Celebrate summer with Whatley Manor

After five long months of winter, the temperature is rising, the clocks have gone forward and the joys of British summertime have once again returned.

To celebrate this shift in the seasons, Whatley Manor (whatleymanor.com), the luxurious Wiltshire retreat, has released its Spring/Summer Events Guide for 2011.

The guide features a wide range of special offers and inspirational events taking place over the next few months and provides guests with even more reasons to indulge themselves with a stay at this chic country hideaway. Highlights for the season include a new 'Blissfully Swiss' two-night package; a series of talks and special events such as the Laurent Perrier Garden Designer dinner; and special deals to celebrate the Easter period, the Royal Wedding and the longed-for summer Bank Holidays.

New packages for spring/summer 2011

2 night midweek Blissfully Swiss
Set among 12 acres of unspoiled Wiltshire countryside, Whatley Manor is the perfect place to experience the best of the season. The estate is filled with butterflies and birdsong at this time of year, while the immaculate lawns and flower-filled formal plantings present a beautiful backdrop for a decadent short break.

To encourage guests to visit during this most amenable of seasons, Whatley Manor has introduced a special 'Blissfully Swiss' midweek package. In addition to accommodation, breakfast, daily newspaper and use of the spa facilities, the two-night package includes one three-course, à la carte dinner in Swiss style brasserie Le Mazot and a three-hour La Prairie 'Swiss Bliss’ treatment in the award-winning Aquarias Spa.
The 'Swiss Bliss' spa treatment uses only the most luxurious La Prairie Caviar products and involves a 90-minute facial and a 90-minute body scrub with massage. The spa experience can be enhanced (at a supplement of £100) with exclusive use of the Aquarias VIP Suite, complete with its own hydrobath that's big enough for two.
The 'Blissfully Swiss' package is available from Tuesdays to Thursdays throughout the summer and costs from £1,090 for two people sharing a standard room.

Stay at Whatley and walk with Oakley
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 to put a spring in your step and kick start your fitness routine.
This two-night stay includes a Nordic Walking training session and for the more advanced a one hour Nordic Walking through the beautiful Wiltshire countryside with Ronnie Hodges, professional Nordic Walking training session plus a pair of stylish Whatley Manor custom made Oakley® sunglasses – either the Oakley® Antix and Oakley® Half Jacket.
The two-night midweek break costs from £745 per room and is based on two guests sharing a twin or double room and includes a Nordic walking session, a pair of Oakley® sunglasses per person, full English breakfast and use of all of the Spa facilities.

New Events

Trends in Interiors - Property - Fragrance at Whatley Manor
Wednesday, 25th May
10 am to 4 pm
Whatley Manor has earned itself a reputation for the calibre of its programme of inspirational and informative talks - and the ‘Trends in Interiors’ seminar taking place in late May will surely be no exception. The event will appeal to anyone with a taste in high-end interior design. Robert Von Hawrylak (founder of local design consultancy Felbrigg Design, which includes cottages, castles and grand London apartments in its portfolio of projects) and a representative from celebrated textile manufacturer Colefax & Fowler will reveal the most up-to-date trends in contemporary interior design, while upmarket estate agent Savills will also host a short presentation. The event also includes a two-course set lunch (with wine and coffee) in Le Mazot brasserie along with a Jo Malone mini-treatment and a show-round of Whatley Manor. Attendance at the event costs £57 per person and participants can also treat themselves to an overnight stay by taking advantage of the Special Event Room Rates, which start at £230 per room for a standard room.

Laurent-Perrier Champagne Dinner and Talk by RHS Chelsea Flower Show designer – Luciano Giubbilei
Tuesday 28th June
6:30 pm start
In addition to being one of the world's most esteemed champagne brands (with an illustrious heritage stretching back almost 200 years), Laurent-Perrier also sponsors a garden each year at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This dinner event will afford guests the chance to meet acclaimed garden designer Luciano Giubbilei, creator of this year's stunning Laurent-Perrier Garden display. Sr. Giubbilei will host a short presentation on his design, which will be followed by a four-course dinner in Whatley Manor's award winning restaurant, ‘The Dining Room’, by the hotel's Michelin two-star chef, Martin Burge. Each dish will be expertly paired with a Laurent-Perrier champagne and the Mr David Hesketh ‘Master of Wine’ and managing director of Laurent-Perrier UK Ltd will also be on hand to introduce diners to Laurent-Perrier's finest creations. Attendance at this event costs £139 per person, to include a champagne and canapé reception, presentations, four-course set dinner with champagne pairings, coffee and petit fours.

