Member of the week – Dartington Hall, Devon
May 14, 2012
Dartington Hall opens its doors for leisure breaks
Award – winning Dartington Hall, a 14th century country estate near Totnes in Devon, which operates as a not-for-profit social enterprise, has launched itself as a leisure break destination following a major upgrade to its accommodation.
Already a much sought after venue for weddings and conferences, Dartington Hall is a magnificent mansion with famous formal gardens, set in 1,200 acres of South Devon countryside that includes rolling farmland and an ancient deer park.
Promoting itself as ‘one of the most stunning B&B locations in the UK’, the Hall has 50 guest bedrooms set around a mediaeval courtyard, including singles, twins, doubles and suites, all furnished to offer a mix of modern day comfort and country heritage. Breakfast is served in the estate’s own pub/restaurant, The White Hart, which can also be booked for lunch and dinner.
B&B rates range from £64 for a standard single room up to £209 for a suite.
Dartington Hall is managed by Dartington Hall Trust, a pioneering charity which runs the entire estate as ‘a place of experiment, enterprise and education where the arts, social justice and sustainability come together.’ Proceeds from its various commercial enterprises, go to support its charitable programmes. It was recently awarded the Sustainable Hospitality and Corporate Social Responsibility award in the Conde Nast Johansens 2012 Awards for Excellence.
The estate offers a host of facilities and puts on special events almost every week which attract more than one million visitors each year. In addition to The White Hart pub, there is the Great Hall, which is used for weddings and conferences; the Roundhouse café; Barn cinema; an arts centre and a range of shops selling everything from crafts, home wares and fashion wear to food and drink, stationery and giftware.
Dartington Hall’s general manager Deborah Heather commented: “Dartington Hall is a magical place to stay, the surroundings are fantastic and there’s masses to do whatever your interests. And at the same time guests are contributing to some very worthy causes.”
Deborah continued: “We’re so pleased with the result of our upgrade, which has seen all of our bedrooms keep their special and unique character whilst being overhauled to a high standard. No two of our bedrooms are the same but every single one of them offers fantastic quality accommodation and all the comforts you’d expect.”
“Our guests can also enjoy the award winning food and drink at the White Hart pub. All of our delicious seasonal menus are made up of the finest West Country produce we have right on our doorstep.”
“There’s so much going on here at Dartington; with our year round film programme at the Barn Cinema, regular art exhibitions and performances and a full Summer programme of festivals and events – including our annual Food Fair over the Diamond Jubilee weekend – we really do have something for everyone.”
To find out more, visit www.dartingtonhall.com
