Hambleton Hall named Luxury Hotel of the Year in 40th Good Hotel Guide

Hambleton Hall in Oakham, Rutland has been named Luxury Hotel of the Year in The Good Hotel Guide 2018, published today.

Described as "wonderfully spoiling", the 17-bedroom, four red-AA-star hotel is praised for its "delightful" gardens, Michelin-starred dinners, "exemplary" breakfasts and its outdoor swimming pool in the guide's 40th anniversary edition. The property has been owned by Tim and Stefa Hart since 1979.

The accolade is one of 10 César awards, named after César Ritz, which the guide presents to hotels that have demonstrated excellence in their field.

Co-editors Adam Raphael and M. Astella Saw said: "This year's 40th anniversary is a milestone for the Good Hotel Guide and we are proud of the fact that there is still a place for a published hotel guide, even though the guide's online presence is growing."

Four hotels have been in the guide each year since it was launched: Ballymaloe House in County Cork, Currarevagh House in County Galway, Lastingham Grange in Yorkshire, and Rothay Manor in Cumbria.

Hotels do not pay to be included in the guide, which selects entries on merit alone from reader reports that are monitored by the editorial team.

The Good Hotel Guide's 10 César winners for 2018 are: ‎

Newcomer of the year: The Mash Inn, Radnage, Buckinghamshire
Seaside hotel of the year: Soar Mill Cove Hotel, Soar Mill Cove, Devon
Luxury hotel of the year: Hambleton Hall, Hambleton, Rutland
B&B of the year: St Cuthbert's House, Seahouses, Northumberland
Romantic hotel of the year: Forest Side, Grasmere, Cumbria
Country house hotel of the year: Judges, Yarm, North Yorkshire
Inn of the year: Red Lion Freehouse, East Chisenbury, Wiltshire
Scottish hotel of the year: Burrastow House, Walls, Shetland
Welsh restaurant-with-rooms of the year: Llys Meddyg, Newport, Pembrokeshire
Irish hotel of the year: Viewmount House, Longford, Co. Longford

The Good Hotel Guide 2018: Great Britain & Ireland costs £16 (including p&p within the UK) from The Good Hotel Guide, 50 Addison Avenue, London W11 4QP (Tel: 020 7602 4182; www.goodhotelguide.com), or £20 from all good bookshops.

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