A Weekend Away at the De Vere Wokefield Estate

Having stayed at the beautiful De Vere Beaumont Estate several times before and the De Vere Cotswold Park Hotel too, meant we had high expectations for our weekend away at the De Vere Wokefield Estate in Reading, just 25 minutes away from where we live in Windsor. Thankfully, these hopes were exceeded and some, with the majestic resort like hotel meeting all of this family’s needs for fun, rest and relaxation.

It was Florence’s first mini break with two days away from home in the heart of the countryside, where we gratefully made two vast, interconnected double rooms (with sprawling views of the estate no less) home for the weekend, last month.

Having undergone a 20 million restoration in 2018, means ample choice in lodgings. You can choose to stay in Wokefield Place, Wellington Lodge or in the estate’s historic Mansion House as we did. The hotel boasts an 18-hole PGA-standard golf course and outdoor activity course within the grounds as well as a warm (tropically so, thankfully) indoor pool, and gym. We love to swim and the boys and I spent hours in the pool together (I whiled away some time in the soothing sauna too) whilst Florence slept in the room under Daddy’s watchful eye.

I was incredibly lucky to grow up in a house in Ilkley with a pool and sauna, and whilst I can’t provide that for my own kids, a hotel with these facilities always remind me of such a happy and blessed childhood and they make a break with the family, extra special.

As does super food everyone enjoys.

Dinner at 1560 Restaurant and Bar in the evening provided just that. A joyful experience. Its contemportary British menu meant the kids could enjoy tasty favourites of homemade bread and butter, and spaghetti with sides of fries and onion rings whilst Peter plumped for Scottish smoked salmon and rye bread and cod risotto and I opted for creamy chicken liver parfait and tender lamb rump with pea puree. The desserts as per were my favourite course as we shared the dreamiest sweet quartet of chocolate fondant, apple crumble cheesecake, vanilla ice cream and raspberry sorbet. Yum.

We overlooked the open terrace which slowly revealed an amber sunset as we dined. How perfect.

Florence experienced another first at dinner: sitting in a highchair enjoying a little yoghurt and mashed banana (we’d only started weaning her the day before) and the British/ Euro menu was simply delightful as was the chic yet soothing decor, with large portions for the boys, and exemplary service all round.

Breakfast was in the adjacent room to the restaurant, also filled with sunlight, overlooking the grounds.

…The super thing about staying at the estate means everything is just a short walk away from your room be it a roam around the 250 acres of manicured lawns the hotel is surrounded by, the on-site playgrounds and gym, the swimming pool or snooker table in the bar, meaning no one was bored and Peter and I could take a break from driving seeking out entertainment, making it a perfect family getaway for the five of us.

Lush.

This was a complimentary review.