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Celebrating 40 Years

This year we reach an incredible milestone. We hope to welcome you back to celebrate with us. In the meantime, here is the story of the last 40 years and the ways we plan to celebrate.

On 1st July Hambleton Hall in Rutland celebrated its 40th birthday. Tim and Stefa Hart, the couple who set up Hambleton Hall in 1980 are still directly involved in the management of the hotel and will be leading the anniversary celebrations.

“I feel fortunate that I left banking early in my career and went into the hospitality business. It has brought us enormous pleasure every year. Although the hotel has remained small with 17 bedrooms and one restaurant since the outset, we have continually evolved each area to reflect changing guest needs which has renewed enthusiasm and motivation.” Tim summarises.

 

Tim and Stefa garden

 

“Each year we create new dishes in the kitchen and redecorate a bedroom or reception room. In 2010 we started Hambleton Bakery to provide bread for the hotel and retail shops in the area. In 2015 we built the 2-bedroom Croquet Pavilion. Last year we redesigned the 1-acre kitchen garden to incorporate a new greenhouse, raised beds, and additional fruit trees. This year we demolished the kitchen to make way for a new one having calculated that 572,000 meals had emerged over the last 26 years. Now the old Bonnet range has been scrapped and a new Athanor has been installed.”

 

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Choosing Rutland back in 1980 was a gamble as despite its attractive market towns, stone villages and the picturesque Rutland Water as it was unheard of as a domestic short break destination.

So, the Harts created a house which combined a spectacular setting with exceptional cuisine. Tim and Stefa had fallen in love with Michel Guerard’s Les Prés d’Eugénie in France which inspired them to appoint maverick chef Nick Gill (brother of late restaurant critic AA Gill) to develop a fine dining restaurant that would draw the crowds. It also inspired them to join Relais & Chateaux as one of its first UK member hotels.

They commissioned renowned interior designer Nina Campbell to transform the original 19th century hunting box into a sumptuous and elegant English country house, each of its 17 bedrooms decorated in a private house style with colourful interiors, antique furniture, luxurious wallcoverings and artwork.

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London’s food critics and media heralded the new hotel a success and business took off from there.

In 1992 they hired Aaron Patterson as the new head chef from Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons, who had previously worked at Hambleton Hall under Nick Gill. Aaron has been a consistent and valued asset to the hotel ever since.

 

Choosing to champion local produce with creative, precise cooking, he is widely recognised for his rigorous commitment to local game and foraged vegetables. He writes his daily menus depending on what comes to the back door. With reassuring regularity, one of Aaron’s many foragers or farmers will pop their head through the kitchen door in person offering incredible ingredients from blewits and puffballs to salsify, apples or Jerusalem artichokes, quince or crab apples, sea vegetables or zander, woodcock or teal. Aaron will unite these new finds with existing combinations to create recipe evolutions each day. Dishes include; breast of Merrifield duck with watermelon, feta and endive, grouse with blackberry sauce and traditional accompaniments, roast mallard with corn and a pie of its own leg meat, roast pheasant with Jerusalem artichoke and truffle, hare wellington with root vegetables and a prune and Armagnac sauce.

 

Pan fried duck liver with pickled pear blackberries and ginger

 

Hambleton Hall was first awarded a Michelin Star in 1982 and proudly holds the record as the longest retained star in the UK. It has also retained 4 AA Rosettes for decades as well as winning almost every accolade there is. Recent wins include Good Hotel Guide’s Cesar winner for Best Hotel in 2017, AA Notable Wine List 2017, AA Housekeeper of the Year 2018, Good Hotel Guide’s Editor’s Choice 2019, The Caterer Extra Mile Award, 6th place in Harden’s Top 100 Restaurants 2020.

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Teamwork
“The key to success and longevity in this business is the people.” Explains Tim. “My core team have been with me for a combined total of 125 years!” This includes restaurant director Graeme Matheson (36 years), Aaron (28 years), sommelier Dominique Baduel (21 years), general manager Chris Hurst (17 years), marketing manager Carolyn Turner (17 years) and housekeeper Ewa Biolonos (6 years).

Aaron agrees that the principle is the same for his brigade; “some of my team have been with me for 16 years,” explains Aaron, who became a partner in the business 20 years ago. “It is rare to retain 4 chefs in the same, small kitchen for 16 years, but I think it demonstrates how much the menu and cooking styles have evolved over the years, and how this has provide the motivation we needed to stick together. I would like to thank Charlie and James and all my team for their passion, their tireless quest for perfection and their unstinting dedication to creating beautiful food over the years.”

Over the years, some outstanding chefs have trained with Aaron including James Petrie, Sean Hope, Adam Stokes, Chris Denney, Gareth Ward, Peter Templehoff and John Freeman who have gone on to earn their own stars and open successful businesses.

