great inns of britain
DESCRIPTION
The Great Inns of Britain is a collection of independent, historic, stylish Inns around the UK.TRANSCRIPT
2009www.greatinns.co.uk
Historic & Stylish
Warm & Welcoming
Fine Food & Wine
The Great Inns of Britain,The Estate Office, Ripley Castle,
Ripley, Nr Harrogate,North Yorkshire HG3 3AY
T (01423) 770152 • F (01423) 771745E [email protected]
W www.greatinns.co.uk
Great InnsBritain
The
of
Great InnsBritain
The
of
2 3
Welcome .......................................................................................... 2
Great Inns’ Locations ....................................................................... 3
Fine Food and Wine, Out and About ............................................... 4
Shopping, Staying In, Celebrating ................................................... 5
Meeting Up, Gift Vouchers, Share Your Thoughts .......................... 6
The Royal Hotel, Comrie, Perthshire ............................................... 7
The Pheasant, Bassenthwaite, Cumbria ......................................... 8
The Blue Lion, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire ................................. 9
The Yorke Arms, Ramsgill, North Yorkshire ................................... 10
The Boar’s Head, Ripley, North Yorkshire ..................................... 11
The Feversham Arms, North Yorkshire .......................................... 12
The Inn at Whitewell, Forest of Bowland ...................................... 14
The Millstone at Mellor, Lancashire .............................................. 15
The White Hart at Lydgate, Saddleworth ...................................... 16
Ye Olde Bull’s Head, Beaumaris, Anglesey ................................... 17
The Peacock, Rowsley, Derbyshire ............................................... 18
Barnsdale Lodge, Oakham, Rutland ............................................. 19
The Hundred House Hotel, Shifnal, Shropshire ............................ 20
The Hoste Arms, Burnham Market, Norfolk ................................. 21
The Old Bridge Hotel, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire .................... 22
Castle House, Hereford ................................................................. 23
The King’s Head, Bledington, Oxfordshire .................................... 24
The Pier Hotel, Harwich, Essex ..................................................... 25
milsoms, Dedham, Essex .............................................................. 26
The Bell Inn, Horndon on the Hill, Essex ...................................... 27
The Arundell Arms, Lifton, Devon ................................................. 28
Contents
Great Inns of Britain is a collection of independent, historic, stylish inns, all renowned for their warm welcome, attentive service and fine food and wine. Each Inn is totally individual, but all offer a perfect mix of cosy bars, contemporary restaurants and comfortable bedrooms.
At Great Inns we are obsessed with quality - from the freshest produce to the finest bed linen and the friendliest staff. Great Inns are exceptional places - which is why so many of our guests return again and again.
We hope you will enjoy browsing through our brochure andwe look forward to welcoming you to the Great Inns of Britain.
Sir Thomas Ingilby Paul Whittomeof The Boar’s Head, Co-founder and of The Hoste Arms, Co-founderChairman of Great Inns of Britain of Great Inns of Britain
Walking .................................. 9 Fishing ....................................I
Horse Racing ........................ $
Golf .........................................5
Water Sports ..........................f Country Pursuits ....................g
Retail Therapy .......................L
Historic Attractions ................9 Countryside Setting ..............G Wedding Receptions ............. õ
Civil Wedding Licence ...........™ Conference/Meetings ............·
Key to Activities
Choosing
The Royal Hotel, Perthshire .......................................9I5fg9
The Pheasant, Cumbria ................................................. 9IfgG
The Blue Lion, Wensleydale ...................................9I$5g9G
The Yorke Arms, Yorkshire ............................................. 9$g9G
The Boar’s Head, Yorkshire ......................... 9$5gL9Gõ™· The Feversham Arms, Yorkshire .................. 9I$gL9Gõ™·
The Inn at Whitewell, Forest of Bowland ........9IgL9Gõ™·
The Millstone at Mellor, Lancashire ...................9I5L9õ™·
The White Hart Inn at Lydgate, Saddleworth .........95LGõ™·
Ye Olde Bull’s Head, Anglesey ..............................9I5Lfg9
The Peacock, Derbyshire ........................................ 9Ig9õ™·
Barnsdale Lodge, Oakham, Rutland .........9I5fgL9Gõ™·
The Hundred House Hotel, Shropshire .............................9Gõ·
The Hoste Arms, Norfolk ................................9I$5fgL9·
The Old Bridge, Cambridgeshire .....................9I$5g9õ™·
Castle House, Hereford .............................. 9I$5fgL9õ·
The King’s Head, Oxfordshire ................................... 9$5L9G
