AFTERNOON TEA AT THE MANOR HOUSE HOTEL, CASTLE COMBE, ENGLAND

This year I celebrated Mothers Day with my family a little early and headed to one of my favourite not-too-far-away hotels. The Manor House, Castle Combe, afternoon tea is a touch of luxury and the hotel is simply fabulous. We stayed here the first night of our honeymoon at the Manor House, Castle Combe and have been back since for breaks away from the kids, drinks, afternoon teas and a touch of luxury.  The Manor House Castle Combe afternoon tea is served in elegant surroundings in this beautiful village. The five star country house hotel is owned by the Exclusive Hotels group.  The Bybrook Restaurant, under chef Rob Potter, holds a Michelin star and the hotel also owns the cosy village pub, The Castle Inn.

Castle Combe, Wiltshire, England

Castle Combe is famous for being dubbed England’s prettiest village, a title it well deserves. Honey coloured stone, a meandering brook, timbered houses, a market cross, village church, people selling jam on their doorstep, this village has all of these.

Castle Combe, England

It’s also a location where many movies and TV programmes have been filmed, including War Horse. It’s a charming place for a stroll around and lovely at all times of year, be it a frosty winter’s morn or when the daffodils are out in Spring.

Castle Combe

The Manor House, as the name suggests, was the home of the Lords of the Manor dating back to the 14th century, alleged to include Falstaff from Shakespeare’s Henry V. Now a hotel with a very popular golf course, it sits in many acres of land with beautiful grounds.

Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe

The cottages in the lane leading up to the hotel are also hotel rooms, including Archway Cottage which has one of its rooms forming an arch over a village road.  They add yet another dimension to this wonderful property. We’ve always stayed in the Manor House itself but the cottages are really pretty.

Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe

The hotel has a river with waterfalls running through the grounds, Italianate gardens and, very popular with my children, a giant chess set.

Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe

After a stroll through the village, a game of outdoors chess and some riverside admiration of the beautiful cherry blossoms we went inside for afternoon tea. The tea is served in the hotel’s various lounges, all differently decorated, all sumptuous, some with log fires, some cosy and some grander.

Manor House Castle Combe Afternoon Tea

 

I had the Nyetimber tea, DH had the afternoon tea and the children had the children’s tea  (not featured on the menu below) with hot chocolate to drink.  The Nyetimber Demi-Sec was absolutely perfect and brought a wonderful sparkle to the tea.

Manor House Castle Combe Afternoon Tea

Sandwiches featured coronation chicken, smoked salmon and a totally delicious cheese with what I think was celeriac. Two types of scone were served – plain with jam & clotted cream and a cheese scone with butter. The scones were declared the best ever by the family scone-monster and she should know, she’s eaten a lot of scones.

Manor House Castle Combe Afternoon Tea

A green macaroon which I fancied was in recognition of it being St Patrick’s Day weekend, a melt in the mouth passion fruit and apricot dessert, a nut and caramel slice and a rhubarb and custard choux pastry confection finished off the patisserie, downed with pots of tea. Everything was delicious and it was all eaten.  Other tables were getting cakes boxed up to go, this never happens at our table!

Manor House Castle Combe Afternoon Tea

After tea, the children played chess again, indoors this time whilst we read the papers and relaxed.

Manor House Castle Combe Afternoon Tea

Sometimes in life you need a little bit of luxury, to take a moment to admire the view, enjoy the delicious cake that someone else has made, drink the champagne and sink into a deep, fireside armchair. Bliss.

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Afternoon tea, Manor House Hotel, Castle CombeManor House Hotel, Castle Combe

Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where Jo Goes other Wiltshire posts Lacock National Trust Village /Centre Parcs Longleat

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32 Comments

  1. March 22, 2017 / 10:28 pm

    Castle Combe is special to us too – it’s the first place we stayed after our son was born. He was only three months old, so it’s all a bit of a blur! I do remember it being beautiful, though. I’d definitely go back to try out one of these teas!

    • March 23, 2017 / 8:28 am

      I remember going there for my birthday for tea when my twins were 3 months old and it was an achievement that we left the house! Thanks for reading.

