Mad About Devon

Ad | Spring Dining Experience at @gidleighpark Gidleigh Park is one of the best country hotels in Devon. Nestled in 107 acres of beautiful gardens, the gorgeous Tudor-style house can be found at the end of a meandering Devon moorland lane on the banks of the North Teign River. The 24-room hotel has been beautifully refurbished by the Brownsword family, with plush sofas, roaring fires and oak-paneling adding to the hotel’s old-school charm. Executive Head Chef, Ian Webber has guided the hotel to a Michelin star for the second year in a row with menus championing the seasonal ingredients found on their doorstep. We recently spent a wonderfully relaxing afternoon enjoying the new Spring Lunch Menu which is available every weekend between 12:30pm – 2pm. The five-course set menu has been carefully curated to make the most of the seasonal ingredients available on the estate. Lunch was served in an intimate dining room overlooking the terrace and gardens. Each course was introduced to us in impeccable detail. Every plate was exquisitely presented. Every mouthful utterly delicious, with delicate flavours and the best seasonal produce. Here’s what you can look forward to… Rainbow Trout, Three cornered leek, wild fennel, cauliflower fungus Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Kale, salami, Cornish Kern Wild Rabbit. Douglas Fir, ramson, watercress Golden Raison, Jerusalem artichoke, hazelnut, lemon thyme Sea Buckthorn, Sweet cicely, hibiscus Dining at Gidleigh Park is a special experience, perfect for any occasion. We loved our time there and can’t wait to return. Gidleigh Park, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park Five-course set lunch each Saturday and Sunday, between 12:30pm – 2pm, at £75pp.

Ad | Sea-to-plate dining at the new @therockfishuk in Sidmouth 🐟 It’s taken the team 6 years to transform the once derelict Drill Hall on Sidmouth sea front into an impressive dining space with all the usual Rockfish charm. The new Sidmouth restaurant is a triumph! Stand-out location, souring ceilings, stylish décor and an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs carefully prepare the catch of the day. 🎣 Lunch was delicious. We sampled food from the main menu along with fresh fish which had been landed that day at Brixham Market. We started with Spider crab croquettes with lemon mayonnaise and Smoked mackerel fillet with pickled cucumber and horseradish. Glenarm organic salmon and Chargrilled sea bream with Greek island salad followed, and we couldn’t resist a pot of unlimited chips. A classic sticky toffee pudding and Italian gelato finished off a super, seasonal lunch. A big thank you to Jimi and the whole team for making us feel so welcome. We’ll definitely be back. 🐟 #madaboutdevon #rockfish #sidmouth

The beautiful @rhsrosemoor in the bank holiday sunshine. A wonderful place to visit at any time of the year. 🌷 #madaboutdevon #spring #lovedevon #visitdevon

✨The Antique Village ✨ We had a fabulous morning at @theantiquevillagedevon on our very own mini antiques road trip (without the classic car, sadly!) This was my first visit to The Antique Village and what a fabulous find! Three floors bursting with interesting antiques, vintage pieces, furniture and salvaged items. It’s also home to @thedovetailcafe serving coffee, cake and lunches throughout the day. We book-ended our visit with coffee and cake to start, and then paninis and homemade soup for lunch. Delicious! It’s a real treasure trove where you could easily get lost for an hour or two of fabulous antique hunting. 📍The Antique Village, Hele, Exeter #madaboutdevon #visitdevon #devondays

AD | Tea & Tales Afternoon Tea at @boringdonhall We always love our time at Boringdon Hall. The winding drive across the moor ending at the grand hotel tucked away on the edge of Dartmoor. We visited last week to experience the Tea & Tales Afternoon Tea – a tribute to some of our most-loved childhood tales. A sprinkling of nostalgia was served up in the form of perfect patisseries taking inspiration from a classic story such as James and The Giant Peach, Matilda, Alice in Wonderland and everyone’s favourite bear, Paddington. The sweet treats were accompanied by delicious sandwiches, a mini quiche, Gruyere cheese scones, and the classic scones with cream and jam (cream first, of course). A special experience at any time of the year. Thank you to Alex and the fabulous team for looking after us. 🙏 Tea & Tales Afternoon Tea | From £35pp | Available until 30th April #madaboutdevon #boringdonhall #devon

