Chocolate Week with The Belfry at Yarcombe

The Belfry at Yarcombe
Yarcombe, Near Honiton, East Devon, EX14 9BD
Telephone: 01404 861234
 

The lovely Belfry, restaurant and rooms sits, in the little village of Yarcombe, surrounded by the beautiful, rolling Blackdown Hills. The hotel is a converted 19th-century school - all flint walls and huge, mullioned stained-glass windows - but the Belfry’s tranquil and laid-back atmosphere couldn’t be further from its educational heritage.

The six en-suite bedrooms, all named after famous poets, are light, airy and stylish. Three enjoy those incredible stained-glass windows - the Coleridge room is particularly stunning - boasting views out over the village and towards the countryside beyond. Comfy beds are made with crisp white, cotton linen, while the bathrooms have L'Occitane toiletries, bathrobes and huge, fluffy towels. Lots of little touches, such as CD players, home-made biscuits, free wifi access and fresh milk and fruit juices are the icing on the cake.

Downstairs, The Belfry’s lovely little restaurant - once the infants’ classroom - is a cosy place to enjoy a mouth-watering evening meal. Owners Sarah-Jane and Neil make great team and are superb hosts. Local products and home-made deliciousness make up the vibrant and super-fresh menu, with British classics given a global twist and puddings to die for. The kitchen team (that’s Sarah-Jane) is small enough that guests are asked to order their food in advance and there’s just one sitting for dinner, but the effort is more than worth it. Breakfast (which can be ordered there and then!) is also fabulous - sausages, eggs and bacon from the local farm shop, kippers from the Dartmouth Smokehouse and home-made marmalades and jams.

Throughout Chocolate Week, the Belfry will be serving mini bars with coffee after dinner, and dark chocolate desserts on the menus including Rich chocolate brownie made with Divine 70% dark chocolate served with pistachio ice-cream and a Rich chocolate Torte made with Divine 70% dark chocolate and Morgans Spiced Rum.