Latest News & Events
POEM for POPPY APPEAL....
Poem sent to us by John Israel - guest.
Please be kind enough to drop a little extra in the Poppy box.....
Posted on 02/11/11 by Amanda Willats
COMMENTS FROM GUESTS IN OCTOBER.....
Thank you to all our guest who choose to come and stay with us. We enjoy all your comments and constructive critisism!
Here is a selection of comments from our OCTOBER guests.
Best B&B in Britain”
We stayed at Harrabeer because we were forced to. Honest - it was as a M&S gift for a night's B&B in a National Park and Harrabeer was closest we could get to Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan. So we tagged on two extra nights, by was that a brilliant decision!!
Bit surprised to find according to TA that Amanda and Michael's perfect retreat isn't the number one in Yelverton - I'd like to see what that one does to outrank Harrabeer Country House which is without doubt the best B&B we have ever stayed in. Over the years we've been lucky and found a few good ones and a couple of greats.
But this is in a class of its own.
Much has already been said in other posts - the wonderful welcome from Tiger the three legged ginger cat. Oh yes and the afternoon tea after the journey from your hosts. Lovely bar and lounge with log fire (if Tiger let's you have a hearth side chair!!) and delightful separate reading lounge. Beautiful bedroom go for the master number 1 well worth the extra tenner or however much it was (we drank that much and more in free teas!!)
Mind you when other bedroom doors were open (and guests not in bed!!) we did stick our noses around a few of them - sorry Amanda meant to tell you!! They all look lovely and well appointed.
Nothing is too much trouble for your hosts, nothing. Mention concern about the walk up the hill to The Rock pub (nearest eatery) or the local Chinese restaurant? Michael's taxi at your service - if we'd wanted a night out in Plymouth I reckon we'd have been driven there had we asked. Going somewhere on a visit - guidebooks and leaflets immediately come out. Take them on the day, not a problem (long as you are coming back that night of course!!).
We didn't eat in as we like to go out evenings (especially if someone else is driving!!) but if dinner chez Harrabeer is anything like breakfast then we badly missed out. Lovely fruit and yoghurts, cereals etc, and the full English is just wonderful. Best black pudding I have ever eaten. Only problem - plates too small for all my extras you know I like to order and cause chaos Michael(!) and bowls too small for the lovely fruit Amanda. Still the exercise walking a few feet to get seconds does you good!!
Miss the "Yummies" orders already Michael and Amanda's wonderful cooking.
The local pubs recommended are great. We tried the Drake's Manor one night, very good steaks, actually terrific for a pub. But the star is the Royal Oak at Meavy, nice twisty turny drive but well worth it and sensational pub food.
We had a great time and would stay again to do Dartmoor and places more linked to Plymouth and Newquay etc. Would (and will) recommend Harrabeer Country House to anyone.
Tip if visiting the Lost Gardens at Heligan which are well worth it apparently ate April/May best. We were incredibly lucky arriving at 1115 just as a guided tour was readying itself for 1130 start planned for 75 minutes. This cost the princely sum of an extra £1.50p each on top of a very reasonable £10 entry fee, and is worth every penny. Ring in advance and check when guide as are available ours was Peter he'd been there 4 years and because there were only 6 of us with him he took us to places visitors normally don't access. We were with him just under 2 lovely hours and he brought the place alive with so much extra info.
Eden Project - different and interesting but in high season must be very slow and difficult (our visit was mid October).
Room Tip: From our nosing around they are all good but the master bedroom is well worth the extra, lovely big character room
Mike and Monica Edwards - Stayed October 2011,
-----------------------------------------------------------------
+ We were welcomed by Amanda who offered us a cup of tea. After we requested fresh milk for our room in the evening we found it freshly delivered every day. Bed very comfortable and breakfasts yummy with good choice and lots of it. Never heard other guests except at breakfast. Michael's recommendations for pub meals spot on! Would definitely come back again.
Nicholas George, Little Kingshill, Bucks (GB). 2011-10-01 (rn: 534587242)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Owners are very welcoming and the hotel is comfortable and more like staying in a family home rather than a modern hotel. The food is always very good and sourced locally.
Steve Poole, Colchester (GB). 2011-10-06 (rn: 796159813)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
+ The owners of the hotel are very accommodating and helpful. Although they haven't received my email with information that I bring my small child with me, there was no problem with anything! When we were leaving I've asked for a portion of a soup that I could take for my little son for lunch and we have not been charged for it. On her birthday my sister received a complimentary box of chocolates and a little candle was placed in her brownie :) The place itself is very pleasant and happy, there are two cats that keep you company and quite a spacious garden, not mentioning a close proximity to Dartmoor with its all attractions. We already plan to come back.
