I wouldn’t have the best sense of direction but we found it with no difficulty. On driving through the entrance gates we knew we were in for a treat.

The Manor House whilst very imposing is settled perfectly into its surroundings.  You can always tell a lot about a hotel by their receptionist/front office people and Gemma didn’t disappoint. Genuinely welcoming but not “over the top”. Bart, (concierge ) who is just a lovely old world gentleman brought up our bags and told us if we required anything at all to contact him and made us feel like we were the only guests in the hotel. We were delighted to see a Nespresso machine in our bedroom – small touches always leave such a lasting impression.

As their main restaurant (Orchids) was in full swing (which is always a good sign!) we ate in The Bistro on a lovely little seated balcony area. The food was divine and I don’t use that term lightly! Both my guest and I were bowled over by both the food and the staff, notably Brian our waiter.  We had dinner, a few drinks and just didn’t have room for dessert with the bill coming to €150 – money well spent.

The following morning more surprises to come. Breakfast is served in Orchids which is a beautiful room with the buffet laid out spectacularly in a room off to the side – seen to be believed. There is nothing left to chance and there is something for everyone (no matter how fussy you are!) There’s even a vodka station (not for the faint hearted). You can also have a complimentary glass of bucks fizz with breakfast if so required. Breakfast was not just breakfast but an event in itself – fabulous fresh food cooked to perfection.

In the afternoon, my guest and I sampled The Beautique Spa with a Deep Tissue Body Massage (€90) and a Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial (€115) both of which were most enjoyable. The salon’s product of choice is Elemis (which I coincidentally also use) and is a wonderful collection of potions & creams. Expensive yes, but we’re worth it!

After some compulsory shopping in Cork we returned back to our haven for dinner in Orchids which again was truly sumptuous. For starters my guest had the Ballotine of Rabbit, Chicken leg & Foie Gras, Red Onion Marmalade, Soft Herb Salad and Toasted Pain de Pices. I choose the Crab & Lemon Grass Brulee, Crisp Fennel, Orange & Petit Salad. For main course, my guest had the Seared Fillet of Cork beef, Dauphinoise potatoes, Ragout of Cep, Shallot & baby leeks. I thoroughly devoured the Roast Fillet of Cod, White Bean & Tahitian Vanilla Puree, Grilled Oysters & Scallops with Herb Veloute. Our waiter was impressively knowledgeable about their selection of wines and explained what to expect from each. In most hotels, the wine is just poured without any explanation so this was most welcome. Dinner is served with a silver lid both of which are lifted simultaneously – very nice touch. (Our compliments to Stuart Bowes & Graeme Campbell – Sous Chef & Executive Chef & to our waiter John!)

For residents, for either a before or after dinner drink one can go to the library which hosts an open fire & chairs that you simply sink into & don’t really want to get out of again. Hayfield Manor embraces traditional values in a modern setting. They know how to make you feel “special” and that  it really isn’t any trouble to ask for something – in fact, they’d be glad to help you.

 If you’re only going to try 3 new things in 2010, make sure  a weekend in Hayfield Manor is one of them.

http://www.hayfieldmanor.ie