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Travel UK Licence to kill… and to chill Memorably used in the James Bond film Goldfinger, Stoke Park is home to fine dining, an award-winning spa and will soon be featuring an appearance from Novak Djokovic. jon hawkins gets carried away

stood staring at the impossibly grand of a Bond-inspired reverie when they arrive. even the most restrained diner will find entrance to Stoke Park – with its towering I’d happily have spent the weekend trading themselves giving in to chef Chris Wheeler’s Ipillars, walls the colour of proper custard and imaginary one-liners and raised eyebrows innovative food. Roast supreme of duck was domed cupola on top – when I heard a voice. with Auric Goldfinger and Oddjob, but Stoke beautifully (and decadently) matched with “You are a clever and resourceful man, Park, and its expansive grounds, has more seared foie gras and a lip-smacking blackberry Mr Hawkins.” constructive and rewarding distractions. jus, and a fillet of sea bass with samphire, “Why thank you,” I replied. For lovers of sport, the country club – the clams and a mussel broth was like the sea “Perhaps too clever…” first in the UK when it was founded in 1908 – distilled on a plate. (Without the pollution Anyone familiar with the Buckinghamshire has 13 tennis courts, a 27-hole championship or boats.) There’s wit, too – Humphry’s hotel’s famous cameo in 1964’s Goldfinger golf course (the setting for Goldfinger’s Snickers is a deconstructed take on the classic may, like me, have to shake themselves out infamous round) and a 4,500 sq ft gym. There’s chocolate bar; thankfully it’s more of a lovingly an award-winning spa, too, and an indoor pool. assembled tribute than an ironic sneer. I’d need more than Oddjob’s resourceful We retired, plump and happy, to our caddying to turn me into a decent golfer, but palatial suite full of sumptuous, elegant relaxing in the spa and lazily trying to belt furniture, and at the window we looked out I’d need more than balls around like Novak Djokovic (who appears across the golf course, where Bond and at the Boodles tennis championship at Stoke Goldfinger were about to tee-off. Actually, I Oddjob’s resourceful Park later this month), I’m perfectly capable of. may have been mistaken about the last bit. caddying to turn me Which is fortunate, considering the Must have been that postprandial Martini… ■ real trump card in Stoke Park’s armoury is Stoke Park, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, SL2 4PG. into a decent golfer Humphry’s, the fine-dining restaurant, where For more information, visit stokepark.com

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