Bovey Castle in Teignbridge

Don’t even bother. Horrific experience. Lodge had no heating and it was -3 inside. Informed them and they were totally indifferent, we weren’t offered another room or lodge or even heaters or a hot water bottle. We slept in our clothing. Then the roof leaked so they finally moved us to another lodge only guess what…. That had no heating either. I just want to cry and go home. What an awful experience. Nothing 5 star about the place.

We were looking for a Devon based wedding venue to host our special day and keen to do something a little bit different. From the very first moment we visited Bovey Castle, it was hard to imagine getting married anywhere else. Our wedding day in August 2024 went beautifully, and we felt everything just ran smoothly around us, without us needing to worry about a thing. The food, drinks, service were all wonderful and they even pulled out all the stops to make sure our cheese cake did not collapse on a very warm August day! The venue is stunning for photos and the suite we stayed in was absolutely incredible, and made the whole event feel even more special. On the morning of the wedding the housekeeping team could not have been more accommodating, delivering everything from an ironing board to extra towels with a smile. Leah who helped with all the wedding planning, and Duncan who assisted throughout our wedding meal, as well as all staff from the porters, to the bar team and even the local taxi driver, were fantastic. Thank you so much Bovey Castle, and your lovely team, you really helped to make our wedding a day to remember. Clare & David

We went for afternoon tea, whilst the food was good, the service was not. First, we walked through the front door and no one greeted us, despite there being staff members at the reception area, and so we just wandered in looking for our friend who had already arrived. Secondly, they tried to give my friend with a nut allergy scones with nuts touching them, the waitress didn't seem to understand the issue, and it wasn't until I said outright that she couldn't eat them because of the allergy that the situation was rectified. Then we requested more drinks, which we had to chase, when they finally arrived they were wrong but by that point we couldn't be bothered to ask for it to be corrected. At no point after the food was served did any member of staff come and check on us, or ask if we wanted anything else. Finally the waitress just came and gave us the bill (which we hadn't asked for) again without checking if we wanted anything further. At £45 a head, in a 5* hotel, frankly I expected better service

We sadly had a very noisy room which was situated above the restaurant’s speaker system. The music starts at 7am and continues until the restaurant shuts. It’s loud enough that you can make out the lyrics to each song. Whilst it’s obviously an older building with limited soundproof, I’m unsure why they would have such an impressive speaker system right below hotel rooms. We did eventually get moved, but it took many phone calls and an actual request to move for it to occur. Really exhausting trip. If you’re booking the hotel for a rest and relaxation trip, I’d suggest looking elsewhere. The pool and changing rooms were tired and felt a bit grubby. Much better five star experiences at other hotels.

We just returned from a four night stay at Bovey Castle. It was a fantastic experience. We had a beautiful and spacious room overlooking the grounds. It was so quiet, we slept with the windows open. We took advantage of the quiet time of year and enjoyed evenings reading by the fire in our choice of great rooms. We also swam, sauna'd and played Petanque. We did falconry with Martin who was great. He is passionate about the birds and very knowledgeable. And we did clay pigeon shooting with Isaac. It was our first time and Isaac made it so much fun for us. The hotel is stunning, as are the grounds. All of the staff were so friendly and welcoming. The area is equally beautiful with woodland walks on the doorstep. It was a great experience and we highly recommend it to anyone looking for a UK break that will allow you to unwind and recharge.

We had a fantastic two nights at Bovey Castle hotel, and could have stayed longer. The staff were excellent and very helpful. We got engaged and it was absolutely the perfect place to propose.

Came for afternoon tea- service was great and food was great too- would definitely return

Beautiful grounds and lovely rooms. Service was a little hit and miss in the restaurant but generally very good.

We went for a special birthday and 2 of us are vegetarian but there was no vegetarian carvery option. We were told we could have vegetables and roast potatoes but these were cooked in goose or duck fat so not veg. So we could basically have a plate of vegetables. Instead we opted for the macaroni cheese which was a tiny portion of pasta with sauce put on top and came with nothing else. It was quite bland. We had to ask for some vegetables to go with it so we weren't hungry afterwards What made it worse was the roast dinners that were brought out looked really good It made ne feel really unwelcome as a vegetarian diner which was quite a shock given how we've moved forward with plant based food even in basic establishments I thought it was very overpriced The dessert was good and the starter very nicely presented but I would not go back

Lovely stay. Grounds and area are gorgeous. Room was very comfortable and bed absolutely massive. Dinner in smiths brasserie was delicious. The only let down was the pool area, confusing to find towels and the sauna needs a refurb.

❤️Staying in the castle for two nights, I first saw the beautiful 🦅eagle when I arrived at Devon Bovet Castle Hotel

I have been all over the world and have never stayed at hotel that took my breath away more than the Bovey. The intricate manor with idyllic views out of every window creates a fantastical experience from the minute one steps out of their car. All staff members, from the porters, to receptionists, to the gentlemen tending bar are courteous and kind. There are so many activities located on premises as well. I regret only booking one night’s stay and I intend to return!

