Review of Hotel Endsleigh

Hotel Endsleigh started life as Endsleigh Cottage and then Endsleigh House. Building started in 1810 by the Duke of Bedford – who at the time owned a third of the county of Devon. He, the colourful Duchess of Bedford, and their 13 children used the house as a summer retreat – which was also a shooting/fishing lodge. 

The hotel is located near the market town on Tavistock in West Devon. Tavistock is sandwiched between the Tamar Valley – the hotel sits in the northern reaches of it – and Dartmoor National Park. 

Hotel Endsleigh is around 220-miles from central London – 4 hours drive and 3 ½ hours by train & taxi. Arrangements can be made if you wish to helicopter to the hotel. There is a discreet landing pad in the grounds. The nearest airport is in Plymouth, around 30 minutes drives away. 

It is a mile from the Gatehouse to the hotel itself – a truly delightful slow drive or even slower walk … 

The hotel itself sits on a hill above the east bank of the River Tamar, where it enjoys breathtaking views of the countryside. The Dell leads down from the hotel to the river.

The Polizzi Collection currently has three properties – The Star in East Sussex – two hours drive - south - from London and Hotel Tresanton, by the sea in Cornwall. Hotel Endsleigh is a perfect pit-stop for travellers to/from Tresanton. 

Endsleigh is a very different and much more relaxed sojourn!

There are just 21 rooms & suites at Hotel Endsleigh. Being a Grade-1 listed building, there are no ugly extensions to the main house. Seven of the suites are ideal for families – 2 have bunkbeds, 1 has a cabin room and 4 suites include a daybed, located in the sitting room. There are 15 guestrooms in the main house with 5 suites in the stables.

No two bedroom is the same – not only in layout but also in décor. Polizzi has ensured every experience at Hotel Endsleigh is different. Most have views over the Tamar Valley and River. 

Staying in a suite in the stable is a hospitality-highlight. Number 20 for instance. 

You share a courtyard where you can park your car (or horse & cart if that’s how you roll)! Behind a large, thick wooden door sits a welcome duck-stop– to be used as a prop or just to say hello to, followed by a steep wood staircase to the first floor. 

To your left is a large sitting room – complete with comfy sofas and chairs, kitchenette with coffee machine, tea mugs and small fridge containing fresh (& I mean fresh!) milk.

You have use of a small desk which overlooks the courtyard and then to the right a superb bedroom. The windows are original and either are shuttered or come with blinds. The shutters all have a Latin cross in them that welcomes the morning light. 

There are more-than-acceptable amounts of storage space – in both cupboards and chests of drawers.  A large comfortable bed with an unassuming television is outshone by a bobbin chair.

Due to its Grade-1 listing and the desire by Olga Polizzi to keep the Endsleigh in its Regency splendour, much of the wallpaper, rugs and fabrics have been sourced from two of the country’s most exclusive brands, Lewis and Wood and Christopher Farr. Expect to see intricate, colourful designs – birds, flowers – nature - on your walls … just beautiful. The light fittings - from desk lamps to ceiling shades are fabulous!

The bathrooms are magnificent. You will enjoy freestanding wash basins, showers, deep roll-top baths and toilet. Every piece of furniture was chosen for each bathroom. Amenities are by Bramley – headquartered a county away in Dorset – offering large bottles of products (available to buy at Reception). There are a good number of fluffy towels, towelling robes and cushioned slippers available to you.

The hotel is both child and dog friendly – with well-behaved varieties of both most welcome and fully catered for.

There is disabled access to the main house, a guestroom, and of course, the gardens.

For a hotel without all the “expected” necessities of a modern luxury property – e.g., spa, swimming pool, gym, Padel court, Observatory etc – there is so much to do & see at Endsleigh - but you really have to love the great outdoors!

Hotel Endsleigh sits in 108 acres of carefully planned gardens and woodland. With that amount of space, you could spend a week exploring every inch of the hotel and estate.

Endsleigh was built as a fishing, and hunting/shooting lodge. There is a local shoot (not connected to the hotel) mainly for pheasant and the hotel has stretch of the River Tamar from where you can enjoy happy-time with your rod & bait – salmon and trout aplenty.

The hotel can organise local horse riding and falconry in the grounds. For children Endsleigh will arrange canoeing, cycling and tree surfing.

The main event are the grounds. You can opt for a guided tour from Ben Ruscombe-King – The Endsleigh Gardener – who knows more about the area that anyone. He will take you on a fascinating journey from the early 19th century & Sir Humphry Repton - to today – through the many smaller gardens, Parterre, Rockery, Greenhouse, Brewery, Walled Garden, The Rose Walk (unforgettable), water features, follies, the Chilean yew, and grottos dotted around the estate. What he doesn’t know about the 108 acres is not worth knowing and you get to see it all.