Coming soon to a woodland near you…💚 #madaboutdevon #lovedevon #visitdevon

Dartmoor Whisky Distillery Tasting Experience 🥃 If you’re keen to try a local whisky but not sure where to start, get yourself to a whisky tasting experience at @dartmoorwhiskydistillery You’ll get to taste their signature whisky plus delicious Dartmoor Gin whilst hearing about the incredible journey that led them, and their beautiful 1966 copper still, to the old town hall in Bovey Tracey. There’s also a fully stocked bar if you wanted to settle in for the afternoon (if you needed another a reason to visit)! A brilliant afternoon with Gregg, Roy and Barley the dog that we’d highly recommend 🐶 #madaboutdevon #visitdevon #boveytracey

K I N E T I C Craft meets engineering in the latest exhibition at @makesouthwest Interactive and full of wonder, each piece of art offers something unique, from moving parts, intricate details and beautiful design. There’s also a gorgeous shop bursting with the most fabulous art and crafts as well as @rodneys.cafe for a sweet treat and a cuppa, so you can make a day of it! KINETIC continues at @makesouthwest in Bovey Tracey until 18th April. #madaboutdevon #boveytracey #lovedevon

Hunkering down at The Pig at Combe 🐖 Our first experience staying at @the_pig_hotels and it lived up to all expectations! We stayed in The Attic at the top of the house. A fabulously laid-back space with all the little touches you’d expect, a huge comfy bed and a glorious tub for a relaxing soak. As always, the food packed a punch. Delicious plates of food simply cooked that let the ingredients do the talking. We’d also heard good things about the breakfast and we weren’t disappointed! We booked under the ‘New Leaves and Lie-Ins’ offer so breakfast was included, you receive 15% off treatments and flexible cancellation. What’s not to love! A much-needed little escape for two very happy pigs. 🐖 #madaboutdevon #lovedevon #devonfood

AD | Take your seat for a festive lunch at @ivyexeter @visitexeter The Ivy was made for celebrations and when you add a sprinkling of Christmas magic to the mix it gets even better! The experience, as always, was top-notch. From the second you walk through the door you’re in for a real treat.✨ We visited to try out the Festive Set Menu (2 courses for £55 / 3 courses for £60) and loved every bite. We started with The Ivy 1917 Cure Smoked Salmon and a Classic Prawn Cocktail which was served in an ornate silver crab. I stayed traditional for my main and went for the Turkey Ballotine with apricot, cranberry and pork stuffing, served with pigs in blankets, sprout mash and a rich red wine sauce, we also had a Christmas Shepherd’s Pie which was absolutely delicious. We finished with a Christmas Crème Brûlée and The Ivy Chocolate Bombe which was melted at the table with a warm caramel sauce… heaven! The team at The Ivy are absolutely brilliant and go above and beyond to give everyone the best experience. If you’re visiting Exeter over the next few weeks head over to the Christmas market for a spot of shopping and then pop into The Ivy for a fabulously festive feast🎄

AD | Christmas has arrived in Exeter with a great big festive bang! ✨ @visitexeter 🎄Sparkling light displays, cascading stars and beautiful installations can be found across the city adding a sprinkling of festive magic to the city’s streets. 🎄For the ultimate Christmassy day, or night out Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market is in full swing with over 100 festive chalets, including some of Devon’s best small businesses and food and drink producers. The market runs until 19th Dec with late night shopping every Thursday until 18th Dec, so there’s plenty of time to head into the city for a fabulously festive day out.✨ . . . #exeter #visitexeter #christmasmarket #madaboutdevon #lovedevon

Autumn at @hotelendsleigh 🍂 A special day with some of my favourite people in one of the best hotels in Devon. I’d highly recommend a little mid-week trip to make the most of the Autumn set lunch which is running until 28th November! You won’t be disappointed! . . . #foodheaven #devonfood #madaboutdevon #lovedevon #ilovedevon