The Pier Hotel, Essex ......................................9I5fL9õ™·
milsoms, Dedham, Essex ..................................9I$5L9G·
The Bell Inn, Essex .................................................................5L
The Arundell Arms, Devon .......................................9I9Gõ™·
Welcome
22
2120 19
18
1615
14
10
119
87
632
1
45
12
17
22
21
20
19
18
16
15
14
10
11
9
8
7
6
3
2
1
4
5
12
17
3
Walking .................................. 9 Fishing ....................................I
Horse Racing ........................ $
Golf .........................................5
Water Sports ..........................f Country Pursuits ....................g
Retail Therapy .......................L
Historic Attractions ................9 Countryside Setting ..............G Wedding Receptions ............. õ
Civil Wedding Licence ...........™ Conference/Meetings ............·
Key to Activities
Choosing
28
2726 25
24
2221
20
17
18161514
1298
7
1011
19
23
The Royal Hotel, Perthshire .......................................9I5fg9
The Pheasant, Cumbria ................................................. 9IfgG
The Blue Lion, Wensleydale ...................................9I$5g9G
The Yorke Arms, Yorkshire ............................................. 9$g9G
The Boar’s Head, Yorkshire ......................... 9$5gL9Gõ™· The Feversham Arms, Yorkshire .................. 9I$gL9Gõ™·
The Inn at Whitewell, Forest of Bowland ........9IgL9Gõ™·
The Millstone at Mellor, Lancashire ...................9I5L9õ™·
The White Hart Inn at Lydgate, Saddleworth .........95LGõ™·
Ye Olde Bull’s Head, Anglesey ..............................9I5Lfg9
The Peacock, Derbyshire ........................................ 9Ig9õ™·
Barnsdale Lodge, Oakham, Rutland .........9I5fgL9Gõ™·
The Hundred House Hotel, Shropshire .............................9Gõ·
The Hoste Arms, Norfolk ................................9I$5fgL9·
The Old Bridge, Cambridgeshire .....................9I$5g9õ™·
Castle House, Hereford .............................. 9I$5fgL9õ·
The King’s Head, Oxfordshire ................................... 9$5L9G
The Pier Hotel, Essex ......................................9I5fL9õ™·
milsoms, Dedham, Essex ..................................9I$5L9G·
The Bell Inn, Essex .................................................................5L
The Arundell Arms, Devon .......................................9I9Gõ™·28
27
26
25
24
22
21
20
17
18
16
15
14
12
9
8
7
10
11
19
23
Pg Inn Activities
4 5
Fine Food and Wine
The Great Inns restaurants are winners of numerous awardsand accolades.
Great Inns chefs create inspiring menus that encompass regional specialities, exotic delicacies and contemporary twists on traditional favourites. And these menus are constantly changing, as the Inns celebrate the seasons, innovative ingredients and new culinary concepts.
Great food deserves great wine - which is why many of theGreat Inns wine lists run to hundreds of bins. Even better, the Inns are committed to selling every bottle at a sensible price.
Food-lovers will delight in the Great Inns gourmet evenings, celebration dinners, speciality food events, cookery classesand wine.
Great Inns create inspiring menus that encompass regional specialities, exoticdelicacies and traditional favourites
Out and About
The Great Inns all have their own fair share of history and you’ll find stately homes, ancient abbeys and castles on the doorstep.
See the oldest map in the world, the Mappi Mundi, in Hereford Cathedral or get active with windsurfing in Rutland, England’s smallest county. Enjoy some of the country’s finest fishing, stalk the highland glens, shoot game on the Ripley and Haddon Estates and clay pigeons in the Yorkshire Dales.
Have a flutter at your favourite race course in Yorkshire or East Anglia.
Pull on your boots to explore the Cotswold countryside or the Forest of Bowland, lose yourself in the solitude of the Cumbrian hills, or reach for the dizzy heights of the Perthshire Highlands or Snowdonia.
Shopping
When the need to shop strikes, most of the Great Inns can offer therapy close by. So grab your bag, browse craft shops and galleries, dip into smart delis and gather up some gifts.
Inns such as The Hoste Arms in Burnham Market, The Boar’s Head in Ripley and the Feversham Arms in Helmsley are perfectly placed for leisurely browsing; these are havens for stylish, sophisticated retailers and specialist shops.
From the White Hart, head for the retail mecca of Manchester or the Trafford Centre; from The Bell Inn you can shop ‘til you dropat Bluewater and Lakeside shopping centres.
For lots more ideas and reasons to visit, see www.greatinns.co.uk
Staying In
At Great Inns, bedrooms usually have names not numbers, and each one is unique, from high beds to four-poster beds and fabulous furniture to fabulous views. One even contains a suitof armour!
Celebrating
From an intimate gathering to a lavish party, Great Inns can provide the perfect setting for your celebrations. And since many of the Inns also hold a Civil Wedding Licence, they’re also a suitably romantic setting for tying the knot.
