Lewtrenchard Manor

This Jacobean mansion ticks all the right boxes: picturesque grounds, panelled rooms scented with wood smoke & an ambitious young chef/patron determined to make his mark on the big wide world. Jason Hornbuckle’s menu burgeons with local produce & pickings from Lewtrenchard’s walled garden, but his approach is resolutely modern. A meal in the gorgeously traditional dining room might begin with smoked herring salad with crab spring roll & coriander dressing, ahead of slow-cooked corn-fed chicken leg with boudin blanc & haricot bean cassoulet, with hot chocolate tart, orange & cardamom ice-cream to finish. For a full blast of creativity, groups can book the funky Purple Carrot, a new dining room adjoining the kitchen, where guests can chat with Jason while he works. Expect cleverly orchestrated dishes ranging from a teasing shot of Jerusalem artichoke foam with toasted hazelnuts to saddle of venison with quince & celeriac puree & liquorice sauce.