The Spectator in the Dales; A Taste of Spring at Swinton Park Hotel, Sunday 19 – Tuesday 21 April

Join Vintage Chef, Olivia Potts, and drinks editor, Jonathan Ray, for an exceptional weekend at the glorious Grade II* Swinton Park Hotel, ancestral seat of the Earls of Swinton, set in 200 acres of garden and parkland in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

Dogs welcome, as are guests who wish only to come for dinner.

From £1,795 per couple and £1,360 based on single occupancy (with a bottle of Swinton gin as a gift to take home for anyone who books before 28 February)

‍What’s Included

With two nights’ accommodation, gin-fuelled welcome reception, afternoon tea, Jonathan Ray cocktail masterclass*, Olivia Potts cookery demonstration*, falconry display, tour of the castle, garden tour with estate head gardener, foraging session, access to Swinton Country Club & Spa, wellness classes, snooker, billiards and bridge, one lunch and two wine-soaked dinners showcasing Swinton Park’s seasonal ‘Estate to Plate’ food philosophy and featuring bottles handpicked by our drinks editor, this promises to be a hugely entertaining, waistband-straining couple of days.

* please note an extra £10 per person, for each of these sessions will be added to your bill

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Itinerary

Sunday 19 April

Arrive at leisure throughout the day – hotel check-in is from 15 00.

15 00 – 16 00 Private Afternoon Tea welcome event in the Drawing Room

18 30 – Pre-dinner drink in the Kitchen Garden – G&Ts using locally sourced bespoke Swinton Estate gin made with botanicals from the Kitchen Garden.

19 15 – Private dinner in The Library restaurant hosted by Jonathan and Olivia

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Monday 20 April

Breakfast at leisure

10 00 – Falconry Display on the Lawn

11 00 – 12 00 Garden tour with Estate Head Gardner, Joe Lofthouse or Foraging session with with a Swinton representative (pre-book at reception)

OR Clay Pigeon Shooting on the nearby EJ Churchill Shooting Ground – chargeable activity, 3 hours - £130 pp + VAT

OR Cookery School Class with a Swinton chef (11 places available) – £130 per person, this course is Great Sauces

12 30 – 13 30 - Lunch - in the Terrace Restaurant (2 course light lunch – buffet style included)

14 30 – 15 30 – Garden tour with Estate Head Gardner, Joe Lofthouse or foraging session with a Swinton representative (pre-book at reception)

Or Cookery Demonstration  - 16 00 – 17 00 with Olivia Potts

16 30 – Cocktail making class with Jonathan Ray - Terrace Bar

Free time in the Swinton Country Club & Spa

18 45 – Champagne and canapés reception on the Pommery Terrace or in the Drawing Room

19 30 – Private dinner in Samuels restaurant hosted by Jonathan and Olivia

Post dinner games in the Billiards Room with nightcap

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Tuesday 21 April

Pre-breakfast wellness class – tbc – either yoga, pilates or meditation

Breakfast at leisure

Private history tour of the Castle, after breakfast, prior to departure

Cookery School Class with a Swinton chef is available to book - £130 per person, this course is An Indian Masterclass

Prices:

·       £1,795 for the two-night package based on two people sharing a double or twin room (Knights or Baroness Rooms)

·       £1,360 for the two-night package based on single occupancy (Knights or Baroness Rooms)

·       Supplements available for upgraded room types as follows: Barons Room | £1,835 Earls Room £1,895 | Dukes Room £1,935 | Suite £1,995

·       Non-Resident Drinks & Dinner Package on each evening - £150 per person

·       Cookery School Places - £130 per person

·       Clay Pigeon Shoot – £130 per person + VAT

All prices include VAT at the current rate unless specified otherwise.

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For more information click on the link above or visit: https://www.swintonestate.com/

To book please call Swinton on (+44) 01765 680900 or email reservations@swintonestate.com

‍How to find Swinton Park Hotel, Ripon HG4 4JH

The Swinton Estate is situated a mile outside the small market town of Masham and 11 miles from Ripon. Just an hour’s drive from historic York, a scenic hour and a half drive from the beautiful Lake District and just 45 miles from Leeds.

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About Joe Lofthouse

Joe has been involved with Swinton Estate since 2008. After leaving school in 2010 he spent two years at Askham Bryan College where he completed his Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture. Following this he started his one-year studentship at the Royal Horticultural Society Harlow Carr, which involved all aspects of horticulture, but mainly focused on growing fruit and vegetables.  In 2013 he joined the Harlow Carr team on a permanent basis, progressing to become Team Leader in Edibles and Nursery. During this time, he also achieved the RHS Master of Horticulture award, gaining a distinction for his dissertation, which was looking into heritage fruits that have been lost in cultivation, a subject that he is passionate about.

Joe has won many awards over the years including the Professional Gardens Guild “New Gardener of The Year”, Chartered Institute of Horticulture “Pam Pointer Award”, Regional Finals for Chartered Institute of Horticulture “Young Gardener of The Year” and Competing in the World Landscaping Skills.

He writes articles for magazines, newspapers, and has participated in numerous radio and television interviews, along with specialist talks and demonstrations across the country, including gardening clubs and food festivals.  

He is also a member of the RHS Fruit, Vegetable and Herb Expert Group. Swinton Park Hotel operates the largest working kitchen garden of any hotel in England at just over four acres. It provides numerous fruits, vegetables and herbs for the multiple restaurants on the Estate. It also boasts a cut flower garden which provides all the fresh flowers used across the hotel throughout the year, including garden florals for some of the weddings.