Get inspired at Whatley Manor
From now until the end of April 2011 the new events guide from Whatley Manor offers something each month to fire up the imagination with inspiring reasons to take a break in the Wiltshire countryside from this autumn and winter through to the first signs of spring.
The events cover all aspects of the hotel with highlights to include a number of gastronomic wine and dine events when the hotel will be welcoming Austrian and Italian wine makers to share their art with specially designed menus from the hotel’s Michelin starred Head Chef, Martin Burge; whilst whisky is the tipple of choice on a Burns Night celebration on 24th January. Or for those looking for a revolutionary new spa treatment ‘The Iyashi Dôme Ritual’ detoxifies, re-generates and tones. A new Nordic Walking package throughout the season keeps guests fit for their winter sporting activities or they can take to the Cotswold country roads in March for a classic rally car experience and guests can take advantage of the Special Event Room Rates when attending any of the events.
December
New Year at Whatley Manor
The three-night New Year Celebration from 29 December - 1 January, costs from £2,060 per room, to include Champagne on arrival plus a whole range of festive dinners and treats, from live entertainment to films in the private cinema and use of the spa. For New Year's Eve, enjoy a six-course Gala Dinner in The Dining Room and live jazz. Spa treatments can be added from £85 per person.
January
24th January 2011
A Burns Night Celebration at Whatley Manor with Rannoch Smokery and Benromach Speyside Single Malt Whiskies. Celebrate Burns Night at Whatley Manor where a choice of drinks using Benromach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky gets the evening underway in Le Mazot Bar. The ‘Burns Supper’ will be created by Michelin two star Head Chef Martin Burge in ‘The Dining Room’ using specific ingredients from Rannoch Smokery. A few carefully selected Benromach Whiskies will then be introduced by Bill Hutcheson to the Haggis. Benromach is a boutique distillery producing a single malt with distinctive qualities reflecting its hand made credentials.
6.30pm arrival for a drinks reception in ‘Le Mazot’ bar followed by the ‘Burns Supper’ served in ‘The Dining Room’. The dress code is black tie or traditional Scottish dress
£98 per person includes drinks reception, a 15 minute screening in the cinema, four-course set menu, a selection of finest Benromach Whiskies with the meal, wine, coffee and petit fours.
February
8th February 2011
Wine & Dine with Feiler-Artinger
Enjoy an evening of fine wines with Kurt Feiler from the privately owned Winery Feiler-Artinger in the picturesque region of Burgenland in Austria. This boutique winery is one of the very few producing world class wines in all three categories of white, red and dessert wine and Head Chef Martin Burge will create a delicious three-course set menu in ‘Le Mazot’ to complement the wines.
6.30pm start with an apéritif, introduction by Kurt Feiler in the cinema, followed by the wine and dine in ‘Le Mazot’
£75 includes apéritif, presentation in the cinema, three-course set menu, Feiler-Artinger wines, coffee and petit fours
Sunday, 13th and Monday 14th February
St Valentines
Take a two-night midweek break and reclaim precious time with a loved one in the romantic setting of Whatley Manor. This two night stay at St Valentines includes a chilled bottle of champagne and a box of handmade chocolate truffles in the room on arrival, full English breakfast, use of the award winning spa and costs from £655 per room. For those staying three nights a sixty minute spa treatment each is also included and costs from £1,005 per room
A choice of romantic dining options are also available on St Valentines Day with menus prepared by Michelin two-starred Head Chef Martin Burge. These include a gastronomic seven-course Tasting Menu served in ‘The Dining Room’ from £90 per person or alternatively relax together in the warmth of the hotel’s brasserie, ‘Le Mazot’ with a tempting four course candlelit meal from £47 per person.
March
8th March 2011
Viva Italia with Castello Banfi at Whatley Manor
The award winning wines from Castello Banfi will be the focus of a wine and dine event on 8th March. Castello Banfi is a family owned vineyard estate and winery in the Brunello region of Tuscany and has been internationally recognised for its exceptional environmental, ethical and social responsibility and has been named ‘Italy’s premier vineyard estate’ at the ‘VinItaly’ wine fair for eleven consecutive years. Castello Banfi pioneered the planting of noble French grape varieties in the Brunello region, but Banfi’s most intensive undertaking was on behalf of the zone’s native Sangiovese varieties for the region.
