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Comments.
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Beautiful, peaceful, excellent food and comfortable
beds! The gardens were full of colourful flowers,
fruit and vegetables and herbs.
Angela Thompson 3-6
June
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Praising this place, one honestly doesn't
know where to begin. Poppy's and Graham's
B&B combines not only beds that allow you to sleep
like a log, great breakfasts amidst fascinating heirlooms
of Poppy's, and overwhelming hospitality - but
also features heavenly dinners that you just mustn't
mustn't miss. The amazing tastiness of the food,
served in several courses and matched with perfect
wines, is one thing - but on top of that, Poppy and
Graham have a natural gift to entertain and you will
enjoy yourself thoroughly. There is only one place
to go for people who like stimulating conversations
with other guests as well as a lot of laughter around
the dinner table: Uplands House.
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Dr Beate and
Sarah Schumann
- 2-6 July,
Germany |
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Uplands House is a box of treats. Our overnight
stop has been the best start to the holiday we could
imagine. We arrived after a horrendous Christmas journey
of about three hours up the M40 on December 23rd.
We should have been there for tea, but when we finally
arrived it was nearly time for dinner. We were crotchety
and exhausted. But Poppy, our beaming hostess, arrived
to greet us. “Would you like a glass of Champagne?”
she asked. Would we! All tempers dissipated as if
by magic. We were shown to the most comfortable of
rooms, had a long relaxing bath with lovely Duchy
Original toiletries, and then came down to sit beside
a roaring fire, where further glasses were proffered,
and nuts and dips and crisps. When everybody was gathered,
(about 8 of us, including two people we knew, and
their 6 month old baby) we were ushered into the dining
room. There a feast awaited us. First we had a lovely
dish of smoked salmon and salad and prawns, and then
a most fabulous joint of rare beef, with organic leeks,
carrots and potatoes just that afternoon dug up from
the garden. The wine to go with it was a Ducru Beaucaillou
1988. A beautiful fruit salad came next, and home
made vanilla ice cream, with a dessert wine - Lafaurie
Peraguey 1996. This was followed by English cheeses
– so splendid we had to try everything. Then we
returned to the fireside for coffee, chocolates and
home made sloe gin. This had all been rather unexpectedly
special. In the morning we had the most delicious
breakfast cooked by Graham, and following a vigorous
game of football on the lawn with nephews and nieces,
we were persuaded to stay for lunch. We enjoyed yet
another superb meal, joined by in-laws and out-laws
and all sorts, and we felt we had entered the heart
of a very welcoming family, and come to the heaven
of the bon viveur for 24 hours. We continued our journey
in excellent spirits. What a beautiful hostess, what
a house, what style, what finesse! Fabulous!
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Charlotte and
Ben - 24
December |
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This is just a brief thank you to Poppy and Graham
for their generous attitude and most charming manner
during our recent stay. In the course of my 45 odd
years at work I stayed in dozens if not hundreds of
hotels and guest houses etc. I can honestly say that
our time at Uplands was a unique experience putting
all other such establishments into a very distant
second place.. The ambience that Poppy and Graham
create is simply a one off and unrivalled resulting
in a remarkably enjoyable experience. Their expertise
in putting all guests of different backgrounds and
nationalities at ease with one another is a remarkable
gift which is to be prized. From the moment we arrived
we were as one of the family. We were immediately
made to relax in a most pleasantly disarming way and
soon discovered that nothing was too much trouble.
The house is charming and spotlessly clean containing
a labyrinth of interesting artefax. It is to our regret
that as we were visiting in order to attend the British
Grand Prix we were unable to spend more time in their
fascinating company. Hopefully there will be another
opportunity before too long.
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Julie and Mick. |
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The perfect
weekend. You looked
after us so well,
everything was just
great - our every
comfort provided for,
wonderful food, drink
and company. Thank you
for letting us bring the
dogs.
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Sue and Geoff -
North London |
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Arrived in grand
style in ancient car.
Champagne went straight
to our heads. In spite
of this we managed to
draw at Croquet. After
that it was all a blur,
but dancing to ‘Greatest
Hits’ by Queen, great
food and company - a
marvellous evening.
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Nick & Olwen
Bell - Oxford. |
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I took so many pictures
for our Magazine “Mr
Partner” in Japan
because your house, your
food, and you are so
wonderful. Lovely! The
rooms are decorated with
many interesting items
collected from around
the world, by several
generations. England
offers a very mature
vegetable garden
culture. If you want
delicious high class
vegetables Poppy creates
the most exquisite
dishes both in taste and
smell from what we
gathered that evening.
Her very fresh organic
produce doesn’t need
much flavouring, beyond
a little salt, pepper,
garlic and rosemary. I
must say the rosemary
and garlic from the
garden are very superior
to what can be bought.
At breakfast try the
excellent selection of
jams and marmalade, home
made of course. I
strongly recommend this
place.
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Naoki Numahath
- Tokyo. |
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My ‘Garden Therapy’ weekend started with a glass of Champagne! It
has been a fabulous time
and I am very proud of
my achievements and look
forward to consuming the
produce on my next
visit. I enjoyed my
master class on making
hot raspberry soufflé,
and will never forget
all your many
kindnesses. Thank you so
much for everything. If
happiness depends on a
leisurely breakfast in
the garden, watching
chaffinches,
greenfinches and a
greater spotted
woodpecker at the nuts,
then my stay at Uplands
was sublime!
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G.T. - London |
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Although our visit was
‘official’ we were made
to quickly to feel at
home with lively
discussion and wonderful
food and wine – that we
leave refreshed and
invigorated as from a
memorable holiday. Our
thanks to Poppy and
Graham for their
hospitality and
meticulous attention to
detail.
