ad – our stay at The Mitre Hampton Court was kindly gifted
Sundays in January are for sofa afternoons, films and hot chocolate… Or are they? I’m a huge fan of extending the weekend and spending a Sunday night out, or away somewhere near London that you can easily commute into work the next day. For just that reason (and a few more that we’ll get to!) The Mitre Hampton Court has been somewhere I’ve wanted to stay since it re-opened after its refurbishment in 2020.
The Mitre Hampton Court is a part of The Signet Collection and a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Its location is breathtaking – right on the Thames and a five minute walk from Bushy Park, meaning that you can walk straight out of the hotel and either out for a lovely riverside or country-esque walk. It’s also right across from Hampton Court Palace, meaning that you can indulge your history geek straight after your morning coffee!
When we checked in, we were warmly greeted and offered a complimentary glass of wine whilst we completed our paperwork. The reception area was warm, cosy and oh so welcoming (and I promise that isn’t the wine talking!)
I was checking-in to one of The Mitre Hampton Court’s stunning Royal Rooms, which are their top category of room and second only to their incredible suites. One of the reasons I’ve wanted to visit The Mitre is because of the stunning decor – the beautiful, bold print wallpaper, the four poster beds and those amazing freestanding baths!
Every little detail has been thought of at The Mitre Hampton Court – even down to the room names which all reflect the hotel’s situation. Our rooms were Edward (Royal Room) and The Music Room (Culture Room). And just look at the do not disturb sign!
That. Bath. Not only is it utterly stunning, but it’s set in its own space and detached from the bedroom slightly, making it feel even more special. There is also a beautiful bathroom with a waterfall shower which makes the perfect treat after a long walk in Bushy Park! I also loved bespoke Bramley toiletries which were both in the bathroom and beside the bath.
If you’ve read the title of this post, you might be wondering what the celebrations were (beyond staying in this beautiful hotel!) I was away with a friend, celebrating her belated 30th – and it couldn’t have been a more perfect stay for two friends with limited annual leave and a love of travel! The Mitre, knowing I was traveling with a friend, very kindly gave us a second room – The Music Room. The Music Room is one of the hotel’s Culture Rooms and is still extremely spacious and decorated with the hotel’s signature flare and style. I also loved the little touches, like the cornet in the room which echoed the room’s name.
Not to mention that it also has a little sitting room, which for non-suite I thought was excellent.
Whilst our rooms had beautiful spaces for us to relax and enjoy a glass of bubbles, I loved that The Mitre Hampton Court had a little residents library. In a former life it was an outdoor terrace, but it’s now been covered and turned into a very cosy little spot with books, a juke box and lovely little comfy sofas. As we were celebrating we ordered a glass of champagne to toast the occasion!
The Mitre Hampton Court isn’t just beautiful, and it isn’t just a hotel. It’s a foodie destination in and of itself, even if you’re not staying. Culinary Director Ronnie Kimbugwe and his team have created something really special in 1665 Riverside Brasserie and the Winter Terrace (and are exceptionally fun, friendly and all around excellent!). As with the rest of the hotel, you can see just how beautiful the restaurant is. Cosy, riverside tables for two are surrounded by soft banquette seating for larger groups and all with a feeling of intimacy that would be perfect for a date night – but equally perfect for a girls’ night dinner date!
We started with some delicious cocktails whilst we perused the menu – which was a challenge in and of itself as it all sounded wonderful! The menu is, as you might expect from the name, casual brasserie style. Given that neither of us could see burrata on a menu and not order it, the burrata with heritage beets and pomegranate was a must order. We also ordered the tuna & sesame bang bang salad, which is served with noodles and toasted peanuts and decided to share both (seriously, find yourself a best friend who equally wants to eat the whole menu and share!) Both were fresh, delicious, full of flavour and perfectly sized for starters.
Main courses were equally a hit. We ordered the special of the day, a crab tortellini, and (after much deliberation on my part) the chicken milanese, served with truffle creme fraiche, creamed spinach and a fried egg…And with an utterly delightful side of truffle and parmesan fries. Dishes that I would happily (and would very much like to!) eat again, and again. Simple, comforting and beautifully presented.
I don’t know about you, but I’m more of a pudding than starter person… But after our meal so far neither of us could quite manage a pudding on our own, so we opted to share the white chocolate and raspberry souffle. Trust me on this one, you do not want to skip pudding at The Mitre Hampton Court! This was such a treat and both of us were delighted with our choice!
Safe to say that by this point we were both in that beautiful state of slightly full, with sore faces from laughing so much, truly happy and oh so ready for our very cosy beds. I can definitely say I fell asleep with a smile on my face after such a lovely afternoon and evening.
After waking up, and having a quick dip in *that* bath (I had to!) we sloped into The Coppernose Bar for breakfast. I have to admit to still being slightly full from the night before, so we opted to share the poached eggs with avocado, hummus, shallots and sriracha. I know you might think that poached eggs aren’t that adventurous – but truly, these were a real treat and something that I’ll definitely be ordering again!
Having a limited amount of annual leave definitely doesn’t have to limit your travels. Particularly when you have gems like The Mitre Hampton Court on London’s doorstep. I can promise you it will be somewhere that I’m going back to. With beautiful rooms, the most welcoming service and wonderful food – I can’t find a reason not to go back. Here’s to Sunday staycations, celebrations and all the fun. The Mitre embodies it all – so you can imagine how excited I am for The Signet Collection’s next adventure, The Retreat at Elcot Park…!
Hampton Court Road
East Molesey
Surrey
KT8 9BN
