Loca News Stories, Fine Dining and Cultural Activities
Many people mistakenly regard Exeter & Essential Devon as simply a place to go for the traditional seaside family holiday, but increasingly the area is becoming one of the most important areas for culture and fine dining within the UK.
The Exeter & Essential Devon Tourism Partnership and businesses within the area are working together to raise the profile of Exeter & Essential Devon as a stimulating and vibrant year-round destination for all.
News stories below offer a selection of exciting new and up and coming activities and facilities within Exeter & Essential Devon:
Exeter's Princesshay named as Europe's top medium sized shopping centre
The Princesshay scheme in Exeter, delivered by Land Securities, has won a prestigious ICSC (International Council for Shopping Centres) award, having been named as the most outstanding medium sized shopping centre in Europe. The retail-led mixed use development provides 400,000 sq ft of prime retail and 130,000 sq ft of much sought after residential apartments.
Princesshay, the only UK shopping centre short listed as a finalist, impressed judges in a number of areas including, its attractive architecture, distinctive mix of national and independent tenants such as LK Bennett, Karen Millen, Reiss, AH Moda and Orange Tree and its ability to deliver long term economic, environmental and social benefits to Exeter's residential and business communities.
Working in partnership with Exeter City Council, Princesshay's £225 million investment represents the biggest single investment in regeneration within Exeter's history and has further strengthened the city's status as the region's capital.
The main focal point of the scheme is the new European-styled Princesshay Square, home to a striking pavilion building and featuring innovative, contemporary public art that complements the sweeping views of Exeter's historic cathedral. The large, vibrant square piazza has become the City's new destination for socialising with eateries including La Tasca, Strada and Café Rouge.
Local businesses celebrate at the Tourism Oscars
The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2008 are now in their 19th year, and are known throughout the industry as the 'Oscars' of tourism. They promote healthy industry competition and high standards, helping to ensure England's place as a world-class destination.
All Gold winners from the South West regional awards, were automatically entered into the National awards to be ranked against winners from across the rest of England. Judging has been taking place throughout the autumn and winter, and today's news is that the South West has won three Gold and five Silver awards at the national awards ceremony in St Georges Hall, Liverpool, on 23 April 2008.
The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2008 winners from the Exeter and Essential Devon area are:
2008 Gold Award for Bed and Breakfast of the Year
The Salty Monk Restaurant with Rooms, Sidmouth, Devon
2008 Silver Award for Small Hotel of the Year
Combe House Hotel and Restaurant, Honiton, Nr Exeter, Devon
Malcolm Bell, Chief Executive of South West Tourism, said:
"What a fantastic achievement and I congratulate all of our regional winners who are representing the South West on a national level. They all now stand to benefit from widespread recognition for their hard work and continual investment, and they deserve it."
Combe House Hotel wins silver at the national Enjoy England 'Awards for Excellence (2008)
Combe House in Gittisham, near Exeter has won a coveted national Small Hotel of the Year Silver Award 2008 at the 'Enjoy England Awards for Excellence', the highest accolades in English tourism. Known as the tourism 'Oscars' they celebrate the very best quality, help to raise standards across the industry and secure England's place as a world-class holiday destination.
Owners Ken and Ruth Hunt are thrilled with the award, "This unexpected honour for our small, country house hotel reflects back on the wonderful, welcoming, happy and hard working team whom we regard as our family," said Ken. "We are also fortunate to be in a stunning location with the West Country's larder right on our doorstep. We couldn't have achieved it without the honesty and integrity of the people who look after us so brilliantly from the local plumbers and electricians to our wine suppliers and local food producers. This award is for them too."
Prices start from £170 B&B per double room per night; a three-course dinner with canapés is £42 per person and a two-course lunch £22 (Mon-Sat) also with canapés. For a brochure call Combe House on 01404 540400, www.thishotel.com
Michelin rising star for Combe House, near Exeter
Combe House, near Exeter, Devon has been awarded a Michelin Rising Star for the second year in succession for its culinary excellence in the 2008 Michelin Red Guide, which is one of the most recognised and influential restaurant guides in Europe featuring only 122 restaurants in the UK with one or more stars.
Rising Stars were introduced in 2005 by the Michelin Guide to draw attention to restaurants that represent the gourmet dining 'stars' of tomorrow. Combe was one of just five establishments across the UK listed as being in line for their first Michelin Star.
