Take 5: Post-lockdown escapes

After lockdown’s over, you’re going to want an uber-luxe break lined up. Here are five fab finds for your post-lockdown escape

The Seaside Boarding House, Bradstock, Dorset

If being cooped up inside leaves you tempted to book a break somewhere with plenty of space and room to explore, consider a post-lockdown escape to The Seaside Boarding House (pictured above).

Set on the cliffs overlooking Dorset’s sweeping Chesil Beach and Lyme Bay, the stylish hotel is a real treasure to be discovered on the Jurassic Coast.

Bracing seaside walks are rewarded with excellent sustenance in the restaurant, where diners can feast on modern British dishes which champion the seasonal produce sourced from Dorset’s fishing boats, farms and smallholdings.

Following a day of coastal adventures and exceptional dining, repose in one of the nine smart bedrooms with unrivalled sea views.

Methuen Arms, Wiltshire food

Methuen Arms, Corsham, Wiltshire

Bags of character, beautiful surroundings and conscientiously crafted food: the stunning Methuen Arms, in the heart of picturesque Corsham, ticks all the boxes for an incredible gourmet getaway.

Its three-AA rosette restaurant is run by head chef Kevin Chandler and team, who aim for self-sufficiency as much as possible. As a result, the food is seasonal, fresh and flavoursome.

Guests can choose from 19 newly renovated bedrooms, some of which have luxurious features such as super king four-poster bed or a free-standing bath with organic pampering products.

The Georgian coaching inn is a delightful base from which to explore Wiltshire. The stately home of Corsham Court is right on the doorstep and there are plenty of world-class walks nearby. And did we mention the legendary breakfast? Save room for the greed-inspiring feast of Wiltshire bacon, sausages and eggs with bread and pastries fresh from the hotel’s own bakery, and honey produced in its three beehives.

Carlyon Bay Hotel, St Austell, Cornwall

From its stately position on the headland overlooking St Austell Bay, Carlyon Bay Hotel is a charming and supremely comfortable base for anyone with designs on exploring the south coast of Cornwall after lockdown’s over.

The elegant hotel’s spectacular location provides a sweeping backdrop and is one of the attractive accompaniments to lunch or dinner in the Bay View Restaurant, where head chef Paul Leakey crafts artfully executed modern European menus from the freshest local produce.

Free golf for residents, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts and lavish spa facilities complete the escapist adventure and you may find you simply want to stay in the hotel and give the sightseeing a miss. However, if you are up for adventuring, take the short coastal walk or drive to nearby Charlestown to revel in the harbour village’s tall-ship history and spot the locations featured in the recent BBC adaptation of Poldark.

Woolacombe Bay Hotel, north Devon

This attractive hotel in the popular seaside village of Woolacombe may look like a grand dame from the outside, but inside she’s quirky and creative with lots of appealing contemporary attractions.

Foodies will enjoy the interplay between the epic seascape (the hotel overlooks one of England’s most stunning beaches) and the opulent surroundings at Doyle’s. This is the beautiful restaurant at the heart of Woolacombe Bay Hotel and where head chef Eduard Grecu marries classic British cooking with continental flair.

Beyond the vaulted ceilings, columns and chandeliers of the impressive restaurant more treats await. Visitors will discover a comfortable bar, indoor pool and spa, a large ballroom and a fabulous cinema which delights with its early 20th century Hollywood glamour.

The Lugger, Truro bedroom sea views

The Lugger, Truro, Cornwall

Sitting on the water’s edge in Portloe, 17th-century inn The Lugger makes for an utterly charming Cornish bolthole. The winning combination of traditional, beamed restaurant, a chic waterside terrace and beautiful cooking have long attracted foodies from both near and far.

Day trips exploring the likes of the Eden project, Lost Gardens of Heligan and Falmouth’s Maritime Museum are even more delicious with the prospect of an appealing supper at this five-AA-star spot.

For a home-from-home gourmet getaway, check out the attractively decorated three-bedroom Cobb Cottage which features self-catering facilities, a generous lounge and stunning panoramic views.

If you enjoyed Take 5: Post-lockdown escapes, find more Trencherman’s Take 5 collections here.

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