One of my best recommendations for beating the winter blues is having something lovely to look forward to. For me this January, it was a cheeky overnight girls trip to the Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa. Disclosure: We were guests of Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa, all in much need of some January cheer.
The skies were altogether grey and damp, Christmas seemed to leave with all of the good cheer and I was already sick and tired of wearing a coat even festooned with a pretty scarf. (People that know me, will know of my extensive scarf collection which usually cheers me up no end, but it just wasn’t working its usual magic.)
Luckily an invite hit my inbox, inviting us to the Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa which is located a few minutes drive from the Bicester Shopping Village. The perfect antidote to winter blues.
Checking into my room, I simply let my suitcase explode then hightailed it to watch the sunset over my afternoon tea stand.
After a cocktail or two and a proper hour or two nattering with the girls, we leisurely wandered into the Grays Restaurant for dinner.
I loved how playful and extensive the menu is – and just how popular it was. For a January evening it was busy with locals and guests alike. I really struggled to settle on just what to order, eventually decided to select a light salmon starter and a beautifully cooked duck breast as a main.
Then, the piece de resistance – dessert. The chef is a little obsessed with pork, so naturally, I had the caramelised bacon dessert, with a bacon stuffed doughnut and date ice cream. Scrumptious. So scrumptious I didn’t have room for the cheese platter that was ordered ‘for the table’.
Oh, and their vegetarian/vegan options were pretty awesome – including a vegan chocolate brownie sundae special which has us all envious – even with our own desserts in front of us.
After a restful sleep, the next morning I contemplated borrowing one of the golf carts, but without golf clubs strapped to my back, I’m not sure how successful that I would have been… next time.
Instead, I went for a lovely wander around the grounds (the skies a delicious, crisp clear blue) espying the golfers teeing off and taking a quick turn around the lake where birds swooped in (and no doubt many golf balls will end up.)
We had a morning in the spa pencilled in – enjoying the spa bubbles…
…and a delicious massage that just set the world to rights…
…all carried out with Elemis products and a host of mani/pedis with Jessica products. The perfect cherry on top of a shopping trip to Bicester Village if you ask me.
Not to mention a leisurely cup of tea in the morning sunshine.
To finish off our shopping staycation, we gathered for lunch in the members club room. I think we managed to order almost everything on the menu…
…the perfect way to round out a delicious 24hours with some lovely, lovely company.
Have you ever considered adding a staycation to a lengthy shopping trip?
