Guests staying overnight are able to park outside the front door to their room which was just as well as the weather was awful when we arrived. There are 8 rooms in a low-rise block, each room tastefully decorated in muted country colours with comfy sofa and chairs, king sized bed and spacious en suite bathroom with both shower and bath. Our room was actually for disabled use so was particularly spacious with plenty of room for a wheelchair to manoeuvre around. French windows opened up onto our own private terrace overlooking the vineyard and I could well imagine relaxing there on a summer’s eve with a glass of one of Three Choirs many wines. There is a fully stocked mini bar in each room plus complimentary tea and coffee should you not be in the mood to sample some of the delicious wines on offer.

Guests are encouraged to wander around the property and a stroll around the vineyards, weather permitting, is the ideal way to work up an appetite in time for dinner in the Vineyard restaurant. Head Chef Darren Leonard and his team try whenever possible to use locally produced ingredients to conjure up a mouth-watering menu. We enjoyed an aperitif in front of a roaring log fire before the friendly staff seated us in a delightful restaurant with panoramic views over the vineyard.

The menu is varied with some unusual sounding dishes. My companion opted for one such dish; a cauliflower panne cotta served with rock oysters and a spring onion crème fraiche which, I have to admit, I couldn’t let him have all to himself; it was truly delicious and for want of a better word…unusual! I chose the slightly more conservative Guinea fowl, duck and foie gras terrine, which came with a wonderful pear compote and white truffle oil, delicious! For my main course I decided on the medallions of free range Gloucestershire pork crusted with stilton and herbs, served with a creamy mustard mash and red wine and thyme jus, a great combination of flavours which worked really well together. My companion went for a roast fillet of monkfish wrapped in parma ham, served with a red pepperade and spinach and saffron potato gratin; he was very reluctant to part with even a small forkful when I dove in for my usual tasting session. To accompany our meal we shared a bottle of the Three Choirs “house” white, produced on the premises this premium selection white was crisp and aromatic and compared very favourably with more well known dry white wines.

Whilst I pondered the dessert menu my companion, who has a penchant for cheese, ordered the cheese platter and was delighted with the wide selection of really good local cheeses, the favourite of which was the local double Gloucester, not to be confused with the packaged stuff found in supermarkets country wide. Though tempted by the iced honey parfait I finally decided on the sticky toffee pudding; this was truly gorgeous with fudge ice cream and toffee sauce.

We retired to the fireside and relaxed in big squishy armchairs whilst we contemplated the possibility of managing coffee and delicious petit fours served with it. I’m glad we did and call me greedy but it was a nice finish to the meal. Thankfully our room was just a short stroll away and off we waddled fearing we would never be able to eat again, well until breakfast at least!

After an excellent nights sleep (no traffic noise here) we returned to the dining room for a leisurely Sunday morning breakfast; still a bit full from last nights dinner I decided to have scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, simple, well cooked and delicious. My companion went for the full English of course; doesn’t he always!

Before we ended our stay we visited the Three Choirs shop where we stocked up on a selection of wines and a pack of Cats Whiskers beer also brewed on the premises in the Whittingtons microbrewery.

Although the Three Choirs is a year round attraction I would recommend a summer visit simply because it’s is so beautiful in the summer months and the views from the restaurant can be fully appreciated in the light evenings. A little piece of the continent right here in the middle of the English countryside.