Stayed as a guest in the past but wanted to swing by to do some work in the amazing communal rooms avaliable to visitors. Had a simple pot of breakfast tea. Always a treat to visit

We had a beautiful meal. There were four in our party and two were pescatarian. There was an Excellent choice of food on the menu, and the drinks were reasonably priced other than a coffee being a little more than most places. There were a number of new staff members on shift which caused a delay in table service and some mix ups in our orders. These service issues were resolved by a lovely member of staff, they discounted our bill by 25%, took off the service charge and gave us three free deserts. It was a wonderful evening and the rectification of the lack of service meant that we would 100% return to have a second experience with them. The grounds are beautiful and the drive way and valet service were brilliant. Very happy with our evening visit. Thank you.

It's easy to lose time in a place like this especially if you bring children! We spent ages in the playroom. It was clean, modern, organised and comfortable. The upper level room had computers and a large TV that my son tried to play video games on but thankfully didn't! We also spent quite a bit of time roaming around the stunning grounds! So yes, bring walking shoes! Highly recommend taking any boxed treats from your cream tea or sandwiches and having a picnic by the water while the kids play croquet! Also, we requested to eat on the terrace and felt that for a family of five it was better suited than the restaurant space. Good to have different choices about where to sit according to family needs.

It was too expensive and stuffy for us. Ok for a golf club, but not recommended for mere mortals.

Birthday treat an 85 minute massage by the fabulous therapist Kelly. A present from my wife as I was a salon owner for ten years and she knew I loved treatments. Highly recommend the Spa, the products by Temple Spa and Kelly. Great birthday gift

Service and location were excellent but £25 for a cream tea (two scones, bit of jam and cream, coffee or tea) is pretty steep.

Greated, seated and the promptly forgotten about. Not the afternoon tea experienced we had hoped for.

When reading this review remember that this hotel advertises itself as a "5 Star Hotel" What's Good: 1. Golf course is 1st class 2. Grounds are 1st class and stunning 3. Dog Friendly 4. Pickup in the Defender 5. Massage was good but very expensive. What's Bad 1. The Staff It was the day of my wedding and I requested a taxi at the reception for 11:30 to the venue. At 1115 I asked if the taxi took card payment, the response from the receptionist was a firm "No". I asked if the receptionist was sure and she replied "yes I'm sure". I replied "Where is the cash machine? To which she replied "Morten Hampstead" and nothing else. Bearing in mind I needed a taxi to get to the wedding venue I pleaded with her to call the taxi company and ask if they could confirm if they took card payment as I currently had no method of transport. She begrudgingly called the taxi firm and guess what, the taxi firm took card payments. No apology and no effort to help me when she found out I had no cash in my wallet. It took me 45 minutes and 3 redirections across the hotel to order a coffee. After being redirected to another part of the hotel I finally gave up and walked into a staff area of the hotel to find someone to serve me. This member of staff then forwarded me onto another member of staff who then took my order. I asked for 1 tea 1 coffee with cold milk and a sandwich to which I got the reply "we don't serve sandwiches until 12, it was 1150 when I made the order. Also I've never heard of a 5 star hotel not being able to make a sandwich at 1150 in the morning, the waiter told me to come back and order a sandwich in 10 minutes, to which I asked if he could take the order and fire it at 12, he scratched his head and said "yeah i guess so". Also the milk wasn't cold but piping hot (burnt). The waiter who took the order was very charming but his uniform was covered in stains, creases and his shirt was untucked. He was a nice enough guy but it looked like he'd been sleeping in his uniform. Ordered breakfast in bed and the only half the order arrived. I asked the staff member if he could bring the full English breakfast up. When it arrived it was 5 items on a plate and nothing else. No cutlery, no napkin, no toast, no butter, no beans, no sauce, no salt and pepper, no tray to put the plate on. The ingredients on the plate weren't even of high quality. My wife's continental breakfast was very basic and the pastries looked like the frozens ones you get from Aldi. After this we gave up with food in the hotel and just stuck with the local pubs. After Sunday lunch in a pub we went back to the hotel for some drinks in one of the lounges. Which was fine, but sadly on checkout the hotel had billed another rooms drinks onto our bill. Great! 😃 👍 At the entrance I asked the footman if he could show me where Bovey Castle was on the big map above the Welly rack. His response, "I don't know" great! 😃 👍 The hotel offer valet parking with a big sign saying "VALET PARKING" by the front door. When my friends who were staying in the hotel pulled up the entrance there was an awkward 15 or so seconds where the footman just looked at him, to which my friend said "shall I just go and park the car?" To which the footman replied " yeah mate, if you could just go and park it round the back on the right hand side" great 😃 👍 I asked for a 6am wake up call and was never given the wake-up call. When asking for the footman for Welly boots in my size, he gave me 1 of the welly boots then walked off, great 😃👍 The Decor The place is feeling tired, with scuffed wall paper, stained floors and wobbly sink taps in the rooms. The Communal Areas They are generally quite nice but the dining rooms feel tired. Overall it was a very disappointing 3 night stay at the hotel. If I could start over I would have spent all that money on one of the beautiful Airbnbs in the area and used the change to eat steak for breakfast lunch and dinner in the local pubs. What a shame as it's such a beautiful building in an idyllic location.

