THE LOWDOWN

If your idea of a countryside escape involves an ivy-clad manor house, knockout food and gardens you can properly lose yourself in, Mallory Court might just be your kind of place. This beautiful Grade II listed manor, built in 1916 and still owned by the Rigby family (under the Eden Hotel Collection), sits in 10 acres of Warwickshire grounds just outside Leamington Spa.

It’s a classic country house hotel – elegant but relaxed, smart without feeling flashy, and the sort of place people return to again and again. Food is a big deal at Mallory Court, with The Warwick restaurant already popping up on the Michelin Guide’s radar under new head chef, Stu Deeley, winner of Masterchef: The Professionals. It’s also something of a local institution for knockout Sunday roasts and elegant afternoon teas, and a popular choice for weddings.

And it’s not just loyal guests singing its praises. The hotel recently scooped Best Large Hotel in England at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025, which feels entirely deserved once you’ve spent a night here. Over dinner I got chatting to a couple celebrating their anniversary who told me they got married at Mallory Court 14 years ago and now return every year for two nights to mark the occasion. Note to self: work out how to introduce this particular tradition to the hubs.

Although more housing has sprung up nearby over the years, once inside the grounds it still feels wonderfully secluded. Ivy climbs the historic façade, timeworn flagstone paths snake through the gardens and strategically placed tables, chairs and benches dotted around the grounds invite you to sit with a coffee — or, let’s be honest, something a little stronger — and simply switch off.

Kids are welcome, but this isn’t a soft-play kind of hotel. Think more run-wild-in-the-gardens energy than organised children’s entertainment.

THE VIBE

I arrived in search of a little solo downtime and instantly felt like I’d come to the right place. It happened to be what felt like the first proper day of spring after a very long winter, and when I threw open the bedroom window I was greeted by birdsong and blossom drifting through the air. Instant mood boost.

The gardens at Mallory Court Hotel — Morning views

Inside, the manor house is full of character – oak panelling, cosy corners and a light-filled garden room looking out towards Harbury. But what really sets Mallory Court apart is the people. Many of the staff have worked here for years — even decades — and there’s a warmth that you simply can’t fake. By the end of dinner, the anniversary couple I’d been chatting to were hugging the staff goodbye like old friends. It’s that sort of place.

The rooms lean more towards charmingly cosy country house than ultra-slick modern hotel, but that’s very much part of the appeal. Between the seriously good food, the warm hospitality and the peaceful surroundings, it’s hard not to feel completely looked after.

PILLOW TALK

Bedrooms in the Manor House at Mallory Court

Accommodation is spread across the Manor House and Orchard House, which sits beside the spa. I stayed in Eastcote, a master room in the Manor House’s east wing.

The decor takes a bold, colourful approach to country house style, with patterned wallpaper, traditional lamps and layered fabrics giving the rooms plenty of personality. Mine looked out across the hotel gardens and herb beds — a rather lovely view to wake up to.

There are all the comforts you’d hope for — fluffy robes and slippers, Temple Spa toiletries and a spacious en suite with walk-in shower, along with thoughtful touches like evening turndown service. Most importantly, the room was blissfully quiet, meaning soft sheets, fluffy towels and the sort of uninterrupted sleep that only a countryside hotel can deliver.

THE SPA

For a fluffy robe, a glass of fizz and a few blissful hours of doing very little, Orchard House is where you’ll want to head. Built in 2017 and set slightly apart from the manor, it’s home to the hotel’s Elan Spa — a serene space offering half and full day spa experiences complete with treatments and lunch at Sencha, the relaxed pan-Asian restaurant. It’s clearly doing something right too, having earned five bubbles from the Good Spa Guide.

Inside, the vibe is instantly calming — gentle music drifting through the air, the faint scent of essential oils and a general sense that everyone has collectively agreed to slow down a notch. Treatments use both GAIA, a lovely local brand, and Temple Spa, with plenty on the menu if you fancy a proper pamper. Facilities include indoor and outdoor saunas, a steam room, a gym (if you’re that way inclined) and plenty of quiet corners to relax between dips.

The Vitality Pool at Mallory Court — The Vitality Pool

But my personal highlight? The vitality pool. This steaming outdoor pool is made for sipping bubbles in the fresh Warwickshire air before nipping into the sauna next door to admire the views. There’s something ridiculously satisfying about hopping between the sauna and the warm water while the cool air nips at your nose. Solo spa time? Consider me converted.

