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Press Releases
Combe House Wins Gold
Devon Hotel of the Year Award
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Combe House Devon, near Exeter has won the 2010 Devon Hotel of the Year category at the Devon Tourism Awards, which were presented on Thursday, 30th September at a glittering ceremony at the Thurlestone Hotel, South Devon.
As the gold winner, Combe House has been automatically fast-tracked into the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in November, and then possibly on to the national Enjoy England awards in spring 2011.
The seven award categories celebrate the cream of Devon's tourism industry and are designed to raise the profile of the county's high performing tourism providers. Sponsored by Clockwork Marketing & Direct Mail, the Hotel of the Year category is for town, country house and metro hotels of excellent quality.
Combe House Devon is a wildly romantic Grade I Elizabethan manor hidden on a 3,500 acre wooded estate in the thatched village of Gittisham. The stunning country hotel and restaurant has been run privately by Ruth and Ken Hunt for the past twelve years. During this time, the Hunts and their team have transformed the house and its gardens into a truly memorable place to stay.
Thrilled with the award proprietor Ken Hunt said: “This unexpected honour for our small, country house hotel reflects back on our wonderful, welcoming, happy and hard working team. We are fortunate to be in a stunning location with a wealth of the West Country's quality food producers on our doorstep”, concludes Ken.
Combe's two resident Master Chefs of Great Britain, Hadleigh Barrett and Stuart Brown, are ardent about sourcing the freshest and best quality local ingredients. Around 70% of the fruit and vegetables in season is also provided by Combe's own kitchen gardens - the chefs talk food metres, not miles.
Devon Celebration of Food launched at Combe House
As a sponsor of the 2010 Devon Celebration of Food, Combe is also the launch venue for the event on Friday, 1st October; this was followed by a private view of renowned artist Richard Adams' latest works, which was the first festival event. Throughout October, the hotel will be hosting a variety of lunches and events including a special seasonal menu. The UK's biggest food festival, Celebration of Food, which is run by Salt Media, will see over 200 events take place across the South West with 85 in Devon.
Ken Hunt added; “It's an honour to be involved with the Devon Celebration of Food and meet with likeminded people from food and tourism industries across the county with whom we share a deep passion for food excellence.”
Combe has grown organically through a series of sustainable projects including the restoration of the derelict Victorian kitchen gardens, Thatch Cottage, Georgian kitchen and laundry and ironing rooms into the hotel's signature Linen Suite. As a result Combe has also gained several 'eco awards' including the 'national 2010 Most Excellent Innovation in Sustainable Hospitality' from Condé Nast Johansen.
Accommodation in the main house is in fifteen luxurious en-suite bedrooms and suites, while tucked away in the woods at the entrance to the mile-long drive is the Thatch Cottage - a romantic hideaway for two with its own private walled garden.
Prices start from £179 B&B per double/twin room per night. For details call Combe House Devon on 01404 540 400 or visit www.combehousedevon.com.
For more information on the Celebration of Food and full listings of events in Devon and beyond, visit the Celebration of Food website at www.celebrationoffood.co.uk.
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For press enquiries, images and a possible facility visit please contact:
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Tel: 01494 764932 |
| Brambling House, 7 Finch Lane |
Mob: 07836 786043 |
| Little Chalfont, Bucks HP7 9NE |
Email: PatEdgar@PR-Matters.co.uk |
Celebration of Food:
Nick Cooper, Salt Media, Tel: 07791 311 613 Email: nick@saltmedia.co.uk
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Combe House Devon wins Johansens
National 2010 Award
for Most Excellent Innovation
in Sustainable Hospitality
Combe House Devon, near Exeter has won the coveted Condé Nast Johansens UK and Ireland 2010 ‘Most Excellent Innovation in Sustainable Hospitality’ award for the hotel’s focus on sustainable projects over the past ten years.
The awards are based on responses from guest nomination forms and survey reports, plus the judgement of Johansens’ regional inspectors who visit the hotels featured in their most recent guides. They were presented at a glittering dinner (9 November 2009) at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower in Knightsbridge, London.
In making their assessment Johansens’ judges described the Grade I Elizabethan Manor as being in a beautiful, natural setting with great food and being ‘green’. “Over the past two years the owners, in addition to creating a bat habitat, have restored the extensive Victorian kitchen gardens, greenhouses and potting sheds to the highest standards,” commented the judges. “This home grown produce ensures that their two Master Chefs of Great Britain talk in food metres rather than food kilometres.”