  2. March 23, 2017 / 9:48 am

    We were in Castle Combe last year. Such a pretty spot Jo and the afternoon tea looks delicious and decadent. Just as it should be. Enjoy your Mother’s Day. Hope you are thoroughly spoilt! #FarawayFiles

    • March 24, 2017 / 8:29 am

      Castle Combe is always lovely for a stroll! The tea is a bonus! Thanks for hosting #FarawayFiles

  3. March 23, 2017 / 9:52 am

    Do you live nearby then? I’m about a 10 min car ride from Castle Combe and I love it, although it’s been a while since I visited now. Definitely have to rectify that! I also love afternoon tea and never thought to try it at the manor, will be checking it out now, thanks! #FarawayFiles

    • March 24, 2017 / 8:28 am

      I’just near Bristol Keri. I love the Wiltshire villages, lovely at all times of year and Castle Combe is one of my favourites. The afternoon tea is well worth checking out!

    • March 24, 2017 / 8:27 am

      Lovely for a stroll around the village before tea. Thanks for reading.

  4. March 24, 2017 / 9:08 am

    My goodness this place looks beyond stunning! Sounds like a perfect day, I will have to look it up! #thelistlinky

    • March 24, 2017 / 9:00 pm

      A beautiful village it’s well worth a visit. Thanks for reading.

  5. March 24, 2017 / 9:08 pm

    What a gorgeous place! Would love to visit, it’s so photogenic, especially in the spring with that lovely blossom! #TheListLinky

  6. March 24, 2017 / 9:11 pm

    This looks lovely! My older son and I really enjoy afternoon tea together, especially the little cakes! #farawayfiles

  7. March 25, 2017 / 11:11 am

    A posh afternoon tea in a pretty village would certainly be my Mother’s Day dream. Castle Combe is on my list – I did love Lacock and I know the rest of Wiltshire really well as I was brought up there. Sometimes it’s hard to find that perfect spot for afternoon tea so I shall be saving this idea. Thanks for sharing on #FarawayFiles

    • March 25, 2017 / 11:23 am

      My family are from Wiltshire so I do have a soft spot for the many beautiful villages and I never need an excuse for an afternoon tea. Thanks for hosting #FarawayFiles

  8. Happy Mother’s Day to you Jo – sounds like a perfect outing. Castle Combe is adorable – can’t wait for the cherry blossoms to pop here in Copenhagen – a while longer for us. And WHO takes cakes home? Yum! #FarawayFiles

  9. April 5, 2017 / 11:26 am

    Castle Combe looks so adorable! I’ve never heard of this place! I want to get back to England so I can have more afternoon teas! #WanderfulWednesday

    • April 5, 2017 / 12:50 pm

      We sure do love our afternoon teas!

  10. April 5, 2017 / 12:35 pm

    Castle Combe looks charming and the surrounding area looks so lovely. #wanderfulwednesday

  11. April 5, 2017 / 2:54 pm

    Afternoon tea is the best, and in those surroundings you must have felt like Lady of the Manor! What a good idea adding a gin and tonic to the menu 🙂

  12. April 5, 2017 / 3:56 pm

    I would love to stay there for a weekend! So quaint and relaxing!

  13. April 5, 2017 / 11:08 pm

    Oh my goodness!! This is pretty much the England of my dreams, exactly as I envision England to be (and what I was naively hoping it would be like when I went to London years ago, which of course it wasn’t, ha!). Beautiful pictures, so charming and lovely!

  14. April 6, 2017 / 7:34 pm

    I would love to do a proper afternoon tea one day! We were thinking about doing one when we visited Ireland but it’s so expensive! The manor house looks like the perfect setting though!!

    • April 6, 2017 / 7:47 pm

      Yes they can be expensive that’s why they are such a treat!

  15. April 9, 2017 / 7:57 pm

    What a wonderful way to celebrate mother’s day!! I’ve always wanted to try an afternoon tea, and this one looks just lovely! That green macaroon looks delicious! 😀

    • April 9, 2017 / 8:17 pm

      It was all scrumptious Lauren – you have to try an English afternoon tea!

  16. Diana
    January 1, 2018 / 5:30 pm

    I love this place! I’ve been to Castle Combe two times and the first time I spent two nights at the hotel before is was refurbished. Even then it was a wonderful experience that I will never forget. I live in the USA and have been to England 7 times, where most of the time I spent with friends.

    • February 11, 2018 / 6:51 pm

      How lovely we stayed at the hotel on our honeymoon so it has special memories for us! Thanks for reading x

  17. DIANA LOWE-DISALVO
    September 15, 2018 / 7:59 pm

    My first visit was in 1983. It was my first visit to England and I heard about Castle Combe. At that time the hotel was owned by another company. We spent 2 days there and I loved it. In 2000 I went there again and the hotel had changed for the better. The tea and pastries were wonderful. I wish I could visit again, but I live in the United States and I can’t travel that far anymore.

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