‘Grands Chefs Trophy’ Dinner and Champagne Taittinger
Tuesday, 6th September
7 pm start
Another dinner event that's set to be a highlight of the summer calendar is the Grands Chefs Trophy Dinner, which is being hosted in September in honour of Whatley Manor's chef, Martin Burge, who was one of the winners of this year’s Relais & Châteaux ‘Grands Chefs Trophy’. To celebrate, Martin Burge has created a special five-course signature menu with champagne pairings from Champagne Taittinger (sponsors of the Relais & Châteaux Grands Chefs Trophy). Attendance at this event costs £149 per person, to include a champagne and canapé reception, five-course set dinner with champagne pairings, coffee and petit fours.

La Prairie Beauty Workshop
Tuesday 11th October
10:30 am to 5:30 pm
Spa products don't come much more luxurious than those from leading Swiss export La Prairie, one of the world's most prestigious spa brands. Anyone devoted to the quest for perfect skin will enjoy this exclusive La Prairie Beauty Workshop, held in the sophisticated surrounds of Whatley Manor's award-winning Aquarias Spa. The programme will provide an insight into La Prairie's latest products and includes a two-course set lunch (with wine and coffee) in Le Mazot. After lunch, participants will join in a hands-on beauty workshop to demystify the art of beautiful skin, followed by time to relax in the spa.

The event costs £128 per person with the price including an exclusive La Prairie gift bag (retail value over £70) containing a sample size of the latest La Prairie launch. Those purchasing any La Prairie products on the day will also benefit from an exclusive gift-with-purchase offer (valued at £113) containing some of the company's best-selling lines.

Cookery Master classes with Michelin two-star chef, Martin Burge
09:30 am to 5 pm
Throughout the year, Whatley Manor stages a series of one-day cookery classes hosted by the hotel's resident, award-winning chef. Guests participating in these events will spend an entire day in the kitchen with Martin and members of his team, learning how to create a seasonal, three-course menu that's guaranteed to impress family and friends. In addition to discovering the tricks of the trade, participants receive a special Whatley Manor apron to keep and can take home one of the dishes they have prepared.

• The winter master class is on 16th January 2012
• The spring master class is on 19th March 2012

Each master class costs £175 per person (or £125 for the chocolate event), which includes lunch, recipes, all essential equipment, an apron to keep and refreshments throughout the day.

2012 Easter Egg Master class - There's also two special chocolate master classes planned for 2nd and 3rd April 2012 - ideal for those who'd like to create their own Easter treats! (£125 – arrive from 1.30pm for a 5.30pm approx finish)

Sunday cinema screenings and jazz events, with lunch or dinner in Le Mazot
Weekends are always a cause for celebration at Whatley Manor. On certain Sundays throughout the summer, the hotel will be staging movie screenings in the on-site private cinema.

Highlights of the season include The Blind Side (22nd May) starring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Quinton Aaron, Sex & The City 2 (12 June 2011), starring Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker; The Social Network (31 July), the movie about the founders of Facebook; Invictus (14 August), starring Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela in his mission to unite an apartheid-torn South Africa; and The King's Speech (25th September), the multi Oscar-winning film starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. These are followed by Black Swan (30th October), the dark psychological thriller for which leading lady Natalie Portman won a Best Actress Oscar; and Gulliver's Travels (27th November) starring Jack Black and Emily Blunt. All movie screenings cost £39 per person, to include a three-course lunch or dinner, plus popcorn.

Alternatively, for jazz fans the regular Jazz Sunday events, which see the Solent City Jazzmen perform live in Le Mazot. Jazz Sundays are scheduled for 19th June (Fathers' Day), 21st August, 2nd October and 20th November and cost £39 per person (to include three-course lunch and the jazz performance).

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 (from 1st July 2011 this will increase to £305). For guests attending any of the events a ‘Special Events Room Rate’ starts from £230 per standard room and from £400 for a Suite and is offered subject to availability.

For further information and to book, visit: whatleymanor.com