Box Hill, carpeted in green trees, looked resplendent as the
sun shone down on it. This was a picture only Mother Nature could paint so
beautifully, I thought as I sat blissfully taking in the scene as I tucked into
a full English breakfast at the Mercure Box Hill Burford Bridge Hotel in the
North Downs.
The buffet spread was impressive. I asked for poached eggs,
well-done. They came just the way I liked them. Many five-star establishments
cannot get this right.
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| The Mercure Box Hill Burford Bridge Hotel |
Serving up a taste of real England with a dash of French
elegance, (Mercure is a French brand) this boutique-feel hotel has a relaxed
atmosphere. The staff, mainly English, make you feel as if you are staying with
friends.
A sense of history engulfs you as you walk through the door.
The light and airy hotel cleverly makes a nod in its décor to its centuries-old
roots. John Keats and Jane Austen were among the many authors and poets said to have visited. On the
wall in the restaurant there is a quote from Austen's novel “Emma” citing a picnic on Box Hill.
My room was spacious and pleasantly furnished with
everything you needed including free wi-fi. The bed, decked out in crisp white
linens was comfortable. The bathroom was spotless. Fluffy bathrobes and
slippers were also provided. I had a balcony overlooking the garden and
terrace. It proved to be an idyllic place to unwind with a cup of tea.
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| Emlyn Restaurant |
I spent the afternoon doing the rather strenuous “Stepping
Stones Walk” taking in the views of the Surrey Hills, tramping across uneven
terrain as I climbed Box Hill, going
down 275 steps through the yew woods to come down again and reach the River
Mole and the renowned Stepping Stones that take you across the water. By the
evening I had worked up quite an appetite.
What a wonderful
surprise the Mercure Box Hill Burford Bridge Hotel’s Emlyn Restaurant
turned out to be. It punches well above its weight for a chain hotel including
some of those at the most luxurious establishments that I have visited. The
service was excellent and not rushed.
The restaurant has a lovely intimate feel, despite it being
quite a large room, and there is plenty of space between the tables. Under the
auspices of chef Nick Sinclair, the restaurant dishes up, in his words, “honest
food”. This is good British cuisine to which he has given his own contemporary
and creative twists. Full of taste and flavour, the produce has been carefully
chosen. Working with Surrey’s top artisan producers, Nick insists on getting
the best seasonal offerings so he is constantly updating the menu.
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| For main, I chose the lemon sole |
A blended Marmite butter, one of the three that accompanied
the freshly baked soda bread was innovative and that was before tucking into
the amuse-bouche and main event. This dining experience was looking promising.
For starters, I plumped for the crab which came with Jersey
Royals, radish, Cape gooseberry and sea vegetables. This was beautifully
presented and tasted equally delicious.
There was a good choice of wines. The sommelier suggested
that I try a glass of Denbies Rose Hill. The Denbies Wine Estate, the largest in
England, is only a short walk from the hotel so well worth going to explore it
as you will find quite a few gems here. This fresh easy-to-drink rosé bursting
with juicy strawberry and raspberries with nuances of cranberries hit the mark.
For main, I
chose the lemon sole which was served with apples, mussels, pancetta and cider.
Having recently eaten out in so
many restaurants where the portions have been so small that I had to ask for more bread to fill me
up, I ordered a couple of side dishes, sprouting broccoli and
sautéed new potatoes.
How pleased I was when the dish was served. There on the
plate was whole fish off the bone. With the trimmings there was plenty on the
plate before I added the side dishes. The fish was meaty and succulent. The
vegetables cooked to perfection.
This was washed it down with a glass of Dashwood Sauvignon
Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. A delightful blend of citrus and tropical
fruit flavours, this zesty wine was an ideal match.
I could not find any room for dessert or so I thought until
a tempting place of small sweet treats was placed in front of me. The petit
chocolate marshmallow was, like the hotel, too tempting to resist.
By Daralyn Danns
Rooms at the Mercure Box Hill Burford Bridge Hotel start
from £114 per night based on two adults sharing. NB Rates can vary. (A heated outdoor swimming pool is available
from May - October.)
For more information about any Mercure hotel and to obtain
the best rate with an additional 10 per cent off, book direct at mercure.com
