Sally Stillingfleet enjoyed a weekend of bliss in the newly re-furbished Stapleford Park Hotel

Stapleford Park has recently reopened from winter hibernation, being closed for the first time ever to undertake some major refurbishments to the décor and room layouts.

The Grand Hall has had a modern update on its traditional décor, bringing it out of the 1980s with more manageable use of space and an increase in functionality. The Grand Hall is the jewel in Stapleford’s crown making it an enviable location for weddings and events. With the cleverness of designer Karen Robson and architect Audrey Keong they have worked on making the main rooms more accessible to different numbers of groups and different occasions.

Russel Sage has been responsible for the interior decoration’s contemporary elegance. With the subtle use of a Georgian colour palette he has rendered the Great Hall neutral but warm, complete with the specially commissioned large-scale woven carpet design. Lorca, Nina Campbell and Osborne and Little have sponsored the refurbishment of three luxurious bedrooms. All with their own footprint, they are the ultimate designs in luxury interior decoration, from their capacious white bathrooms to the upholstery, gorgeous window treatments and luxurious bed linen. The rooms have been brought bang up to date; more ‘Boutique’ style and out with the traditional.

Stapleford Park has stature and an imposing façade. The fifty-five bedroomed luxury hotel is quite literally far from the madding crowd. It is secluded and so peacefully placed as to be totally removed from all road noise and normally day-to-day living.

The reception area has had specially hand-painted silk wallpaper designed for the room as part of the makeover project and our Nina Campbell bedroom is richly decorated in an eau du nil coloured wallpaper and co-ordinating fabric for the high padded headboard, with tiny lights embedded in the top. The roman blind in dupion silk is beaded in an amber coloured trim. The thick curtains are also fringed with amber beads reflecting the light.

Classical music is coming from the CD player as we sip our homemade complimentary sloe gin whilst changing for dinner. In the bar we sip champagne, a warm fire is glowing, tiny miniature canapés are served, delicate and appetising. The Grinling Gibbons dining room had been painted in a lovely neutral Georgian grey with lovely light draped fabric in front of the window seats, updating the room but still maintaining the grandeur. The three-course dinner is all superb. To start, a celeriac and white truffle oil veloute is the beginning of a superb meal served by our extremely knowledgeable waiter. We then follow with John Dory for Nick and Filet of Beef for me; both excellent. The pudding menu all sounds delicious, we both plump for Pistachio Pannecotta with cherry ice cream – divine.

In the morning we make the most of the deserted swimming pool before a sumptuous buffet and cooked breakfast from a large selection of options. We tried Falconry after breakfast with Pete, the full time Falconry expert. The high winds put off most of the birds; Pete told us even Bernard the long-eared European Eagle might not comprehend the gusts of wind blowing across the lawns. Bernard turned out to be reliable and much heavier than I thought, landing on my leather-gloved hand with a swoop and a thud. Tempted only I suspect by the chicken bits rather than the promise of a workout, of course there is a fully equipped Techno Gym for that in the old stable block and an eighteen-hole golf course to try out. Too many options, too much relaxation, think we will go back inside – Bernard thought so too!

Stapleford Park, Stapleford, Nr. Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 2EF
Tel. 01572 787000 Lifestyle and Wellness Retreat Tel: 01572 787057
www.staplefordpark.com