Great birthday treat, friendly staff and clean environment. Stunning scenery, and delicious food. Everything you could want for a special occasion.

Booked in for a bbq with the live music, which just ended when we arrived which was a shame, food ok but was kept warm, so not freshly cooked from Bbq, not great! Hotel seemed and staff great

Food was seasonal, presentation was excellent and wine choice made so much easier with the sommelier’s recommendations. A lovely restaurant with great service.

This place really is class personified. Driving up through the grounds is impressive,and to arrive and find they offer valet parking just sets the scene. The dining room is lovely and beautifully decorated, the service is polite and not at all stuffy for 5 star dining. The food was amazing, little savoury profiteroles to nibble while browsing the menu. All the ingredients were so fresh as you would expect. Our visit was a special occasion , a double big birthday celebration, so we were going to push the boat out. Yes it is expensive but so worth it!

A wonderful atmosphere and superb afternoon tea

Bovey castle, or north Bovey manor, depending where you're from is a truly fantastic place. Excellent staff and decor in a lovely historic building with beautiful grounds. I went for afternoon tea, which was great, but had room for improvement ( being ultra picky) as bread in sandwiches was a little thick cut and heavy and the macarons were lacking bite, but everything else was top notch. Take time if the weather allows to stroll around the grounds and enjoy the atmosphere.

We visited Bovey Castle to celebrate our son's 21st birthday and to enjoy a peaceful weekend away. So we were looking to relax but with a certain amount of luxury and activity. On this front the staff at the hotel delivered in all areas and we departed some reluctance! A big selling point for Bovey Castle is that you're able to stay in a grand country house with vast sweeping views over its estate. This unfolds very nicely as you proceed down the sweeping drive and we never tired of looking out over the grounds and to the moors beyond. Internally the hotel is very striking with its panelled walls, wide staircase, double-height gallery and smaller rooms with ever-present log fires. There's plenty of space to relax, both inside and out, and to enjoy the ambience. If you fancy being a little more active the hotel has a spa and swimming pool, which is very nice, along with a small gym. The latter is fine for a short workout but it is rather shoe-horned into a basement room! Really you'd be better off outside playing golf or enjoying a brisk walk. What really made our stay at Bovey Castle special though was the staff and their willingness to help. From the moment that we arrived they couldn't do enough to ensure that we didn't have to think about anything or do anything that we didn't want to. All of their efforts took place in the background and we just had to move from place to place. One of the places that we moved to was the restaurant where we enjoyed some excellent breakfasts and two delicious evening meals. In the morning you have a small buffet bar and a range of tasty cooked meals while in the evening there's an excellent menu that covers a wide range of meaty dishes. There is also a vegetarian menu (and a kids menu) than you can ask for if required. On the food front we polished off some nicely cooked steaks, a delicious fish stew and even ventured out to a Beef Wellington. There's an extensive wine list to go with these dishes (I recommend taking a look at the hotel's wine vaults) which features some very attractive vintages. It is all at the pricy end of the spectrum but that's rather to be expected here! Finally if you want to get the most out of your time at Bovey Castle then it's worth engaging in some of the many countryside activities on offer. We decided on trying out both archery and clay-pigeon shooting and frankly both were great despite our lack of skill. Our instructors were endlessly accommodating and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. All in all Bovey Castle is a great place to visit if you want to get away from the outside world and enjoy peace, quiet and luxury.

Had a great time here. Fantastic hotel, lovely staff. Loads of space, stunning grounds. Nice pool. Great staff. Good food. Found the main restaurant a bit stuffy, but that’s more us. Food and service were very good. Ate at the other restaurant second night - more casual and also good. Activities on offer were fun.

I've just had a lovely 2 night stay at Bovey Castle and wanted to say thank you to the wonderful staff who made it such a pleasure. In particular, thank you to Paula and Gennaro for looking after me so well for Sunday lunch, which was superb. The room was fabulous and the food in Smiths Brasserie was also excellent. I can't wait to come back.

We had an afternoon tea ,everything was perfect

An exceptional place to stay for a night or longer. The hotel itself is spectacular and the grounds and activities on offer make the everything comfortably contained. We had a few minor issues during our stay but these did nothing to cloud our overall opinion and experience. The food at the GW Grill was excellent as was the service throughout our stay.

Nobody gets back to you and too much red tape if you need anything

An absolutely gorgeous get away with lovely staff. Everyone there made a trip that was to remember. Will definitely be returning!

Beautiful afternoon relaxing in the Spa followed by tea by the fire. We have been here a few times and will definitely be back again.