Don’t worry if you have left you wellies or coat at home – the hotel provides … just head for the Boot Room …

If you are happy to explore on your own, there are maps available and you can easily spend hours – nay days – taking in the Swiss Cottage, Dairy Dell, The Shell House, flower beds, waterfalls, walks down the river, snapdragons, delphiniums, kniphofia, agapanthus and the magnificent gunnera – with their amazing, verdant, enormous leaves. The Shell House deserves special mention. Hexagonal in shape, it is covered top to toe in seashells and pebbles - both inside & out. It must have taken an inordinate amount of time to build. There is a small water feature inside and space to sit and contemplate life - with views through the main door of the grounds below. In Summer especially, it is a cool place to sit … 

Apart from the flora, you may see dragonflies, mayflies, herons, dippers, Kingfishers, owls, badgers, deer, otters, and cauldrons of bats! Indeed at night – without any light pollution – you look up … and if its clear, all you see are stars – banks and banks of shiny stars!

In Summer, guests can use a table-tennis table (hidden away – so not to create a repetitious din), croquet and “quiet” Jenga!

In the main house itself, there are two main drawing rooms with umpteen nooks & crannies – ideal as a reading spot or somewhere to snooze! You will find deep, comfy chairs & sofas & ottomans and - in cold spells - angry fireplaces – all for you … and a select few.

The Library is filled with books – ranging from children’s novels to historic tomes – appealing to all tastes and all ages. There are also a collection of games.

DVDs are available to watch in your guestroom and there is speedy Wi-Fi throughout.

On a cold but dry Winter’s or hot Summer’s day, there is nothing better than sitting on lounge chair under a parasol, perched on the Grass Terrace, looking down The Dell towards the River Tamar with hot or cold drink in hand. No noise – except perchance the chwirk of a hawk in the distance – Heaven on Earth!

There are four main influences on Hotel Endsleigh as we know and love it today: from the early 19th century, Sir Humphry Repton with sons John and George (garden), Sir Jeffry Wyatville (Regency architect), Georgiana Russell – the 6th Duke of Bedford’s second wife and from the 21st century, Olga Polizzi.

The “Garden Paradise of the West” describes the 108 acres that surround the house that Wyatville designed (he also built The Shell House). Georgiana was the driving force behind the elaborate interiors that - no doubt - were the most appealing of the time.

When Olga Polizzi bought the estate and converted it into a hotel in 2005, she inherited years of “shared ownership” and, of course, its Grade-1 status. Rather than seeking permission to convert the house into a contemporary wolf in the classical sheep’s clothing, she worked with what she had and just enhanced & improved.

You can still see some original hand-painted chinoiserie wallpaper – for instance – in The Bedford Rooms (number 5 & 8 in the Main House).

Polizzi has an eye for antiques and one-off pieces that are functional. In a way, Endsleigh is the “Polizzi Museum” – filled with furniture, paintings, ornaments, fabrics, rugs, statues, busts, and trinkets that she has found and curated at the hotel.

Oh, and those umbrellas!

There is one main restaurant and Bar at Hotel Endsleigh and all the offerings are under the masterful culinary toque of chef Tom Ewings. 

Room service is available but most meals are served either in the original wood panelled dining room or out on the Grass Terrace. 

Breakfast is a hearty affair. There’s a Continental as well as Full English Breakfast on offer – as well as cute dishes including Boiled Eggs & soldiers! All washed down with lashings of freshly brewed coffee or tea and fresh, fresh juice! The waffles are delicious! 

Lunch could be a fresh round of sandwiches, fish n’ chips, panzanella or a venison ragu. One popular lunch option is a picnic thrown together by the kitchen. All your favourites in a basket that can be enjoyed anywhere around the Estate. 

Afternoon Tea – served on the dot at 3.30 pm – is a highlight of the culinary day. Guests gorge on fresh scones, clotted cream & jam, cakes and sandwiches and sup on tea, coffee, or Champagne! 

Dinner is a rather wonderful affair. You dress as you wish – if you are feeling formal, a shirt & tie would be appropriate, while you experience dishes including spiced pork tenderloin, turbot with saffron potatoes or glazed duck breast. You can also enjoy these dishes outside on the lawn, under a sun parasol, watching the sun set – wearing a pair of shorts and a beach shirt with a dog at your feet. It’s that kind of place – a home more than a hotel. There is a set menu but in true Hotel Endsleigh style, you can have anything you wish.

The Children’s Menu is not an afterthought. Chef Ewings will create burgers, fish goujons, pizzetta, sausages & mash and chicken nuggets with the same fresh ingredients he uses for his main menu. It’s haute cuisine for youngsters.

Desserts at dinner time includes tiramisu … and ice cream … of course! 

The Bar serves up fancy Champagnes and cocktails … along with superb local beers, cider and wines – yes – the award-winning Sharpham Winery is close by! 

Hotel Endsleigh offers terrific cuisine in a unique setting. It’s “dine on demand” – luxury hotel style. 

The Polizzi Collection takes its environmental responsibility quite seriously.

Chef Ewings sources his ingredients as locally as possible – and as sustainably as possible. He supports farmers in the local community where he can. The cheeses, some wines, beers & ciders, vegetables, seafood, and meats even “taste local”! A few thousand hotel employees (bees) ensure a steady stream of fresh honey.

All food waste, paper, plastic, and glass is recycled. Glass bottles have replaced plastic and little things like using avocado straws make all the difference!

LED lighting is used throughout the hotel and there are electric car charging points. 

In the guestrooms, you can ask for the bed sheets and towels to be changed every other day and the Bramley toiletries come in large refillable bottles.