6 7
First class hospitality in this splendidly refurbished hostelry near Gleneagles,Scone Palace and Loch Earn
Perthshire • Jerry & Teresa Milsom
The Hotel’s name refers to a celebrated visit by that most regal of figures, Queen Victoria. Her faithful servant and confidant, John Brown, accompanied her and signed the guest register. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands stayed here during the war, and Sarah Bernhardt, queen of the stage, was another popular visitor. Lloyd George stayed at the hotel while on his frequent fishing trips to the area.
The Milsoms were farming very happily in Hertfordshire until they decided to buy another farm near Appleby in Cumbria. The Tufton Arms was merely a convenient place to stay while the deal was being finalised. The farm purchase fell through: they returned to Hertfordshire having bought the hotel instead. Bitten by the bug, they decided to take on The Royal Hotel for good measure, and now Jerry and Teresa dispense first class hospitality in this splendidly refurbished hostelry near Gleneagles, Scone Palace and Loch Earn, and only an hour from Edinburgh and Glasgow. Jerry’s brother David, Head Chef, produces meals fit for a queen, or several queens for that matter, from the fabled kitchens.
The Royal Hotel, Melville Square, Comrie, Perthshire PH6 2DNT (01764) 679200 • F (01764) 679219E [email protected] 11 BedroomsW www.royalhotel.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
Th e Royal HotelMeeting Up
From team building, brainstorming and meetings to having the time and space to think, many of the Inns provide an ideal combination of a peaceful location, privacy, attentive staff andthe latest AV technology. Their fully equipped meeting roomsand boardrooms are complemented by discreet service,first-class catering and comfortable break-out spaces.
Gift Vouchers
Great Inns Gift Vouchers – which are valid for use against a stay at any of the Inns – make perfect presents for any occasion. Available for any amount above £100, the vouchers have no expiry date and come in a stylish presentation folder. The recipients will also receive complimentary fresh flowers in their room.
For further information, please call 01423 770152 orvisit www.greatinns.co.uk or email [email protected]
Great Inns gift vouchers make perfect presents or special treats
Share Your Th oughts
After your visit to Great Inns, do share your thoughts with us. Whether positive or not so positive, your feedback is welcome. And, if you know of an inn that may be suitable to join The Great Inns of Britain, then do tip us off. As a guide, they should have lots of character and between eight and forty five individually decorated bedrooms. Dining standards need to be high, but not too formal, service must be friendly and efficient, and the bar must welcome both guests and locals. Group-owned properties are rarely admitted.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sir Thomas Ingilby
Cumbria • Matthew & Barbara Wylie
Peacefully situated amongst some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Lakes, The Pheasant dates back some 500 years. The huntsman John Peel, celebrated in legend and song, enjoyed many a refreshing pint in the tap room here, rubbing shoulders with some of the many poets and artists drawn to the Lake District by the Muse, the views and the booze. The artist Edward Thompson, clearly a man who needed to wet the bristle on a regular basis, couldn’t pay his drinks bill. The Licensee reluctantly accepted two of his watercolours in exchange. You can see them in the bar, proof that works of art can occasionally support an aleing industry.
Matthew and Barbara Wylie spent many years working in the Scottish Highlands before following the footsteps of their marauding ancestors across the English border. Thankfully, it turned out that they were only escaping from the midges, and Matthew assures us that he is far more interested in serving customers than severing them: the kilt appears for Hogmanay and Burns Night. Under his guidance, The Pheasant is once more flying high.
Bassenthwaite Lake, Near Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9YE
T (01768) 776234 • F (01768) 776002 E [email protected] 15 Bedrooms W www.the-pheasant.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
The huntsman John Peel, celebrated in legend and song, enjoyed many a refreshing pint in the tap room here
The stone-flagged bar features the original wooden bench seats and a massive log fire
North Yorkshire • Paul & Helen Klein
The Blue Lion is an unusual beast for two reasons: it is a zoological impossibility, rarer than a blue moon, and it is also one of the few rural inns that hasn’t betrayed its rustic roots or been ruined by the introduction of harsh minimalist designs or effusive designer fabrics. The stone flagged bar features the original high-backed wooden bench seats and a massive log fire. Allow plenty of time to read the blackboard menus because the choices are many, varied and mouth-watering. Paul bustles around the bar and restaurant while Helen puts her economics degree to good use behind Reception.
