The Runnymede-on-Thames Hotel is nestled between beautiful countryside and the River Thames, with activities and outdoor areas that make the most of the unique setting.
The hotel is packed with ideas for visitors of nearby attractions, as well as kitted out with games consoles and sitting areas for young people, a number of eateries to match all appetites, and the spa, with a steam room, sauna and swimming pool.
The spa also offers beauty treatments from manicures and facials to more relaxing experiences, such as the specialist honey treatment which includes a facial, back exfoliation and foot mask.
The treatment is incredibly calming: the room is low lit with relaxing music playing and the aromas from the oils making you feel completely at ease. It begins with the back exfoliation and the scent of honey adds to the atmosphere.
Every aspect of the treatment includes massage, which means you leave feeling you have truly unwound.
The main restaurant of the hotel, The Lock Bar and Kitchen, has an ever-changing menu to suit the specialities of the area, with local and homegrown produce a key part of their dishes. The menu has everything from a pie of the day, fresh fish, and vegetarian and meat options, including a delicious lamb dish using honey from bees kept on the premises.
Starter options include the whitebait, which are perfectly battered and come with a unique dipping sauce. Another fishy option is locally- sourced salmon, smoked and accompanied by sourdough and a delicious crème fraiche and chive spread.
The pie of the day is a hefty port ion, certainly not for t he faint-hearted, and comes with a creamy mash potato and can also come with vegetables. The pastry is cooked to perfection and is egg-glazed for a glossy, unctuous finish. The honey lamb was served two ways - as a cutlet and braised, with deep, sticky gravy and carrot puree.
For those with a sweet tooth, the salted caramel and chocolate tart with rich and indulgent sauce to smother it in (if there wasn’t enough already!) For those who want something a little lighter, there’s a cheese board, or an orange, gingerbread and white chocolate posset which is creamy, yet light and delicately balanced.
The staff are incredibly courteous, both in the spa and the restaurant.
The hotel’s décor is fairly neutral, with lighting playing a key part in the lounges and the communal areas. Riverside artwork is also in important part of the décor, with pictures of the surrounding countryside lining corridors and some of the rooms and suites.
The Runnymede-on-Thames can boast beautiful scenery and is close to attractions and historic sites, and though the spa would be perfect if a little larger, the food, treatments and staff were wonderful.
Certainly one to visit for a long weekend!
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