Me my mum and partner arrived for afternoon tea this afternoon to be greeted by a waitress called avril who was so miserable and plain she just starred at us all like we had 10 heads each and made us feel so uncomfortable from the get go she eventually took us to our table after the stare off and brown nosing and took our orders which she done with a sour look on her face the same when she brought our afternoon tea out then throughout the whole time we was there there was no one to ask for more drinks then when we asked avril to bring us the bill she added on a £17.48 optional service charge on top of our bill without even asking us if we agreed to it or anything !! not until I got home I realised they had done this and I called bovey castle and asked for a refund basically robbing your customers when it’s very overpriced as it is and there wasent really a service provided and what there was of one was very poor!! Our afternoon tea was also tasteless and bland very overpriced for what it was we have had lots of afternoon teas for much cheaper and much much nicer I will not be recommending this place to anyone AVRIL needs to take up a course in customer service awful waitress most definitely in the wrong job!

We have just stayed at Bovey Castle for a two night break. On arrival we were advised that a coffe in the balcony was a good way to see the grounds. It was, but we had to order our coffees twice and when they did arrive they were cold. One of us is vegan and gluten intolerant. Despite advising the hotel of this in advance there was nothing on the menu to suit. However the chef did make a pasta on request. These dietary requirements are not unusual. Our local pub managed to accommodate them but Smith's didn't. The service was below par. One waitress was great. The others poor. Apart from when we were seated we were not asked if we wanted any drinks! Starters were poor. My scallops were almost under cooked and pretty tasteless. Not great for £20. Breakfast was great though. Make the most of it. Afternoon tea was ok. But again suffered from poor service. Had to ask twice for more drinks again! After the issue with the restaurant we cancelled the second night and looked locally. Some great pubs in the local area that cater for vegan and gluten free. Automatic 12% service charge on everything is steep. A gin and a pint of beer cost £29. The grounds are lovely and Dartmoor is great. If you have more money than sense then Bovey Castle is for you.

impressive building with wonderful rooms. We had the tasting menu which was good without being outstanding throughout. The accompanying wines were perhaps a little predictable. Service satisfactory.

Service - for a 5 star hotel, the service in the restaurant was pretty poor. Some staff were great, others less attentive. Very difficult to flag one down when you needed something. Other things unbefitting a 5 star hotel restaurant include 1. the waiter dragging two chairs across the restaurant floor clanging into things, 2. the chef taking pictures of his deserts on his phone in the middle of the restaurant and 3. The waiter telling a family to reconsider sitting outside (in the sunshine and 19 degree heat) “because their food will get cold quick”. Finally, 12.5% automatically added to the bill is plain wrong. A tip wasn’t deserved but it’s embarrassing having to request its removal so had to suck it up. Ambience Restaurant looks lovely, nicely decorated, comfortable etc. We were the first to be sat down, quickly followed by a family which was right next to us. As lovely as the family were, I’m sure we all could have used more privacy especially given the size of the restaurant and how quiet it was. Food - advised in advance that one of the two of us were vegetarian. However, equivalent vegetarian quiche didn’t arrive. When prompted, the waitress just said ‘we don’t have a vegetarian option I’m afraid, just ask for more sandwiches’. I’m sorry but you shouldn’t have to ask for more sandwiches. 20 minutes later a vegetarian roll mysteriously arrived, albeit was welcomed. Afternoon tea was ok. Sandwiches were good, scones also. Cakes weren’t great if I’m honest. Setting Beautiful setting and landscaped gardens. Brambles need tending to around the rhododendrons.

An excellent experience all round. Afternoon tea selection was very good and the service impeccable. Highly recommended

My friend and I came here for a champagne afternoon tea which was a present from my daughter. I have enjoyed the afternoon teas on 4 previous occasions and sadly this one did not live up to the previous visits. There were 3 staff working but it was hard to flag one down when we needed something. These teas cost £50 per person and although the core part of the visit is the food, it should be an excellent and very special experience overall. Attention to detail is important which was where we had to ask for items…. Such as napkins and a teaspoon to eat the little Eaton Mess puddings. The sandwiches were tired when they arrived and exhausted by the time we finished, saving a couple to end on was a huge mistake as they were really dried out. Parking used to be easy but we grabbed the last space I could see by moving a couple of cones and squeezing in. Not a bad experience but sadly, not as good as it used to be. Overall, do I think the 2 afternoon teas were worth my very generous daughter’s £100 ….. no I don’t.

Yummy breakfasts good service , staff very attentive wide range of breakfast foods available and nice

The food at the wedding was very good but drink prices very extortionate £48 and 1 pence for 3 Gin And Tonics how do they justify this .although the barman said forget the penny.

We enjoyed the "Taster Experience" dish after dish of delicious tastes , with the option of a "Wine Flight" with service and advice of the Somellier

Stumbled across this pub when our walking with the dogs from Bovey Castle. Sat outside and had a pint with the locals. Really nice place in a charming village.

We celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary and stay at beautiful Bovey castle. I am impressed since the first time we drove to the entrance. Beautiful entrance in the middle of gold course. We originally looking for nice restaurant to celebrate our anniversary and stay at the hotel and came across this restaurant. We hope could get a table on the 1st night but the restaurant was fully booked. So we had dinner at the other restaurant and book our dinner for the following night. The dinner was impressive. Lots of food and very good services. The food presentation was interesting. I always love to see the food presentation as its one of my main task to check whenever I arrange wedding for my clients. Food presentation is a must and the taste as well. And the way the serve the food will also a matter to make us to feel more excited. The price wepaid for dinner are worth to spend. We’ve got a lot of food. From selection canapes, bread, sorbet and the courses meal. I suggest you to skip lunch or just have brunch, if you would like to have dinner here. You will not regret it. Restaurant staff also very professional. I enjoy fine dinning 😊 Restaurant also look good. We are very satisfied. I can imagine how guests enjoy their meal for wedding reception at this restaurant. It might be a bit slow from the kitchen, but I guess it must be because the cheff try to present the food as best as they could. For some people who looking for fast service, then you might be ready to be patient, otherwise you can go to fast food cafe 😁😁. But for me who looking for good food and enjoy every moment with my husband, then little wait wouldn’t be a problem. I agree that the restaurant only accept limited booking to maintain the services. Good reataurant will not just accept walk-in guests. And good guests must know that good restaurant will work based on reservation and walk-in guests will based on availability. We are soo lucky as when we stay there, so we can get priority to book the table. The weather is nice. It allow us to explore the castle before we had dinner. Thank you for making our anniversary memorable. We definitely will come back.😊😊

Mouth watering, fresh, perfectly balanced menu. Loved it and so did my family. Will be back without a doubt.

Just could not fault the food, service or ambience. We expected a 3 course meal that served up about 7, each one being delicate, but extremely enjoyable.

Lovely meal lots of choice well presented. Staff v knowledgeable and helpful. Was quiet the night we visited

Try the venison and do not miss the chocolate and passionfruit dessert. Well deserved award winning restaurant with great staff and incredible food

We celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary at This beautiful castle. Tried to book a table on our anniversary but it was fully booked, so we book On 2nd night. It was impressive. Lots of food and very good services. The food presentation was interesting. I always love to see nice food presentation. The price we paid for dinner are worth to spend. We’ve got a lot of food. From selection canapes, bread, sorbet and the courses meal. I suggest you to skip lunch or just have brunch, if you would like to have dinner here. You will not regret it. Restaurant staff also very professional. I enjoy fine dinning 😊 Restaurant also look good. We are very satisfied. Thank you for making our anniversary dinner memorable. We definitely will come back.😊😊

As I have stated in my hotel review, we had breakfast here and felt underwhelmed . Limited continental selection, waited too long for drinks and no one responsible for meet and greet. Poached eggs were awful, tasted only of vinegar. Sausages didn't appear premium and hash brown wasn't very nice.

We weren't sure if we should book The Great Western after terrible experience the evening before at their "Smith's Brasserie" in the same hotel, but we were positively surprised. The food at the Great Western was very good. The kitchen was even able to make us a salad course (as we both wanted to have something fresh/green in between). All courses tasted very well, good seasoning, good combination. In addition to the 3 courses you also get additional courses for free..thus overall good value for money at 65£ per person (even in this remote location).

Tonight we enjoyed a fantastic evening at the Great Western where Melo and Dyana took care of everything. Every staff member at Bovey Castle seems to be professional, helpful and so very thoughtful. We truly believe the staff at Bovey make the stay even more special. This has absolutely exceeded our expectations, having recently stayed at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons which is also world class this definitely was equally as brilliant! We look forward to returning very soon. Thanks again to Melo, Dyana and to Bovey Castle for having such a superb team!

For a Michelin Star I was disappointed . Whilst the ingredients were good the choice was somewhat limited and Sunday Lunch disappointing. Service was frankly dismal . We ate in the Restaurant twice as the Brasserie was reserved for a corporate event . Expensive evening meal at 55 quid a head but the red wine was nice. Had another bottle for Sunday Lunch the following day and it was far too cold. So the sommelier just left it on the side and came backm10 minutes or so later and I said just pour it as I can warm it with my hands. Definitely not impressed with this lot. We wanted to eat in the Brasserie one night but it was off limits. So can't comment on that but I wouldn't return to the restaurant as its top end prices and not slick enough. I do not like waiting an eternity to be served as we had to here so nil points.

We went to celebrate our wedding anniversary here with an afternoon tea. The service was impeccable and we were made to feel very welcome. The food was superb - in fact there was so much we took some home! They even made us a little anniversary cake which was really special! The room was comfortable and cosy. All in all a lovely afternoon.

da die Bewertungen doch sehr schwanken. Unsere Entscheidung für eine Reservierung erwies sich aber als goldrichtig. Wir stellten uns das Menü mit drei Gängen selbst zusammen und hatten im Hauptgang einmal Lamm und einmal Rinderfilet. Beide Gerichte absolut top und tadellos mit einer hevorragenden Fleischqualität und sehr schmackhaften Beilagen. Die Vorspeisen in Form einer Suppe (die war eher durchschnittlich) und dem Lachs (sehr gut) konnten nicht ganz mithalten. Aus einer anderen Welt aber waren die beiden Desserts (lime Alaska und Hazelnut & Chocolate Souffle) mit einer sterneverdächtigen Leistung des Patissier. Ohne viel Chi Chi eine geschmackliche Glanzleistung. Die Weinkarte ist sehr gut sortiert, auch im mittleren Preissegment findet man ansprechende Tropfen. Ein sehr schöner Abend mit einem sehr aufmerksamen und freundlichen Service ..nicht billig, aber angemessen.

