Maison Talbooth: Mini-Moon Review
If you are looking for a relaxing weekend in the countryside, with beautiful bedrooms and sublime food, then look no further than Maison Talbooth.
Situated in the picturesque village of Dedham, Essex, this haven is nestled down a quiet road inviting you to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
When we arrived at this cosy boutique hotel we instantly relaxed, as we were greeted by friendly staff in a lovely lounge area, where there was a fire burning and freshly baked cookies being offered around.
The bedroom was beautiful, with a big plush bed. We stayed in the deluxe room ‘Wordsworth’, that had beautiful views from the window across the vale and the wide East Anglian skies. All rooms come with Sky television, as well as a complimentary mini-bar with pressed juices. The private bathroom had a large sunken bathtub with complementary products from Aromatherapy Associates (gorgeous!) including bath salts, as well as fluffy robes and slippers. The whole room was luxurious and spacious.
You can hire the entirety of Maison Talbooth, which is incredibly popular for weddings. You can have the ceremony in the downstairs area of the hotel, and with all 12 rooms yours exclusively, guests have access to all the wonderful facilities. With the attentiveness of the staff during our stay, I can only imagine how relaxing and stress-free a wedding at Maison Talbooth would be.
The hotel is also perfect for a quiet, romantic weekend away, and perfect for stealing some fresh air and much needed alone time with your loved one. The only thing that made us want to leave our cosy bedroom was the pool house just across the lawn. With a hot tub, heated outdoor swimming pool, log burning fire and honesty bar this truly was a relaxing place.
Once we returned from the pool house area after the sun had gone down, we used the rooms amenities to get ready. There is a real personal feel to Maison Talbooth, with a small number of rooms in this boutique hotel the staff are attentive and are sure to remember little things about your stay. We went downstairs to the lounge bar where Mariann and Brooke, the wonderful staff during our visit, both checked in to see we were enjoying our stay. Here at Maison Talbooth their restaurant ‘Le Talbooth’ is just off the grounds of the hotel, so there is a complimentary car service that runs between the two. We enjoyed a drink in the lounge bar, where they have a selection of different gin and tonics (win!) before we were kindly driven to Le Talbooth for our 8pm reservation.
Attention to detail is key at Maison Talbooth, and this extends well into their restaurant. Every staff member we crossed paths with during our stay was friendly and attentive, in a sincere non-intrusive way. The restaurant is located in a beautiful old building with a pebble driveway and big wooden beams. Le Talbooth is set beside the beautiful River Stour and was awarded 3 AA Rosettes in September 2019, an achievement the restaurant greatly deserves.
I had a stunning winter truffle and manchego cheese ravioli to start, followed by a mouth-watering fillet of dry-aged Dedham Vale beef rossini. The meal was finished off with the Talbooth Gateau Opera. If you are thinking you have to book months in advance at an over-priced central city location to experience award-winning food, you are mistaken. This stunning restaurant nestled in the heart of Essex can provide you with one of the most fantastic dining experiences of your life. I would travel back to Dedham simply for that stunning starter at Le Talbooth. You feel as if you have discovered a well-kept secret when dining here, and you are sure to leave with the feeling that you must return (and this time bring more people to discover it). Le Talbooth would be a beautiful place to celebrate an anniversary, or an engagement, whether with your other half or a group of family and friends. The restaurant offers private dining options, as well as marquee hire.
Like clockwork, upon asking for the transport back to Maison Talbooth you are kindly escorted from your table and soon reunited with the comforts of your room.
Our time at Maison Talbooth was a wonderful, relaxing experience. A lovely escape into the countryside, with such thought put into every part. We can’t wait to explore other Pride of Britain Hotels, if this is anything to go by!
Maison Talbooth, a member of Pride of Britain Hotels, is located in the beautiful village of Dedham in Essex. It can easily be reached by road, or is a short taxi ride from Colchester rail station.