Aneta Duszak, Frimey (GB). 2011-10-08 (rn: 187470589)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
El personal fue muy amable y hacía la estancia como si estuvieras en casa.
La ubicación. Estaba dentro de una urbanización de casas, y se hizo un poco difícil encontrarlo.
The staff was very friendly and the room was like staying at home.
The location. I was in a neighborhood of houses, and became a bit hard to find.
Veronica Gonzalez, Montornes del Valles (ES). 2011-10-17 (rn: 852067650)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Wish we were staying longer – so we’ll have to come back again
Wonderful to have a cup of tea on arrival after such a long journey.
Linda and Paul Marshall 1/10/11
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Lovely to stay where our baby was made to feel welcome too! Nice to see black pudding on the breakfast
Stratford 1/10/11
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Two lovely people, you do it so well! Great deal of information and Royal Oak was brilliant!
Steve and Di Logan 4/10/2011
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoyed our stay. Thanks very much
James Ruxton 12/10/2011
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Excellent. No problems at all
Mick and Jean Craddock 12/10/2011
---------------------------------------------------------------------
We though we would have a good stay but this exceeded our expectations
Dot and Phil Cole 15/10/2011
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Oggie very friendly on arrival followed by Amanda and Michael. Food had very good options and large portions
Helen Owen 21/10/2011
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Looking forward to returning. Thank you for the house tour, Amanda
David and Tina Ferguson 21/10/2011
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Fabulous breakfast. Choice amazing and delicious. Bed so comfortable. Idyllic. Perfect and quiet. Excellent. Will recommend to friends/family
Mr and Mrs G Thomas 28/10/2011
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet a bonus but patchy as warned!
Martin and Mandy Baker 30/10/2011
---------------------------------------------------------------------
A few cobwebs and a dead spider – didn’t bother me but the misses didn’t like it!!! An enjoyable stay – thank you!
Jason Bryant 30/10/2011
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on 02/11/11 by Amanda Willats
BAR REFURBISHMENT 2010-2011
To celebrate Michael’s 60th birthday, Doug’s 21st and that we will have been at the Harrabeer for 10 years in June we decided to take the hammer to the bar, gut it and take it back to its roots as far as was sensible.
At the beginning of December 2010 we cautiously started by peeping behind the melamine cladding and found damp rendered walls, rotted battening and a little dry rot that made us wonder whether we should just leave it all as it was!
However, over the next week or so and with the youthful enthusiasm of Oggie and Doug we continued to peel away the years by removing the last refurbishment of the 70’s armed with hammers, crowbars, screwdrivers, heavy duty dust masks and hard hats. A huge canopied bar (the bar top we were sad to see go as there are Frank Callicott’s forearm hairs trapped in a time warp under the Formica top – now there’s another story!), Formica wall cladding, false ceiling, “Tudor” wall beams, copious amounts of artex and finally an astounding amount of brick, including bricks from the Horrabridge Brick Company, from the fire place to reveal the inglenook fire place. A cleaner’s nightmare – rubble and dust feet deep and two boys that looked like moving grime clouds! After a tremendous attack on the unwanted the wheelbarrow was in and out with one boy or the other racing up the plank dumping the debris into the skip. The poor old vacuum cleaner wondered what had hit it.
There we had the bare bones and exciting finds.
- The stonewall incorporating the fireplace that had been clad with plaster covered with four of layers of different wallpaper.
- The burnt beam from a fire in the 1950’s that straddles the inglenook.
- The wonderful old ceiling timbers that looked like a nest for vipers, which housed a boggling mass of electricity wires and plumbing.
- The slate floor under the false floor.
Wow! We had taken most of the room back a couple of centuries at least!
Now to put it back together!
Whilst gutting the fireplace the first immediate problem was shoring up the burnt support beam that had been badly fire damaged. It had been supported over the years by the various brick surroundings but now required a Willats special metal construction brace which was instigated by the very capable hands of MCW and Tavi engineering – a goodly amount of belt and brace sort of engineering but just the job!
There was brainstorming from all family and thankfully we were all on the same wavelength – mostly! Doug and Oggie worked together famously serenading each other most of the day with distorted silly songs through the dust masks that resembled World War type gas masks, drinking dozens of mugs of tea and consuming matching numbers of bacon sandwiches: true workers traditions for them!
Doug, having the plumbing and plastering skills was put to the test on his first major project whilst Oggie was extreme backup and having to mix huge amounts of render and plaster trying to keep up with his brother’s insatiable appetite for “more pug”. Oggie’s delicate pilot’s hands had blisters the size of 10p pieces when he started but were hardened artisan’s shovels by the end!
Both boys tore their hair out when MCW and AMW who had said they wanted “rough plastering” came in and said, “lovely, that’s certainly what we had in mind but we want smoother rough plastering”!
