Spotlight on Tylney Hall by our Customer Service Operational Supervisor

When Customer Service Operational Supervisor, Sinead, visited the elegant Tylney Hall in Hampshire, she was struck by its beauty, its warm welcome and food that was good enough to set the diet aside for…

First impressions

Just over an hour outside London, Tylney Hall gets you away from the madness of the city where you’re greeted by the extraordinary beauty of this grand building and gardens. The first impression is that it’s grand. It feels like another world, like something out of Harry Potter.

The hotel

We were staying in a suite, which was exceptional. There’s no lift and all the rooms are on the first floor, but there is a member of staff who takes your bags for you straight away. The dark wood of the historic building feels very grand and expensive. The suite opens up to a large sofa and two armchairs in a living space, a dining table and a large window with views of the grounds. Then there’s also the sleeping area, with two big wardrobes. There’s lots of space with big mirrors and the bathroom as huge with a double marble sink and windows of the grounds.

The restaurant

The hall where we had dinner is all wood panels and big bay windows. We had what was included in a three course dinner, but it’s more than you expect as you get canapés between meals. The food was the real highlight, it’s out of this world and there’s so much variety that I think everyone would find something.

I had scallops to start with cauliflower, goat’s cheese and parmesan. Then we had a palette cleanser of cold pea soup. I then had halibut, which came with mussels and a creamy sauce, followed by candied pineapple with rum ice cream and a caramel sauce. Then we had a cheese platter with three cheeses, crackers and chutneys. It is a fine dining experience, so it’s a chance to dress up a bit. There was a gentleman playing the piano while we ate as well, which made it really special.

At breakfast we had a buffet of sausages, bacon and eggs. There were lots of mueslis and fresh fruit, pastries and endless coffee. It’s definitely somewhere to go to enjoy and leave the diet at home.

The spa

The spa area is quite small, with a sauna, steam room and a gym. There’s a large pool outside, which is perfect in the summer when you can lie next to it, and there’s another one inside as well. The spa is very much something to be enjoyed as part of the hotel experience as a whole as it’s quite small as a destination in its own right. You will always enjoy it however long you stay, but enjoying it as part of an overnight break will allow you to make the most of it.

The location

The hotel is super easy to get to. We went by train and the closest station is at Hook, from which you can get a taxi, which then takes about 15 minutes to get to the hotel. I would recommend pre-booking a taxi because it’s quite difficult to get one en route, but on the way back the hotel will organise it for you. If you’re driving there’s plenty of parking. Once at the hotel, the grounds are magnificent - it’s just greenery on top of greenery. The feeling I had was that I couldn’t believe we were that close to London. The grounds really set the scene for your escape, and if the weather is nice you can sit outside to have breakfast or afternoon tea. There are squirrels and rabbits, which is magic for me to see having growing up in Malta. It’s so quiet and peaceful - definitely somewhere to go to unwind and have a good rest.

The verdict

Tylney Hall is definitely a spa destination for couples, people who love food, and it’s perfect for visiting with a friend or a small group of four. It is family friendly and they welcome groups, but I wouldn’t recommend it for larger numbers of people as might be overwhelming for other guests and I would say it’s best as a destination for adults. That said, there were a number of birthday celebrations and it’s clearly a place where you will feel special. They do everything to make you feel welcome - it’s as if you are royalty.

Top tips for visiting Tylney Hall

• Stay overnight rather than just going for the day because it’s about the whole experience.
• Take advantage of the outside space because it’s so beautiful and there’s lots to see and do - tennis courts, an outdoor pool and lots of history to explore.
• Do ask about all the fine art around the property, the imported ceilings and the chapel that used to be a theatre - there’s a lot to learn.
• There’s a big gin bar which is really pretty and feels like a library - make sure you have a drink in there.