The Blue Lion is the pride of East Witton: the front door overlooks the rectangular village green. A wooded hillside rises steeply to meet the moors above. The river Ure flows through the peaceful valley. This is a walker’s paradise and few pleasures beat touring Wensleydale and Swaledale. The towering stone walls of Richard III’s Middleham Castle dominate this end of the dale: pass through Middleham today and you are likely to be held up by strings of racehorses, returning from the gallops. Forget the safari: search out the Blue Lion and put your life on paws.
East Witton, Near Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 4SNT (01969) 624273 • F (01969) 624189 E [email protected] 15 BedroomsW www.thebluelion.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
Th e Pheasant Th e Blue Lion
8 9
10 11
Th e Yorke Arms Th e Boar’s Head
You could circumnavigate the world manytimes before you found a place as lovelyas the Yorke Arms
The Boar’s Head refers to the ferocious animal killed by a 14th century ancestor while it was attacking Edward III
Yorkshire • Bill & Frances Atkins North Yorkshire • Sir Thomas & Lady Ingilby
The Yorkes blazed a colourful trail through history. Sir Richard Yorke, long-time MP for York, was knighted by Henry VII. His grandson was knighted by Edward VI before being thrown into the Tower by Mary Tudor. Sir Edward Yorke repelled the Armada before circumnavigating the world with his cousin, Sir Martin Frobisher. Sir John, a staunch catholic, was implicated in the Guy Fawkes gunpowder plot. When the rebellious villagers were compelled to go to church he hired a piper to play in the churchyard, creating ‘such a noyse in time of praier as the minister colde not well be hearde.’
You could circumnavigate the world many times before you found a place as lovely as the Yorke Arms: the Dales countryside surrounding nearby Gouthwaite reservoir is magnificent. Thankfully the only pipes to be heard today are the ones skilfully operated by Bill, conveying several of Yorkshire’s finest ales to the bar. The only explosions are those experienced by your taste buds as you sample Frances Atkins’ wondrous fare, prepared from the choicest local ingredients. The Yorke Arms is the proud bearer of a coveted Michelin star: it’s also a truly great inn.
The Ingilbys have received visitors at Ripley Castle for 700 years. Some, like Oliver Cromwell, were highly unwelcome: the rebel general found himself held at pistol point by ‘Trooper Jane’ Ingilby in the castle library!
The Boar’s Head refers to the ferocious animal killed by a 14th
century ancestor while it was attacking Edward III: instead of becoming an overnight celebrity the boar ended up as the main course at that night’s banquet. Today, whenever guests are charged they are advised to use their credit cards.
Many of the Inn’s very comfortable bedrooms overlook the village’s cobbled market square and historic church, others the garden at the rear of the hotel.
The restaurant is featured in most of the best known food guides and the bar / bistro is a lovely place for an informal meal in cheerful surroundings.
Overnight guests get free tickets to visit the Castle and its beautiful walled gardens, deer park and grounds.
Ramsgill-in-Nidderdale, Pateley Bridge, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 5RL
T (01423) 755243 • F (01423) 755330 E [email protected] 12 Bedrooms W www.yorke-arms.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
Ripley, Near Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 3AYT (01423) 771888 • F (01423) 771509 E [email protected] 25 BedroomsW www.boarsheadripley.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
12 14
Th e Feversham Arms Th e Inn at WhitewellNorth Yorkshire • Simon Rhatigan Lancashire • Charles Bowman
It retains its period charm while catering for everyone feeling the need to escape the pressures of modern life
Guests can dine whilst enjoying the spectacular views across the river and forest
How can I put it? Simon Rhatigan describes himself as that rare creature: a Scotsman who doesn’t play golf. His links are nonetheless impeccable: five years as General Manager at the legendary Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, followed by three as Managing Director of two equally spectacular establishments, Seaham Hall and The Samling.
Having fallen in love with a lovely Yorkshire lass, Simon moved a fairway south to Helmsley, a beautiful market town on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, complete with a Castle, stately home and impressive walled garden. Yorkshire life suits him down to a tee and, when he isn’t running this gorgeous hotel, he enjoys walking in the nearby North York Moors National Park.
Full of period charm, the Feversham Arms caters for the needs of everyone feeling the need to escape the pressures of modern life. The fine Egyptian cotton sheets encourage guests to lie in, whilst their new Verbena Spa – which features an aromatherapy room, salt vapour room and Rasul Bath amongst other invigorating treats – ensures that every guest leaves feeling refreshed.
Looking at Charles today, it’s very hard to imagine that one of his 15th century ancestors, a highly-strung individual, was a Bowman at the battle of Agincourt. His bow was made from the wood of a local yew tree. The French bows weren’t nearly as good and they lost the battle - a simple case of yew and non-yew…
Charles worked for the Saatchis for fifteen years. He handled the British Dyslexia Association account for a short spell and ingeniously created the B&Q campaign with the aid of numerous diagrams and some instructions in Japanese. The highlight of his career was undoubtedly his campaign for Vision Express, where his jokes were even cornea.