Through out the whole refurbishment there was only one large error and that was rectified after New Year and MCW’s birthday – the lower wall cladding – it just looked awful - a “brilliant idea” of using laminate flooring – no, this did not look good at all!
All is now completed and we think the results have been stunning. We hope you will too and look forward to welcoming you and enjoying a bottled local brewed beer, a single malt whisky or another favourite tipple with you.
Posted on 28/03/11 by Amanda Willats
TAVISTOCK voted THE BEST MARKET TOWN IN BRITAIN…see why!
TIMES AND DATES FOR
TAVISTOCK PANNIER MARKET
Open Tuesday to Saturday 9am-4pm Many regular stall holders
TUE Crafts, antiques and collectables
WED & THUR Mixed market
FRI Local produce
SAT 1st in month Antiques and collectables
2nd Craft
3rd and 4th Mixed markets
TAVISTOCK TOWN HALL
Open 10am � 4pm FREE ADMISSION
Posted on 10/02/11 by Amanda Willats
The Harrabeer Ode by Claudia Rueck, Germany May 2010 - MANY THX!!
The Harrabeer Ode
Sis (room number 5) and I stayed here
(I’m sure you would have probably guessed)
And after eight days I’d like to tell
What it was that I like the best.
Breakfast at the Harrabeer
With Michael’s yummy toast
Large pots of tea, and marmalade
That’s what I liked most.
No!
Dinner at the Harrabeer
With Amanda’s tasty roast
And chat and laughter at the bar:
That’s was I liked most.
No!
My comfy bed at the Harrabeer
And after a long night’s peaceful rest
After a four hours Dartmoor hike:
That’s what I liked best.
No!
Hospitality at the Harrabeer!
You feel like a friend, not a guest
And this hotel is a home from home.
THAT’S what I like the best.
Claudia Rueck – Mainz/Germany
19th May 2010
Posted on 10/06/10 by Amanda Willats
THE BASKERVILLLE DINING EXPERIENCE
I had my 50th birthday in September and wanted to do something a little special and guess what I certainly found it....!See BASKERVILLE DINING EXPERIENCE website on www.baskervillecarriages.co.uk
Get a party together (not in excess of 10)
BOOK WELL IN ADVANCE as dates are limited. Sylvia Agnew (Lady Frankland) contacted me a month prior to the event with details of menu (for cook, Mrs Hudson) and characters you may wish to assume. This is not obligatory and you could go as you are or make up your own.
The fun started a week before getting outfits together. You really do not have to go to great expense as black tie and long dresses would be quiet suitable.
We hired YELVERTON TAXIS to transport us there and back and awaited the carriage to transport us to Laughter Hole House. A charming little bay called Pasty and the equally charming Perkins turned up in a pretty 4 seater Governess cart. It brought back my childhood memories of our mode of transport......As my mother did not drive, we were at the mercy of our beautiful big, fat, chestnut cob called Jasper, our ride and drive pony, who always felt it his duty to be extremely anti-social as soon as we got into the trap by raising his tail! I digress! There were strange noises in the distance....what could they be????!!
We arrived at the house and met by Tilly, the maid who offered a few "extras" and ushered us into the room to meet Lady Frankland. Champagne and canapés were most welcome whilst we awaited the others of our party and another couple.
Mr Holmes joined us before dinner was announced and the party began! Excellent food, excellent wine and excellent company! I have not laughed so much for ages!
I will not spoil the story but only to say come and stay with us and
BOOK AN EVENING FOR YOURSELVES and enjoy
THE BASKERVILLE DINING EXPERIENCE.
Dates are limited so do book in good time. During the Christmas season they also do DICKENS EVENINGS with a visit from Scrooge and during the summer VICTORIAN PICNICS in the garden overlooking the magnificent scenery.
Posted on 08/10/07 by Amanda Willats
Latest News & Events
Our New Bar
To celebrate Michael's 60th birthday, Doug's 21st and that we will have been at the Harrabeer for 10 years in June we decided to take the hammer to the bar, gut it and take it back to its roots as far as was sensible. Wow! We had taken most of the room back a couple of centuries at least!
Now to put it back together!
Doug and Oggie worked together famously serenading each other most of the day with silly songs, drinking dozens of mugs of tea and consuming matching numbers of bacon sandwiches! Having the plumbing and plastering skills, Doug was put to the test on his first major project whilst Oggie was extreme backup and having to mix huge amounts of render and plaster trying to keep up with his brother's insatiable appetite for "more pug".
All is now completed and we think the results have been stunning. We hope you will too and look forward to welcoming you and enjoying a bottled local brewed beer, a single malt whisky or another favourite tipple with you.