De Vere

The De Vere Belfry holds very fond memories for me, as a much younger man I was fortunate to be there, behind the scenes, in 1989 when Great Britain and Europe triumphed over the United States in the Ryder Cup on the Brabazon course. Exchanging pleasantries with such household names as golfer Payne Stewart, singer Chris de Burgh and various other members of the two teams and their supporters are memories that can never be replaced. The entire experience of the visit, the size and magnificence of the hotel, the layout of the course, the facilities, all combined to create a feeling of wonder, and awe.

Imagine life fourteen years on as I drove in to the hotel, to savour the delights of the same Belfry, as I arrived for a weekend stay with the opportunity to play on the same course that has seen the trials and tribulations of four Ryder Cups over the years, with the memories of some of the greatest names in the game having participated on the greatest golfing stage in the world. With the confidence that comes from a handicap of eighteen I was ready to take on the world, although my particular opposition took the form of my son in law, Jamie, no less of a challenge than the might of the Americans!

Boasting two courses in addition to the Brabazon, with The PGA National and The Derby, each offering challenges to golfers of all standards, the Belfry offers 324 bedrooms, with a selection of suites, golf view bedrooms and Belfry bedrooms, each fitted to a high standard. My twin suite in the Torrance section, named after the most recent captain of the successful Ryder Cup team, Sam Torrance. With a lounge in addition to a bedroom, each complete with televisions, comfortable furniture and the opportunity to relax completely away from the stresses and strains of the course. As I entered my room the first thing I encountered was an ornate wooden stand especially for my golf bag. The De Vere group, of which The Belfry is a flagship member, may not think of everything, but they certainly get remarkable close to perfection when it comes to customer care.

Dining at the De Vere Belfry holds the same high level of attraction as the courses do for golfers, with my two day visit allowing me to enjoy the pleasures of The Atrium restaurant on my first night and the award winning French Restaurant on the second evening, after my round of golf.

The Atrium is a relaxed, attractive and highly commendable restaurant with buffet service. A two tier restaurant, it is the best of both worlds for those not seeking a formal meal Starters, main courses including a carvery which I tested are within a short stride with the temptation of other dishes at every turn. I enjoyed the delights of a selection of freshly prepared salad, with juicy prawns and some fresh brown rolls to start. A wine list was available and used, with surprisingly low prices for a hotel with such a high reputation. Each of the sizeable serving dishes remained clean, fresh and appealing, constantly monitored by attentive staff. Any buffet can rapidly lose its appeal if it remains unattended when used by young and old alike. Leaving almost two hours after entering the dishes for later diners held the same freshness and appeal as they did for me. Top marks to the staff!

My visit to the carvery allowed me to select a steak, complete with wine sauce although I was tempted by the standard carvery of turkey, beef or pork, complete with a selection of accompanying vegetables. All the dishes, as with the salads, remained in pristine condition, despite the continual use, adding to the attraction. My minor criticism here was that the steaks, remaining freshly cooked and attractively available for selection, were on this occasion cooked rare. Whilst that suited me, with a thin line of pink/red colour in the centre as it was sliced with ease, it did, however, cause one or two others to realign their thoughts on their main course, revisiting to select carved beef. I would suggest that those selecting steak may be given the opportunity to have them cooked a fraction more, thus enjoying them and proving less costly to the restaurant.

I enjoyed my evening in this restaurant next to a family of six, husband, wife, girls of seven and five, baby and grandmother. They were great fun to be with and perfect company where different generations were able to select differing styles, quantities and numbers of visits to suit individual needs. The couple had first met at the Belfry years before, married, had their children and had returned for a short stay to celebrate. That celebration included full use of the facilities together with a visit to the Jewellery quarter in nearby Birmingham to select a more tangible means of celebration! Success had not only brought the delights of three children to this couple since they first met, but also, the day after I met them in The Atrium, a sizeable example of a gem in the form of a ring from the jewellery quarter which caused me to have to don my sunglasses!

The French Restaurant within the De Vere Belfry complex offers an entirely different approach to dining. This award winning restaurant offers grand surroundings for diners keen to sample the very best cuisine on offer, with a more formal approach without losing the personal touch including, I

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