History
History of Hambleton Hall
Hambleton Hall was built in 1881 as a hunting box by Walter Marshall. Marshall’s fortune was derived from a brewery business of the same name, but he came to Rutland to enjoy the fox hunting.
Tim and Stefa Hart bought Hambleton Hall in 1979 and opened as a hotel and restaurant in July 1980. Tim had spent 10 years in finance after taking a philosophy degree at Cambridge University. The move to Rutland enabled him to indulge his enthusiasms for food, wine, gardens, country living and hospitality.
Tim and Stefa
Tim is still closely involved with the hotel. His wife Stefa practices as an interior designer but in 1980 was too busy with small children to undertake the Hambleton project, and instead asked her friend Nina Campbell to take charge. Nina’s schemes still survive in the bar and private dining room. Elsewhere Stefa’s touch is evident throughout.
Noël Coward
Some time ago Tim Hart had the good fortune to receive, on loan, Walter Marshall’s scrap book. This document consists of a compilation of clippings mostly of a scandalous or scurrilous kind reflecting his interest in gossip, scandalous divorces, demi-mondaine girls (some revealing their arms and ankles) and spicy tales from the ‘pink-un’.
Marshall remained a bachelor and when he died seems best remembered locally for the excellence of his table and cellar, and the convivial if slightly ‘racey’ company he kept.
He left his house to his younger sister Eva Astley Paston Cooper. Although Eva started life as a keen devotee of the chase, from the age of 50 onwards she presided over a salon of bright young things including Noël Coward, Malcolm Sargent and Charles Scott Moncrieff.
In his autobiography ‘Present Indicative’ Noël Coward describes Mrs. Astley Paston Cooper in the following terms: “Mrs Cooper was gay company. Her principle pleasure was to lie flat on her back upon a mattress in front of the fire and shoot off witticisms in a sort of petulant wail.”
Mrs Astley Patson Cooper’s granddaughter has suggested that Noël Coward’s rather uncharitable remarks about his benefactor were somewhat influenced by the fact that the young Noël was made to spend most of his waking hours here chopping down trees for the good of his health!
After Mrs Cooper’s death Lord Trent, Dr. Brockbank and Major and Mrs Hoare enjoyed the house in their turn until the 1970s brought two big surprises. The creation of Rutland Water in 1976 (to provide water for the inhabitants of Peterborough and Northampton) transformed the outside environment, while Tim and Stefa Hart transformed the inside in 1979/80.
The house has come full circle. As a small hotel and restaurant for discriminating diners and travellers, the house has returned to a very similar convivial use to that for which it was built.
Getting ready for Christmas, the team have been busy putting decorations up throughout the house, almost done....🎄
#festiveseason #hambletonhall #pobhotels #relaischateaux #michelinstar #privateparties
New Years Eve count down, come and join us to celebrate, the only night of the year when the dance floor will be down to see in 2025 🎉
An evening of glamour, Champagne, six course dinner with wine, music and dancing 🍾🥂
Take a look at the full details in our bio link, search Events ✨
#newyearseve #sixcoursedinner #hambletonhall #pobhotels #relaischateaux #discoverrutland
Hambleton’s Pear & Pistachio Cheesecake, Pear Sorbet…is really good!
#michelinstar #relaischateaux #pobhotelsuk #finedining #countryhousehotel
Time for a trim, Hambleton’s cork oaks annual hair cut...✂️
#corkoaks #hambletonhall #treemaintenance #pobhotels #relaischateaux #discoverrutland
Stunning crisp morning, a little cold, but worth wrapping up for a walk 🥾❄️
Winter has arrived, one week to go before the Christmas decorations go up🎄
#winterwalk #hambletonhall #pobhotels #relaischateaux #discoverrutland
Our annual Christmas Concert is on Monday, 16th December, we are delighted to be returning to St Andrews Church in Hambleton village.
Our emphasis has always been on great choral music with a line up of around 12 singers supported by organ, and if the music chosen suggests more we add tympani and trumpet. Jonathan Stork and Keith Halliday have kindly agreed to put together the singers from their network based around St Mary’s in Nottingham. We have enjoyed their performances many times at Harts and at Hambleton and rely upon them to provide some great classical pieces as well as more modern compositions. We have also asked them to choose a few carols for the audience to join in with.
The concert starts at 7pm, guests are welcome to arrive from 6.30pm for glühwein and mince pies.
Tickets for the concert only are £25 per person.
For the concert followed by dinner at Hambleton Hall, £200 per person (Champagne and canapés, 3 course dinner, wines and coffee)
For the concert, dinner and overnight accommodation (on B&B basis) from £700, per couple.
To book, please call our reception team on 01572 756991 or email hotel@hambletonhall.com and for the full dinner menu see our link to Activities & Events in our bio 🔗
#christmasconcert #hambletonvillage #hambletonhall #pobhotels #relaischateaux #discoverrutland
We are thrilled to have won the @good_hotel_guide César Award 2025 for Best Hotel in the Midlands and Editor's Choice for Country House Hotels🏆 Thank you.
A big thank you also to the team for all their continued hard work 🙌
#goodhotelguide #countryhousehotels #hambletonhall #pobhotels #relaischateaux #césaraward2025 #besthotelmidlands
Nicholas Rudd-Jones meets Tim Hart, proprietor of Hambleton Hall, in this months new look 'Rutland Living' publication, 'Big Interview' @stamfordandrutlandliving 📖
#rutlandliving #hambletonhall #stamfordliving #localmagazine #pobhotels #relaischateaux