Home: Issue 2 2011 › Lead Story › Valley girl
Valley girl
05/09/2011 | Channel: Hotels - Restaurants
Food Chain editor Libbie Hammond recently enjoyed a stay at the Rose in Vale Country House hotel
Set in its own private wooded valley of some ten acres, the Rose in Vale hotel is a luxurious retreat, with an outdoor pool and welcoming sitting rooms for chilly evenings.
The hotel runs a ‘child free’ policy of no guests under 12 years old, but it
does allow a well-behaved four-legged friend to come along and enjoy its dog friendly rooms and bar. My dog Gus certainly made himself at home and was a particular fan of the large garden and direct access to a wooded path – every morning he was delighted to take a walk along it and admire the rabbits and other wildlife.
I stayed in a two bedroom, two en-suite ‘Garden Room’ away from the main hotel. The bedrooms were well appointed (although I have to be honest and say it wasn’t especially luxurious, but the small lounge was ideal for watching some TV or reading a book. It would have been a tight squeeze with four adults in there, though!)
The main hotel rooms are where the real ‘luxuries’ come in, for example, the Rose Suite features a four-poster bed, separate living room, double shower with 12 body jets and two monsoon showers, Jacuzzi bath, flat screen TV, DVD player, and other special touches.
But the main attraction to the hotel is the food. The Rose in Vale has held an AA Rosette every year since 2007, and the evening meal was definitely something to look forward to. The restaurant overlooks the gardens and terraces (and a family of almost tame ducks) and the head of restaurant Gary was attentive and efficient (indeed, he and his team recently won first prize in the Cornwall Catering Excellence 2011 awards.) The food was of very high quality, offering generous portion sizes and the menu offered a good choice of options, including a vegetarian dish every day. The highlight for me was the roast butternut squash, filled with Mediterranean vegetables with a blue cheese sauce. It was utterly delicious and I will be trying to make it at home!
New menu
The head chef Colin Hankins heads up the kitchen team, and a new menu is created every day, taking full advantage of the fresh Cornish ingredients from the local area. Everything is homemade on-site, even down to the marmalade for the morning toast.
The proprietors, Sara and James Evans were on hand to offer advice on where to visit or just have a chat to – although very busy with a large and impressive hotel extension. The hotel also obligingly served me some delicious sandwiches in the room after I’d overeaten at Rick Stein’s marvellous seafood restaurant in nearby Padstow.
The high quality of service and food that you get at the Rose in Vale is reflected in its tariffs, but as the old adage goes ‘you get what you pay for’. The hotel already offers its guests a first class stay in a beautiful, luxurious environment, and the new addition to the hotel will only add to its appeal. Its location is also very convenient for exploring the charms of northern Cornwall, with many attractions a manageable distance away.
If you’re looking for comfortable surroundings, a touch of luxury and a delicious dinner, all shared with your furry best friend, the Rose in Vale can certainly offer them all.
ROSE IN VALE HOTEL
MITHIAN,
ST AGNES,
CORNWALL
TR5 0QD
ENGLAND
TEL: 01872 552202
The hotel runs a ‘child free’ policy of no guests under 12 years old, but it
does allow a well-behaved four-legged friend to come along and enjoy its dog friendly rooms and bar. My dog Gus certainly made himself at home and was a particular fan of the large garden and direct access to a wooded path – every morning he was delighted to take a walk along it and admire the rabbits and other wildlife.
I stayed in a two bedroom, two en-suite ‘Garden Room’ away from the main hotel. The bedrooms were well appointed (although I have to be honest and say it wasn’t especially luxurious, but the small lounge was ideal for watching some TV or reading a book. It would have been a tight squeeze with four adults in there, though!)
The main hotel rooms are where the real ‘luxuries’ come in, for example, the Rose Suite features a four-poster bed, separate living room, double shower with 12 body jets and two monsoon showers, Jacuzzi bath, flat screen TV, DVD player, and other special touches.
But the main attraction to the hotel is the food. The Rose in Vale has held an AA Rosette every year since 2007, and the evening meal was definitely something to look forward to. The restaurant overlooks the gardens and terraces (and a family of almost tame ducks) and the head of restaurant Gary was attentive and efficient (indeed, he and his team recently won first prize in the Cornwall Catering Excellence 2011 awards.) The food was of very high quality, offering generous portion sizes and the menu offered a good choice of options, including a vegetarian dish every day. The highlight for me was the roast butternut squash, filled with Mediterranean vegetables with a blue cheese sauce. It was utterly delicious and I will be trying to make it at home!
New menu
The head chef Colin Hankins heads up the kitchen team, and a new menu is created every day, taking full advantage of the fresh Cornish ingredients from the local area. Everything is homemade on-site, even down to the marmalade for the morning toast.
The proprietors, Sara and James Evans were on hand to offer advice on where to visit or just have a chat to – although very busy with a large and impressive hotel extension. The hotel also obligingly served me some delicious sandwiches in the room after I’d overeaten at Rick Stein’s marvellous seafood restaurant in nearby Padstow.
The high quality of service and food that you get at the Rose in Vale is reflected in its tariffs, but as the old adage goes ‘you get what you pay for’. The hotel already offers its guests a first class stay in a beautiful, luxurious environment, and the new addition to the hotel will only add to its appeal. Its location is also very convenient for exploring the charms of northern Cornwall, with many attractions a manageable distance away.
If you’re looking for comfortable surroundings, a touch of luxury and a delicious dinner, all shared with your furry best friend, the Rose in Vale can certainly offer them all.
ROSE IN VALE HOTEL
MITHIAN,
ST AGNES,
CORNWALL
TR5 0QD
ENGLAND
TEL: 01872 552202