Two Bridges Hotel

The festive cream tea was delicious, especially the big, warm scones with plenty of cream and jam and the homemade mince pie. We’d taken my mother out for her birthday, and the whole visit was lovely. The cosy, relaxed setting was just right. We’d reserved a window seat, but when a fireside spot opened up, we were able to switch. I can’t fault the experience and would happily recommend it.

I’d hoped for a good meal and a relaxing stay, and both were even better than expected. Keiron was cooking that evening, and for someone who’s 22, the balance of flavours and textures on the plates showed real talent. The braised pork cheek, tenderloin and belly with carrot and scratching was excellent. Beef and jalapeño croquettes made a fresh, light starter with plenty of flavour, and the delicious amuse-bouche had me looking forward to what came next. I finished with parfait and a small Sauternes, then ordered a cheese board for the room. My dog wouldn’t have forgiven me if I hadn’t shared something! The room was spacious, warm, clean and welcoming. A tray of Chefs Sweets had been brought up, and I’d asked for a coffee to be left there while I went to fetch my dog. I got to sit and enjoy the quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Before dinner, I walked along the river, fed my dog and settled her in for the night. Jocelyn had been in touch by email before I arrived and had taken care of just about everything. She welcomed me and showed me to the room. Once I went down to the Restaurant, Adam took over. The service was excellent and the staff knew their stuff. I’d recently stayed shortly after the hotel reopened following a couple of months of refresh and maintenance. Taking my dog along was a lovely experience from the start. A wonderful team, excellent food and a really lovely stay. Thank you.

The staff were a seamless, highly effective team, and their customer-facing skills were excellent. I was also filmed by ITV West, which made for an unexpected moment during what was a really relaxing treat. I loved the reception areas, and the small fires in those large fireplaces are a masterstroke. My room was fantastic too. A couple of things fell short. The shower wasn’t great, and while the lamb on my first night in the restaurant was superb, I was a little underwhelmed by the cod loin the second night. There are also lots of fine clocks that don’t work. As an amateur horologist, that grinds my gears a bit, though I know it’s a personal thing. The hotel calls itself three star. Four might be pushing it, but it’s certainly at the top end of three. I loved the place and thought it was well worth the treat.

The power cut meant there was no cooked breakfast at Two Bridges the next morning. Staff did their best, putting out tea, coffee and a cold buffet, and offering a cooked breakfast at their sister hotel, The Bedford Hotel Tavistock, about 8.5 miles away. We’d been looking forward to breakfast and a wander around the extensive grounds, but that wasn’t possible, so we drove to The Bedford. The outage was outside Two Bridges’ control, and they gave us a reasonable discount for the inconvenience. Still, the breakfast at The Bedford was an extremely disappointing end to what had otherwise been a perfect break. The cold buffet was paltry, and I’ve had better cooked breakfasts in a supermarket café. We’d chosen Two Bridges for a Murder Mystery Dinner by Moonstone Theatre Company. The show was very entertaining, and the set menu meant we didn’t get to try the hotel’s full dinner menu. The evening started with welcome drinks and canapé in the lounge, where the cast set the scene. Dinner was a superb four courses, beautifully presented, delicious and well balanced. Each course came at just the right point in the mystery, and the staff served a full room discreetly and professionally without interrupting the entertainment. The welcome felt like a lovely throwback to old-fashioned service. Check-in was quick, and staff showed us to the room, helped with luggage if needed and pointed out useful things for our stay. The room suited the period setting, with a four-poster bed, matching furniture, old photographs, tapestry cushions and a bed runner. Modern touches blended in so well we barely noticed them at first. The bed looked period, but had a very comfortable modern mattress and bedding. Tea and coffee were well stocked in a corner niche, with quality biscuits. There was plenty of space, storage, drawers and a full wardrobe. Two comfortable armchairs and a tea table by the window looked out over the moors. The large bathroom was bright and spotless, with a spa bath. The shower had lots of hot water, though the pressure was a little low. I imagine that may be because the hotel draws its own water supply. After such an entertaining evening and satisfying dinner, we went to bed looking forward to the morning. The outage meant we missed the breakfast and grounds stroll we’d hoped for, which was a shame, despite the staff’s efforts.