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Creating a Garden

“I’m a keen gardener and like to compete with Stefa, who is the creative force behind our garden at home. The process of improving Hambleton’s gardens started in earnest in the mid-1980s and continues to gather pace. It has been a matter of constant tweaking, planting and improvement.” says Tim.
“Over the years, we have built a body of regulars who like what we do and plan to return. But we are aware that every day is a new day and the magic must be recreated. Nonetheless, we are benefitting now from consistency that flows from a widely experienced team and the confidence that a guest feels when he walks in the steps of so many happy guests from the past.” Tim concludes.

 

Tim

Tim in garden


Enduring design

Inspired by Nina Campbell, Stefa developed a successful interior design business in the 1990s. Her business Hambleton Decorating is mainly commissioned for private homes, but Stefa also lends her design to Hambleton Hall. “I love dreaming up a new bedroom design scheme” she explains, “for example when it was time to redecorate Qazvin, I decided to include some antique wall hangings I acquired travelling in Iran. From this starting point, I created a whole scheme using rich burgundy and cream colours, a hand-decorated stencil devised for us by Dione Verulam and curtains to update the bedroom and give it a new lease of life.”

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How will Hambleton Hall celebrate?
Tim, Stefa, Chris, Aaron, Graeme, Ewa, Dominique, Carolyn and all the team will celebrate this milestone by delivering the same impeccable service as always. Plus, there will be a fascinating series of events including:

• A series of food and wine events throughout 2021 including a special guest Raymond Blanc who will share the kitchen with Aaron for a gourmet experience (date to be announced)
• New videos introducing the public to our local network of suppliers and our new kitchen garden
• Series of interviews with Tim and Stefa about their experiences

Our 40th anniversary dining experience, from £485 based on two people sharing a standard room includes a 3-course meal with coffee, a full Hambleton breakfast and VAT. Browse our Special Offers page for more information.

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Our latest Instagram posts, visit our Instagram page for more.

