Review: Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire puts children at its heart

If you want a five-star hotel break complete with fine dining, pampering and attention to detail, you might decide to leave the kids with a babysitter.

But not if you visit the Four Seasons. The Hampshire hotel in Dogmersfield puts children at its heart.

Kids are not only welcome to stay; they are the focus of a family break.

READ MORE: Big-budget spy thriller Citadel filmed in Basingstoke is released by Amazon Prime Video

The hotel has successfully managed to maintain a luxurious feel without excluding the youngest members of families, and it works.

When I went to stay at the Four Seasons with my husband and six-year-old son, I was slightly apprehensive.

We all know that when you want your child to be on their best behaviour, they deliver their worst. The thought of fine dining with a six-year-old filled me with fear. However, I need not have worried.

From the moment we arrived, Freddie was made to feel like a superstar and the most important person in our party of three.

The staff greeted him personally, asking him questions about school and his journey. It was 18 minutes to be precise, from Basingstoke, although as I admired the rolling countryside views surrounding the hotel it felt like we were a world away from home.

Freddie was presented with a passport to collect stamps at different places he might visit during our stay, to return at the end in exchange for a reward.

Our room was beautiful and tastefully decorated with all the little details considered to make a stay as comfortable as possible.

Freddie was delighted to discover a handwritten message on the bathroom mirror welcoming him personally, along with two ginormous freshly baked biscuits and a bottle of milk with his name on it. My husband and I were treated to a delicious apple crumble pie made by the hotel's pastry chefs.

Wandering around the hotel before dinner we came across the most adorably cute baby ducklings bathing in a pond in a courtyard garden. Freddie also loved saying hello to all the dog visitors, who are equally welcome to stay as children.

We made an early reservation at Wild Carrot restaurant, named after the elegant white wildflower that graces the fields of Dogmersfield Park. The restaurant incorporates local and sustainably sourced ingredients, offering diners a truly British experience with chef Marco’s seasonal menu.

While my husband and I perused the tempting options, Freddie was delighted there was hot dog and chips on the kids’ menu.

My smoked aubergine starter with pickled red onion, garlic yoghurt, sourdough crouton and local watercress was beautifully presented and looked like a work of art.

While my husband’s grapefruit scallops ceviche with pistachio, apple cabbage sauce and cabbage caviar was equally as stunning, with its vibrant bright pink grapefruit sauce. They both tasted delicious, and Freddie enjoyed sharing our starters rather than ordering his own.

My main course of line-caught seabass with lobster bisque, braised pear couscous, lemon zest, herbs and almond espuma was cooked to perfection, while my husband’s roasted Cornish lamb rump with garlicky lettuce, slow-cooked shallots and thyme jus melted in the mouth.

A black forest dessert was the perfect sweet end to the meal, with 64 per cent chocolate mousse, sour cherries, and Tahitian vanilla cream. It looked incredible, with delicate gold leaf shimmering on top of a glossy, chocolate sphere. The taste was divine and I savoured every delicious mouthful.

I couldn’t resist tasting my husband’s winter spiced apple yule log, which was also delicious. Freddie was delighted with his knickerbocker glory, which had everything you would expect and more. There was no sharing on his part!

After dinner, Freddie enjoyed playing in the children’s park. We watched a stunning sun setting over the fields, before retreating to our room for the night, which had been tidied in our absence.

In the morning, an impressive breakfast buffet awaited us, with everything you could ever want, including full English cooked options, pancakes, pastries, cakes, waffles, and fresh fruit salad.

Set in a restored 18th-century manor, the Four Seasons has an impressive 500 acres of grounds allowing guests to enjoy a sense of escape with unlimited access to nature, wildlife and unique outdoor experiences, including horse riding, falconry displays and a highwire adventure course.

After breakfast, we walked to the stables where Freddie had a meet-and-greet with the hotel’s resident Shetland ponies Milo and Dougal. He loved taking Dougal for a walk around the stables.

After this we headed to Sharkie’s Reef – a children’s fun pool – where we all had great fun in the fountains and water slide. Afterwards, we all wrapped up in our cosy robes to dry off before a visit to the kid’s club, Kids for all Seasons, which is complimentary for all guests.

When it was time to go, Freddie was invited to choose a prize from a large toy chest in return for his completed passport and was chuffed with his cuddly cow.

We left feeling relaxed and happy to have made some amazing family memories, along with a clearer understanding of what it truly means to experience luxury.

Four Seasons describes luxury on its website as ‘a meaningful sense of belonging’. It wants to dedicate its focus on how people want to be treated, grounded in the genuine care you experience during your stay and defined by an abundance of humanity and generosity.

The hotel’s passionate team ensure that this is fulfilled for every guest, children included.