One-night wonder: the look of love in Ludlow

Can a one-night stay in the idyllic Shropshire countryside constitute a romantic break? If you do it in style then Natalie Glock is pleased to tell you that the answer is yes!

 

When it comes to romance why wait for Valentine's Day? This is the somewhat infectious approach to loved-up lie-ins found at Fishmore Hall in the foodie hotspot of Ludlow. With the trend for one-night breaks on the increase given everyone's economic concerns, it makes sense to focus on the quality of your chosen romantic destination rather than the length of your stay, and I was keen to test this theory with my beloved. Pulling up outside the renovated Georgian townhouse after a long but beautiful drive, myself and my boyfriend paused to stretch our legs, overlooking the surrounding fields taking in the delicious peace and quiet, punctuated by nothing but the gentle bleats of our neighbours the sheep.

 

 

 

As check-in was not until 3pm, we'd spent the day exploring the picturesque town of Ludlow. Wrapped in rolling hills and the fast-flowing River Weir, Ludlow is a maze of medieval streets with an endless array of listed buildings, its own castle and independent stores and delis selling the local produce that attracts food lovers nationwide.

 

We loved wandering together and discovering hidden cobbled streets and ancient inns full of local ales - the perfect place for a pit stop. The beauty of the buildings lies in their wonky exteriors and the palpable sense of history and community that you can't help but notice. The local weekly markets take place in the town square as they have done for hundreds of years, and are a great place to sample the local meats, cheeses and breads. I'm a cheese fiend so was particularly enamoured by a small specialist shop called The Mousetrap and its window display of delicious offerings. Ludlow castle is well worth a visit and despite the seemingly endless steps up to the top of the tower, the panoramic views from the top are worth the aching limbs, I promise.

 

 

 

We returned to the hotel after our afternoon of exploring, eager to discover the joys that lay behind the grand exterior of Fishmore Hall. With its 15 individually designed bedrooms and award-winning restaurant, it's hard to imagine that this immaculate boutique hotel was once a school that had been left to fall into disrepair until as recently as 2007. The owner Laura Penman, who greeted us on arrival and took us up to our rose-tinted room, restored the building to its former glory and reopened it as a hotel in October 2007 after only 22 weeks. And what a job she's done. The sleek parquet flooring of reception and the bar, gave way to carpet that's yet to lose its bounce as we made our way upstairs to our room.

 

 

We were here to experience the hotel's popular Valentine's Anytime package, an ingenious collection of all that's good about that notorious day in February, without the forced sentiment. Here any day is the right time to indulge in all the package has to offer: chilled champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, an enormous bouquet and rose petals to scatter wherever you please, all followed by the promise of an incredible dinner and breakfast. In terms of setting the mood, our room could not have been more laced with romance. The giant bed was soft and inviting, even more so we found when being enjoyed with our freshly brewed tea, our only regret was that we didn't phone down for the hotel's homemade biscuits to nibble on.

 

The modern bathroom came complete with slate-lined power shower and an enormous bath that found its perfect partner in the Molton Brown toiletries that lined the sink. Getting ready for dinner in a bathroom like that was just as much fun as sipping the bubbly in the mid-afternoon. Should relaxing in your fluffy white robes and slippers not quite hit the spot then the hotel also offers a selection of beauty treatments to choose from in the comfort of your room.

 

Having quaffed our champagne and donned our glad rags it was time for us to head back downstairs for dinner in Fishmore Hall's beautiful restaurant. Fast becoming as much of a destination for locals as guests, the crisp white tablecloths and sleek glass chandeliers are teamed with a thoroughly modern selection of locally sourced food across three fabulous menus. Sitting at the bar we were met again by the owner Laura who told us all about the delights of Ludlow, the beauty of the Welsh borders and how much she loves getting hands on with the day-to-day running of the hotel when she can.

 

 

Before heading to our table we whetted our appetites with the pre-dinner canapés of smoked salmon, bread sticks, quails' eggs and light-as-a-feather breaded ricotta. We both chose from the locally sourced Market Menu and the tempting treats of the A la Carte selection, but could have also enjoyed the six-course Taste of the Marches menu. The staff were attentive, without being obtrusive, throughout our meal of cauliflower velouté, delicious smoked haddock and chicken terrine starters and the tender pork loin main course, so we were left to enjoy each other and the sound of the rain falling outside. While all the courses were beautifully presented the desserts deserve special mention. Following a palette-cleanser of mini frozen gin and tonics, my lemon parfait with its elderflower sorbet and Richard's strawberry soufflé were stunningly presented and tasted heavenly, and left us smiling as we headed to the cosy lounge before sinking into bed full and happy.

 

I always look forward to hotel breakfasts, and Sunday morning called for papers and eggs, both of which were waiting for me. They obviously appreciate the need for a lie-in at Fishmore Hall as we had until 11am to drag ourselves out of bed, and make our way down to the enormous spread of cereals, dried fruits, yoghurts, ham and delicious local cheeses. Having sat down we ordered our eggs, mine scrambled with slivers of smoked salmon and Richard went for eggs benedict, both were utterly delicious.

 

Despite the heavy hearts at having to leave, we both agreed that we felt like we had been away for longer than one night which goes to prove if the destination is as peaceful and luxurious as Fishmore Hall one special night can be just as romantic as four or five.

 

Find out more

 

The Valentine's Anytime package costs £375 for two. For more information visit www.fishmorehall.co.uk or call 01584 875148.

 

---

 

For more like this, take a look at...

One-night wonder: an adventure at The Grove, Hertfordshire

One-night wonder: Stoke Place hotel, Buckinghamshire

See more from the Midlands