Combe House, a wildly romantic Grade I Elizabethan manor, is hidden on a secluded wooded estate where Arabian horses and pheasants roam freely. Accommodation is in fifteen luxurious en-suite bedrooms and suites, some with four-posters and stunning views across the valley to Dartmoor beyond. Tucked away at the entrance to the mile-long drive is the beautifully restored Combe Thatch Cottage - a romantic hideaway for two with its own private walled garden.
Other recent awards include The Good Hotel Guide, UK Country Hotel of the Year 2007 and the England for Excellence, South West Small Hotel of the Year Gold Award 2007.
Prices start from £170 B&B per double room per night and a three course dinner with canapés is £42 per person. For a brochure call Combe House Hotel and Restaurant, Devon on 01404 540400, www.thishotel.com
Devon's sparkling wines v's Champagne
Hosted by Matser of Wine (Alastair Peebles) this year's Devon Wine Week will challenge Champagne's from France to live up to the ever increaseing popularity of Devon's sparkling wine.
The event will take place at the Devon Wine School, Cheriton Fitzpaine on Wednesday 28th May 2008.
This follows the 2007 Challenge - Devon wines vs New Zealand. The third Devon Wine Week begins May 24th and so far 12 Devon vineyards have signed up to provide wine related events.
The full seven day itinerary for Devon Wine Week will be posted on www.devonwineweek.co.uk as well as www.yearlstone.co.uk
Main sponsors this year will be Brend Hotels.
Silversprings wins gold award
Silversprings is unlike any other hotel in Exeter. Owners Richard Power and Juliet Ware have turned it into an eco-friendly business, dramatically reducing waste levels and energy consumption without sacrificing customer satisfaction. Silversprings is also the first hotel in Exeter to be given a gold award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme.
For more information please visit Silversprings website
News from Yearlstone Vineyard
Sales from Yearlstone just about tripled - largely thanks to the arrival finally of our second fizz, the Yearlstone Vintage Brut 06, was recommended by a certain Oz Clarke on BBC 1. This wine has been left for nine months in cellar - the minimum period allowed to make a real Champagne - but we have a second batch which will be left longer, about 15 months, and should be available by midsummer.
December media coverage again outstanding - a column in Devon Today, mentions in Devon Life, a page feature on Devon wines in the Western Morning News - another BBC 1 series in contact.
Pruning of our 6000 vines has begun - a mammoth task which will keep us busy until April and the grand re-opening at Easter.
The 2007 wines in the winery are all just about finished fermenting, bar one or two problem tanks, not a single one needed de-acidifying this year - some kind of record. The winery extension has been useful and we now have close to 50,000 litres capacity. New kit for 2008 planned include an upgraded crusher destemmer and again some new to of the range Speidel stainless steel tanks.
Opinions over the potential for 2008 crop vary with such low light levels in the summer but also overall warmth, the vine wood is looking good - but bud formation will surely have been affected.
For more information please visit www.yearlstone.co.uk
Slow Food Market moves to Topsham
Devon's only Slow Food market is moving to Topsham's Matthew's Hall after two years at Exeter Quay and changing its day of trading from Saturday to Sundays. The first monthly market of the year is on Sunday 20 January from 11am to 3pm with up to 20 local food and drink producers attending.
Freddie Dudbridge, Devon Slow Food Leader sees the move as bonus for local residents. 'Topsham has a very strong sense of community and already supports a vibrant local food economy but moving the market here opens up many more opportunities for other food and drink producers. Just being inside the hall means more comfort for everyone, especially after last summer, and we plan to be a little bit different from the usual farmers' market.'
Slow Food is an international movement that aims to promote small or individual producers of artisan or special regional fare. For example in Devon you might find meat from traditional breeds like Ruby Red cattle, excellent farmhouse cheeses and clotted cream, locally brewed beer and, of course, cider. Small farmers or artisan producers often struggle to find viable outlets for their produce or to receive a fair return.
For more information see www.slowfood.com or www.slowfood.org.uk
Slow Food Market at Topsham 2008 Dates, 11am - 3pm
January 20th; February 17th; March 30th; April 20th; May 25th; June 15th; July 20th; August 24th; September 21st; October 19th; November 16th; December 21st
