Best for a special meal
The Japanese Grill at Beaverbrook
Start your evening in the 1920s-inspired Sir Frank’s Bar. The Art Deco space – with teal velvet stools and powder-pink walls – feels utterly glamorous; just the place to sip a dirty martini while propping up the bronze bar. Beaverbrook’s main restaurant is the opulent dining room of the Victorian mansion and channels the party spirit of MP Lord Beaverbrook’s original home. Here you can try chef Wojciech Popow’s elegant Japanese menu including lobster tacos and black cod.
Beaverbrook Hotel, Leatherhead
Beaverbrook.co.uk
Best for a spa day
Fairmont Windsor Park
Located on the edge of Windsor Great Park, on the border of Surrey and Berkshire, Fairmont’s spa stretches across two floors of the hotel and offers the very latest in wellness facilities. As well as indoor and outdoor pools, there’s a Himalayan salt room and an extensive thermal suite. Highlights include a Japanese Ashiyu foot bath and a multi-person Cryotherapy Chamber – to improve sleep. Inspired by traditional Moroccan wellness experiences are the ultra-relaxing La Sultane de Saba hammam treatments. Other unique therapies include a sumptuous gold and caviar facial with dedicated retreat days targeting issues such as insomnia and the menopause.
Fairmont Windsor Park, Windsor
Fairmont.com
Best for celebratory cheers
Whispering Angel Bar at The Mitre
Dating back to 1665, The Mitre Hampton Court is bursting with history. Used as extra accommodation for guests of King Charles II at Hampton Court Palace, these days the hotel’s storied history is celebrated by designer Nicola Harding’s quirky interiors. 36 individually-designed bedrooms, which give a nod to Britain’s boating traditions, there’s a riverside restaurant and a new café, The Coppernose. Best of all, though, is the Whispering Angel bar, carved out of a boat house in the grounds. As well as their famous rosé, order cocktails, draft ales and delicious bites, while looking out over the river and palace; the perfect spot for a summer celebration.
The Mitre Hotel, Hampton Court
themitrehotel.com
Best for afternoon tea
Pennyhill Park
Who doesn’t love afternoon tea? Whether a hurrah with a loved one, or a cheeky afternoon with friends, Pennyhill Park’s offering raises the bar when it comes to decadent sweet treats. Served in the Hillfield Bar, choose between a ‘Traditional’ or ‘Ultimate’ menu devised by head pastry chef Sarah Frankland, who cut her teeth working with Angela Hartnett at The Connaught. The ‘Ultimate’ features English sparkling wines, savoury filo parcels, sandwiches, scones and exquisite patisserie. Don’t worry if you’re tempted by an extra macaroon – you can walk it off in the surrounding 120 acres of leafy Surrey parkland.
Pennyhill Park, Bagshot
www.exclusive.co.uk/pennyhill-park
Best for a friends’ gathering
The Runnymede on Thames
Found on the banks of the River Thames, The Runnymede is just the place for catching up with friends. The retro Riverside Lounge offers an all-day dining menu with a laid-back vibe. Make sure to sample the house gin (the hotel has partnered with The Gin Kitchen to create its very own Runnymede gin) or a glass of wine curated by artisan specialists, SWIG. Meanwhile, The Leftbank Restaurant offers a banquet-like buffet (available in the evenings and on Sundays) with fresh dishes cooked in the wood-fired oven and rotisserie. It’s made even more special with the scenic views over the river.
The Runnymede on Thames Hotel, Egham
Runnymedehotel.com
Best for a cheeky night away
The Georgian, Coppa Club
After a mini holiday in reach of home? The Georgian in Haslemere is an insiders gem and opened last year, close to the Surrey Hills. With 13 bedrooms, a garden terrace and three dining igloos, the boutique hotel oozes charm with its comfy beds and whimsical design ethos. In the restaurant, seasonal menus feature plenty of crowd-pleasers – from the Sea Reared Trout on the Plancha to the Cauliflower Shaw. As well as an inventive cocktail list (with a good choice of virgin and low-alcoholic cocktails) the hotel is also pet-friendly. So, while you might want to leave the kiddies at home, you can still take your favourite pooch!
The Georgian, Coppa Club, Haslemere
https://www.coppaclub.co.uk/at-the-georgian/