Tucked away beside an 18 hole golf course and set in 250 acres of Berkshire parkland lays a striking, yet beautiful stone mansion house hotel known as De Vere Wokefield Estate. Yes my friends, this truly is a delightfully British getaway for all Bridgerton lovers alike…
After what can only feel like the longest post-Christmas lockdown, and our first getaway of 2021, Doug and I finally packed our cobwebbed suitcases to spend a night away at the mansion house at De Vere Wokefield Estate.
Disclaimer: PR trip but all honest opinions are my own.
De Vere Wokefield Estate Mansion House
Built in the 1560s, Wokefield Estate is etched with history which can be found throughout both the grounds and mansion house. Although recently refurbished, De Vere has kept even the smallest of details that help transform you back in time upon your enchanted visit.
Surrounded by up-kept parkland & a stunning 18-hole golf course that can only scream a weekend of relaxation, you’re soon transported from the busy Berkshire roads as you drive through the entrance of the estate.
As you approach the estate, you’re most likely spot Wokefield Place first, but just further up is the Mansion House. We checked in just after 3pm and followed by a warm & friendly welcome, we made our way to our room which overlooked the glorious garden.
Continuing on with the historic charm, our room had a gentle touch of country modern and was generous in size. To our delight, we had a super king-size bed, a waterfall shower, built-in air conditioning and other extras to help us have a comfortable stay.
After a knock on our door, we were greeted by two De Vere staff members (Andrew & Kelly) holding a bucket of Prosecco and fancy chocolates as a way to say hello. Personally, it’s the small details like these that really leave a lasting impression wherever we stay, and De Vere absolutely nailed it. Yes to customer service like this!
To make use of the facilities at De Vere Wokefield Estate, we made sure we booked ourselves a pool slot for the morning (which can be found in Wokefield Place) and also planned to hit some balls at the driving range just after breakfast. But before that, we had some exploring to do…
With its breathtaking 250 acres of parkland, Doug and I spent the late afternoon exploring the beautiful land surrounding the Mansion House. As we stepped into the garden, it was almost like we were transformed straight into a scene from Bridgerton. Think lavender, British stonework, glorious greens, and of course, the grey stone Mansion House and it was the perfect setting.
Just outside the Mansion House garden you’ll also find the Wokefield Estate golf course, a lake, an outside gym area and a climbing course nestled away in the forest. And of course, plenty of places to walk. If a peaceful, outdoor British getaway is what you’re after this year, then I couldn’t recommend this place enough already.
De Vere Wokefield Estate 1560 Restaurant
As part of our stay, we were also gifted a three-course meal at De Vere Wokefield Estate 1560 Restaurant & Bar, which truly does celebrate the very best of British ingredients.
At 7pm, freshly showered and a little more dressed up than usual (it’s been a while), we headed to our table in the Mansion House which overlooks the garden terrance.
Our waiter (whose name we sadly didn’t catch) was just fantastic. Smiley, extremely chatty, approachable & friendly and completely added an extra touch to our dining experience.
Doug and I both chose the smoked salmon to start with and grass-reared 227g filet steak for our main meal. Our salmon was incredibly light & refreshing and the combination of the beetroot, cucumber and sour cream was wonderful. In fact, I didn’t want it to end. And as for our main, well, what can I say? It was one of the best steaks I have ever had, ever. It really makes a difference when restaurants use high-quality British ingredients, huh?
Once we devoured our mains bit by bit, we chose our desserts: the vegan dark chocolate and cherry bar and lemon meringue pie. Both desserts went down a treat and finished our meal off perfectly. Once our plates were taken away, Doug and I stayed in the restaurant a little longer to enjoy the house wine while laughing, talking & taking in the beauty of the Mansion House.
Breakfast at the Mansion House
As a true foodie, breakfast is always a firm favourite of mine whenever we stay somewhere and its always something I look forward to. I mean, who doesn’t love a good hotel breakfast?
At 9.30am, post morning swim, Doug and I headed to breakfast which was just below our room and like the rest of the Mansion House, was newly renovated. Sporting a modern & stylish decor, somewhat different to the rest of the mansion, the breakfast restaurant was welcoming.
While the breakfast buffet could have been a little more diverse in choice, it was still welcomed. The buffet itself had the usual options: bacon, sausage, beans, eggs, mushroom and hash browns along with the bread bar and toaster. And for those who fancy something a little lighter, a pot of fresh fruit, packeted pastries and cereal can also be enjoyed. I’ll admit, I had hoped for more (perhaps more fresh fruit, freshly baked croissants and a bigger bread basket), but for the quality of ingredients, it was just fine. And with the precautions of Covid, the staff did a wonderful job at safely controlling the buffet with a friendly smile on their faces – big thumbs up from us.
Wokefield Estate Golf Club
Soon after breakfast Doug and I headed to Wokefield Place to make the most of the driving range and to see if I could hit a few balls with Doug’s clubs, ha!
Just as it was the day before, the golf course was utterly beautiful and still as peaceful. Although I’m not a golfer myself, we both had a great time at the range and to my surprise, I hit a few pretty good swings too!
The golf course itself (which wraps itself around the driving range) is approximately 6,966-yards and has been designed to US PGA standards and is one of the leading golf clubs in Reading. Doug certainly loved it and I certainly loved looking at it.
All in all, our stay at De Vere Wokefield Estate was one we shall truly remember. Not just for its sheer beauty, but for its wonderful ambiance and historical architecture. The staff were just brilliant too. Incredible welcoming, warm, funny and friendly – everything you could possibly ask. In fact, we’d both like to give Andrew a big shout out too! He was great.
If a delightfully British weekend away surrounded by nothing but parkland and nature is what you’re after, then a visit to De Vere Wokefield Estate should not just be considered, but arranged. I’ve already got my eye on our next stay with De Vere at their stunning Cotswold Water Park (wow, just wow).
If you’d like to see our stay at De Vere Wokefield Estate come to life, then make sure you check out my De Vere story highlights on my Instagram page. Just click here!
PS, for more weekend getaway reviews, check out these posts:
Jet2Holidays Review / Monchique, Portugal
When In Rome: How To Spend 4 Days In The Most Beautiful City
Hannah xx
9 comments
Breathtaking is certainly the word for this estate! What an experience!
The place looks delightfully decadent. Perfect getaway in the UK.
What a beautiful estate and the food looks amazing too! This looks like a great getaway!
This is in such a beautiful location. What a gorgeous place to stay, perfect for a relaxing break away.
This is breathtaking! Such an awesome getaway and the food looks so good.
Absolutely stunning property. I love to stay in heritage hotels. Would love to visit this place.
This looks absolutely gorgeous! I love a UK getaway, there are so many amazing places to stay, so thank you for adding another amazing hotel to my ‘to visit’ list! x
This is in such a beautiful location. Place looks really so nice to stay.
That estate looks so beautiful and serene. A perfect weekend or perhaps a week-long getaway in the UK.