Hidden in a secluded valley surrounded by a 3,500 acre wooded estate, Combe was acquired and refurbished by Ruth and Ken Hunt some ten years ago. The Johansens commendation follows the hotel’s recent Green Tourism Business Scheme silver award.
Highlights of other ‘green’ projects recently undertaken at Combe House include the creation of the Thatched Bath House alongside the House for Thinking, a thatched folly in the woodland gardens, and re-introducing Tom Putt’s cider (circa 1757) using apples from the hotel’s ancient orchards. Work is also continuing with the restoration of the Victorian Potting Sheds, Georgian Orangery and another large Victorian walled kitchen garden; around fifty free range chickens are to be introduced into the apple orchards.
Delighted with their award, Ken Hunt said, “Restoring Combe House and its grounds has been a labour of love shared with our team, local artisans and, of course, Charlie the gardener. Their enthusiasm to restore it to its rightful place for all to appreciate has given Combe a very strong foundation from which to grow naturally.”
For press enquiries, photographs and a possible facility visit please contact:
Pat Edgar, PR Matters |
Tel: 01494 764932 |
| Brambling House, 7 Finch Lane |
Mob: 07836 786043 |
| Little Chalfont, Bucks HP7 9NE |
Email: PatEdgar@PR-Matters.co.uk |
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Combe House Devon Wins Joint
Silver
Small Hotel of the Year Award
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Combe House Devon has won a joint silver award in the Small Hotel of the Year 2010 - 2011 category at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards which were presented on Monday, 15th November 2010.
Known as the 'Tourism Oscars', they celebrate the finest in the West Country and aim to promote and reward the very best in the tourism industry. Combe is sharing the second place with the Star Castle Hotel, St Marys, Isles of Scilly.
The winners went through an exhaustive selection and judging process including mystery visits. Entrants needed to demonstrate exemplary facilities and exceptionally high qualities of customer care reflecting the demands of today's traveller. In addition, they had to show a commitment to sustainability, recycling and the environment and be accessible to all.
The awards are run by South West Tourism in association with South West Water and Blue Chip Holidays and were presented by national business journalist and broadcaster Declan Curry at the Riviera International Conference Centre Torquay, Devon.
Thrilled with the award Combe House proprietor Ken Hunt said: “We are truly honoured. We all work hard, we're constantly learning to be ethical, responsible and quality driven, but it's our relationships with our guests and public that are our true focus. Perhaps this has something to do with having fun too? Well done team!” |
Combe House Devon is a wildly romantic Grade I Elizabethan manor hidden on a lush 3,500 acre wooded estate at Gittisham where Arabian horses and pheasants roam freely. The stunning country hotel and restaurant has been run privately by Ruth and Ken Hunt for the past twelve years. During this time, the Hunts and their team have transformed the house and its gardens into a truly memorable place to stay.
Accommodation in the main house is in fifteen luxurious en-suite bedrooms and suites, some with beautiful country views; a special treat is the Linen Suite which occupies part of the original Victorian laundry. Tucked away at the entrance to the drive is the beautifully restored Combe Thatch Cottage - a romantic hideaway for two. Dogs are welcome, especially in the cottage, which has its own secure walled garden.
Prices start from £179 B&B per double room per night and a three-course dinner with canapés is £48. For details or a brochure call Combe House on 01404 540 400 or visit www.combehousedevon.com
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COMBE HOUSE CHARM
A Romantic Devon Country Retreat where Guests Relax in Intimate Comfort |
Combe House at Gittisham, Devon - the Good Hotel Guide UK Country Hotel of the Year 2007 - is the perfect country retreat for a romantic getaway. This wonderful Grade I Elizabethan Manor is hidden in a glorious wooded Devon country estate, near Exeter , where Arabian horses and pheasants roam freely.
It offers tranquillity, country house charm with personal touches and highly acclaimed cuisine. Yet for all its elegance and romantic style, this splendid historic house has a relaxed, friendly and uniquely informal atmosphere where guests relax in intimate comfort.
"This is a country house where guests can enjoy complete peace and tranquillity", say owners Ruth and Ken Hunt. "We have encouraged our team to treat everyone as treasured house guests and our greatest reward is when they don't want to leave".