Over the next few weeks we will be sharing images Over the next few weeks we will be sharing images and video of the wildflower meadow that Tim and Rob have created. Started 2 years ago, the aim of the project was to make the field beyond the formal gardens more interesting for guests. Notoriously difficult to establish, we ploughed, harrowed and seeded the field and we are all delighted that the achillea, wild carrot ox eye daisies have appeared among the grass. #hambletonhall #rutland #smallluxuryhotel #countryhousehotel #relaischateaux #wildflowers #wildflowermeadow #achillea #wildcarrot #oxeyedaisy
Hambleton's location overlooking Rutland Water aff Hambleton's location overlooking Rutland Water affords guests easy access to this cooling environment, especially when the temperatures soar. The Rutland Belle is a delightful, family-run boat cruising around the reservoir during daylight hours. Enjoy the scenery from the water, amidst the sailors, anglers and water birds as the Rutland Belle journeys from Whitwell on the North Shore to Normanton on the South Shore For more information on timings and prices, search "Rutland Water Cruises". #hambletonhall #rutlandwater #rutlandwatercruises #rutlandbelle #lakecruising #coolingoffonthewater #pleasurecruise #discoverrutland
There is so much to see and do both on the hotel e There is so much to see and do both on the hotel estate, on Rutland Water and within an hour’s drive into the Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire or Cambridgeshire countryside. Our Reception team are well informed and happy to make recommendations and bookings for you. New and exclusive to us this year is a partnership with Grimsthorpe Castle, where we can arrange for you to enjoy a private tour behind the scenes. Search for this package on our Special Offers page. #summerbreakuk #smallluxuryhotels #hambletonhall #rutlandriviera #discoverrutland #visitengland #rutlandwaterviews #hambletonhall #grimsthorpecastle #rockinghamcastle #burghleyhouse
With 17 elegant, stylish bedrooms to choose from a With 17 elegant, stylish bedrooms to choose from at Hambleton your stay with us will be comfortable, spoiling and memorable. Have a look at all the rooms online for inspiration for your next short break. www.hambletonhall.com/superior-rooms #luxuryhotel #luxuryhotels #smallluxuryhotels #boutiquehotel #relaischateaux #relaischâteaux #hambletonhall #hambletonpeninsula #interiordesign #hotelinteriors #hotelinteriordesign #hambletondecorating #houseandgardenuk #houseandgardenuk
As promised yesterday when we introduced Tim Apple As promised yesterday when we introduced Tim Appleton MBE, we are excited to share a new Restore and Rejuvenate offer valid from 1st Sept till 15th Dec 2022. The new Restore and Rejuvenate offer includes a whole afternoon bird watching under the expert tutelage of Tim at Rutland Water. Recommended by doctors for its wellbeing benefits, eco-therapy of this type will release endorphins, steady blood pressure, boost self-esteem and lead to improved sleep thanks to time spent outside. The Vitamin D absorbed by being outside will also boost your brain and immune system. After a spoiling meal in the Dining Room, an overnight stay in an intermediate room and a fortifying breakfast, enjoy a bike ride on Rutland Water’s extensive perimeter cycle path to boost your serotonin and dopamine levels to improve your mood stimulate your brain. In entirety, this package includes: - One night’s accommodation in an intermediate bedroom - Half a day’s bird watching and nature guidance with Tim Appleton MBE for 2 people - Bike rental for 2 people - 3 courses and coffee from our Menu of the Day (inc discretionary service charge of 12.5%) - Full Hambleton breakfast & morning newspaper and it is inclusive of VAT and based on 2 people sharing. It starts from £799 per room per night. If this sounds like something you would enjoy with a friend, tag them here to share the offer with them. It is bookable by calling the reservations team on 01572 756991. #hambletonhall #40winks #prideofbritainhotels #rutland #ukluxuryhotel #smallluxuryhotels #restoreandrejuvenate #birdwatching #birdwatcher #timappleton #rutlandwater #rutlandwaternaturereserve #rutlandwaterospreys #anglianwater #globalbirding #globalbirdfair2022
Today we would like to introduce you to Tim Applet Today we would like to introduce you to Tim Appleton MBE who is a long time friend of Tim Hart's and supporter of Hambleton Hall. Tim is the brainchild behind Global Birding which aims to inspire birdwatchers to come together as a global community and celebrate birds, by participating in birdwatching, birdwatching events, citizen science and conservation. Prior to this Tim was the co-founder of the first and biggest Birdfair which he ran for 31 years as well as managing the Rutland Water Nature Reserve, during which time he reintroduced Ospreys as a breeding bird to England in 1996. Tim has been awarded an MBE as well as the Cadbury medal, both for services to conservation. Hambleton has teamed up with Tim on our new Restore and Rejuvenate offer, which we will explain in full here tomorrow. #hambletonhall #40winks #prideofbritainhotels #rutland #ukluxuryhotel #smallluxuryhotels #restoreandrejuvenate #birdwatching #birdwatcher #timappleton #rutlandwater #rutlandwaternaturereserve #rutlandwaterospreys #anglianwater #globalbirding #globalbirdfair2022
Our overnight stays and packages always include a Our overnight stays and packages always include a full Hambleton Breakfast. We feel that this is one of life’s little luxuries, having someone else prepare this important meal for you to enjoy in the comfort of your bedroom or in our elegant Dining Room, with the windows and doors thrown open wide in this hot weather. We like to make your tea exactly to your preference. We like to prepare the season’s fresh fruits for you to sample. We like to pour freshly-made Hambleton Bakery Granola topped with milk from the local Vine Farm Dairy. And that’s just the Continental Breakfast. Following this we offer eggs from our own flock cooked as you wish, kippers, home-smoked salmon, poached haddock or eggs Benedict. It’s all part of our personal and attentive service to give you the most memorable experience and set you up for an excellent day ahead. #hambletonhall #breakfastinbed #bestmealoftheday #breakfastlikeaking #roomservice #hambletonbakery #granola #vinefarmdairy #continentalbreakfast #fullhambletonbreakfast #eggsbenedict #smokedkippers #poachedhaddock #morningpaper
Hambleton’s kitchen garden is tucked away behind Hambleton’s kitchen garden is tucked away behind the tennis court and the stable block. Everything we grow here is used by the chefs in the restaurant’s savoury and sweet dishes, which is why the flavours are so good. This week the potatoes, Swiss chard and onions have been harvested. The strawberries have come from a local farm on Rutland Water. You are welcome to wander through the kitchen garden at your leisure. If you’re not sure which way to head, just ask any of the team to point you in the right direction. #hambletonhall #kitchengarden #michelinstar #countryhousehotel #fieldtoplate #fieldtotable #homegrown #rutland #rutlandwater #discoverrutland #aaronpatterson #finedining
Graeme and his team are always on hand to help whe Graeme and his team are always on hand to help when it comes to spoiling our guests! There is nothing we like more than seeing happy, smiley friends and families sharing good times together.
With these high temperatures there is only one way With these high temperatures there is only one way to cool down…. #summerbreakuk #smallluxuryhotels #hambletonhall #rutlandriviera #discoverrutland #visitengland #rutlandwaterviews
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    Hambleton, Oakham, Rutland
    LE15 8TH, United Kingdom
    +44 (0) 1572 756 991
    hotel@hambletonhall.com
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Hambleton Hall Limited Registered Office: The Old Hall, Market Overton, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7PL
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