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Fawsley Hall is an impressive country house hotel that has swept numerous awards for its various virtues and is located near Daventry in Northamptonshire. For some, the Grayshott Spa might be reason enough to visit, although others will find that the lure of the beautiful surroundings of the East Midlands is hard to resist. Rooms are traditional but comfortable in every sense and a visit to this 15th century hotel brings even more pleasures for those who are gastronomically inclined.

Equilibrium, their sophisticated restaurant, is headed by Chef Nigel Godwin and the cuisine is modern European. The imaginative menu includes such signature dishes amongst the starters as roast pigeon and its own tea, parfait and pickled pear with celeriac remoulade and hazelnuts. More elaborate dishes down the line could be pan fried monkfish and frogs legs, Alsace jelly, truffle, artichoke risotto and lemon while desserts include an interesting apple and fennel parfait with raw fennel, ice cream and puree.

The Hellidon Lakes Golf and Spa can be found in the ancient village of Hellidon, from which the hotel and eight lakes in the two-hundred-and-twenty acre grounds take their name.

The hotel quite simply offers something for everyone, from over a hundred bedrooms, conference rooms, and fitness and wellbeing facilities, to a twenty-seven hole championship golf-course, and dining at Lakes Brasserie.

With splendid views of the lush grounds, the brasserie invariably offers a memorable dining experience. A salad of smoked trout, white beans, chives and horseradish crème fraîche sets the stage for mains of pork fillet, confit belly and crackling with apple compote, parsnip mash, and cider jus, or a fine tart of red onion, thyme and soft-cheese served with roasted new potatoes and buttered broccoli.

For those who crave after all things sweet, there is a brilliant warm chocolate cake with winterberries and baked vanilla custard. Over fifty wines are served in the Lounge Bar alongside champagnes and cocktails.