Back at Whitewell, the chefs got a sinking feeling when the kitchen detached itself from the Inn and subsided into the river Hodder. Charles’ father Richard was overjoyed: he could now indulge in his two favourite pastimes, food tasting and fishing, simultaneously - and without removing his waders. The subsequent £1.5 million refurbishment programme created six fabulous new bedrooms and guests can now once again dine whilst enjoying the spectacular views across the river and forest.
Helmsley, North Yorkshire YO62 5AG
T (01439) 770766 • F (01439) 770346 E [email protected] 33 Bedrooms W www.fevershamarmshotel.com www.greatinns.co.uk
Forest of Bowland, Near Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 3ATT (01200) 448222 • F (01200) 448298 E [email protected] 23 BedroomsW www.innatwhitewell.com www.greatinns.co.uk
15 16
Th e Millst one at Mellor Th e White Hart at LydgateLancashire • Anson & Sarah Bolton Lancashire • Charles Brierley & John Rudden
A delightful inn in a peaceful hilltop village between Preston and Blackburn
Bringing award-winning cuisine and hospitality to this rugged corner of the Pennines
Charles Brierley has known the White Hart intimately since he was a child: he attended the adjacent Sunday School. Suspecting that there might be more to life than Leviticus, he ventured next door to satisfy his thirst for knowledge.
Sadly the Revelations were all too brief, because after one pint his lack of years was cruelly exposed, and he was thrown out. The pint was so memorable that, despite that close childhood shave, he bought the Inn. He and Chef John Rudden have restored it, and the faith of countless food-lovers, by bringing award-winning cuisine and hospitality to this rugged corner of the Pennines.
Fortunately, altitude doesn’t worry Charles, a keen skier who has worked in the Highlands, the Rockies and Bavaria. Photographsof China and Tibet in the bar remind customers that here is aman destined for the heights, altitudinally and professionally.
Absconding from Sunday School to the White Hart is still forbidden unless you happen to be the teacher, but it is a wonderful place for a Sabbatical!
Church Lane, Mellor Blackburn, Lancashire BB2 7JR
T (01254) 813333 • F (01254) 812628 E [email protected] 22 Bedrooms W www.millstonehotel.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
51 Stockport Road, Lydgate, Saddleworth OL4 4JJT (01457) 872566 • F (01457) 875190 E [email protected] 12 BedroomsW www.thewhitehart.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
Anson was the original Bolton Wanderer - until he fell in love with Sarah and returned to his roots in his native Lancashire. A career chef since school, he developed his culinary skills at some of London’s top hotels before running away to sea to become a chef on those great luxury cruise liners, the Canberra and the Sea Princess. The work was plain sailing for someone with Anson’s prow-ess. Rapidly promoted to Senior Chef de Partie aboard the Oriana, he found himself overseaing the sauce section – catering for six thousand meals a day. It sounds a lot but someone had to keep the sailors saucy…
Swapping one berth for another - his daughter Millie was born shortly afterwards - Anson waved goodbye to the sea and took over as Chef Patron at the Millstone, a delightful inn in a peaceful hilltop village between Preston and Blackburn. Anson’s inventiveness in the kitchen soon earned the Inn a strong local following and a second AA red rosette, and all of the bedrooms have recently been refurbished and upgraded.
He may have left the sea, but this Bolton will always be a Wanderer and he has a season ticket to prove it!
17 18
Ye Olde Bulls’ Head Th e PeacockAnglesey • Keith Rothwell & David Robertson Derbyshire • Lord Edward Manners, Ian & Jenni MacKenzie
Antique furnishings from Belvoir Castle once again sit happily alongside the Inn’s logfires and mullion windows
The luxuriously refurbished bedrooms combine the best of contemporary and traditional style
Being behind bars shouldn’t be a problem for a publican, but Keith Rothwell was so keen to escape from Alcatraz that he swam all the way to San Francisco! He’s also swum the English Channel and round Manhattan Island; when David comments that his partner is ‘away with the ferries’ he may not be joking! David and Keith met when they were management trainee and sous chef respectively at one of Cheshire’s top hotels. When the Seahorse at Y Felinheli came onto the market in 1976 they reined in their resources and rode their luck – and their business partnership is still going strong thirty years on.
‘The Bull’ has been a feature of Beaumaris since 1472: it was rebuilt in 1617 and Cromwellian General Mytton occupied it during the Civil War. At one time it was a Quaker meeting house - they clearly enjoyed the ‘oat cuisine.’ Later guests included Charles Dickens and Samuel Johnson. In 1987 David and Keith took the Bull by the horns and now you can sit by the open fire in the bar and admire the old ducking stool or enjoy first class fodder served in the former hayloft, ‘The Loft.’