I had afternoon tea here with my Mum-a real treat.

Ate here one evening while staying in one of the self catering apartments on the Bovey Castle estate. One of our party has quite a long list of food allergies and intolerances which we advised when we booked the table and the kitchen was exceedingly accommodating. The meal comes with additional canapes and "amuse bouche" which were all tailored to meet my friend's dietary needs. Appropriate bread and non-dairy spread were also provided. The scallops with beer battered clams was excellent. I also had poached fillets of Dover sole with a "Veronique" sauce which was bit on the sweet side but still very good. All in all an excellent and an enjoyable evening.

Starter was Lobster and Crab which was excellent with lots of flavours. For main we had Duck, which sadly was very tough although cooked properly and with duck samosa and date consomme. For sweet, both the banana and pecan cake, and rhubarb, ginger and custard were very tasty. In between courses there were some nice extras, and homemade bread. Very good meal with good service, linen napkins and tablecloth, and butter that wasn't frozen. Wines are expensive.

A superb 3 course sunday lunch, excellent quality food and great service. We had drinks in one of the lounge areas before eating and there was no rush to get us to the dining room. Beautiful surroundings and well worth a visit.

We booked the hotel just so we could have a night away and use the AAA restaurant, what an obscene waste of money it turned out for us

The castle looks 5 star and indeed it is but the staff are all warm and friendly. The food is mid range (£18 upward) and exceptional. highly recommend this for a first class eating experience

This is a wonderful place to eat. We had a 3 course Sunday lunch which was cooked to perfection, with the exception of the roast potatoes which were rather over cooked but nonetheless delicious.

We ate here twice on a 3 night stay at Bovey Castle. We expected it to be good and our expectations were met. We had a three course meal but with amuse bouche and pre-dessert course( deconstructed lemon meringue pie, excellent) we felt like we had 5 courses. The oxtail consommé with cauliflower cream amuse bouche was truly excellent and like a starter by itself. We then had Scallops / crab and lobster both excellent once again. Main course of Venison/ Dover Sole Veronique and we both finished with blackberry soufflés. There is an extensive wine list starting from £25 although we had a bottle of Verve Cliquot £75. Although the wine was a bit expensive ( 3 AA rosette in a 5 red star hotel is never going to be cheap,) the meal at a set price for 3 courses of £65 felt like fantastic value. The service was good as it should be as the restaurant was not even half full ( mid week in November). The room itself is a beautiful mirrored Edwardian formal dining room with lit candelabras on every table which creates a luxurious romantic ambience well worth dressing up for.

Very elegant and upscale restaurant that serves tasting menu for dinner. Service was attentive and food was good. Nothing extra ordinary.

When we considered traveling to Devon, as vegans, we were concerned about finding good vegan food. Our concerns were not warranted; at least given that we stayed at Bovey Castle. The manager, Flo and his serving assistant Rita, made our dining experience each night something fit for country royalty. First, you must realize that there is no given vegan menu. It's actually better than that. Every day Flo gave my wife and I a printed bespoke menu for a 5-course meal specifically prepared for us by the chef. The service and the food was outstanding and Great Western holds it's own with the best vegan restaurants we have eaten at during our travels anywhere in the world. If you're vegan you must stay at Bovey Castle; and, given Flo advance notice that you'll be dining at the Great Western. White table clothes and candles, a beautiful room. What more could you ask for? How about a wonderful vegan breakfast. Yes, that was easy too; and also prepared bespoke.

Loved the choices on the menu and the amuse bouches between courses. Good wine list and attentive service. Beautifully lit and decorated room.

Great service Lovely cocktails Delicious food Amazing wine Grand room with lovely view . Enjoy folks

food very fussy and old fashioned- service very slow- lots of people in training - too formal for our liking

I only wish we lived a little closer to this wonderful hotel. Every time we are lucky enough to visit I am blown away by the wonderful warm welcome, the stunning surroundings, the superb service, the delicious food and the friendly atmosphere. The building is so imposing it would be easy to imagine it could be intimidating but nothing could be further from the truth. If you do visit please take the time to explore both the hotel and the grounds, every turn seems to hide another sculpture or another little footpath that seems to lead somewhere enchanting. If the weather isnt as good as you would like dont be put off you will find coats, boots and umbrellas in the entranceway, just another spot on touch. Did I mention how much I love this place?

We had a very enjoyable meal in this very good restaurant.It is delightful in the evening with the candle light, most romantic.We thought that the food was good , I especially enjoyed the venison but the crab and lobster starter was slightly disappointing. All in all excellent and we thought much better that the Brasserie.

We only had one of our three evening meals at Bovey in the Great Western and what a treat it was. The food was excellent and the service exemplary. Definitely worth paying the extra for.

Highly recommended, great selection of dishes catering for most pockets, staff really good, superb service.. will return

Friday afternoon here celebrating our sons 18th birthday. Staff lovely and welcoming. Food delicious. Brought out little petit fours with happy birthday on it and a candle which I thought was a lovely touch. Perfect special little treat.

