Situated in a convenient location on the outskirts of Leeds, Thorpe Park Hotel is a hidden gem offering luxury 4-star accommodation, relaxing spa breaks and a superb dining in its very own AA Rosette restaurant.
Beautifully decorated throughout and boasting an impressive 13-metre swimming pool and a 12-metre high internal courtyard, it’s not surprising that Thorpe Park Hotel is a popular venue choice for weddings and Hen weekends. Located in LS15, the contemporary hotel doesn’t offer spectacular countryside views like some spa retreats but once you step through the doors you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in a secluded country hotel somewhere in The Dales. The warmly lit reception area with its elegant decor and grand open fireplace provides a delightful welcome.
Of course, the main attraction at Thorpe Park Hotel is its excellent spa. The pool is pretty spectacular and one could easily spend a long afternoon relaxing beside it with a book between leisurely laps. However, the spa also boasts an indoor jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, a Technogym, 7 treatment rooms and an outdoor terrace – plenty to keep one occupied and relaxed for a special weekend.
If that’s not enough to tempt you away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre then their AA Rosette restaurant just might! Served in their magnificent glass-roofed indoor courtyard, the All Day Dining menu at Thorpe Park Hotel features traditional breakfasts, hot and cold sandwiches and a select number of mains including Hand Pressed Beef Burger and Beer Battered Haddock. For evening dining, the Main Menu is a glorious and super tasty celebration of Yorkshire produce with dishes such as North Coast Cod Fillet, Holme Farm Venison Haunch and Harrogate Blue Cheese Souffle all on there to tempt the tastebuds.
The most popular dining option at Thorpe Park Hotel, however, is the Afternoon Tea. Again, served in their enchanting indoor courtyard, it’s a delightful experience and one which we enjoyed ourselves just a couple of weeks ago.
Priced at £24.95 per person (£29.95 with Prosecco, £32.95 with Champagne), Afternoon Tea at Thorpe Park Hotel comprises a variety of sandwiches, a Savoury Croque Monsieur, freshly-baked ‘Yorkshire Turf Cake’ and a gorgeous selection of indulgent sweet treats. We were booked in at the end of November so we were lucky enough to be able to sample their Festive Afternoon Tea – all the most popular components of their usual offering alongside some Christmassy treats, packed with festive flavours.
The sandwiches, which were all wonderfully fresh, included Oak Smoked Salmon & Watercress, Butter Roasted Turkey & Cranberry, Mature Cheddar & Yorkshire Chutney and the obligatory Cream Cheese & Cucumber. Most, if not all of the ingredients used for the fillings of their sandwiches are sourced locally from some of the best suppliers in the area. Suffice to say they were all delicious! Our favourite out of all the savoury treats on our tiered stand of treats was by far the Savoury Croque Monsieur – crisp and golden on the outside with a molten cheese centre. Super-naughty but oh so good!
The ‘Yorkshire Turf Cake was a little denser than a scone and possessed a wonderfully crunchy crust. Beautifully flavoured with just the right distribution of dried fruit throughout, the baked treat paired beautifully with the accompanying Rhubarb jam, Wensleydale butter and clotted cream.
The sweet treats on our Festive Afternoon Tea at Thorpe Park hotel had clearly been well thought out and prepared with a great deal of expertise. Dainty but perfectly presented, each was an absolute delight to consume.
The Lemon Meringue Tartlet with its crisp pastry shell, sharp lemon curd and delightfully sweet meringue was certainly the star of the show so understandably, features on their Afternoon Tea throughout the year. The Pot au Chocolat was rich and creamy, the Rasberry Macaron was delicate and sweet, the Spiced Carrot Cake was moist and delicious and the Mini Mince Pie, Yorkshire Curd Tart and Marzipan Stollen Bite all added festive flavour to a truly enjoyable afternoon tea experience.
Having happily chomped our way through half the stand, we were defeated and could eat no more. The friendly staff, however, were more than happy to parcel it up for us in one of their pretty boxes so we could finish what remained at home.
We thoroughly enjoyed our Festive Afternoon Tea at Thorpe Park Hotel. Not only was the food delicious, but the ambience in the stunning courtyard dining area contributed to it being a relaxing afternoon. We were somewhat envious of those being pampered to perfection and lounging about in fluffy robes next to the pool but we’ll be sure to try out those facilities next time!
To book Festive Afternoon Tea at Thorpe Park Hotel, CLICK HERE.
