Lunch & a Tour of Four Seasons Hampshire, UK - December 2015

I had wanted to visit Four Seasons Hampshire since friends in Qatar told me about their stays there a few years ago.

Issy had his Santa outfit made by Four Seasons Sayan and the mother of my godson lives only 30 minutes from the hotel.

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Four Seasons, Hampshire 

We arrived at 2pm. Charlie (the General Manager) was away but David (F&B Director), Maxine (from Guest Relations) and Oliver the labrador were ready to welcome us.

Lunch in The Bistro

We had lunch in The Bistro. Caitriona (PA to the GM) had made the booking and Luca really looked after us.  There were delicious poppadoms, Veuve Clicquot, an Oliver soft toy and a personalised scarf for Issy.

We were allowed to pick from The Bistro menu and/or their signature restaurant (Seasons) dinner menu.

I got the scallops and then the truffle risotto.  The food looked too beautiful to eat and Luca’s ceremony weighting the truffles was something to see. They even brought Four Seasons Hampshire honey for Issy. 

We finished with a soufflé that was light as air, with ice cream.  It was a legendary lunch that ended with Luke from Four Seasons Doha coming to hand over a gift basket for my godson.

Tour

Then Maxine took us on a tour of the hotel and part of the 450 acres of grounds.  The equine facilities had to be seen to be believed and the hotel was larger, and more luxurious, than I expected. Having worked at the hotel before it opened, Maxine was the perfect guide and told us about the canal boat the hotel owns etc

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻 (6 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - Four Seasons Hampshire looks better than its photos and all the help we received from David, Luca and Maxine ensured this hotel broke the ‘teddy’ score.  My tip: you need to spend far longer at Four Seasons Hampshire than we did. 

Happy Christmas all!

Veuve Clicquot on ice, the Oliver soft toy - the start to the afternoon could not have been better.

There was a menu for Issy too. Four Seasons Hampshire honey. Loved this touch.

All the Four Seasons give me poppadoms these days, after a complaint to Doha Four Seasons a few years ago, but the Four Seasons Hampshire ones were the most fresh and perfect for years.

My Orkney scallops with Gentleman's relish, brown shrimps etc - a piece of art.

Luca showing us the white truffles for my risotto, before he weighed them out, a piece of perfect Italian theatre.

The Four Seasons Hampshire honey dish for Issy, as he gets used to wearing his stunning Four Seasons Hampshire scarf. Thanks to Maxine.

Luke, from Four Seasons Doha, with such a well thought out gift basket for my godson with Star Wars cards etc. Four Seasons at its best.

The soufflé with ice cream, a perfect end to an memorable lunch.

Only a Four Seasons would have a shower for horses this good. My dad was a Veterinary Surgeon and says he has never seen something like this.

Maxine took us around the Four Seasons Hampshire estate in style.

The hotel building is stunning, and far larger than I expected.

An incredible spa & pool.