Lympstone Manor, Devon

Michael Caines, one of Britain’s most celebrated and best known chefs, is set to open the luxury country retreat Lympstone Manor in Devon in April 2017. Located on the southern edge of Lympstone village, between Exeter and Exmouth, the Grade II listed Georgian mansion is set in 28 acres with unrivalled views overlooking the Exe Estuary. In the process of being fully restored and renovated by Michael and his team of talented architectural and interior design specialists, the former private home will be transformed into a 21 bedroom hotel featuring contemporary interiors that still retain a sense of place and a 60-seat fine dining restaurant.

“The opening of Lympstone Manor is the realisation of a dream,” says the two-Michelin star chef, who is from nearby Exeter. “Everything that I have achieved in my long career has brought me to this point where I can fully express my vision of contemporary country house hospitality for the 21st century. I can’t wait to welcome old and new friends to my new home!”

With Michael at the helm of Lympstone Manor, it is no surprise that exceptional cuisine and wine will lie at the heart of the experience. After achieving two-Michelin stars and then holding them for 18 consecutive years, Michael has built his reputation on a visionary style of cuisine that celebrates the seasonal bounty of Devon and the southwest.

Having taken a year out to develop Lympstone Manor Michael has had time to work on some new dishes and concepts as well as looking forward to recreating his signature dishes with local and seasonal ingredients. Three beautiful dining rooms overlooking the Exe Estuary, each with their own decor and identity — Haldon, Mamhead, and Powderham — are stunning venues to experience Michael’s exciting cuisine.

With plans to plant a vineyard on the slope leading down to the Exe estuary, the appreciation of wines including local wines from Devon and the UK as well as the finest from around the world — is a central element to the Lympstone Manor experience. Wine is very much a shared passion for both Michael and co-director Steve Edwards who has developed an impressive wine list for the hotel.

There are two basement cellars as well as a wine tasting and dispense room opposite Lympstone Manor’s three dining rooms located on the ground floor. The tasting room will be used to house wine storage cabinets alongside a bank of Wine Emotion dispense machines for the service of wines by the glass as well as a sommelier’s table where small groups can enjoy a bespoke wine tasting experience.

Once a private home, the grounds of the hotel, which skirt the edge of the estuary, are being developed into a landscape that puts the house at the heart of the estate with terraces and planting that matches the splendour of the setting, allowing guests to enjoy the magnificent view of the Exe Estuary.

Interiors at Lympstone Manor have been created by Meraki, a dynamic design duo whose sophisticated interiors bring warmth and character to the property. The brief for Meraki was to create a sense of escapism while reflecting the poetic beauty of the Devon countryside and keeping the aesthetic contemporary. The stylish guestrooms at Lympstone Manor are all named after birds that live in and around the estuary, making each room individual with a true sense of place.

Many of the guestrooms at Lympstone Manor will come with their own terraces or balconies to maximize on the hotel’s superb vistas. Three Grand Estuary Suites and three ground floor Master Estuary Suites have the added luxury touch of an outdoor fire table and soak tub, perfect to luxuriate in all year round.

Lympstone Manor is only a short distance from Exeter, easily reachable by train, car or air, making it the perfect rural escape. Located between the small farming and maritime village of Lympstone, complete with over 70 listed buildings, and the neighbouring town of Exmouth, Lympstone Manor is surrounded by un-spoilt countryside and an abundance of wildlife.

General Enquiries: info@lympstonemanor.co.uk / telephone: 01395 202040

For more information visit the website here.