Muddy Stilettos


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-lowdown"><strong>THE LOWDOWN</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="530" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/lainston-house-exclusive-hotels-amy-murrell-2017-1-1000x530.jpeg" alt="Lainston House " class="wp-image-89966" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/lainston-house-exclusive-hotels-amy-murrell-2017-1-1000x530.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/lainston-house-exclusive-hotels-amy-murrell-2017-1-600x318.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/lainston-house-exclusive-hotels-amy-murrell-2017-1.jpeg 1435w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>All your<em> Bridgerton/ Saltburn</em> grand pile fantasies rolled into one. Situated just outside Winchester, you&#8217;ll instantly fall for the handsome red brick, 17th-Century Georgian mansion ringed by 63 acres of grounds. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/LHH_grounds_01-scaled-e1715777377357.jpg" alt="LAINSTON HOUSE HOTEL GROUNDS" class="wp-image-93169" /></figure>



<p>Thankfully the interior lives up to the fancy exterior, with period bedrooms, an elegant wood-panelled dining room with views out to the mile-long avenue of lime trees and the kind of lavish, maximalist decor that makes boring neutral hotel furnishings seem lacking. Not that you&#8217;ll want to stay indoors the whole time, because Lainston House has more activities than you can shake a green welly at, from walking trails and fly fishing to clay pigeon shooting, archery and bike rides. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="969" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Season-cookery-school-full-view-scaled-e1715777317290.jpg" alt="LAINSTON HOUSE HOTEL SEASON COOKERY SCHOOL" class="wp-image-93170" /></figure>



<p>There’s even an on-site cookery school, Season, offering an array of classes for food lovers of all cooking abilities both inside and outside in the kitchen gardens where cooking on fire is on the menu. You don’t have to be a hotel guest to join in the foodie fun, definitely one to add to my to do list!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-vibe"><strong>THE VIBE</strong></h2>



<p>Cosy, country house cool. You know, the kind of place with flagstone floors, sash windows, vases of freshly cut flowers and open fires, where a line of wellies greet you in reception and you wouldn&#8217;t be surprised to find a Labrador asleep in the lounge (four-legged friends are welcome at Lainston). </p>



<p>Calm, chilled and unpretentious, guests are sure to return home feeling rested, and fuller (the food here&#8217;s fab, more of which later). it&#8217;s also family-friendly, with  dedicated family suites available, though I mainly saw couples during my one-night stay.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scoff-amp-quaff"><strong>SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1333" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Lainston_8_11_16_avenue_01.jpeg" alt="The Avenue restaurant at Lainston House " class="wp-image-89967" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Lainston_8_11_16_avenue_01.jpeg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Lainston_8_11_16_avenue_01-600x400.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Lainston_8_11_16_avenue_01-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Lainston_8_11_16_avenue_01-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Avenue </figcaption></figure>



<p>Dining here is chef&#8217;s kiss delicious – locally sourced (including produce plucked straight out of Lainston’s kitchen garden), imaginative and bursting with flavour. </p>



<p>My husband and I ate at The Avenue restaurant, which is quite intimate (around 10 tables), and turned out to be the perfect combo of fancy (chandeliers, heavy cutlery, wood panelling) and chilled (friendly staff, time to digest between courses, buzzy atmos). </p>



<p>As we people watched (ok, gossiped) and waited for our dishes to arrive, we chomped on the most amazing Japanese milk bread. I&#8217;m plotting a return visit this alone. It&#8217;s sooooo good.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="750" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GoatCheese-750x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-89960" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GoatCheese-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GoatCheese-450x600.jpg 450w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GoatCheese-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GoatCheese-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GoatCheese-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>



<p>Things kicked things off with Rosary goats cheese served with horseradish snow, followed by smoked Lyburn gnocchi with butternut sage. One word: AMAZING!&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="750" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Gnocci.2-750x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-89962" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Gnocci.2-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Gnocci.2-450x600.jpg 450w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Gnocci.2-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Gnocci.2-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Gnocci.2-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>



<p>My carnivorous OH chose beef tartare to start followed by flat iron steak, both of which he declared delicious. Neither of us could resist the banana and miso tartar for dessert – unusual and moreish. </p>