‘Manners maketh man:’ and very successfully too, if I may say so, even if the finished article does need the occasional makeover. Having benefited from that experience, Manners made Peacock: yes, it’s a colourful tale.
Having been brought back into the family fold after a lapse of forty-five years, the fabulous bird has truly come home to roost. India Mahdavi has transformed the rooms, and antique furnishings from Belvoir Castle once again sit happily alongside the Inn’s log fires and mullion windows.
Managers Ian and Jenni Mackenzie ensure that there is no pique in the Peak District, and visits to nearby Chatsworth, Matlock and Haddon Hall come highly recommended.
There are no flies on Chef Dan Smith, but plenty on the nearby rivers Wye and Derwent, where the hotel owns ten miles of superb dry fly trout fishing.
While Lord Edward battles to keep the draught out of nearby Haddon Hall, his guests happily drink it, hand-pulled from the wooden barrels in the cellar below the Peacock.
Rowsley, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 2EBT (01629) 733518 • F (01629) 732671 E [email protected] 16 BedroomsW www.thepeacockatrowsley.com www.greatinns.co.uk
Castle Street, Beaumaris, Isle of Anglesey LL58 8AP
T (01248) 810329 • F (01248) 811294 E [email protected] 13 Bedrooms W www.bullsheadinn.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
19 20
Barnsdale Lodge Th e Hundred House HotelRutland • Hon Thomas Noel
The hotel was once a traditional stone farmstead, part of the Exton Park Estate, home of the Earls of Gainsborough since 1760
The Avenue, Rutland Water, Oakham, Rutland LE15 8AH
T (01572) 724678 • F (01572) 724961 E [email protected] 44 Bedrooms W www.barnsdalelodge.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
Shropshire • Stuart Phillips
The Hundred House was previously a rent collector’s house and courthouse, complete with ducking pond and stocks
Stuart Phillips is an outstanding chef and a very genial host: prior to his return to help his parents at the Hundred House he worked at several of London’s top restaurants. Do stroll through the Inn’s well-stocked herb garden: you can always tell the thyme but never, ever, ask a girl her sage.
In medieval times the English shires were divided into areas called Hundreds, each containing one hundred Hides. A Hide was a farm big enough to sustain a substantial Anglo-Saxon family - typically 120 acres. The Hundred House was previously a rent collector’s house and courthouse, complete with ducking pond and stocks. Some things don’t change. Cases are still heard - few sounds please the ear more than a case of fine wine en route from the cellar - and miscreants regularly swing, with great enthusiasm, on the handsome swings that adorn several of the Inn’s upstairs bedrooms.
Get into the swing of things and leave your trials and tribulations behind you at the Hundred House.
Bridgnorth Road (A442), Norton, Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 9EET (01952) 730353 • F (01952) 730355 E [email protected] 10 BedroomsW www.hundredhouse.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
Rutland is England’s smallest county: it boasts 16 square miles, and 3,100 acres of that is under Rutland Water, the large man-made lake close to the hotel. The hotel itself was once a traditional stone farmstead, part of the Exton Park Estate, home of the Earls of Gainsborough since 1760.
The recently refurbished and redecorated bedrooms surround the courtyard and many look out across the surrounding countryside. Head chef Richard Carruthers supplies a range of food to satisfy every palate: save space for the home-made bread and pastries. The large sheltered courtyard is a great place to relax and unwind but for those who insist on working, a number of meeting rooms are available. The delightful historic market towns of Stamford, Oakham and Uppingham are minutes away, but for those who prefer the countryside Rutland Water offers excellent walking, cycling, windsurfing, canoeing, bird watching and golf.
The proprietor, the Hon. Thomas Noel, loves flying vintage fixed-wing and rotary aircraft and says that he occasionally drops into the hotel: we hope that he doesn’t mean that literally.
21 22
Th e Host e Arms Th e Old BridgeBurnham Market, Norfolk • Paul & Jeanne Whittome Cambridgeshire • John Hoskins & Nina Beamond
As soon as Paul saw The Hoste Arms,it was love at first sight
Paul Whittome and The Hoste Arms are perfectly matched: neither started life with any intention of being part of the licensed trade. The building had previously been employed as a court house, livestock market, art gallery and brothel before finding a use that was much more ‘inn keeping’. Paul had ploughed a fruitful furrow as a potato merchant. As soon as he saw The Hoste Arms, it was love at first sight: cashing in his chips, he bought it.
Paul’s only previous experience of working in licensed premises had been as a bouncer in a Chinese shanty pub in Western Australia, so having to welcome customers was an entirely new experience. He toured Britain’s best inns to find out why they were doing so well and was energised by what he saw.
