Carden Park review: the Cheshire resort that has it all – golf, spa, and fine dining

It's not often you find a resort where the hotel, spa, golf and staff are all flawlessly in sync - usually one element outshines the rest - but Carden Park has nailed it. This Cheshire country estate is a good time.

From the moment you turn down the tree-lined drive of the 1,000-acre resort, there’s a sense of occasion. You know you're about to make memories. Good ones.

All 197 bedrooms at Carden Park, just 20 minutes from Chester, are being upgraded in a rolling £6.5m refurbishment programme, elevating levels of both décor and tech.

New features in the upgraded rooms include beautiful soft furnishings, Nespresso coffee machines, interactive smart TVs, innovative storage and soft lighting. All overnight guests have access to the leisure club and, trust me, you'll want to spend at least a night here.

We stayed in an estate-view king room and knew immediately that this was going to be one very comfortable stay.

But despite the temptation to unpack and unwind in our gorgeous room, complete with Molton Brown toiletries and a welcome plate of chocolates, we were itching to explore all that the estate has to offer, starting with golf. Carden has two championship golf courses with contrasting challenges. The Cheshire course rolls gently through parkland and lakes, while the Nicklaus Course brings more drama and elevation.

We played The Cheshire which was incredibly well maintained. It's 6,653 yards off the back tees, par 72, and was designed by John Hayworth 30 years ago.

The fairways are cleverly cut, pretty tight in places, so you need accuracy off the tee and on your approach shots. Sadly my driver and 5 wood didn’t always get that memo. The greens are beautifully manicured - and fast for this time of the year! Our favourite hole was the uphill, pine tree-lined 14th, with deep bunkers carved out of the hillside. If you play it, remember to stop and look back for the most fabulous views over Cheshire.

The course is challenging without being punishing. It’s a joy to play.

I'd also heard very good things about the spa here. In fact, the website promises a world-class, multi-award-winning experience, so my hopes were high. I can tell you it's a claim that's wholly justified. It's pure indulgence.

The outdoor thermal garden is the highlight, with an open-air pool, fire pit, panoramic herbal lounge and numerous hot tubs surrounding a central champagne bar. Twilight visits are popular – the outdoor space looks breathtaking as evening sets in. Inside, expect a serene blend of saunas, a vitality pool and relaxation rooms. It’s undoubtedly one of the best spas I’ve visited, a place where you have not a care in the world and no concept of time.

The high bar set by the golf and spa experiences is equalled by Carden’s culinary offerings. We ate at The Vines, the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant. Your evening starts with pre-dinner drinks in an elegant bar just a few steps from the restaurant. Carden has its own vineyards, so it seemed rude not to try the estate’s own sparkling white. Chef’s snacks, served on a cute wooden tripod, are bought out while you drool over the menu.

The Vines is a 3 AA Rosette award-winning restaurant led by renowned executive chef Harri Williams and talented head chef Cyril Gabriel. It is unforgettable food. Lobster ravioli and Severn and Wye smoked salmon starters were followed by roasted monkfish and Cheshire venison loin. These dishes are works of art and packed with exceptional flavours. We ate off the a la carte menu, but there’s also a tasting menu, which we said we’d try next time.

For dessert, we chose a show-stopping baked Alaska, set alight at our table for the perfect dramatic end to a sublime meal. The waiting staff do the restaurant proud.

If you fancy something more family-friendly, Redmond's Brasserie, overlooking the grounds of the hotel, is ideal. It's also where breakfast is served.

The spa also has its own restaurant where, once again, dishes are served with flair. As you'd expect from a resort of this size, there are plenty of places to grab a drink, too, including Morgan's bar, a relaxed setting with a wide selection of gins and craft beers, while Jack’s Bar, in the clubhouse, is a wonderful spot to enjoy a drink and look out over the golf courses.

Carden Park pulls off something genuinely impressive: it offers top-tier golf, a spa you’ll never want to leave and food that you’ll always remember. I probably spent too long pretending I lived here. If you go, you’ll see why.

Prices for an overnight stay, with breakfast, start from £169.