The event starts at 7.00pm with an aperitif and introduction by Dante Cecchini from Castello Banfi followed by the wine and dinner in the hotel’s brasserie ‘Le Mazot’
£89 includes aperitif, four-course set menu, a selection of wines by Castello Banfi, coffee and petit fours
15th March 2011
Spring Arrangements with Rachel Wilson
Join Rachel Wilson, in-house florist at Whatley Manor, who will demonstrate how to create spring arrangements using organic materials with stylish designs suitable to give as Easter gifts and to decorate the home. Rachel will demonstrate how to plant up containers and will provide plenty of inspiration for participants to create their very own spring basket to take home.
10.00am for a 10.30am start
£85 includes demonstration, materials, three-course lunch including a glass of wine and refreshments throughout the day.
Wednesday, 30th and Thursday, 31st March 2011
Encounters… A Short Break at Whatley Manor with Three Castles Classic Rallies
Get behind the wheel of a classic car and learn a little more about the world of classic car rallying with top experts on hand at a two day midweek classic car event. Participants will be taking to the road with a specially designed 30-40 mile touring route through the delightful Cotswold countryside and the stay will also include workshops and ‘hands-on’ sessions on the history of classic rallying, navigational styles, car preparation and an example of a driving test.
Early morning tea or coffee, daily newspaper, breakfast, lunch
This event welcomes couples and is based on two guests sharing a room at £1,095 per person with dinner on both days including a ‘Drivers’ celebration dinner in the Michelin two-star restaurant ‘The Dining Room’ on the Thursday evening and full use of the award-winning Aquarias Spa.
April
Sunday 3rd April 2011
Mothering Sunday
Treat mum to a delicious three-course lunch in the hotel’s informal brasserie ‘Le Mazot’ and afterwards take a stroll through its English country gardens. A surprise gift awaits mum from the hotel’s spa, Aquarias.
£39 includes three-course lunch and coffee
5th and 12th April and (7th, 14th and 21st June 2011)
Whatley Manor Tuesday Garden Tours
The day starts at 11:30 am when guests arrive to a welcome reception followed by a two-course lunch using ingredients from the Kitchen Garden. After lunch Head Gardener, Barry Holman will give guests a private tour of the 12 acres of English country gardens, bringing the gardens to life and explaining the inspiration behind the design of the 26 distinct areas.
Greenhouse propagation and pruning will be incorporated into the April garden tours and garden design and colour will be addressed in the June events.
£41 includes Whatley Manor reception, two-course lunch, coffee and the garden tour
11.30am for a 12.00 start, the garden tour from 2.30pm. Finishing at approximately 4.00pm
19th April 2011
A Day Shooting Clays at Lady’s Wood Shooting School
Lady’s Wood Shooting School was established 25 years ago by Michael Pinker and is located just a few miles from Whatley Manor and is now recognised as one of the finest shooting schools in the country. Set in 65 acres of natural woodland, Lady’s Wood has a variety of sporting traps which can simulate anything from a bolting rabbit to a long distance pheasant thrown from the 120ft high tower. The event starts at 12.30 pm with sandwiches and freshly brewed coffee followed by shooting in teams from 1 o’clock. The day will finish around 4.00pm with a knock-out shooting competition, followed by tea and coffee served in The Shooting Lodge at Lady’s Wood then its back to Whatley Manor ahead of an aperitif reception at 7.30pm followed by a three-course set dinner, wine and coffee served in the brasserie, Le Mazot.
£179 includes the shoot and equipment, refreshments, three-course set dinner, wine and coffee. There will be a reduced rate of £89 for non-shooting partners who want to watch the shoot and enjoy dinner afterwards or relax for a half-day experience in our Spa Aquarias and arrive thoroughly refreshed for dinner
22nd – 25th April 2011
Easter at Whatley Manor
Make the most of the long weekend with a three night stay and relax in the hotel’s award winning spa, try out both restaurants and take a stroll around its beautiful gardens which will be bursting with spring blooms.
A three night stay costs from £1,005 per room and includes full English breakfast each morning and full use of the spa facilities. In addition there will be a special treat of a homemade Easter Egg and a gift from the garden
21st – 24th April 2011
The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials
Making even more of the Easter weekend the nearby Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials will this year take place over Easter in 2011. The trials are one of the toughest and most exciting equestrian events and the pinnacle of the world’s eventing calendar. Over the four days a different discipline or phase is judged. Horses and riders must complete a dressage test demonstrating obedience, discipline, accuracy and elegance. The horses and riders need to be fit and athletic to complete a four mile cross country ride, jumping several solid man-made and natural obstacles within a set time. Finally they must complete a course of show jumps designed to test their agility and accuracy at speed.
Three-night stay arriving from the 21st April costs from £1005 per room for two guests and include full English breakfast, full use of the spa facilities and transportation to and from Badminton courtesy of TH White.
