Corse Lawn House recently celebrated 40 years in business. Michael Purton found out why the hotel has remained so popular for four decades.

IN 1978 Baba Hine and her husband Denis bought the Grade II listed Corse Lawn House with the vision of turning what was a failing nightclub into a quintessential country house hotel. They moved in along with their 10-year-old son Giles and an assortment of pets and gradually restored and extended the building while welcoming guests (and their dogs).

40 years on and Baba and Denis, who has sadly passed away, clearly have realised their vision. Corse Lawn House is the classic country house hotel and has a family feel, with Giles involved in the management and Baba as the hotel's matriarch, overseeing the meticulous running of the establishment while gliding around to chat with guests with genuine warmth. The fact she knows them all so well is testament to Corse Lawn's success: the hotel is somewhere guests return to time after time, to stay over or just to dine out.

Baba explained: “It is the place and people that matter. My long-serving team and the camaraderie and humour shared is what makes Corse Lawn tick. We have garnered a faithful following of guests, some of whom have been coming here since our first days here, and now visit with their own children and even grandchildren.”

With a population of just over 500, Corse sits in the north of Gloucestershire, roughly 20 miles from Worcester and 10 from Cheltenham, and Corse Lawn House is the heart of the village.

There are 20 bedrooms, a fine-dining restaurant and less formal bistro, a lavish sitting area for afternoon tea or relaxing, and also an indoor pool, stable where Baba's horses live and, if you're lucky, you'll see her dogs padding around the place.

Driving in from the main road, the elegant estate and pond in the forecourt are the perfect image of a grand country house. Inside follows that theme, with plush carpets, wood panelling and paintings – many by Baba's great-grandmother – depicting typical country scenes, and this style flows from the reception through to the dining areas and the bedrooms. While some people may find the decor dated, in my view the style fits perfectly with the traditional feel of the place – sleek, minimalist modern interiors would seem out of place at Corse Lawn House.

The room we stayed in was designed for comfort, with a super king-sized bed, sitting area and large bathroom with an old fashioned tub with a draw around curtain. Although there were some signs of wear and tear, this added to the charm of staying in a stately manor house with a rich history.

Corse Lawn offers Anglo-French dining and has been bestowed with many awards over the years, including Best Restaurant, Best Cheeseboard and Best Wine List. Featuring in the AA restaurant guide and the Good Food Guide, the quality of the cuisine draws in visitors from afar and on the Saturday night that we visited, the restaurant and bistro were packed.

My companion and I were very impressed by the whole dining experience, from the welcome drink in the lounge while we browsed the menu through to the exceptional service (every time I so much as looked up, a waiter was right there to help) and superb food.

To start, I had the seared scallops with cauliflower puree and Ras-hal-hanout caramel (£12.50) while my better half chose the wild mushroom risotto with truffle and parmesan (£9.45). For main, I went with the ale braised ox cheeks with smoked mash potato (part of the table d’hôte menu which is £33.50 for three courses), while she opted for the grilled fillet of sea bream with saffron sauce and samphire (£19.50). To finish, I enjoyed the cheeseboard (£12.95 for four pieces and definitely worthy of the award) while she had a selection of the ice cream (£6.95). To drink, we shared a bottle of the excellent Saint Clair Tuatara Bay Sauvignon Blanc (2014, Marlborough, New Zealand – (£26 or £6.75for a 175ml glass).

Everything was perfect, from the presentation to the taste and texture; you could see why Corse Lawn has received so much acclaim for its food. Breakfast was also impressive with a wide choice including cooked fare.

Corse Lawn House ticks all the boxes for a quality country house hotel: beautiful setting, a sense of grandeur and comfort, a warm and welcoming host, fantastic food and drink and impeccable service.

RATING: 5/5

For more information, visit corselawn.com or call 01452 780771. Rooms start from £90 for a single and £160 for a double.