Prosecco Breakfast at Hilton, Milton Keynes [gifted]

Last month, we went to the Hilton in Milton Keynes for a prosecco breakfast. Now I love going out for breakfast and I love prosecco so it’s needless to say I was pretty excited – and bonus, Alfie could come too. I’ve eaten at and stayed at many Hilton hotels, both in England and abroad and I have to admit, as we parked the car and approached the entrance, it certainly didn’t look like a Hilton. It just didn’t look modern, or ooze luxury.

Once inside, while clean, the decor was dated. We made our way to the reception desk and asked where we needed to be. On arrival at the Horizons Restaurant, we were told to wait in the lounge and I couldn’t help but notice that the furnishings were well-worn. Comfortable, but needing a reupholster. Thankfully, the restaurant was nicer than the lounge – a good size and the lighting was perfect.

As we took our seats, the waitress offered us tea or coffee. At this point, I hadn’t clocked the large tea caddy filled with various Twinings infusions, so opted for coffee. I’m not a fan of filter coffee and always find it too strong, so I was glad that when the waitress returned, she mentioned speciality coffees and after leaving that first one to go cold, I ordered a cappuccino. It was loads better. We were also given the option of having our prosecco on arrival or later and I opted for later, because not only would it not go with the coffee, I didn’t fancy having it on an empty stomach at 10:30am.

As expected, the breakfast was a buffet and we were able to help ourselves as many times as we’d like. There was plenty of choice, too: cereals and porridge; cheeses and meats; fresh fruits; yogurts; a bread basket and pastry station; plus all the elements of a full English. In terms of items cooked-to-order, the options were poached eggs or omelettes. I didn’t order any food. But I was disappointed that the ordered items were lacking, especially afterwards when I discovered the menu and saw that pancakes and French toast should have been on offer. I would have probably ordered both – and had no regrets about doing so! I mean most places now offer pancakes or waffles, so I was miffed for all of five minutes and then raided the buffet!

First up, I tried the porridge, which I topped with berry compote and a drizzle of honey. I never have time in the mornings to make porridge, so it certainly made a change, but it’s also a breakfast I love, given how filling it is. The berries were quite tart, so the honey cut through them nicely and the porridge was a reasonable consistency. I shared it with Alfie and even he said “mmm” a few times, before demolishing a banana.

Round two was pastries and I piled my plate with one of each: a croissant and two Danishes. I got the plain croissant for Alfie along with some JimJam spread. With 83% less sugar, it’s a great alternative to Nutella and if I see it in shops, I’d be inclined to buy it, as it tasted the same. Danish pastries are my weakness and I wish I’d picked up a couple more. These were freshly baked, so obviously I burnt my mouth on the jam eating the first one. The jam was a bit gelatinous too. The custard crown was much nicer and I ate that trouble-free.

For my third course, I went to see what the cooked options had to offer. For me, a full English is a treat breakfast, but one you usually get on holiday at a hotel. So many places get it wrong or execute the elements badly, so it ends up being a disappointment. I was pleasantly surprised this time. Aside from it being cold by the time I finished, it was enjoyable. The egg was cooked properly and the white wasn’t gooey; the bacon was almost crispy; and even the sausage tasted like pork! For me, the only let down were the tomatoes which weren’t cooked enough for my liking. But there were two kinds of eggs to choose from (scrambled or fried) and even black pudding! I didn’t bother with bread or toast, but by the end, I’d hit a wall. Alfie had some mushrooms and a hash brown, before eating a yogurt – that boy can eat!

I believe the experience for two, including the single flute of prosecco was £40. I say was, because since our visit, I’ve found that the hotel is no longer under the Hilton brand – but am unsure at current who it’s with, or where it stands. For the food on offer and just the one glass of prosecco (I was expecting at least a half-bottle for the table), I don’t think the price justifies the experience. On that basis, I don’t think I would return, although it’ll be interesting to see if the new ownership re-furb the hotel to give it a new lease of life and much-needed modernisation!

If you’re looking to stay at a Hilton, there’s the Double Tree at the football stadium; or if you’re looking for somewhere for breakfast/brunch, there are plenty of places in MK. I recommend The Greedy Italian in Fenny Stratford. 

Love, Lucy xx

*The Prosecco Breakfast experience at Hilton, Milton Keynes was gifted to us. But all images and thoughts are my own and applicable at the time of writing.