MacDonald Alveston Manor, Stratford-upon-Avon
Clopton Bridge,Banbury Rd, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7HP
0870 400 8181
www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/alvestonmanor
 Staying in a room just a few yards from an ancient cedar tree under which, it is reputed, the first performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was given must surely be every Shakespeare buff’s dream. That very cedar tree is in the grounds of Macdonald Alveston Manor, a magnificent Tudor manor house sympathetically converted into a really rather nice hotel. The original building houses the main hotel with some feature bedrooms whilst the majority of the bedrooms plus spa and pool are annexed behind the main building in such a way as not to detract from the stunning frontage of the old manor house. We were rather late booking so unfortunately missed out on the chance to spend the night in a four poster bed in one of the feature bedrooms (they get snapped up quickly so book early) and had to make do with one of the small but perfectly formed standard double bedrooms in the annexe. No complaints here though; the room was very comfortable with a huge squishy bed and a window that opened wide; very important for fresh air freaks like me! Our room overlooked the garden and we were entertained the next morning by the antics of a couple of squirrels running up and down the trees outside.
Alveston Manor is an ideal base from which to explore Shakespeare’s Stratford Upon Avon being just a 5 minute stroll from the town centre with it’s plethora of Shakespearian delights. You will certainly find enough to entertain you for at least a couple of days if not longer. It’s worth buying an open ended ticket (£14 each) giving entrance to all five of the main Shakespeare properties within the town. We managed to get round four of them during our stay and are keeping the fifth for a further visit.
Included in the nightly rate at Alveston Manor is a three course dinner from the house menu and breakfast; all taken in the main restaurant and guests have full use of the pool and spa facilities during their stay although treatments do have to be paid for separately.
 The Manor Grill restaurant and bar area are located within the beautifully preserved main building with views over the garden and that very famous cedar tree. One could almost imagine those actors way back in the 1590’s propping up the bar after their successful first performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Or maybe I’d had one too many glasses of the excellent Chilean red served with our dinner that evening!
Dinner proved a very satisfactory affair with both of us choosing from both the house menu and the À La Carte menu (at a small supplement). I started with a very interesting ham hock and wild mushroom terrine served with a tomato tian (like a little stuffed tomato) and pea veloute. It was a light, but at the same time satisfying, starter which left plenty of room for the next two courses. My companion opted for the pan seared scallops served on tiny rounds of black pudding with pancetta which he told me were cooked to absolute perfection.
Both our starters were taken from the à la carte menu. I chose my main course from the house menu and had breast of duck with celeriac puree, potato fondant and cherry sauce; nicely presented and tasty apart from the potato fondant which left a lot to be desired. My companion opted for his usual steak; ribeye so rare it was practically walking off the plate but that’s how he likes it so no complaints there. Dessert was taken off the house menu and for me was a yummy little plum tart tatin with vanilla ice cream; absolutely delicious. ‘Ever the boring one’ had the cheese platter as usual but I can’t complain because it gives me the chance to have my dessert and then snaffle a little bit of cheese to finish off. The service was excellent and the food good.
We returned to the restaurant for breakfast next morning which comprised of the standard hotel buffet breakfast.
The Alveston Manor Hotel is a great place to stay for a couple of days while you take in this beautiful part of the country and whatever you do don’t forget to take your camera!
Chris Hirschmann
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