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Guests to date and Christmas and New Year Gatherings
Filed Under (Accommodation, Archaeology, Christmas, Cream teas, Dartmoor Activity holiday, Dartmoor B&B in Devon, Dartmoor Devon holiday, Gardens, National Trust Gardens and Properties, New Year) by Ian Corner on 03-07-2008
In the first season of opening the business (between 15 Jul 06 and end of Mar 07) I met an eclectic mix of tourists and travellers many of whom were foreign and found me by simply passing by and seeing the roadside notice boards. Guests are always warmly welcomed with an offer of tea either in the house, by the log fire in winter or anywhere in the sunshine and gardens in the summer. If guests have booked in advance they would have been offered an opportunity to request a complementary Cream Tea 4 and or a glass of wine to break the ice and allow them to unwind after their journey.
Many guests are happy to walk to The Royal Oak in the village for sups…….it has a simple yet traditional pub menu with good ale and involves a lovely short walk across a few fields to get there. On return from which ever pub, guests are offered a variety of beverages before they turn in and many’s the occasion when I’ve offered a dram on the house and shared a night cap with those happy to accept – everyone is astonished the next day when they realise it’s not been added to their bill!!
I had one guest last Summer who asked if I was open at Christmas – the result was that he and his wider family of 8 in number all staying for 4 nights across the Christmas festivities on a self catering basis. They loved the decorated house with Christmas tree and log fire and freedom to do their own thing and left the house spotless on departure. I’d certainly offer the same again to another family in future.
At New Year I had 2 couples book in each for 2 nights and both independently asked where I’d recommend them to dine on New Year’s Eve? Well I ended up inviting them to dine with me on that magic night, and instead of having to pay for sups I asked each couple to bring a course for 8 people and the wines to accompany that course…! It turned out to be a fantastic success and Clive and Mary Ann my Best Man and his wife produced the starter (Smoked Salmon with a dry white), I produced the main course (venison with a fine claret) and the 2 sets of guests produced the pud with a Desert wine and a cheese board with 2 fine Ports. Great fun was had by all and at Midnight we cracked a couple of fizz bottles and saw the New Year in in high spirits (literally!!).
Ian Corner
