnip wellington, and seared sea bass on a bed of ratatouille-style chickpeas. I had the latter, which was cooked perfectly. The only negative part of the meal was our side of veg, which seemed to have had a very heavy hand of salt – and I like salt. A swig of Chardonnay and balance was soon restored.
For dessert, I ordered the chocolate fondant served with ice cream; I immediately regretted ordering just the one, when mum polished off half of it in seconds. It was dark, rich, and oozed molten chocolate from the middle.
Breakfast is also served in this room – buffet style, although select dishes are cooked to order. We both had Eggs Royale alongside a bowl of thick, creamy Greek yoghurt, and fruit. Coffee is your standard machine, but I drink tea, and was happy to see they also had decaf, so that was a plus for me!
Out and about
Norton Park Hotel is just a 20 minute drive from Winchester, a beautiful old town, with plenty to see and do. It’s also surrounded by rolling hills, where you can go for a walk; we stopped in South Wonston for a lovely 6km ramble the day we left.
In the town itself, you’ll find the majestic cathedral which is open to the public. There are coffee shops, boutique wine shops, clothing stores and restaurants. On Saturdays, the town comes alive with a market as locals flock to pick up fresh fruit and veg. Music fills the street too, with regular buskers serenading the crowd. If you visit during the winter months, be sure to check out the famous Christmas market.
At the hotel, facilities include a gym and a spa, where you can have a range of treatments or relax by the pool. There are certain hours in the morning and afternoon when it’s open to children – something to be mindful of if you are after peace and quiet.
The Crowd
The crowd was incredibly mixed. There were families, couples and groups of friends. It’s quite a social hotel, people are always up for a drink and a chat in the bar – but only if you want to.
The Best Thing
The massages – incredibly relaxing and peaceful and fairly priced.
The Worst Thing
The machine coffee…
In a nutshell
Norton Park Hotel and Spa provided the perfect getaway for Mum and I. Easy to reach from London, delicious food and attentive staff and above all, peaceful. I’d certainly go back again for a weekend if R&R.
An overnight stay starts from £105 for two sharing a Double Room, including breakfast.
There are some great spring offers available, including a one-night spa break for two from £298 including dinner, breakfast and a 50 minute spa treatment.
customer-relations@theqhotelscollection.co.uk
01962 763 000
