This week I had one of my best hotel stays in the wonderful Five Arrows Hotel and Restaurant, located just within the grounds of Waddesdon Manor.

The Grade II listed building is on the site of an old coaching inn. Its name is derived from the Rothschild family emblem a shield surmounted by five arrows, pointing upward and tied with a ribbon.

An architecturally remarkable building in Waddesdon, the hotel site was built in 1887 as part of Waddesdon Estate by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, originally used to accommodate the architects, craftsmen and artisans working on the Manor itself. It was designed by architect/builder, James Taylor, who lived locally in Bierton, in his own authentic English style of half timbering, elaborate Elizabethan chimney stacks, and wrought ironwork.

My partner and I were welcomed to the intimate hotel and restaurant, which was completely refurbished in April this year, by the ambrosial Horatio. Originally from Spain, he has worked at the hotel and restaurant for many years and immediately makes you feel at home.

He took us to what I have to assume is one of their best suites out of the 16 individually designed en-suite bedrooms available, each named after Rothschild wines with antiques and original pieces from the Manor gracing each room.

We made ourselves comfortable in the living area that separates the bathroom and bedroom, had cups of tea and ate the complimentary homemade cookies to relax a little after our journey before going for dinner in the restaurant’s private alcove.

The meal was one of the best I have had, not least because of the magnificent hosting by Horatio who nurtures your experience there with such concern and friendliness, doing everything he can to make your meal magnificent.

He recommended a wine for us from the cellar, a Rupert and Rothschild 2014 vintage white, which was sweet and yet still delicate to taste. He was then put to the test by my fussy pescatarian other half.

To start he had the soused mackerel, wye valley asparagus, pickled cucumber, mandarin gel and sautéed tiger prawns (£9); but asked for the mackerel to be cooked, which they were happy to do and he was delighted with the result. To follow he had a few more special requests as he was taken by the cod, but not the meat that accompanied it: pea & pancetta stuffed courgette flower tempura, crisp parma ham. As he explained this it was offered to him without (£19.50), which is exactly what he had hoped for.

I started with the rabbit confit and hazelnut terrine, foie gras butter, quail egg and apricot puree with toasted sour dough (£8.50). I was somewhat nervous about this choice but was determined to try new things and was happy that I did. The flavour was delicate and the textures complimented one another perfectly. I then had the roast loin of lamb and slow cooked shoulder with roasted garlic mash, stewed peppers and a rosemary sauce (£19.50). As soon as my fork touched the surface of the lamb it crumbled beautifully apart, wonderfully cooked.

Each of us were overjoyed not only with our meal but with the various homemade breads brought to us before and after each course - after Horatio noticed how much my partner was enjoying the warm and soft variations, a stand out favourite was thickly sliced German rye bread.

To finish my partner had the warm chocolate fondant, caramelised banana and tonka bean ice-cream (£8.50) which had him grinning from ear to ear throughout; I was similarly overcome when he offered me a taste. I had the passion fruit meringue tart with chocolate ‘nutella’ and passion fruit sorbet (£8), which was light and crisp, exactly as I had hoped. We then made our way back to our room to collapse into its comfort.

In the morning we walked out of our room, through the beautiful gardens surrounding the main building, breathing in the crisp country air, to have breakfast. I had eggs Benedicte, he had eggs Florentine. Both wonderful, as expected. After such a heavy meal the night before, we returned to our suite to collapse into bed again before begrudgingly checking out.

Much to my other half’s disappointment I had to return to work, but guests receive complimentary tickets to the grounds of Waddesdon Manor.

The manor was built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild between 1874 and 1885 to display his outstanding collection of arts, and also to entertain those from the upper class, it was passed to the National Trust in 1957.

The latest exhibitions include Inspired by Waddesdon by Kate Malone, one of the UK’s leading ceramic artists, and Bountiful Invention: drawings by Gilles-Marie Oppenord (1672-1742) and Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier (1695-1750).

The Five Arrows Hotel and Restaurant is the perfect place for a night or two away from home as it is a beautiful and in a quiet location to escape your everyday life, or to celebrate a birthday or anniversary.

It is also an ideal location for a wedding or similarly special occasion and I discovered they happily offer exclusive use of the hotel, restaurant, gardens and Old Couch House for such events.

The Five Arrows Hotel and Restaurant, Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, HP18 0JH. Details: 01296 651727