Wood Hall Hotel And Spa, Wetherby

I missed many things during the lockdown, some I didn’t miss like the grind of the commute to work through the traffic but others such as seeing old friends and my partner started to get to me after 8 weeks.

I missed too the fluffy towels and bathrobes, the Egyptian cotton sheets, the comfy bed (I keep meaning to get a new mattress for my bed) and not having to wash up after your evening meal - all the things you tend to get when staying in an hotel.

If you want to indulge yourself in luxury then you might like to stay at Wood Hall Hotel and Spa. Nestled in a beautiful Yorkshire landscape at the end of a long drive the Hall appears in view, you can almost hear the theme tune to Downtown Abbey playing as you approach.

You can see why the venue is popular for weddings as the place lends itself to such occasions. As you park your car on the gravel in front of the house, steps lead up to the main entrance. A sanitiser on a stand reminds you though that these are still not normal times we are living in.

There is a one way system throughout the hotel and the only time you really see any other guests is in the socially distanced dining room.

The staff throughout my stay were friendly without being too familiar.

My Executive Room was furnished in a calming brown with all the facilities that you come to expect at this standard with a Queen size bed that had a Hypnos Landsdown Cashmere Mattress (I now know what I want my new mattress to be), an espresso coffee machine, separate kettle, a fridge with a carton of fresh milk in there and bottled water, a big wardrobe that had enough hanging space for the ladies, ample storage space, efficient air conditioning and plenty of plugs to charge up your phone, iPad etc.

On the bed was placed Bobby the Badger, the idea is that if you do not want to be disturbed you place him outside your hotel door “Don’t badger me if you do not want to be disturbed” says a note around his neck.

The large bathroom comes with Gilchrist and Soames toiletries along with double sinks.

If you fancy a stroll around the grounds or a longer walk, the reception can give you a map of local walks. I thought I was following the short walk but it turned out I was on the hour walk that took me past a field of sunflowers, of course the sun always shines in Yorkshire!

Fortunately the appetite I had built up during my extended walk was satisfied with the imaginative evening meal. You are given an evening menu and breakfast menu on arrival so that your food is prepared fresh for you.

My Glazed Goats Cheese with caramelised red onions and balsamic was a mix of earthy and exotic tastes, whilst the Chicken Breast wrapped in bacon with fondant potatoes, carrots and peppercorn sauce was cooked to perfection rounded off with a sweet Apple and Cherry Crumble with Creme Anglaise.

There is an on site spa with a small gym and a swimming pool, but I only had chance to work off the previous evenings calories in the gym.

The breakfast was delicious and was served piping hot with proper slices of toast too.

It was a shame to have to leave. On departure I met a no nonsense speaking Yorkshire man who was booking his family into the restaurant for Christmas dinner, he told me how much it had cost him and how much cheaper the same meal would be on Boxing Day.

“You know something” he offered, “I don’t mind paying if I know the standard and quality is going to be high and I always get that here” he continued. “You will want to come back here again mark my words.” He might just be right.

Wood Hall Hotel and Spa, Trip Lane, Collingham, Wetherby LS22 4JA
https://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/woodhall?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsf6glafB6wIVRbDtCh1VnwfJEAAYASAAEgKyvPD_BwE