Guests step through the heavy oak door into the wood panelled Great Hall and instantly feel like they've entered a private home. There are deep, cosy sofas around a huge roaring log fire, treasured antiques, ancestral portraits on the walls, fresh flower arrangements and magazines on tables. From here a comfy lounge with rich furnishings leads to a snug bar - the perfect place to enjoy an aperitif and canapés before dining.
Exclusive and Romantic Dining Experience
The restaurant encompasses two candlelit dining rooms. The Green Room has beautiful hand-painted murals on the walls and exquisite chandeliers while the second has French doors opening onto the gardens with superb views of the estate and beautiful Devon countryside.
Combe won the Taste of the West prestigious 'Devon Restaurant of the Year' award 2006 for its contemporary-British cuisine created by its two resident Master Chefs of Great Britain, Hadleigh Barrett and Stuart Brown. They are ardent about sourcing the freshest and best quality local ingredients for their menus; fish is bought every morning (except Sunday) from Brixham and hand-reared chicken from Morestone Barton Farm, Cullompton while the Ruby Red Beef is from the Combe Estate. Vegetables are from Bakers Farm, near Ilminster, run by Devon man John Rowswell, and all preserves are made on the premises using fresh seasonal fruit.
For that extra memorable lunch or dinner, guests can also dine in the hotel's unique Georgian kitchen - this magnificent room has been beautifully restored in conjunction with English Heritage to recreate an authentic dining experience. The original cast iron range and wood fired cloam bread oven have been returned to full working order while the room is equipped with Georgian cooking paraphernalia including gleaming copper saucepans, stone jars, bottles, fine porcelain dishes and various antique utensils. As part of the overall experience dining is by candle and lamplight - there's no electricity here.
The extensive cellar has some two hundred vintages sourced from across the world's major wine producing regions but with particular emphasis on France and Australia where owners Ruth and Ken spent sixteen years, mostly as hoteliers, before returning to the UK. |
Suites and a Cottage
Accommodation in the main hotel is in fifteen luxurious en-suite bedrooms and suites, some with four-posters; a special treat is the new Linen Suite which occupies part of the original Victorian laundry. Individually styled to reflect the charm of an old English manor with fine antiques and handcrafted quilts, many have stunning views down the valley and across the beautiful Devon countryside to Dartmoor beyond.
Combe is approached by a mile long private drive from the picture postcard village of Gittisham. Tucked away in the woods at the entrance is the newly restored Combe Thatch Cottage - a romantic hideaway for two with its own private walled garden. The original cottage features have been enhanced and embellished with comfortable contemporary furnishings in shades of natural linen and limestone, all complimented by carefully placed fine antique pieces and fresh flowers.
Picture Postcard Setting
The hotel is located in one of Devon's finest and totally unspoilt locations surrounded by old beech woods, gardens and meadows. Guests can wander down the drive to Gittisham village which dates back to Saxon times. It was once described by HRH Prince Charles as "The Ideal English Village" with its pretty cob and thatch cottages, Norman church, village green and babbling stream.
Visitors can also browse the many antique shops and art galleries in the nearby town of Honiton, also known for its lace; drive into Exeter and explore the magnificent Roman city and its cathedral or visit the attractive coastal resort of Sidmouth, just 20 minutes drive from the hotel. From here a scenic route leads through the pretty fishing villages of Branscombe and Beer to the World Heritage Coastline between Lyme Regis and Charmouth, which is also a haven for fossil hunters. Powderham Castle, Bicton Park Botanical Gardens and Forde Abbey are also nearby while the world-renowned Eden Project is an easy day trip.
Combe House is around three hours drive from London and 20 minutes from Exeter, yet the atmosphere and surroundings are worlds' apart. The nearest train station is two miles away at Honiton offering links to London Waterloo (for transfers to Europe via Eurostar) while Exeter Airport is a mere 10 minutes drive. Many guests take advantage of Combe's chauffeur driven collection car service (optional extra) from London or one of the city's airports with a self-drive hire car awaiting their arrival at Combe. There is also a helipad within the grounds.
Combe can be reserved exclusively for house parties and gatherings as well as for weddings for 2 - 100 guests (150 with a marquee on the croquet lawn) and it's licensed for civil ceremonies in three elegant rooms and the Great Hall. |
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somewhere different, somewhere special |
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