We had 2 great dinners and 4 breakfasts. The service from the staff was consistently perfect. The manager recognized us by name after the first visit. The food was consistently well prepared and presented. The menu lists all of the allergens, shows which options are vegan, vegetarian and the staff always asked if there were any special needs or allergies just to make sure. One of the best resorts we've been at in a long time

Lovely location and the staff helpful, but the afternoon tea we have booked and advised if in advance that we were vegetarians went a bit wrong. Right lovely drive to the valet parking man. Once inside greeted and we decided to sit outside for the tea.... after a short while we were asked what drinks we wanted, this ordered it was duly served. Not a bad start. Bearing in mind we had already prewarned them at we would like vegetarian sandwiches etc it was almost 45 minutes before the sandwiches were brought out, together with scones and cakes., a nice spread but we had a long journey home of four and a half hours so we were quite anxious to be searven at 1400hrs when we had stated. In saying that the bread had been left out for some while as it was crusty on the top. The roll was also a bit dry. But the rest was nice. We didn’t really enjoy as we were running almost an hour late, so rushed it, we asked for the cakes to be boxed up as we had run out of time. The staff were very nice however and apologised for the wait saying the kitchen did not get the message re the veggie stuff. The hotel and grounds are really nice.

Better than any Michelin starred restaurant. Thank you to Chef and staff, you gave us a memorable evening which we have been raving about since.

Went here for the first time for Sunday lunch,was a very restful experience, great service and lovely food, we were not rushed and the food was tasty and beautifully presented. Afterwards enjoyed a walk around the grounds, would like to try the afternoon tea next time, which looked very good.

Breakfast was amazing, eggs Benedict and full breakfast recommended. Beautifully decorated and staff attentive

I stayed at Bovey Castle (I will review separately) and was booked into the Great Western restaurant for an evening meal with my daughter. To start with the staff were exemplary! They all knew it was a celebration and were so kind and attentive. We had mouthwatering canapes as an appetiser, an amuse bouche, the most fantastic starter of Brixham Crab & Scottish Langoustine followed by Poached Fillet of Cornish Brill. We could not have been made more welcome and the food, as expected was superb. Thank you to all the team!

Superb food superb service. I had the soul which was amazingly good my husband had the ox cheek. Unfortunately we couldn’t eat a dessert but the menu was very tempting.

Our visit was part of our two night stay at above Bovey Castle and we expected the restaurant to be world class. Sad to say that it did not quite measure up. This was not for the want of attention by the staff who were...

A lovely five star break ,service amazing ,rooms delightful ,facilities including spa ,pool ,sauna and activities wonderful .This was a birthday surprise break away ,we also took our dogs ,who were very welcome and had beds bowls and bones supplied .Valet parking ,excellent portering room service fantastic .Comfortable bed “The best bed I’ve ever slept on in a hotel “ luxury espa products in bathroom .We took an additional cost activity archery and shooting and our afternoon was so much fun .....fantastic thanks to Quentin ! Amazing ....I would definatly suggest that this is a wonderful get away also for off roading and shooting plus golf .....but also a great spa .Restaurants were great ! Only one open for two nights butfood was very nice well presented and tasty .The hotel was warm ,comfortable and service excellent ......I would definatly reccomend it .The grounds are well kept and the castle and atmosphere perfect for a relaxing break with things to do for everyone ! The staff were pristine in appearance and very helpful .I look forward to the next visit in this impressive Victorian great western castle .We only ate in two places but all choices were delightful .

Very good afternoon tea. I went twice in a month and preferred it on the day we had it in the Dining Room as opposed to on the sofas in the Great Hall - it feels wrong eating such a big meal sat on a...

Went to breakfast/brunch for our anniversary. Can not fault it at all. We love the building and surroundings. The breakfast both continental and cooked is very good and at £20 very good value for something that kept us full all day. Following breakfast we went for a nice long walk up to the local tor using the guidebook the hotel provide. I can not think of a better start to the day in the devon countryside.

This impressive Victorian got his style stately home once belonging to the W H Smith dynasty now offers a wide...

Our daughter bought us a voucher for a cream tea at this hotel, on arrival it was obvious that there...

Glad we didnt leave the premises to go to Gidley Park for dinner - this was just perfect. Not alone...

The place is not just stunning because of where and what it is, though that goes a long way. It’s...

We went here as part of my Christmas present from my husband as this has always been somewhere I have wanted to go. From the moment we arrived we were treated amazingly by polite, attentive staff who seemed to go out of their way to ensure we were happy. Upon arrival we entered the bar area to have a drink and some canapés whilst perusing the menu. One of the staff then took our order before leading us to our table. We opted for the 'Fillet of Dartmoor Beef Welly' which was absolutely superb. Overall the entire experience from start to finish was incredible and we will definitely be returning.