SCOFF & QUAFF

Now for the main event: the food. The kitchen at The Warwick — the hotel’s fine dining restaurant in the Manor House, open Wed to Sun — is headed up by MasterChef: The Professionals winner Stu Deeley, whose cooking takes classic flavours and gives them a confident modern twist.

The Warwick also has serious pedigree. Under former head chef Simon Haigh the restaurant held a Michelin star for more than a decade, and earlier this year — less than a year after opening its doors — it was recognised by the Michelin Guide.

The Warwick restaurant at Mallory Court Hotel — The Warwick restaurant

The oak-panelled dining room has that reassuring country house hum about it — softly clinking glasses, happy diners and the sense that people are settling in for a very good meal.

Lobster Ravioli at The Warwick at Mallory Court

Dinner kicked off with a series of melt-in-the-mouth amuse-bouches that immediately signalled we were in very safe hands. I started with lobster ravioli with XO sauce, monksbeard and Granny Smith apple, which was — quite simply — chef’s kiss.

Monkfish main at The Warwick Restaurant at Mallory Court

Next came monkfish with cauliflower, mussels, nduja and espelette sauce, bold, rich and the sort of dish that makes you slow down slightly so it doesn’t end too quickly.

Yorkshire rhubarb and Tahitian vanilla baked Alaska - dessert at Mallory Court Hotel

Then came the pudding persuasion. The waitress somehow convinced me to try the chef’s signature dessert — Yorkshire rhubarb and Tahitian vanilla baked Alaska — despite the fact that I haven’t voluntarily eaten rhubarb since school dinners. I stand corrected. It was absolutely delicious and proof that sometimes it pays to trust the experts.

At neighbouring tables there were murmurs of “that’s divine”, “absolutely fabulous”, and one diner declaring the trout starter the best they’d ever had — so it definitely wasn’t just me having a foodie moment. The team are excellent at steering you towards the good stuff — helped by the fact they’ve actually tried everything on the menu.

Breakfast the next morning was served in the oak-panelled dining room beside a roaring fire. After surveying the buffet of pastries, fruit and yoghurt, I somehow found myself ordering the Mallory Full Breakfast — dry-cured bacon, Oxfordshire sausage, field mushroom, grilled tomato, Bury black pudding and perfectly poached eggs. Because, frankly, it would have been rude not to.

If you’re after something a little more relaxed food-wise, Sencha, the spa’s pan-Asian restaurant over in Orchard House, is open all week and welcomes both hotel guests and non-residents for casual dining.

GARDENS & OUTDOORS

Mallory Court sits in 10 acres of beautifully kept gardens. There’s a lovely rose garden (350 of them, apparently) with a gazebo that’s become a popular spot for afternoon tea, weddings and the occasional proposal.

Stunning old stone paths wind through the grounds past clipped hedges, a peaceful pond and lawns mown in satisfyingly perfect stripes. As a slightly geeky gardener myself, I loved pottering around the rose garden, along with the veggie patch and herb beds.

Tables, chairs and benches are tucked into quiet corners — ideal for lingering a while and soaking up the peaceful surroundings. There’s even a slightly rustic tennis court for anyone feeling energetic and a few resident bees producing the hotel’s own honey. Wandering along the paths with views across the Warwickshire countryside, you half expect a Bridgerton brother to emerge from a gap in the neatly clipped hedges.

OUT & ABOUT

Mallory Court may feel wonderfully tucked away once you’re inside the grounds, but you’re actually just a short hop from Leamington Spa, with its handsome Regency architecture, independent boutiques and buzzy cafés. A little further afield is Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace, where you’ll find historic streets, riverside walks and plenty of culture courtesy of the Royal Shakespeare Company — perfect for a pre-dinner wander or a day out before retreating back to the calm of the manor house.

DOG FRIENDLY?

Four-legged guests are welcome too. A selection of dog-friendly rooms are available in the Manor House (£25 per night), though pups will need to follow the hotel’s house rules.

ACCESSIBILITY

There’s a full ramp at the main entrance and two accessible rooms available. For more detailed accessibility info, see here.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

A charming country house hotel where the food is exceptional, the gardens are glorious and the staff make you feel like part of the family. Come for the Michelin-level cooking, stay for the warmth, the spa and the sense that you’ve discovered somewhere rather special.

GOOD FOR:

Food lovers, romantic escapes, spa days with friends and anyone who enjoys a classic country house hotel with beautiful gardens and genuinely lovely service.

NOT FOR:

Anyone looking for ultra-modern design or lots of organised activities for kids.

THE DAMAGE:

Rooms start from £350 per night, including breakfast and one hour’s complimentary spa access.

Review: Mallory Court – a charming country house hotel where the food steals the show

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