Reinventing the definition of a country house hotel with top-notch gastronomic experiences and laid-back polish (but not a whiff of stuffiness), Lainston House is tucked away in the Hampshire village of Sparsholt, a scenic 10 min drive from central Winchester, part of the BCorp accredited Exclusive Collection of luxe hotels.

Set in 63 beautifully tended acres, the 17th century hotel has reinvented 50 individually designed rooms and suites, featuring a mix of antique furniture, roll-top baths, walk-in showers and velvet armchairs, all with a comfy pillow menu, crisp cotton sheets and lie-inworthy king or queen-sized beds.

A stunning location that guests won’t forget in a hurry, country house weddings and other events at Lainston House are a gorgeously bespoke affair. Held in the rustic-luxe Dawley Barn, part of the main house, the characterful yet versatile self-contained space has original features and seats up to 120 guests.

Lainston House is well known for elegant afternoon teas in the drawing room or served on the terrace overlooking sweeping gardens and an iconic avenue of lime trees. Foodies, celebrations and romantic breaks are also well catered for with smart, grown-up fine-dining in the wood-panelled Avenue restaurant, drawing on top seasonal ingredients and hidden tastes of Hampshire.

A more recent addition to the hotel, in a beautifully converted, historic building, The Wellhouse is one of the UK’s only woodfired restaurants, serving up exceptional local meat and fish fuelled by the fire and fruit, veg, herbs and edible flowers grown outside in the amazing kitchen garden here.

The characterful Wellhouse is also home to Lainston’s Season Cookery School. Here, foodie guests can get to grips with knife skills and other techniques and find fool-proof recipes for puddings, pasta, tapas, BBQ and more from a team of top chefs, also making the most of fantastic home-grown produce from the kitchen garden.

If cooking isn’t your thing, the concierge can arrange all kinds of country sports, from clay pigeon shooting to archery and fly fishing, with bike hire for exploring further afield. There’s plenty for families too, with borrowed wellies to explore the grounds, board games in the drawing room, the option to have a knockaround in the tennis court, or quintessential croquet and garden games. Marvellous.

Lainston House, Woodman Lane, Sparsholt, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 2LT. Tel 01962 776088.