Paul and his fellow directors Emma Tagg and Andrew McPherson are the hands-on hosts at the Hoste.
Picturesque Burnham Market is the jewel in the crown of North Norfolk, and the Hoste Arms is the gem that makes it sparkle so brightly.
The Green, Burnham Market, Norfolk PE31 8HD
T (01328) 738777 • F (01328) 730103 E [email protected] 36 Bedrooms W www.hostearms.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
1 High Street, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 3TQT (01480) 424300 • F (01480) 411017 • Bookings (01480) 451591 E [email protected] 24 BedroomsW www.huntsbridge.com www.greatinns.co.uk
The bedrooms are extraordinary - choosebetween traditional four-poster luxuryand Scandinavian minimalism
John Hoskins is a hard working fellow who takes the success of his Old Bridge Hotel very seriously indeed. Oliver Cromwell came from Huntingdon and he was the most serious of the Puritans; maybe it’s something about Huntingdon, who knows? If John’s beginning to sound a bit boring, then it’s just as well he stays in the background so the lovely Nina Beamond can get on with giving everyone a good time. Nina spends most of her week chatting up the guests while John sorts out the business details and John’s wife Julia creates the interior designs.
The bedrooms are extraordinary - choose between traditional four-poster luxury and Scandivanian minimalism, all with fancy music systems and rocket-fuelled showers. The fabulous Old Bridge Hotel, Huntingdon is on the Great North Road, on the way to everywhere, as long as it’s Scotland! Wine and food are the watchwords here. John took his wine exams and became one of only two hundred Masters of Wine in the world - and the first one in the restaurant business. His favourite regions are Burgundy, Italy and California.
23 24
Cast le House Th e King’s HeadHereford • David Watkins
Every Englishman’s home shouldbe like the Castle House Hotel
Castle Street, Hereford HR1 2NW
T (01432) 356321 • F (01432) 365909 E [email protected] 15 Bedrooms W www.castlehse.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
Oxfordshire • Archie & Nicola Orr-Ewing
Low ceilings, oak beams, flagstone floors, even a large inglenook fireplace with kettle: this is Olde England to perfection
Archie Orr-Ewing saw five years’ service with the Blues and Royals: where he led, princes follow. As a member of the regimental ski team his career went rapidly downhill when he spent most of his time on the piste… the perfect qualification for an innkeeper. Nicola was a hat maker. When millinery met military Archie, being an officer and a gentleman, doffed his Albert helmet. The red plume tickled Nicola’s fancy and she now adorns the King’s Head - the crowning achievement of any milliner’s career! You have to take your hat off to them both. They have run this picturesque 16th century former cider house overlooking Bledington’s village green for seven years.
Low ceilings, oak beams, flagstone floors, even a large inglenook fireplace with kettle: this is Olde England to perfection - right in the heart of the Cotswolds, with Stow on the Wold on the doorstep. The Aberdeen Angus beef served at the King’s Head Inn comes from the family farm in the next-door village; vegetables from the nearby Daylesford Estate. Whether you are escaping from the blues or the royals, tarry not: head straight to the King’s Head Inn and enjoy the Orr-Ewing’s superb hospitality.
The Green, Bledington, Oxfordshire OX7 6XQT (01608) 658365 • F (01608) 658902 E [email protected] 12 BedroomsW www.kingsheadinn.net www.greatinns.co.uk
The owner of the Castle House Hotel, David Watkins, has a beef – in fact a whole herd of beef – just down the road at Ballingham Hall. When it’s not grazing the lush verdant Herefordshire pastures it can be found on the plate, frequently accompanied by David’s home grown potatoes, vegetables and salads.
When he bought the hotel he was clearly playing for high steaks, but lettuce pray that he can continue to indulge our jaded palates with these wonderful ‘straight from the farm to the table’ ingredients.
Hereford Castle, a royalist stronghold ‘nearly as large as that of Windsor’ and ‘one of the fairest and strongest in all England’, is long gone but its moat, ‘the castle pool’, survives and provides a magnificent waterside setting for the hotel’s beautiful terraced garden. The hotel, formerly two Georgian houses, is located in a quiet street very close to the heart of this historic town. The 15 bedrooms and large suites are well-appointed, bright, light and airy, and several enjoy views over the garden. Every Englishman’s home should be like the Castle House Hotel.
25 26
Th e Pier Hotel milsomsEssex • Paul & Geraldine Milsom Essex • Paul & Geraldine Milsom
From here, gaze across the estuaries of the rivers and watch as the ferries, ships and boats navigate these busy inshore waters
Paul Milsom, a fanatical surfer, waived the rules by creating truly spectacular board and lodgings at The Pier at Harwich. Geraldine was the attractive young interior designer who supplied all of the inspirational designs. Having transformed the property she decided to take on an even greater challenge: the owner.
