Rutland Hall Hotel luxury resort getaway

THE LOCATION

Peaceful, bucolic and with views stretching across beautiful Rutland Water, Rutland Hall Hotel ticks all our location boxes and if you’re looking for an escape to the country, this is surely it. A stone’s throw from the lovely market towns of Uppingham, Oakham and Stamford, it’s the perfect spot for enjoying a leisurely pootle around boutique shops and galleries or, if you’re looking for more active adventures, there’s as much adrenaline fuelled fun as you fancy, with 25 miles of cycling track around the lake, open water swimming, a water park, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing and stand up paddle boarding. The hotel also has a swimming pool and gym, bowls and a crazy golf course.

Rutland water cycling rutland Hall Hotel

Stay in the elegant and romantic Rutland Hall itself or in a stylish room, suite or apartment in one of the separate modern accommodation blocks, or perhaps opt for a Lakeside lodge. There are 31 self-catering Lodges nestled beside the lake, each accommodating between two and six guests, making them perfect for a family getaway.

Lodges at Rutland Hall Hotel uxury getaway

Watch this space for two exciting new upcoming developments. Four Roots, which is due to open in Autumn 2024, will be a four hour wellness experience with a carefully curated itinerary that includes a bathing ceremony, personalised treatment, meditation and salt room and a nutritious two course meal or afternoon tea. We’ve also heard that work is underway on a luxurious new day spa with a dining terrace overlooking Rutland Water, set to open its doors in 2025. We reckon those are going to be some pretty blissful views.

THE VIBE

Rutland hall Hotel views of Rutland Water

Despite stately appearances, there’s no stuffy pretension here, it’s super relaxed and welcoming. But if it’s period drama you’re after, the original Hall was built as a hunting lodge in 1890, long before Rutland Water, a manmade reservoir, even existed, and it’s played host to the likes of the Duke of Windsor and Mrs Simpson. The rooms here have bags of timeless charm, character and original features, but this is a hotel of two halves – modern convenience rules in the outlying buildings, which include The Uppingham Hotel, Oakham Hotel, Stable Mews and the Empingham Suite, so you can really choose your own adventure.

If you’re here for a flying visit or want to go up a level on your wedding car, rest assured there’s a helipad and if you’re here for the wildlife there’s an abundance of birds to be spotted here in the hotel grounds and by the lake shore, not to mention the resident bunny rabbits.

STAY

There are 66 recently refurbished individual rooms and suites in addition to the self-catering lodges. I stayed in a generously sized Junior Suite in the modern Uppingham Hotel, with views overlooking Rutland Water. Think contemporary panelled walls, a comfy seating area and coffee table, desk and dressing table, King sized bed facing the picture window and a good sized bathroom. There are chairs on the spacious balcony to relax in and watch the world go by and you even get a yoga mat if you can’t quite bring yourself to schlep up to the gym (about a hundred yards away).

SCOFF & QUAFF

Open to hotel guests and members of the public, Blossoms Restaurant is one of those places that sweeps you up into its arms the minute you step inside, it’s a huge space but, thanks to the way it’s divided into different areas with cosy booths, it feels intimate. There’s also a spacious dining terrace with views of the lake – perfect for summer evenings with a spritzer or three, oh and there’s even a grand piano, for when you just can’t stop yourself from an impromptu tinkle on the ivories.

New Executive Head Chef Christian Koroma hit the pass in July 2024, and brings with him a passion for local and seasonal produce, of which there is very much no shortage in this foodie part of the world.

Vulscombe goats cheese tarte tatin Rutland Hall Hotel

I kicked off dinner with a glass of Pescadero Point White Zinfandel Rosé (£5.20) and a fresh Vulscombe aged goats cheese tarte tatin, served with red onion marmalade and a pecan nut and apple salad (£12). I know goats cheese can be a bit love it or hate it but it’s my idea of heaven, though I could honestly have gone for any of the choices on the menu, there’s nothing boring or predictable, and not too much choice either, which can be a bit of a red flag in a larger restaurant. Here though, it’s all about keeping it tight and holding on to the quality, using exceptional ingredients and my tarte tatin absolutely nailed it on the flavour front.

Next up, a Thai Green Curry with king prawns, jackfruit, aubergine and tender stem broccoli from the specials menu (mains £19-£34). It’s not easy to make a curry look pretty, but the flavours were immense – all my favourite veggies on one plate and just the right level of spiciness too.

Roasted pineapple lemon granita sesame tuile Rutland Hall Blossoms restaurant

Lastly, it was Madagascar vanilla roasted pineapple with lemon granita, sesame tuile, mango gel and lemon balm (£9). I’ve said it before and usually get laughed out of town but I’m not really a pudding person, I’d far rather stuff myself with cheese, but hold the front page because I wasn’t expecting the flavours on this little treasure. I loved the sweet/savoury blend that comes with roasting the pineapple and contrasting its sweetness with the sesame tuile, the freshness of the granita and the herbiness of the lemon balm. It was utterly refreshing.

The staff at Blossoms are calm and attentive. In fact, the restaurant is really well-staffed so you never feel like you’re waiting for someone to take your plate away or wondering where on earth your second bottle of rosé got to.

Breakfast was especially enjoyable, with a copious buffet (the best possible kind of breakfast, don’t you agree?). It was the perfect follow up to my early morning run around the lake (well, not all the way around, but a good 5k, so I deserved it.)

KID FRIENDLY?

Yes, it’s great here for kids, we saw lots of them enjoying the swimming pool and the lodges are especially good for families.

DOG FRIENDLY?

The entire site is dog friendly whether you’re eating in the restaurant or having a round of crazy golf and there are miles of fantastic dog walking routes.

ACCESSIBILITY

There are a number of accessible rooms available, with plenty of space to manoeuvre a wheelchair. There’s also a buggy available to help transport you around the site as needed.

OUT & ABOUT

This is a fantastic part of the world to spend some leisure time (see above) there’s no shortage of water sports as well as shopping in nearby Oakham, Uppingham and Stamford. Top picks include Hambleton Bakery and café, just a few minutes up the road in Exton, neighbouring Barnsdale Gardens, Hoggy’s Grill Cookery School run by ex-England cricketer Matthew Hoggard at Rutland Nursery, Hidden Food Tours in Melton Mowbray, and the sublime Burghley House (above), which has a fantastic kids’ adventure playground alongside the house, gardens and deer park.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Families, couples with pets or those into water sports or cycling, groups of friends. There’s also an enormous 450 capacity wedding venue here, so if you’re going big on your big day this is the one for you.

Not for: Whilst the food is fantastic, it wouldn’t be my top choice for a romantic couples break, simply due to the scale.

The damage: Double rooms from £89 including breakfast, a Junior Suite similar to the one I stayed in costs from £249 per night including breakfast. Rutland Hall have some fantastic August offers including a two-night midweek stay for £325 including breakfast, with a dinner credit of £35 per person for your meal on the night of your choice, plus a glass of fizz or wine.

Rutland Hall Hotel, Nr Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8AB.

Muddy Stays: Rutland Hall Hotel, Oakham

You may also like