for service and for its food. The building itself has lost none of its charm in its transition into a hotel. Tales of Augusta's ghost floating down the corridors add to the atmosphere and one can really feel the building's history everywhere. There are two places you can eat. The Byron room is the hotel's formal restaurant. Dominated by a portrait of the man himself it is a small and intimate space, great for a romantic meal or extra-special occasion. Our party chose to eat in the slightly more informal setting of the popular Silks brasserie. Housed in a large old conservatory it is very light with high ceilings and great views of the grounds. It is actually quite reminiscent of an old colonial interior and our party were left regretting our lack of pale linen suits, panama hats and peanut shells to throw on the floor. The menu at Silks is not as complicated or fancy as the Byron, instead it has a lunch feel to it. This is in no way a slight on the quality of the food, which was delicious from start to finish, just a comment as to the style (and price) of the dishes on offer. The chicken liver pate was a delight, simple, rich and creamy, and plenty of it. As a main course we chose the Newmarket sausages with a lovely mustard mash and caramelised onions. Again, nothing complicated here, just perfectly executed and very satisfying.

The service throughout was exemplary, the staff here seem to have a real pride in their place of work and it shows through in the service they provide. This would be reason enough to recommend Swynford Paddocks, but the food and the atmosphere also combine to make this a real experience and a great treat.