Ground admission, dressage and cross country tickets can be purchased in advance on line by visiting: badminton-horse.co.uk
Packages and Promotions throughout the season
UK Launch of The Revolutionary Iyashi Dôme Ritual
The Iyashi Dôme Ritual is a new spa treatment that re-generates, detoxifies and tones. This two night midweek break includes two ‘Iyashi Dôme Rituals each plus one 45 minute treatments each so that participants can really start to feel the benefits of this treatment. Forty eight hours must be left between each Iyashi Dôme Ritual. The two night midweek package costs £835 per room based two sharing.
Stay at Whatley and walk with Oakley on a Nordic Walking package
Nordic Walking is one of the fastest growing forms of fitness in the country, exercising the whole body and stimulating the mind. Whatley Manor has introduced a new two night midweek stay for autumn and winter, including a Nordic Walking session and a pair of stylish Whatley Manor custom made Oakley sunglasses.
This two-night stay includes a one hour Nordic Walking training session through the beautiful Wiltshire countryside with Ronnie Hodges, professional Nordic Walking trainer and a refreshing Wiltshire cream tea for two in the Drawing Room on returning to the hotel. Included in this unique package is a pair of Oakley sunglasses custom made for Whatley Manor, Oakley Antix and Oakley Half Jacket.
The two-night midweek break costs from £699 per room and is based on two guests sharing a twin or double room and includes a Nordic walking session, Wiltshire Cream tea, a pair of Oakley sunglasses per person, full English breakfast and use of all of the Spa facilities.
Winter Warmer package
As the nights draw in cosy up in front of a crackling log fire, with full afternoon tea on arrival for a two-night midweek break at Whatley Manor. A three-course dinner for two will be served in the warmth of the brasserie, ‘Le Mazot’ on the first night then relax in the hotel’s private cinema with a film from the hotel’s library or bring along a favourite film from home. Make time for full use of the Spa Aquarias with its hydrotherapy pool and heated steam cabins. For those staying three nights, the a la carte menu in the Michelin two-starred restaurant ‘The Dining Room’ is included on one night.
The two night stay costs from £660 per room and the three night stay from £990 per room. Spa treatments are available from £55. A sixty-minute spa treatment is £85 and ninety-minute £120. ‘The Dining Room’ serves dinner Wednesday to Sunday.
A new year of Master Classes with Michelin Two star Head Chef Martin Burge
Whatley Manor is continuing its seasonal series of master classes with the hotel’s Michelin two star chef Martin Burge by enabling guests to spend a practical and fun day in the kitchens at Whatley Manor increasing their culinary confidence by learning how to create a seasonal three-course menu perfect for entertaining guests at home. Martin will share culinary tips and techniques. The master classes are by their nature social and interactive with guests tasting dishes that have made throughout the day and guests will be able to take home one of the dishes they have prepared at the end of the day.
17th January 2011 – Winter – sold out
11th April 2011 – Spring – sold out
8th August 2011 – Summer
16th January 2012 – Winter
9.30am for a 10.00am start finishing approximately 5.00pm.
Each course costs £175 per person and includes the master class, an apron, recipes, buffet lunch with wine and refreshments throughout the day and all essential equipment.
Jazz Sunday Lunch in Le Mazot
The popular Jazz Sunday lunches in Le Mazot will be held on selected dates throughout 2011 with the Solent City Jazzmen and Walter Weber’s International Jazz Band. Costs £39 per person to include three course lunch in Le Mazot whilst listening to live Jazz from 12:00 – 3:30 pm
Dates for the diary in 2011 are 16th January, 6th March, 19th June Father’s Day Jazz, 21st August, 2nd October and 20th November.
Sunday Cinema Screenings with lunch or dinner in Le Mazot
Stay inside with the new season of films in the hotel’s private cinema, starting with 12th December 2010 see ‘The September Issue’ starring Anna Wintour about the making of the September 2007 issue of Vogue; on 30th January 2011 settle back to ‘Eat, Pray and Love’ starring Julia Roberts; on 27th February see ‘Letters to Juliet’ starring Amanda Seyfried; on 27th March see ‘Knight and Day’ starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz; on 10th April see ‘Telstar’ starring Kevin Spacey and on 22nd May make a date for ‘The Blind Side’ with Sandra Bullock. Costs £39 per person including three course lunch or dinner, the film and popcorn.
A one night stay at Whatley Manor costs from £295 for a standard room including bed and breakfast and 10% discretionary service charge and VAT, plus use of the award winning spa Aquarias. For guests attending any of the events a ‘Special Events Room Rate’ starts from £230 per standard room and from £400 for a Suite is offered subject to availability.
For further information and to book visit: whatleymanor.com