Paschoe House, Devon – Review

Nestled in the scrolling hills of the mid Devon countryside you’ll find a unique boutique hotel offering a warmth and charm that is next to none. Welcome to Paschoe House.

Originating as a farmhouse, the Paschoe Estate dates back to the 13th Century. The property was completely renovated and designed by its current owner, Tabitha Amador-Christie around 2 years ago and opened its doors as a 5 star luxury country house hotel in September 2017. No expense has been spared to ensure your stay is a memorable one, from the beautifully designed interiors through to the warmth of the staff. The hotel views are also well worthy of a mention, where you can lose yourself in the surrounding lush green hills and fields. This place is such a find and is open to residents and non-residents to enjoy its absolute glory.

When it comes to accommodation, the hotel comprises nine luxurious, individually designed en-suite bedrooms, each taking the name of a type of animal, with the interiors following suit also. We stayed in Owl, on the top floor, which offered two bedrooms with a Jack & Jill bathroom between them, perfect for a family. Details are in abundance here, with beautiful wallpapers in each room, Nespresso coffee making facilities, an informative hotel information booklet, Smart TV, intelligent lighting, super luxury bedding… I could go on! The attention to detail, thoughtfulness and sophisticated touches throughout have been lovingly made a priority to ensure the guest does not go without anything they desire, from sweet treats to gorgeous Bamford smellies making for an indulgent experience.

With having been renovated just two years ago, Paschoe House still smells shiny and new, and remains pristine from top to bottom. There are four main reception areas, the grand entrance hall and lobby area, Library Bar, Morning Room and Dining Room, then two further storeys of bedrooms. If you get the chance to explore the hotel, you must check out the hidden door in the bookcase on the first floor, our two children found it very amusing and used it all the time during our stay!

On the afternoon we arrived we decided to take afternoon tea, which was served in the Morning Room and we settled down next to the roaring fire. The sense of decadence and history hits you as you admire the tall ceilings and high skirtings along with the grand fireplaces and doors. Tea was served and to our delight we had possibly the finest selection of cakes we’d ever tasted, especially the mulled wine coated mousse, which utterly divine and was a firm favourite. This experience is highly recommended and will provide you just a small flavour of the culinary delights coming your way at supper time.

After a little relaxation in our ‘Sensational’ suite it was time for dinner. We enjoyed an aperitif in the Morning Room and a beautiful amuse bouche was served to whet our appetite. With its three AA rosettes there was no doubting we would be heading for a fine dining feast. The à la carte menu is a mouth-watering alternative to the tasting menu including five dishes to choose from for each course. To start with we opted for the poussin pie with woodland mushrooms and foie gras, and the lobster macaroni served with brown shrimp, sea lettuce and shellfish bisque.

For our mains it was an absolute pleasure to sample the turbot and red deer dishes, everything was cooked to perfection and presented with precision. There is no faulting talented Head Chef, Craig Davies, for his clear passion for cooking and fine dining charisma. To say Paschoe House is worthy of a Michelin star is an understatement, we truly mean it. If you choose to dine here, we would absolutely recommend the tasting menu, which will take you on a culinary journey you’ll simply never forget, and for around £70 per person, we think this is a steal for the uniqueness and quality of this experience.

We finished on a high with sharing the cheeseboard, which offered some superb flavours and strengths. With such deliciously rich foods we were simply too full to embark on the dessert menu, however we will look forward to this opportunity next time! Yes, there will definitely be a next time for sure!

With our excitable children in tow we headed back to our sumptuous suite and very quickly settled into slumber land with cosy, super soft goose feather quilts and pillows, so delightfully comfy.

The following morning, the breakfast was extensive. We loved the way it was presented, with a choice of delicious freshly made pastries, thick and silky yogurt topped with honey, a beautifully fresh fruit salad, as well as a hot breakfast menu, made specially to order. As we mentioned earlier, it’s the details that sets this place apart from others, an example being an arrangement of mini milk bottles, displayed on your table, containing fresh apple and orange juices and milk.

We would like to congratulate Tabitha for having the determination, vision, passion and patience to restore this distinguished building to an incredibly high standard of accommodation. Let’s not forget the incredibly talented chefs who are integral to this foodie experience, as well as the front of house staff who are incredibly warm and attentive. We feel it is the perfect venue to celebrate with friends and family, or for those looking for a romantic getaway to celebrate a special occasion and perhaps even Valentine’s Day, Paschoe House has all the finest ingredients under one roof to make it a romantic affair.

To sum up, if you are a foodie looking for a luxury escape to the country then don’t hesitate to book your suite at Paschoe House. With fine dining and character in abundance you’ll be making memories you will look back fondly on forever.