Review: The Mitre

With an idyllic location on the banks of the Thames, The Mitre is a popular spot for dinner, drinks and a weekend away. We arrived on a Thursday evening and the place was buzzing. Couples had popped in for a pint and a bite to eat in the bar, others were dressed up for special occasions and heading for dinner in the restaurant, and another group was getting ready to get the party started for a wedding in the orangery.

The boutique hotel is the first from The Signet Collection, a new hotel company launched by hotelier and restaurateur Hector Ross, and opened in 2020. Its ethos is to offer stylish and authentic stays in historic locations – The Mitre is definitely that. It is believed to date back to 1665 and was built at the direction of Charles II as a hostel for visitors to nearby Hampton Court Palace. And it has been beautifully updated while preserving its character.

There’s a casual bar, 36 individually designed bedrooms, and 1665, its destination restaurant. We checked in to the Thames View room, which was done out in a warm terracotta with panelled walls and a bath tub in the middle of the room. The overall effect is country house chic and very charming.

We headed to the Coppernose bar with its quirky tent effect ceiling for a quick G&T before dinner. There’s a great bar menu and we will be back to try the likes of wild boar sausages and The Mitre burger, which are all very decently priced.

Our table for the evening was in 1665, and it’s a lovely low-lit and atmospheric spot. Paul Mason, who has worked at Le Gavroche, Tom Aikens and was most recently group culinary director at The Grosvenor Collection, has recently joined as head chef.

The regularly updated menu includes a range of fish, seafood and grills, and dishes include the likes of crab and lobster tortellini and Hampton Court estate venison. We enjoyed a delicious steak with a perfect Bearnaise sauce, and a vast chicken Holstein topped with a fried egg. The desserts on offer here are quite something. One table shared a giant pavlova, theatrically flambeed at the table. Another table had a huge tart tatin. We went for a more modest rosemary pannacotta with cherries and honeycomb – it absolutely wowed us – the best dessert we’ve had in a long time.

The wedding party was still going strong when we retired for bed. But all was quiet by around midnight. And while you can hear the music from the room, it wasn’t particularly loud.

The bed was comfy and it was delightful in the morning to laze in the bathtub with views out over the river. You can also enjoy the views over breakfast in the Coppernose bar.

The Mitre makes the most of its idyllic riverside setting. Over the winter, there is the King’s Ginger Terrace, with cocktails and warm doughnuts by the crackling fire, in summer, you can grab a hamper for a riverside picnic or boat trip. There’s loads to do on the doorstep – we spent the morning ambling around Hampton Court Palace which is literally over the road. The hotel is family friendly and pet friendly, too.