Well it wasn't cheap but you usually get what you paid for and this was no exception. From the moment we were met by the extremely elegant gentleman at the door who took our case, parked our car and escorted us to the reception to the moment he loaded the cases back into our car this weekend was the best we have ever experienced we ate in both restaurants while on our 2 night stay and they were both of the highest standard in wine, food and service. We also did the sloe gin and cider experience which was great experience as was the eccentric falconry man who hates golfers. Lol. The room was both spacious and of a high standard with additions you don't normally find in hotels. The bathroom had both a large bath and shower with full amenities. The grounds were to die for with walks catered for most people which ranged from 1 hour to 5 hours around the spectacular grounds and surrounding area.

Where to start..... Drinks in the bar where you are pampered with hors d'oeuvres to die for over drinks by a log fire. Then it's the exceptional menu which you can take your time over. No rushing here. After choosing our meals we sit and warm our feet by the fire before being led into the elegant dinning room by an Italian gentleman who never forgot our name all weekend. Food wine and service all of the highest quality. Followed by coffee and brandy back by the open fires.

I thought I would treat my wife and take her for a meal here. I expected to pay over the odds for what turned out to be a very average meal but when I went to pay for it at the bar afterwards, it was considerably more than I had calculated it to be. There were a queue of people at the bar and I felt a little embarrassed to say anything. When I got in my car and examined the bill, there was a 12% OPTIONAL service charge included. No option was offered to me and they just took the money regardless. .Sharp practice in my opinion.. To make matters worse, I had already left the waiter a £10 tip on my table. Will never go there again.

We were at the Brasserie on a Saturday lunchtime. Welcome at the entrance was a bit stilted and could have been smoother. Service for drinks and choices was a little slow and we were not advised of any specials. The food order when it arrived was wrong and had to be partly reissued. Service at that point was average. However one waitress was very friendly and polite. Meals got sorted and then to be fair they were all very good in taste and plate appeal and enjoyed by all, but slight inconsistency in portion size. As it was my wife’s birthday they came out with a Happy Birthday chocolates plate. Nice touch and lovely chocolates.At the end of the meal I was not charged for my fish dish and this was fair in the circumstances. Things just needed to be a bit tighter and focussed in our experience today.

My wife and I had Sunday lunch when on holiday in Devon. As Sunday lunches go this was really excellent. The beef was a lovely cut and beautifully cooked as were the vegetables. Good choice in the menu and all at a very reasonable price. The ambience is great with wonderful surroundings in this beautiful hotel. The service was marvelous - but then lots of staff and not too many customers. Especially impressed by the fact that they have a wonderful gadget which allows them to offer top flight wine by the glass, being able to have just a glass (do not like having more at lunch time) of my favourite Montrachet was areal treat. Will try the evening dinner when next we visit.

We ate here one evening of our two night stay at Bovey Castle. I've reviewed the hotel separately.We were expecting fine dining but we left disappointed. Things started well with a drink and some canapés in the Oak Bar and attentive service from the maître d'. When it came to the food though, things were inconsistent at best.On being seated in the restaurant we were first served an amuse-bouche which was some sort of carrot mousse. It unfortunately had neither a very nice texture nor a pleasant flavour - not a good start. We were then served bread which is apparently baked in house (as you'd expect?). Whilst it was tasty, the quantity was just ridiculous - we were served two whole loaves,obviously not full size but they were substantial. The accompanying butter was far too salty and we found this to be a theme of the whole meal.My starter of smoked mackerel though was very good and my wife's scallops were very well cooked and delicious. Both starters were sensible portion sizes and probably the highlight of the meal.Then came our big, and I mean BIG, mistake. We opted for the "Beef Welly" for two for our main. When it arrived we were a little taken aback. I kid you not, this thing could quite easily have served at least four, and probably even six people; it was enormous. The waitress cut the beast in half at the side of our table and served us half each along with the vegetable sides. As she put down my wife's plate she whispered "good luck"! The beef was very well cooked but the pastry and the surrounding duxelle was not so good, lacking flavour and a little too claggy in texture. The accompanying vegetables were not a pleasant affair - there was a croquette of something which was so salty as to be completely inedible (we advised the maître d' who apologised but offered no alternative or recompense) and the medley of heritage carrots were meh.Our abiding memory of this meal will be the unpleasant over-faced feeling borne of the excessive portion size - we found that extremely off-putting. This did not feel like fine dining, more like a visit to a Hungry Horse establishment.Not recommended.

Staff were excellent and extremely polite. Extensive wine list and superb range of quality spirits. We took Champagne afternoon tea which comprised of excellent assorted sandwiches, cakes, scones, unlimited amounts of tea and of course champagne. The atmosphere throughout our short visit was warming and very friendly but not over the top

Great flavours and creativity at a reasonable price. Our group thoroughly enjoyed chef deciding on a menu based on season. Bravo

A very careful and cleverly prepared evening meal. Expensive but this level of culinary skill isn't cheap. The complimentary 'tasters' and the lovely home baked bread means you'll be hard pushed to eat 3 courses

Sunday lunch and Breakfast in the Great Western Restaurant - dining in style in superb surroundings and the waiting staff very attentive. Our meals were of very high quality and the breakfast choices amazing! Dinner in Smith's Brasserie very relaxed with a good menu choice - again excellent quality of food.