<p>The portions aren’t huge, but they&#8217;re fresh and flavoursome and after three courses, washed down with a cheeky bottle of New Zealand savvy blanc, we couldn&#8217;t manage another thing. Ok just the chocolates with coffee, but they don&#8217;t count, right? </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="750" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Flat-iron-750x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-89961" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Flat-iron-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Flat-iron-450x600.jpg 450w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Flat-iron-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Flat-iron-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Flat-iron-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>



<p>The Wellhouse, which also houses the hotel&#8217;s cookery school, is another eatery but offers a more laidback vibe, serving food cooked over woodfire and smokers in the walled kitchen garden. It was closed when we visited, but I got the impression that in summer months it would be a fantastic place to dine, surrounded by all the fresh ingredients that appear on your plate. &nbsp;</p>



<p>If a sumptuous hotel breakfast is high on your weekend break wish list, you won&#8217;t be disappointed at Lainston. Served in The Avenue, you can graze from the buffet or order off the a la carte menu, which includes a mouth-watering Eggs Benedict. My husband couldn&#8217;t resist the Full English (included in the stay price), which arrived piled high with food supplied by local producers. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pillow-talk"><strong>PILLOW TALK</strong></h2>



<p>Like everything else at Lainston House all 50 bedrooms are enormous and spoiling, from Cosy Rooms through to Suites with a private hot tub. We stayed in Ruby, a huge open-plan Junior Suite which was all crisp white linen, soft rugs, comfy chairs plus a wooden desk and towering four-poster bed. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Lainston-Ruby-Room-1000x750.jpg" alt="Ruby junior suite at LAinston House " class="wp-image-89963" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Lainston-Ruby-Room-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Lainston-Ruby-Room-600x450.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Lainston-Ruby-Room-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Lainston-Ruby-Room-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>We pulled on our white robes and slippers asap and made full use of the suite&#8217;s kitchenette area, complete with coffee machine, tea, biscuits and Le Creuset mugs, though we didn&#8217;t get to try out room service – next time. </p>



<p>Our spectacularly large bathroom was another welcome surprise, think double sink, whirlpool bath, television, large walk-in shower and Molton Brown goodies. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="750" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/molton-750x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-89968" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/molton-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/molton-450x600.jpg 450w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/molton-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/molton-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/molton-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re travelling with little ones, cots are available free of charge and Z-beds for children at an additional cost, per night, per child (this does include breakfast). Children 13+ will be charged £75 per night.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accessibility"><strong>ACCESSIBILITY</strong></h2>



<p>Lainston House&#8217;s public areas are accessible for wheelchair users via a ramp. Some ensuite bedrooms have been adapted. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dog-friendly"><strong>DOG-FRIENDLY?</strong></h2>



<p>This is very much a pooch-friendly hotel. If you do want to take you hound on holiday, it&#8217;ll cost an extra £40 (per dog), which includes a comfy dog bed, bowl and treats. </p>



<p>Four-legged friends aren&#8217;t allowed in the restaurant/dining areas, but are welcome in the bar and lounges, plus there&#8217;s plenty of outdoor space for you and your mutt to enjoy.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-out-amp-about"><strong>OUT &amp; ABOUT</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Winchester-Cathedral-scaled-e1715673469267.jpg" alt="Winchester, England UK - September 28 2023: The Gothic interior of historic Winchester Cathedral also known as Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Swithun." class="wp-image-93116" /></figure>



<p>Lainston House lies just outside the village of Sparsholt, about two miles from Winchester city centre, which is worth a visit to see stunning Winchester Cathedral and to load up on seafood at Rick Stein&#8217;s restaurant. Travelling with littles one? You&#8217;re just a 20min drive away from Paulton’s Park, home of Peppa Pig World, and the New Forest.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>Good for:</strong> Romantic getaways, special occasions, family stays, pet-friendly breaks, weddings or large events.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Not for</strong>:&nbsp;Anyone who thinks weekend breaks shouldn&#8217;t include kids and dogs. A lack of pool or spa might be off-putting for some, though the gorgeous grounds and activities make up for it. </p>



<p><strong>The damage: </strong>Doubles from £255 per night. Plus additional £50, per night, per child, if you require a Z-bed and £40 per dog.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.exclusive.co.uk/lainston-house/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lainston House</a>, Woodman Ln, Sparsholt, Winchester SO21 2LT. Te;&#8221; <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=LAINSTON+HOUSE+ADDRESS&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8#">01962 776088</a>.</p>


Muddy stays: Lainston House, Winchester, Hants

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