Over the last few months many of us have not had the chance to get away and since travel is one of my passions in life, I am so happy to have the opportunity to indulge in it once again. When I received an invitation for a luxury escape in the charming setting of rural Herefordshire recently, I could not wait to pack my suitcase and hit the road.
The Lemore Manor Estate* is located in a stunning part of the world, surrounded by rolling countryside and tucked away in a peaceful setting, flanked by vast landscaped gardens.
The manor house itself dates to 1640 and it was originally constructed as a hunting lodge for the Bishop of Hereford, but nowadays it has established a reputation as a luxury hotel, wedding venue and event space thanks to the owners Ben and Margaret Owen, who have poured a huge amount of work into Lemore.
I expected that I was in for a treat as soon as I turned off the main road and wound my way along the stately tree-lined driveway to the manor house. Upon arrival, I was struck by the elegant proportions of the house and I made my way into the entrance hall where there was a vintage croquet set to reinforce the refined country house theme.
There was a warm welcome from general manager Michelle, who escorted me to my room and offered to send up a tray of tea or coffee whilst I settled in. There is a choice of accommodation available at Lemore and guests can stay either in the main Manor House as I did, or one of the lodges in the grounds - more on those later.
There are 15 stylishly designed bedrooms and I immediately felt at home in my spacious en-suite room, which afforded me a view of the fountain outside. A comfortable four poster bed, chaise longue and antique furniture added to the overall sense of grandeur in the room.
After unpacking, I headed downstairs to explore more of the manor, and I discovered that the drawing room is the perfect place to unwind and read a book, while sinking into one of the leather Chesterfield sofas! The Coach House makes the ideal venue for wedding ceremonies while the orangery plays host to parties and wedding receptions, and the space is flooded with natural light due to floor to ceiling windows.
I was impressed with how many features there are at Lemore Manor to ensure that guests have a relaxing stay and when I looked around downstairs, I found myself in the games room where guests can enjoy a game of pool.
There are numerous scenic spots in the grounds where you can capture some Instagram - worthy photos during your stay - including the famous 'blue doors' which are a favourite location for guests to pose!
The expansive landscaped gardens at Lemore Manor are a good place to while - away some time with your thoughts, I saw so much bird life in the grounds and the picturesque courtyard garden is filled with fragrant David Austin roses and a 200 year old olive tree.
Lovers of a drink or two will not be disappointed while staying at Lemore Manor and they have a superb selection of gins in particular - there were a few behind the bar which I had not tried before, some of which were sourced from the local area.
I was scheduled to meet Margaret for pre-dinner drinks in the bar and we had a good chat about Lemore while sipping a delightful Williams Chase en Provence chilled rosé, which was suited to the warm evening.
Margaret is an utterly charming host and she regaled me with tales of running the Lemore Estate while we sipped our drinks and before long we were joined by her equally charming husband Ben and we all had dinner together in The Hub, a new addition to Lemore Manor which allows for fully private dining in the grounds. I will share more about the dining experience in a separate review which I have upcoming, but suffice to say that we ate and drank well and it was a pleasure to have dinner with the owners.
After dinner, I had a stroll in the grounds which somehow looked even more enchanting by nightfall, before I headed back to my room for a blissful night’s sleep.
The next morning, I enjoyed a continental breakfast which left me energised for the day ahead, before Margaret escorted me on a tour of the Lemore Lodges and another exciting addition to Lemore which is a secret for now, but which will be completed soon!
I feasted on a selection of fresh pastries and rolls, granola and yoghurt and a platter of cheese and charcuterie - what a way to start the day, I always maintain that one of the best aspects of staying in a hotel is the breakfast!
The room where I had breakfast makes an extremely restful place to unwind and it is obvious that a great deal of thought has gone into the interior design of each area of the property.
The fountain in the grounds adds to the elegance of Lemore and it was the first thing I noticed when I arrived to check in.
On my tour I learned more about Lemore Lodges, which make the ideal choice if you prefer total privacy and seclusion during your stay. The lodges are all individually designed with a bedroom, en – suite bathroom, kitchen and mini bar in each of them. Outside, the lodges have their own wood-fired hot tubs and pizza ovens and you can get all the goodies needed to make your own pizzas delivered from the Manor House.
As my stay drew to a close, I left Lemore Manor feeling thoroughly refreshed and recharged by the seamless blend of exceptional hospitality and peace and quiet which Lemore delivers.
Lemore Manor
Eardisley
Herefordshire
England
HR3 6LR
A big thank you to all at Lemore Manor for making me so welcome. What do you all think, do you like the sound of a country estate with a range of accommodation options and the choice of fine dining and casual dining? As always I cannot wait to hear your thoughts and thank you so much for reading this post.
Until next time,
Camille
xo
*I was invited to stay at Lemore Manor, my stay was complimentary. All opinions expressed herein are my own and honest.
