Lawyer Monthly Magazine - November 2019 Edition

87 NOV 2019 | WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM Legal Lifestyle Barnett Hill: The Quiet You Deserve This Autumn Written By Richard Rossington When you arrive at Barnett Hill, the first thing you notice is the quiet, peaceful atmosphere. It’s grand and it’s beautiful, but what really stands out is that restful feeling you’ve been waiting for all summer. For us this was the perfect weekend getaway and the break we needed after a busy summer of work and responsibilities. Once we had been greeted and shown to our room (more about this later), we made our way to the award-winning hotel restaurant, The Oak Room. Picture this: dim lights, a low-key vibe, and a relaxing setting all-round. The sommelier catered to our every need, and the dishes we were served, light on the palate and quaint in their essence, more than satisfied our hunger, both for great food (obviously) and a touch of class. We started off with a delightful fish cake, topped with cress and fried for that nice light crunch. I followed it up with a well-cooked sirloin steak, accompanied with chunky chips made from locally farmed potatoes and a homemade red wine sauce that I can only describe as the finest and most elegant red wine sauce I’ve ever tasted. My wife indulged in a serving of chanterelle mushrooms, accompanied by the perfect match of Sauvignon Blanc, personally picked out by the sommelier. The pudding was artistic and elegant, as you would expect from a fine dining experience, but we were thoroughly impressed by the exquisite taste of our raspberry and brownie to share. To experience all this amazing food in such a laid- back peaceful setting was truly incredible, and I can’t recommend booking a table at The Oak Room enough. At this point in our weekend trip we thought we’d hit a peak, but upon arriving back at our room we indulged in an evening of sublime restfulness. The room was not what we expected from a 1905 Queen Anne styled mansion … it was modern and lavish. Alongside one of the biggest and cosiest beds I’ve ever had the pleasure of lying in, the room featured a large and luxurious bathtub, complete with all the necessary pampering products. We felt like we were in heaven, except it was better in a way; we were in a steaming hot bathtub listening to soft blues in a luxury hotel in the heart of Surrey. It was the treat we needed. Our night’s sleep, in the aforementioned bed fit for a king (and queen), was a trouble-free, noise free peaceful experience – the only thing we could hear was the blissful silence of a night in the Surrey Hills. Breakfast was an all-out performance from the Barnett Hill team, making everything we wanted available and cooking up the most scrumptious of full English breakfasts. The staff even let us take a coffee away in our own travel mugs! With our bellies full and our souls completely rested, we headed out to explore Barnett Hill’s beautiful and extensive 26-acre grounds. If you’re thinking of visiting Barnett Hill, you have to have a go at the maxi-chess board out in the courtyard - it felt like playing chess for giants! All in all, my wife and I were taken back by the beauty and tranquillity of Barnett Hill and to top it off we continued our weekend with a day spent in Guildford, conveniently located just a few miles from Barnett Hill. We’re so thankful for the hospitality extended to us by the Alexander Hotels Collection and we hope to return again for the ultimate peace and quiet.