Esseborne Manor

Near the Bourne valley, in an area of outstanding natural beauty, this traditional hotel has a 'family-run atmosphere' and 'most helpful staff'. The late Victorian house has been sympathetically extended by its owners, Lucilla and Ian Hamilton; their son, Mark, is the manager. It is approached up a long drive flanked by fields with sheep grazing, off a busy road (traffic noise audible in the garden). There is an abundance of fresh flowers in the two lounges. Some bedrooms in the main house have a spa bath, some a four-poster; six rooms around a courtyard are good for families (children are welcomed, though there are no special facilities for them). Three small rooms are in cottages. A premier deluxe room with private patio overlooks the pretty herb garden. 'Very comfortable bed, huge open bathroom/dressing area with spa bath, separate multi-jet shower; lots of storage, good lighting apart from bedside lights. In the dining room (red-patterned wallpaper, blue carpet, big windows), the Slovenian chef, Anton Babarovic, offers 'very good, straightforward dishes', eg, chicken livers with mashed potato; sticky toffee pudding. 'Excellent value.' Weddings (marquee on the lawn) and meetings are catered for. (A and CR, and others)