The rooms start from just £110 but for guests looking for a more luxurious stay, it’s worth booking a Feature Room or a Speciality Suite, the latter of which I was fortunate enough to reside in. Set across two floors and replete with a hot tub, the suites are more modern in style than the other rooms but offer a character all of their own.
Making the most of this fact, the hot tub was a welcome sight for a pre-dinner dip following a day eating local crab sandwiches and Salcombe Dairy ice cream whilst wandering around the sights of Dartmouth and lazing on Blackpool Sands’ beach in the decidedly Mediterranean weather.
The dining experience
The stunning location and decor of Orestone Manor are quite inspiring. Fortunately, it’s complemented by the food too. Taking advantage of its ideal location, Orestone Manor utilises the finest ingredients on its menu to provide guests with a locally-inspired culinary experience.
Depending on the time of your stay, you are likely to encounter dishes comprised of everything from Exmoor lamb and local wild game to fish from Brixham, Teign River mussels and lobster from Torbay. The latter of which is delicious with both the Thermidor sauce or garlic butter. It was demanding but I did manage to sample both.
Ingredients and the sourcing of the food
Of equal importance to the origin of ingredients is what you are able to do with them. In this regard, Orestone Manor excels. When working with ingredients of such exceptional quality sometimes less is more and the perfectly cooked pan-roasted Monkfish on my plate needed little encouragement to taste exquisite other than the delicate smattering of garlic and herb butter.
There’s also the small matter of Fluder Farm’s Dexter Cattle which take just a three-mile journey from the smallholding to your plate. It culminates in a mighty fine steak too and there’s a comprehensive wine-list to wash it all down with.
The staff
The provenance of the ingredients is a testament to the hotel but then again I wouldn’t expect anything less from a hotel owned by two experienced chefs. If you elect to stay at the manor, it’s highly likely you will encounter the owners, Neil and Catherine D’Allen. For Orestone is run by two generations of the D’Allen family.
The result of this tight-knit team is a truly relaxed atmosphere permeating every aspect of the hotel, from the manicured lawn to the bar and restaurant, the staff help makes Orestone the perfect place to relax and unwind.
The family ethos also ensures each staff member is highly knowledgeable, whether your question revolves around the local geography and what to do, or the food and drink. It makes staying at Orestone delightful and hassle-free.
Conclusion
So why would you leave Blighty for your holidays when Devon and the delights of Orestone Manor are on your doorstep? The beauty of not having to remember a passport and foregoing customs make it a truly pleasant experience. But, at a deeper level, many of the true wonders of a domestic holiday are to be found in the county of Devon. There’s undoubtedly something for everyone. From the exceptional food and hospitality to the plethora of activities to entertain both the young, old, adventurous and chill-seekers alike.
Orestone Manor – Where & How
Orestone Manor
Rock House Ln
Maidencombe
Torquay
Devon
TQ1 4SX
Web: www.orestonemanor.com
Telephone: 01803 897 511
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