A long weekend in Devon's Boringdon Hall Hotel & SPA
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BORINGDON HALL
It was around the year 956 AD that King Edgar granted the Manor of Boringdon & Wembury to St Peter of Plympton and Boringdon manor belonged to the priory until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 by Henry VIII. Boringdon Manor became Crown property and Henry VIII granted it to his courtier Thomas Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton, who was a favourite of the King.
All visitors to Boringdon Hall will immediately notice the great mantle above the fireplace in the Great Hall depicting the coat of arms of King James I who owners, the Parker family was loyal to. It bears the date 1640 and is ornamented with the figures Peace and Plenty. The Parker family moved out in 1750 and this was the early beginnings of Boringdon’s decline. Still owned by the Parker family as recently as 1920, it was used only as a humble farmhouse. In modern times many owners have come and gone including the National Trust. Boringdon Hall was converted to a hotel by a previous owner and a considerable amount of time and money has been invested in making Boringdon Hall one of the foremost hotels, banqueting and conference centres in the South West of England.
These days you have a great choice of exquisite rooms and seductive suites with a timeless, manor house charm. We stayed in Catherine Room (number 14) and it was amazing! Four poster bed, free standing bath, medieval charm combined with all the modern comforts.
It’s not just about the rooms in Boringdon Hall, we were mostly here for a foodie and SPA getaway. Let’s start with food. The hotel has three restaurants that allows you to spend a long weekend dining in a new restaurant every night. Our first lunch we had at The Great Hall that open throughout the day and serves drinks and light bites. They also offer an Afternoon Tea service which looked great but we didn’t have a chance to try it. Our first dinner we spent at Mayflower Brasserie. This all-day dining space offers fresh, seasonal cuisine. We both went for a fish main course and it was delicious!
Next morning we decided to have a lazy one and ordered a room service breakfast. All guests have a choice of cooked breakfast at Mayflower Brasserie downstairs or room delivery. Breakfast arrived in the cutest hamper full of fresh pasties, juices, granola, meats and cheeses. Seriously, who needs a cooked breakfast when this is an option!
Our second dinner we headed to Àclèaf. It was probably the highlight of the trip. A memorable dining experience, a destination of it’s own. Intimate and sophisticatedly romantic Àclèaf located on the first floor of the hotel and overlooks The Great Hall. We went for an exquisite six-course menu created by Head Chef Scott Paton. A showcase of inventive British fare, chef uses only the finest locally sourced ingredients. Honestly, even if you’re not staying in the hotel but visiting Plymouth area it’s a must visit.
Àclèaf is a AA 4 Rosette restaurant and features in the MICHELIN Guide 2022.
Finally, one more highlight of the trip was Gaia Spa. We spent here pretty much all our time when were not out for lunch or dinner. Just a few things that you’ll find here: a calming indoor swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool with outdoor swim through with countryside views, Finnish sauna, Crystal Salt steam room, Laconium herbal sauna, traditional steam room, deep relaxation room, overlooking the wild flower meadow, a private relaxation room, an inner sanctum of peace and serenity that can be booked for your own exclusive use, alfresco hot tubs, in the blissful and serene, setting of outside patio. Plus drinks orders through the app and delivery right to your lounger to make sure you don’t do unnecessary walking. Sounds like heaven? I think it was pretty close.
After three days and two nights it was time to pack our suitcases. I was surprised that the train only takes 3 hours and 8 minutes and soon we were home. What do you think was the first thing I did back at home? Checked when we can book another stay in Boringdon Hall. And that’s the best sign of a great staycation.