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Liz Harmer and
Peter Chester -
Wolsey Lodges, Norfolk. |
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What an
inspirational two days
in the Cotswolds! We
arrived in pouring rain,
but the weather was soon
forgotten with the
wonderful welcome, warm
blueberry cake and tea
by the fire! There were
fresh flowers everywhere
- peonies, delphiniums,
flocks - and a pair of
cornucopia on every mantelpiece. Our room,
with every comfort we
could wish for,
overlooked the beautiful
parkland with too many
sheep to count. The
garden was ablaze with
colourful borders,
scented lavender,
climbing roses and
honeysuckle, and the
music of running water,
and we lost count of how
many wild birds we saw.
Every sort of vegetable
and berry seemed ripe
for the plucking. Poppy
cooked us simply
delicious meals with
apparently effortless
grace, and happily
shared the recipes with
us. Graham was a most
entertaining host, a
source of information
about a multitude of
things, and so attentive
to our every need. Our
days were planned with a
storehouse of local
knowledge at our
disposal, and nothing
was too much trouble.
There was a congenial
background of gentle
teasing banter, and an
infectious loving gaiety
between our hosts, so
that though we came as
strangers, when we left,
we felt we were lifelong
friends. A treat not to
be missed. We will be
back!"
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Charles and
Rosie Bradley -
Paris. |
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Warmth, elegance,
friendly, fun. We were
so comfortable, we
didn't want to go! The
food was tasty,
interesting and very
well presented. Thank
you.
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E&S Turceninoff. |
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The most
fabulous B&B experience
we have ever had - many
thanks to you both.
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What a find!
Discreet, up a long tree
lined drive, wonderfully
hidden away, very warm
friendly welcome, yummy
cake for tea, a game of
badminton on the lawn
with our hosts, dinner
truly a tour des
gourmets with smoked
salmon, black pasta with
pink prawns and
coriander and salad we
picked in the vegetable
garden, and raspberry
fool with an obscene
amount of double cream.
The Rose Garden room was
very romantic, with
candles to light in the
bathroom, lovely soft
towels and bathroom
goodies, and we fell
asleep to the sounds of
the bubbling brook
outside. The breakfast
was the best we have
ever had. Thank you for
everything.
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Diana and Paul. |
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Lovely
comfortable beds,
fabulous company and
food. We will be back.
Thank you.
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Julie & Sean
Sutton. |
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We enjoyed it so
much we had to stay
another night!
Wonderfully welcoming,
perfect hospitality -
good conversation,
delicious food, gracious
hosts, and lovely
countryside, really
comfortable beds - the
perfect break. You are a
lovely couple and we
look forward to staying
with you soon.
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Lyn & Tom. |
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A delightful and
beautiful home, lovely
views, and the first
time we've been served
wild strawberries in
October! A lovely
atmosphere, our baby
Mariesole was the first
baby to visit here.
Truly international
conversation at dinner!
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Andrea & Cecilie
- Rome. |
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This house is
blessed with a personal
and warm feel that
touches the heart of
every visitor.
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Darren Smith. |
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Lovely
visit - Thanks for the
wonderful hospitality
and such comfort
everywhere.
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Ron & Ina Hoover
- Charleston.
USA. |
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Poppy is the most
charming hostess you
could ever wish to meet.
She treated us as if we
were family. Her home is
beautiful, conversation
enthralling and her
cuisine exquisite. Many,
many thanks for your
hospitality, we will be
back.
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Alice & Howard
Abbott x. |
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A very pampering
relaxing stay in a
fabulous location with
great hosts. Gorgeous
food, toffee cake was
delicious. It felt like
we were on holiday.
Arrived in business mode
but left totally
unwound. All the little
touches were greatly
appreciated. You have
created a wonderful
atmosphere.
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Natalie and
Nathan Shackleton. |
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What a
magnificent retreat into
the Cotswolds this is!
The warmth, the beauty,
the comforts (bedding
that wraps itself round
you and makes you feel
loved,) the food, the
fine wines are all
beyond comparison. I
searched high and lo for
a respite like this, and
lo, it found me. Poppy
and Graham, I love you
both. Thank you for
these days.
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Steve -
Lonsdale - USA |
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Oh what joy
to drop in on "friends"
for the weekend. I can
honestly say I have
never stayed anywhere
where I have been
treated as one of the
family from the word go.
And what an evening -
typical summer - with
croquet, dinner on the
terrace and even
badminton to finish -
all with a fantastic
view over the lavender
and Ha-Ha to the
parkland beyond. Thank
you both so much for a
wonderful respite from
noisy engines! And not
forgetting the Polish
connection.
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Philip Methuen -
Lymington,
Hants. |
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Hooray! At last I
have found the perfect
watering hole! It was a
pleasure to stay with
you, and thank you for
the most excellent
dinner.
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Lord Napier and
Ettrick KCVO -
Wylie, Wiltshire. |
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Had a
wonderful time here at
Uplands with Poppy and
Graham. The lovely
welcoming sight and
aromas of the kitchen
and the Chinese screen
as you walk into the
hall, the flowing wine
and champagne, the
making of the runny
chocolate pudding
together and its
consumption, and of
course the delightful
company made my first
New Year away from home
an unforgettable
experience.
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Dervilla O’Dwyer
- Ireland
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Comments: Our New Year’s
eve at Uplands was
memorable, the
hospitality that flowed
through the evening was
fantastic and the
impromptu dinner party
was a great success and
so very enjoyable. All
the cornucopia were
filled with flowers from
the garden! and I felt
especially honoured by
being brought breakfast
in bed. Your
thoughtfulness makes
everyone feel special. |
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Acton, London. |
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