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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Team Built on Consistency<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Other members of the team are venerable too. Executive Chef Aaron Patterson has been at Hambleton Hall since 1992, and Graeme Matheson has broadened his scope from Restaurant Manager to General Manager. The country house hotel has long benefited from a wonderful team who have worked so well together for so many years that you couldn’t imagine the place without them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortunately, among the team’s many admirable qualities is a strong will to share their knowledge and nurture the same sense of care and attention in newer members. That means even when people like Chris and Dom become VIP visitors instead of Hambleton stalwarts, the hotel’s standards and its warm welcome are retained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hambleton Hall has never pursued fads, instead concentrating on quality and consistency in obeyance with the golden rule of hospitality: make the guest feel special. That’s why it’s still a pleasure to stay and dine at the hotel nearly 47 years since Tim and Stefa Hart welcomed their first guests to the Grade II listed former hunting lodge, set in 17 acres right on the Rutland peninsula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Michelin Star Since 1982<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The inspiration for Hambleton Hall came from the couple’s visits to Michel Gu\u00e9rard’s celebrated Les Pr\u00e9s d’Eug\u00e9nie in south-west France. At the time the restaurant was redefining French cuisine, and it remains one of the world’s great dining destinations, now holding three Michelin stars. Tim and Stefa admired not only the quality of the food, but also the warmth, generosity and sense of place that made guests feel genuinely welcome \u2014 values that have remained at the very heart of Hambleton Hall ever since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hotel joined Relais & Ch\u00e2teaux as one of its earliest British members and quickly established a reputation that extended far beyond Rutland. Hambleton Hall was awarded its Michelin Star in 1982 and today proudly holds the distinction of having retained the accolade longer than any other restaurant in Britain. Alongside its Michelin recognition, the hotel has maintained four AA Rosettes for decades and has collected a host of other honours, including two Michelin Keys, recognition in The Good Hotel Guide and regular inclusion among printed guides of Britain’s finest country house hotels and restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Local Sourcing and Classical Cooking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Aaron Patterson has been a central figure in that success since returning to Hambleton Hall. Working alongside a talented brigade of about 20, he continues to champion classical cooking with a slight contemporary touch, placing flavour and quality ingredients above culinary theatrics or gimmicks. Menus change regularly with the seasons, and diners can choose from lunch, \u00e0 la carte and vegetarian menus that demonstrate the same attention to detail regardless of occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The restaurant’s relationships with suppliers are equally important. Aaron has always preferred to source locally wherever possible, drawing on the best produce available from Rutland and the surrounding area. Fresh vegetables, herbs and edible flowers are supplemented by produce grown in the hotel’s own kitchen garden, while many ingredients arrive from trusted specialist suppliers with whom the team has worked for years. Among the most notable local suppliers is Hambleton Bakery, founded by Tim Hart and master baker Julian Carter, a former pastry chef at the hotel \u2014 what began as a shared commitment to exceptional bread has grown into one of Britain’s most respected artisan bakeries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Grounds and the Rooms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Away from the dining room, Tim’s influence can be seen throughout the grounds. Working closely with the gardening team, he has helped create and maintain the formal gardens that stretch away from the rear terrace towards Rutland Water, providing a beautiful outlook from both the drawing room and dining room, whilst the wider grounds offer colour and interest throughout the seasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inside, Stefa’s eye for design is evident throughout the hotel. Her classically styled interiors feature well-chosen furnishings that create a sense of comfort extending into each of the hotel’s 17 bedrooms. They are individually designed, beautifully maintained and possess the sort of character that other hotels can only covet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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