Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa

There’s no getting around the grandeur of Lucknam Park. Restaurant Hywel Jones sits inside a Palladian mansion surrounded by 500 acres of Wiltshire countryside, giving dinner a built-in sense of occasion.

Executive chef Hywel has held a Michelin star at Lucknam for an impressive 21 consecutive years, during which time his cooking has quietly evolved. His classical foundations now take a lighter, more contemporary approach to the use of British produce, resulting in a four-course menu and an exceptional tasting menu experience.

Wiltshire honey-and-lavender-glazed duck is paired with pickled peach, sweet wine and wet almonds, while line-caught sea bass is partnered with Cornish octopus, Isle of Wight tomato, garden courgette and basil. Valrhona Oqo crémeux with roast cherry sorbet provides a suitably elegant finish.

A recent refurbishment has brought a fresher feel to the dining room, but the combination of accomplished cooking, polished hospitality and grand country-house surroundings remains the draw.