Since opening a few years ago, The Mutton at Hazeley Heath has been a firm favourite local pub for Friday drinks as well as their award winning menu of traditional pub dishes done to a five star standard.
So this Saturday we decided to book a table in the restaurant for date night and as always enjoyed a delectable meal complete with top service.
Now we are well into September, it felt like the last weekend I could get away with white jeans and mules, so I wore my Topshop white slim fit jeans paired with a ruched detail backless top, my gorgeous Senso pink satin mules and a Cult Gia dupe mini box bag.
Blush pink hues for date night is a timeless classic and I would’ve worn my pearls to complete the look, but with a nigh neck top on I opted for statement gold drop earrings which I recently got from Na-kd.
With 8:15pm reservations, we arrived at The Mutton for 8pm to have an aperitif. I sipped a classic Dirty Martini which was delightful; I felt very Carrie Bradshaw from Sex & The City ❤
The interiors at The Mutton are very classic countryside chic with a subtle modern twist, and the low lighting in the restaurant makes for the perfect sophisticated evening atmosphere.
To start we shared the sourdough bread with charcoal butter and homemade spicy pickles which were divine.
For main course I ordered the chargrilled sea bream, crushed potatoes, seasonal vegetables and white wine sauce with a side salad, whilst my boyfriend had the sirloin steak with nduja butter, fries, pickled shallot, parmesan and rocket salad.
I had a glass of the Gyotaku, Christophe Mittnacht Alsace, French white wine upon recommendation from the waitress as a pairing to my fish dish.
As always it was a 10/10 meal presented beautifully, cooked to perfection and full of incredible flavour.
We savoured every last bite and with clean plates all round, we left very satisfied indeed.
The bill came to just under £150 so its certainly on the pricier side for a meal out, but definitely worth it for a special occasion or a treat for date night.
The Mutton at Hazeley Heath remains our top spot for fine dining in Hampshire, so be sure to try it for yourself if you’re in the area – https://themuttonathazeleyheath.co.uk
Having never flown Business Class before, this was my first experience and I was very impressed. Emirates are renowned for being one of the best airlines to fly Business with and I can see why, my overall experience was 10/10. Flying long-haul from Singapore to London, our journey had two legs so I had the pleasure of trying two different planes. It was clear upon boarding the second aircraft with its plush white leather seats that it was a newer one, but aside from the more aesthetic interior, everything was equally excellent on both planes. From the friendly and attentive staff providing 5* service and delicious food for all tastes, to the cosy private pods with fully reclinable chairs making a bed so we could sleep comfortably and land feeling rested and refreshed. Not forgetting the glamorous on board lounge bar serving an extensive option of classic cocktails and drinks.
I appreciate travelling Business is a luxury, but with my insurance company offering to pay this for me given my legs still healing from the dog bites, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to make the most of it. I have to admit that for a long haul journey which can be very uncomfortable in economy, this was a treat and something I would consider again if the cost to upgrade isn’t too pricey. Top tip, enquire for an upgrade at the desk upon checkin for your flight as sometimes special offers can make it far cheaper to purchase it on the day, as opposed to getting the Business Class ticket at full price in advance.
Checkout the full vlog to see me living my best life travelling Business on YouTube here.
On our journey back from Singapore earlier this month, I had the pleasure of travelling Business Class with Emirates and it was an impressive experience travelling in such superior style. Disclaimer, we don’t usually travel Business Class but given my injured legs, our insurance company paid to fly me home Business to ensure I could move my legs regularly to avoid any potential blood clot.
For the first part of the journey from Singapore to Dubai, my boyfriend joined me in Business Class to get a taste of the high life too. Upon boarding the plane and settling into our seats, welcome drinks were served and I couldn’t say no to a crisp glass of champagne.
We had our own private pods with extra large screens and a fully reclinable seat to make a bed, the dream for long haul flights.
With our flight departing at midnight, we’d already had dinner before going to the airport, so I opted for the cheeseboard alongside more champagne of course.
I chose to watch one of my favourite films A Star Is Born whilst enjoying my delightful little cheeseboard. Dining in Business is certainly more refined as they lay a tablecloth with a proper napkin and cutlery like at a sophisticated restaurant.
Once the lights were out in the cabin and the ceiling lights twinkling, we were given thick blankets and even a small mattress topper to make our beds even comfier. We were also given complimentary wash bags with lots of useful toiletries for freshening up including Bvlgari products.
After a good few hours of undisturbed sleep in our cosy pods, we arrived in Dubai for our stopover. For the second part of our journey flying from Dubai to London, the Business Class interiors were even more elevated with luscious white leather seats and stylish brown table tops.
The welcome drinks soon came around so with it being morning local time now, I had a health juice with a glass of bubbles… because when you’re flying across time zones, who really knows what time of the day it is!
Following take off, breakfast was served and I kept it light with two fresh fruit bowls and juice whilst watching another old classic movie The Devil Wears Prada.
Having slept for the majority of the first flight, I wanted to make the most of this one and visit the on board bar and lounge.
They had an extensive cocktail list but I had to go for a traditional Bloody Mary, the ultimate travel beverage. It’s very impressive that they have a full size bar on board serving so many different cocktails to such a high standard.
Whilst visiting the bar I made friends with two lovely ladies from Australia who were travelling on business to London. Conversation started with them asking what I had done to my legs, so we got chatting and before I knew it, we were sat in the lounge for a few hours having drinks and laughing like we’d known each other for years. I love spontaneous interactions like this ❤
Back at my seat I had another Bloody Mary accompanied with some green olives to nibble on.
Soon lunch was served and I chose a delicious pea soup with a mezze plate of stuffed vine leaves, a lamb kofta, salsa, hummus, more olives and a side salad. The food in Business Class is certainly more fresh than the ready meals in Economy and there is also a lot more to choose from on the menu.
I was in my element watching iconic scenes of The Devil Wears Prada as I savoured every mouthful of this perfect lunch spread.
On the whole my Emirates Business Class experience was a 10/10. I don’t have anything else to compare to in terms of Business Class on other airlines, but from my research Emirates is renowned for being one of the best in the world.
There’s no denying the hefty price tag on this experience, but I would say for a long haul journey when you can get it for £1k or less, it is worth it. We were lucky to get the first part of our journey at the reduced rate of about £900 each at the desk on the day, hence my boyfriend joined me in Business for that flight. However there were no special rates from Dubai to London, so that upgrade cost over £2.5k for me alone which the insurance are of course covering. My advice would be it’s worth going to the airline desk before checking in on the day to see if there are any special rates for upgrading.
From the refined wine list and large selection of cocktails made to order on board, to the delectable menu of fresh meals and snacks delivered with a five star standard of service, Emirates Business Class offers a premium level of luxury travel with wonderful comfort and privacy. Cheers to the next adventure ❤
Dani Aneka 