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Summary
“Romantic, extravagant, memorable… and expensive” – Raymond Blanc’s “magical” fifteenth-century manor in a quiet village south of Oxford remains the most commented-on destination in our annual diners’ poll outside of London. For some lucky diners, it’s “an annual pilgrimage” for “a perfect weekend away” – “lunch can take all afternoon with a wander around the glorious garden” and an overnight stay in one of its cosseting suites contributes to the “best experience ever”. Even though it’s actually owned by LVMH nowadays, M Blanc himself is still often on-hand and contributes to a hand-on approach that’s “so professional”. And aficionados say that: “yes, you pay a lot of money; yes, some may find it a little less trendy in its decor and outlook; and yes, the cooking is in a specific style; but, this is an experience in wellbeing and one of life’s treats”. All that said, concerns over “gigabucks” pricing were more in evidence in a year that saw some discontinuities in the kitchen as chef Luke Selby took over from Gary Jones. While most reports still drooled over “outstanding cuisine that’s hard to better”, there were more who – while acknowledging “first-world problems” – found the food “underwhelming, having dreamt about going for years” (“was expecting to be wowed and enchanted like at other top rivals, but I rather found it all rather oversimplistic and non-memorable”). Still, for the majority the verdict remains “an absolute delight from start to finish” – “an indulgent place to dine and stay”.
Summary
“Go on, spoil yourself!". This “fabulous” fifteenth-century manor house is regularly the most commented-on destination outside London in our annual diners’ poll, and consistently one of the highest rated. Founded by Raymond Blanc in 1984, he remains its public face, although ownership nowadays is in the hands of LVMH and the executive head chef is Gary Jones. A visit here often starts with a tour (“so interesting!”) around the “spectacular and peaceful” grounds and kitchen gardens: TV star Blanc helped pioneer the current vogue for sustainable produce grown on-site, and herbs and veg from the gardens regularly feature in the dishes. Gradual expansion has created over 23 bedrooms and suites, and “for a special occasion, especially a romantic one”, a night away here is many couples’ first choice (“words cannot describe the joy this place brings to my wife and me”… “It’s an annual pilgrimage just to reset the benchmark of what dining perfection should be”). As an all-round experience, it’s hard to match. “You are made to feel special the second you set foot inside”; a spell in the “cosy” lounges bookends a meal with aperitifs and coffee; and “the finishing touches are what makes dining here such a pleasure”. Since Covid, the only option now is a tasting menu format. Some long-time guests miss the à la carte, although the classical-ish modern French cuisine is almost invariably still applauded for its “complete culinary precision” and “exceptional” flavours (“one of the best meals we have ever eaten…we ran out of superlatives!”). Opinions vary on whether the best tables are those in the dining conservatory, or elsewhere in the body of the house and extensions. Even fans caution: “be in no doubt that the trip is very, very expensive” (in particular, there are “enormous mark-ups on the wine list”, which is as heavyweight as you might expect). But they still recommend a trip “goes on the bucket list”… “Yes! you are worth it!!". (Watch this space, as some change is afoot. In July 2022 the local council approved a plan for a £36m expansion at the property, to lead ultimately to a bistro, spa and new garden suites – the aim being to encourage guests to extend their stay).
Summary
“The gardens are just so stunning and add another level of beautiful to the whole experience”, when you visit this famous, stone-walled manor house, set in very tranquil countryside a short drive from Oxford. It was founded in 1984 by chef-patron Raymond Blanc, who remains at the helm (although nowadays ultimate control resides with brand-owning powerhouse LVMH). For many couples, a visit here remains “the ultimate treat” – especially if it incorporates a stay in one of the enticingly luxurious bedrooms. And the property has long been one of the most commented-on destinations outside London in our annual diners survey, as “you are made to feel wonderfully welcome and looked after superbly in wonderful surroundings”. Much of the seating for the restaurant is in a dining conservatory, with the meal bookended by drinks in the gorgeous lounges elsewhere in the property. The cuisine “maintains a very high, French-led standard”, although there is also a longstanding school of thought that it risks becoming “formulaic” (“dishes had a robotic narrative to their composition”) and “needs some new inspiration to justify the two stars and the prices”. But even if critics of the cooking seemed a bit more vocal this year, the prevailing view here remains that “you pay for a transcendental experience… and you receive one”.
Summary
“You feel on Cloud Nine when eating in such incomparable surroundings” as Raymond Blanc’s famous Elizabethan manor: the survey’s most-mentioned destination outside London, and, “unparalleled for a special occasion”, with legions of reports of weddings, landmark anniversaries and birthdays celebrated in its cosseting quarters. It boasts “a gorgeous setting, buried deep in the Oxfordshire countryside”, “everything about the place is done with impeccable taste”, and no visit is complete without a stroll around its glorious and “well-tended gardens”. From the moment you arrive, staff “make you feel special”, and you are “whisked through to the cosy lounge to make your menu choice”. Most diners are then seated in the dining conservatory: a “wonderful environment” on most accounts (if, arguably, a tiny bit anticlimactic compared with the house proper). “The food tastes like it has come straight from the garden, field or ocean to your plate” and dishes “are not ostentatious: just perfectly-made food, beautifully served”. That’s by far the majority view anyway, although there is, perennially, a dissenting view that “while classy, the food lacks innovation” (very occasionally laced with cynicism that the whole experience is a luxurious “production line”). For most folks, though, the whole experience is plain “genius! – truly unforgettable!”. Ah yes… including the bill! “Your credit card will have a severe heart attack, but at least you’ll have ticked it off, and enjoyed doing so”. Staying the night is also highly popular, although it does then take the cost to a new, parallel dimension. Justify it to yourself with the thought of breakfast which “is unbelievable in scale, scope and quality!”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons?
Church Road, Great Milton, OX44 7PD
Restaurant details
Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Never fails to hit the mark. Food is top quality without being overly fussy. Service is excellent, totally relaxed if you want it to be or more formal if that’s your preference, all the staff respond to your style. Beautiful property and gardens - do a garden tour if you have time. Great to also see Mr B present and involved in the day to day operations. A treat. "
"Lunch on a cold January day, with cocktails in the lounge followed by excellent quality food. The finishing touches are what makes dining here such a pleasure. Delights included the chicken liver parfait with English rhubarb, the wild mushroom and truffle risotto, the duck with clementine and yuzu. Service is impeccable. "
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
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| Always | £199.00 |  |
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| Lunch | £220.00 | |
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| Dinner | £248.00 | |
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| Drinks |
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| Wine per bottle | £90.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £9.00 |
| Extras |
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| Bread | £11.00 |
| Service | 12.50% |
Church Road, Great Milton, OX44 7PD
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 11:30 am‑2 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | CLOSED |
| Thursday | 11:30 am‑2 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 11:30 am‑2 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 11:30 am‑2 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 11:30 am‑2 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm |
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