New member for Pride of Britain Hotels

Pride of Britain Hotels, the consortium of 47 privately-owned independent British hotels and spas, has welcomed a new member.

Hambleton Hallis a smart country house hotel overlooking Rutland Water and is the second Relais & Châteaux member to join the consortium. The luxurious 17-bedroom hotel has remained in the same hands since it opened over 30 years ago, continuing to provide exceptional hospitality and exquisite dining.

The beautifully-kept gardens include an outdoor pool, as well as the Croquet Pavilion – a two-bedroom folly which offers the hotel’s most sumptuous accommodation. The Michelin-starred restaurant, run by chef Aaron Patterson, serves seasonal food with an emphasis on local produce, while a lengthy wine list has been carefully put together by the hotel’s sommelier. The hotel even has its own bakery, creating handmade artisan bread.

The addition of Hambleton Hall takes the Pride of Britain consortium to 47 member properties, close to the maximum of 50 allowed in its rules. All applications for membership are followed by an overnight inspection, carried out by a current member hotelier, before being presented to members in a ballot.

Peter Hancock, chief executive of Pride of Britain Hotels said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Hambleton Hall to the consortium as it represents everything we stand for – great service and luxury with an independent-minded proprietor. As you can imagine, with so few spaces available, our board scrutinises every application very carefully and we have had to turn down several hotels this year.”