Taplow House itself conjures images of elaborate balls, and maintains elegance in style and décor throughout its storied halls, with huge gold-framed mirrors, chandeliers, and masterful oil paintings at every turn. The sitting area-cum-bar features an impressive fireplace, next to which you can lounge on sofas and nibble olives and nuts while sipping an aperitif.

The menu offers an inviting selection of supremely prepared and presented dishes. For starters we decided on the Niçoise salad with seared salmon gravadlax and cucumber dressing, and the warm salad of baby vegetables and pesto with baked goat's cheese in herb breadcrumbs. Fabulous.

The second course consisted of a delicious order of steamed red mullet filled with crab mousse on squid ink tagliatelle with fresh squid and herb fennel salad - a mouthful in every way, truly divine. For dessert, we ordered the assiette and tried a little bit of everything: hot chocolate fondant, cinnamon panna cotta, banana tart, and blood orange parfait - a virtual playing field of delightful and exciting flavours.

Taplow House Hotel provides an exquisite culinary experience in gorgeous surroundings, one that makes you feel like royalty