We are happy to report that the designs that she harboured for Paul were no less successful. Together they have found the Quay to success in this stylish, contemporary establishment with its champagne bar, two restaurants and extremely comfortable bedrooms with crisp linen and fluffy towels.
If it all sounds too good to be true, there is a catch - fresh from the trawler’s nets, cooked to perfection and served in The Pier’s first-floor Harbourside restaurant. From here, gaze across the estuaries of the rivers Stour and Orwell and watch as the ferries, ships and boats navigate these busy inshore waters.
So, when the wind has left your sails or you need a port to escape the storm, head for Harwich and book your berth at The Pier.
The Quay, Harwich, Essex CO12 3HH
T (01255) 241212 • F (01255) 551922 E [email protected] 14 Bedrooms W www.milsom-hotels.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
Stratford Road, Dedham, Colchester, Essex CO7 6HWT (01206) 322795 • F (01206) 323689 E [email protected] 14 BedroomsW www.milsom-hotels.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk
The bedrooms are comfortable and contemporary; guests dine al fresco on the shady terrace
Stas Anastasiades is Essex born and bred of Cypriot parentage. He recently found himself at a crossroads in his career. Should he do a stint of national service in Cyprus or help the Milsoms set up their new enterprise in Dedham? Before you could say ‘Stas Anastasiades’ he had donned his tin helmet and joined the front line in Dedham. His rank? Director. ‘National service would have been much quieter!’ he chuckles, observing as a group of ebullient, fashionably attired young ladies gather for lunch in the ever-busy restaurant.
Paul Milsom has happy memories of this grand house, which his grandparents had originally purchased in 1959. After the family parted with it, it became a residential training centre for an insurance company. When, a few years later, the insurers ran for cover the Milsoms siezed it back. Paul’s wife, Geraldine, set to work, skilfully creating a very stylish hotel: the bedrooms are comfortable and contemporary; the restaurant opens out into the gardens; guests dine al fresco on the shady terrace. And, if you can judge the quality of an inn by the quality of the cars in the car park, milsoms is already up there with the best.
27 28
Th e Bell Inn Th e Arundell ArmsCumbria • Matthew & Barbara Wylie Devon • Anne Voss-Bark MBE
In the middle ages pilgrims and wool merchants would stay here until low water when they could cross the river
This is a convenient base for those seeking to explore Dartmoor or the North Devon coast
It is a relief to be told by John Vereker that the 500-year old Bell is held up by the original beams. It wouldn’t feel half as comfortable if the beds were prevented from falling into his excellent restaurant only by wallpaper. John ran away from the sea in 1970 and sensibly married the landlord’s daughter, Christine. He still hankers after the sea but if he argues with his wife The Bell has, as he puts it, 16 bedrooms and he’s still only got the one wife.
The Bell is also at the local high point, from where he can see the Thames. In the middle ages pilgrims and wool merchants would stay here until low water when they could cross the river at Higham’s Causeway.
The low point in the Bell’s history was the burning of the Lord of the Manor, though nowadays anything flambé is likely to come from the head chef.
‘You spend your life in that place,’ Christine occasionally chides her husband - which seems an adequate recommendation by any standard.
You have to admire the resourcefulness of the West Country folk. Despite losing the gardens at Heligan, they managed to find someone foolhardy enough to entrust them with the amazing Eden Project. Surely even they couldn’t lose that! Visitors tempted to find out should stay at the nearby Arundell Arms, an old coaching inn on a site that dates back to Saxon times. This is a convenient base for those seeking to explore Dartmoor or the North Devon coast, and menhir a guest has spent an enjoyable day at the stone circles at Gidleigh and Challercombe.
Anne Voss-Bark has owned the hotel since 1961, running it for many years with her late husband, BBC and Times correspondent Conrad Voss-Bark. This is clearly a place that nobody, guests or staff, wishes to leave.
Fishing is a major lure, and those fly enough will drop Mrs VB a line enquiring about the twenty miles of ‘the best fishing in England’ that comes with the hotel: having written the classic guide ‘West Country Fly Fishing,’ she is guaranteed to rise tothe bait.
Lifton, Devon PL16 0AAT (01566) 784666 • F (01566) 784494 E [email protected] 21 BedroomsW www.arundellarms.com www.greatinns.co.uk
High Road, Horndon on the Hill, Essex SS17 8LD
T (01375) 642463 • F (01375) 361611 E [email protected] 16 Bedrooms W www.bell-inn.co.uk www.greatinns.co.uk