Elegant Charm
Are you looking for a romantic bolt hole with elegant bedrooms, great food and a fun spa? Look no further than Montigo Resorts at Charlton House. We were delighted to be invited for dinner bed and breakfast at this super hotel which is well located in Shepton Mallet.
As we approached this elegant Manor House, the birds were singing and the fountain regally situated in the turning circle carpark gently gurgled making me feel quite excited for what was to come. As we stepped inside the sun shone through the windows and I got a peep of the beautiful grounds on the other side of the hotel. We were greeted warmly and offered a coffee as we waited for our room to be ready (we were quite early checking in).
Sitting comfortably
There is a lounge area with armchairs and comfy chairs, a bar area, bistro area and restaurant. We enjoyed a latte and had a flick through some local magazines that had been conveniently left on the table to find out a little more of Somerset life in the vicinity.
We decided to have lunch, the menu is not extensive but there was a choice of sandwiches, salads, steak sandwich, burgers etc and we settled on a burger with truffle fries. The portion was generous and was well presented. The meat was a good quality, the cheese was tasty and the chips were heavenly. I can definitely recommend. I had a glass of Malbec which was reasonably priced.
Romance isn’t dead
We were shown to our room, which is one of 28. We had the bridal suite and I can only say WOW, it is a fabulous room! As you walk in your eye is drawn to the most incredible four poster bed. A bed for kings, it is ornately carved, sturdy, beautiful. Warm throws were strewn artistically across the base, I couldn’t wait to get in it.
Next the stand-alone bath takes your eye, a thing of beauty, sophistication and opulence.
The porter then showed us the patio, which was lovely, it is so nice to be able open and let some air, and some sunshine into the room. It had some chairs and a table, perfect for sitting and looking over the grounds.
The room was well appointed with good quality furnishing and drapes. Bath products were Elemis. A well appointed tea tray was great and fresh milk and bottled water in a small fridge was a plus.
Hotel ownership
The hotel is one of four in the Montigo Resort portfolio, and has a definite Indonesian twist which makes it quite unique. There is influence in the furnishings and in the food and definitely in the incredible Tiigo Bar, which is an outside cocktail bar which is reopening on April 5th. The perfect location for hen parties or a great addition to any wedding party with cocktails and Pan Asian styled tapas. It is a great fun space and well worth a visit.
Heavenly spa
I always love when you walk into a spa area and it smells of product and the spa here didn’t disappoint. It’s quite bijou (compact) but nicely done. There is a hydrotherapy pool with jets a small outdoor pool, a plunge pool, which was set at -2 so I didn’t jump in., but great for the brave. On a sunny day the outside area which had a whirlpool and cabanas would be idyllic.
I was a little disappointed as my therapist had a family emergency and had to leave early so, I didn’t get my foot treatment but there is a wide selection of massage, facials and treatments available all at a reasonable price. Trained by the wellness experts at one of the best respected Healing Hotel of the World, their therapists are equipped with the skills and sensitivities to undertake Balinese, Thai, and Javanese spa therapies at expert level.
Evening transformation
In the evening the restaurant took an a completely different vibe, English elegance is morphed with Asian flavour. There was a great atmosphere with orange toned lighting and a feel of fun and intrigue. The menu was fairly small but well considered, with something for everyone. I had lamb croquettes for a starter that was truly delicious. You can tell the chefs have cleverly thought out and curated a sublime menu. The Pan Asian flavours, along with locally sourced produce works really well together.
For my main course I had pork with pancetta which was delicious and Mark had the chicken curry. He felt a little more sauce would have made it perfect.
We followed with a deconstructed Eton mess and rum baba which was recommended. Both were good portions and really delicious.
I have to say at this point that one of the major assets to this hotel is its staff, they are attentive, friendly and happy in their work. They seemed very interested in if we were having a good time and it seemed that everyone was. They have good attention to detail and were all warm and friendly and it makes such a difference. The quality of the employees and their attentiveness is one of the things that would draw me back to this charming hotel.
And so to bed
With full tummy’s we climbed the stairs to our beautiful room. I just about managed to climb onto the bed as its quite high and I am quite short and fell into a contented sleep, dreaming of those who had gone before me. Kings and Queens perchance? There is some good ambient lighting in the room at low level if you need to get up in the night.
Breakfast bonanza
Breakfast was a casual affair, being able to sit where you chose, we chose a table overlooking the glorious grounds. There is a good selection of cold buffet with pastries, fruits, cereals, fruit juices to help yourself too. A substantial breakfast menu offered most things you could want from a breakfast, we went for the traditional English breakfast. All the produce was first class and it was a well cooked, very tasty breakfast all served with a smile.
Any negatives?
On the whole this hotel is a really pleasant place to stay, spacious, elegant and comfortable. There are a couple of areas of maintenance needed with some outside paintwork which needs attention and would enhance the overall look on window ledges for example and small areas of cleanliness such as high positioned lighting which would just elevate this charming hotel. However, we really enjoyed our stay and even tried to extend it although unfortunately they were fully booked.
Wedded bliss
On the whole this hotel is a really pleasant place to stay, spacious, elegant and comfortable. There are a couple of areas of maintenance needed with some outside paintwork which needs attention and would enhance the overall look on window ledges for example and small areas of cleanliness such as high positioned lighting which would just elevate this charming hotel. However, we really enjoyed our stay and even tried to extend it although unfortunately they were fully booked.
If you want to know, more get in touch. There are package deals or you can have a bespoke, your way option. This lovely hotel is well worth checking out.
Montigo Resorts at Charlton House
Charlton Rd,
Shepton Mallet
BA4 4PR,
United Kingdom
+44 1749 717751
email – enquiries@montigoresorts-somerset.com