Hampton Manor were the major winners at the inaugural Birmingham Food, Drink & Hospitality Awards 2016, winning in three major categories. The awards, celebrate and profile the movement of the food, drink and hospitality industry in Birmingham. The awards held on Monday 6th June 2016, celebrated the UK’s second largest city.
Surrounded by 45 acres of meadows and woodland and walled kitchen gardens, Hampton Manor is today Birmingham’s leading hotel, restaurant and afternoon tea establishment.
‘Best Hotel’ Award
The family-run hotel with 15 bedrooms and suites exudes the warmth and hospitality of a luxurious country house retreat. Hampton Manor is home to a team whose innovative approach to hospitality, cooking and design has elevated this Neo-Tudor Gothic mansion into the Twenty-First Century. Derrick and Janet Hill invested in the property and supported the entire refurbishment. Husband and wife team, James and Fjona Hill have drawn on their surroundings to create a fresh space. The property, built in 1855, had fallen into decline when Fjona and James, embarked on an extensive 18 month, multi-million pound restoration project. Fjona acted as interior designer, drawing on her photographic background and sharp visual eye to ensure her first hotel project was a triumph. Public spaces are sumptuous and grand, as well as warm and welcoming. Surrounded by 45 acres of gardens and mature woodland, Hampton Manor offers beautiful walks with guests offered a dedicated ‘Field Guide’ showcasing walks and tress around the Manor. James manages a young, passionate team of locals, celebrated by the national press as some of the finest in the industry.
‘Best Fine Dining’ Award
Head chef Rob Palmer picks produce for use in his menus which have gained much recognition over the last twelve months including most recently being awarded 3 AA Rosettes. Peel’s balances fresh seasonal produce with modern cooking techniques. The guiding principles for the young and creative chefs is to find ways to delight with simplicity. Start with middle white pig with black pudding, apple, sage & onion. Mains include line caught cod with langoustine, charred leek and vanilla or hen’s egg with truffle gnocchi, mushroom, parsley. And to finish? Passion fruit with white chocolate ‘Aero’ and liquorice. Peel’s is open Tuesday – Saturday offering dinner in a relaxed, spacious environment with
28 covers. Modern British menus are A La Carte, 5 Course Tasting (£55) or 7 Course Tasting (£75), all available with wine flight pairing (£35/£55).
All of Hampton’s Manor’s chefs have grown up within 20 miles of the property. Head Chef Rob Palmer came to Hampton Manor as Junior Sous, working under the exceptionally skilled Martyn Pearn who held a Michelin star for over 12 years. Rob learnt the importance of running a disciplined and highly skilled kitchen in Martyn’s traditional style, but now merges this with contemporary cooking techniques, picked up from working with some of Britain’s top chefs. The newly launched Tasting Room offers up to eight guests the chance to watch their dishes take shape whilst learning the secrets of a lively professional kitchen.
‘Best Afternoon Tea Establishment’ Award
Afternoons are spent in The Parlour, a theatrical lounge where a tea sommelier explains specialist teas crafted in single-batch from various artisan family-run gardens. The Lailani & Co teas fuse the traditional with a modern twist and afternoon tea includes ‘Waffle Cone with passion fruit cheesecake’ and ‘Goat’s cheese, Serrano ham, fig toastie’ whilst not forgetting Cheese, Fruit and Plain scones, all served with teas including Oolong. The Parlour, in the original drawing room, is the most recently completed space. The style combines painterly florals, seen in the Viola wallpaper by Designers Guild and geometric shapes, across the leather topped tables by British furniture makers Style Matters and copper and marble tables from Bloomingville. Open fires and chandeliers provide a glamorous atmosphere and a neutral palette offset by pops of striking colour provides a modern edge. It is the perfect spot for leisurely afternoon teas overlooking glorious views of the gardens.
Hampton Manor’s location is firmly in the heart of England and its three recent awards further cement it as one of the United Kingdom’s leading independent hotels and restaurants.
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