Christmas Party Time......

With a cool winter nip in the air, The Cottage Hotel stoked up their open fire and turned on their Christmas lights this week.  Our function season is now underway and we were pleased to cater for the following organisations:-

• Kingsbridge Blind Club
• Stokenham Garden Society
• National Farmers Union
• Kingsbridge & South Hams Art Club
• Ermington Cricket Club

Groups are welcome to book now for their Christmas Parties. 
For more information on menus and prices, please contact Sarah Ireland on 01548 561555.

Rainbows in Hope Cove.....

Hope Cove has had a bit of stormy week. As a result, we've managed to capture some beautiful rainbow photographs (taken by Narciza Lazar - Cottage Hotel Assistant Housekeeper).

MURDER MYSTERY WEEKEND AT THE COTTAGE HOTEL

MURDER MYSTERY WEEKEND AT THE COTTAGE HOTEL
- 1ST & 2ND NOVEMBER 2013
(2-NIGHT STAY) - LAST MINUTE CANCELLATION!

One Double Bedded en-suite room, with Sea View.
(last room available for this fun-packed weekend!)

Please contact our Reservations Team for more details (Tel. 01548 561555 or Email. info@hopecove.com).

Facebook Special Offer - Sparkling Winter Breaks!

“FACEBOOK SPECIAL OFFER”

SPARKLING WINTER BREAKS

From 3^rd November 

To 22^nd December 2013 inclusive

NEW BOOKINGS ONLY!

2-Night Winter Break

£60.40 per person, per night

En-suite Sea View Room

Including Dinner, Bed & Breakfast (and VAT)

AND

A bottle of Prosecco brought to your room on arrival

To qualify for the “Facebook Special Offer”,

click on the link below and then click “Like” on Facebook

to like The Cottage Hotel Facebook page,

then telephone our Reservations Team on 01548 561555

or

Email us at info@hopecove.com

to check availability and make a booking

(Limited Availability)

LINK:-  “FACEBOOK SPECIAL OFFER”

Another Good Week.....

Another good week for SOLIDstaff.com with lots of new jobs coming onto our site.  Check out this new job:-

Assistant Restaurant Manager, New Restaurant, Dubai

Paint your own Christmas Cards at The Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove

with Roma Widger

15th to 17th November 2013

After morning coffee, we will talk about ways to achieve the cards we want: there will be a demonstration and exhibition of examples. After a light lunch, artists will be able to experiment, then begin painting. Reference material will be supplied, but do bring any particular images that you want to to use in inspire.
Contact Roma immediately if you are interested.

£240pp for a sea-view room (double for single occupancy)
£180pp for a single rear-facing room
£220pp for a shared double room

After morning coffee, we will talk about ways to achieve the cards we want: there will be a demonstration and exhibition of examples. After a light lunch, artists will be able to experiment, then begin painting. Reference material will be supplied, but do bring any particular images that you want to to use in inspire.

Tel: 07896 708 031 or 0117 924 1930, or email widger@blueyonder.co.uk

Autumn Weather......

This week has brought some exciting weather to Hope Cove, with some dramatic stormy skies and rolling waves.  With the summer over and the evenings drawing in, why not cheer yourself up and come out to the Cottage Hotel to sit and relax with a nice morning coffee or an afternoon cream tea and watch this impressive weather (including some brave surfers) from the comfort of one of our lounges.

A New Resident at The Cottage Hotel......

If you're lucky enough to catch a glimpse of this little chap hopping around the grounds (and checking his pocket watch) at The Cottage Hotel, he is actually a wild rabbit and has joined the rest of the wild rabbit population within Hope Cove.

Hope Cove Weekend (Fun for all the Family!)......

24th-26th August 2013 - The Hope Cove Weekend offers three days of good old fashioned family fun with everything from children's races to children & family sandcastle competitions. Live music, and food and drink, sustain visitors through a lively yet relaxing weekend.

A Successful Summer Fair......

The Cottage Hotel hosted the Hope Cove Life Boat Summer Fair on Thursday 8th August 2013.  A great day was had by all and we managed to raise over £3,000 for the Hope Cove Life Boat Charity.

We would like to express our thanks to everyone who not only attended but contributed to the fund raising, as well as all those who provided various stalls and entertainment in our Restaurant and Cove Room.  Of course, a big thank you to Jill Beavis who organised this wonderful fund raising event.

Hope Cove Life Boat Summer Fair.........

Next Weeks' Local Summer Events........

Tuesday Night is Music Night at the Cottage Hotel Hope Cove from 6.45pm to 9pm
Enjoy the varying sounds of keyboard, harp, flute or saxophone with the Sterry family.


Saturday 27th July - Salcombe & Hope Cove Lifeboat Guild - Charity Stall during Kingsbridge Fair Week
Ann Thompson (Events Secretary) 01548 843946

27th & 28th July - NATIONAL TRUST OVERBECK'S SALCOMBE - Big Bug Hunt 11.00am - 4.00pm.
Join the National Trust Rangers to hunt the beautiful grounds of Overbeck's garden on the salcombe Estuary for bugs & beasties. Also discover the weird & wonderful creatures hiding in the pond.

4th-10th August - SALCOMBE REGATTA

On and off the water, there are many things to do during this week:-

• Bang & Go Back Races on Sat 3rd August

• Fun run, coffee & croissants, Fireworks, pasties, Harbour Swim, chilli chocolate, Fancy Dress, crab sandwiches, Spot the Bloomer, Cranch's sweeties, Mud Race, fish & chips, Sandcastle Competitions, Salcombe Dairy ice-cream, Treasure Hunt, pain au chocolate, Childrens Sports, milk shakes, Slippery Pole, crepes, Crossword Competition, cream teas, Crabbers Race, cocktails, Torch Light Procession, glass of bubbly, Something in the Air!!!

• Latest news for Salcombe Regatta

Fireworks on Thursday 8 August at 10.00pm
Harbour Swim on Friday 9 August - registration at 7.20am

This Week’s Local Summer Events……

The Cottage Hotel welcomed the Kingsbridge Flower Club this week for an open Coffee Morning and flower arranging demonstration.  Several of the guests and organisers went on to enjoy a 2-Course Bar Lunch or Cream Tea on the Sun Terrace.

Roma Widger's ArtHoliday - 18th-23rd July 2013

On Thursday this week, we shall be welcoming Roma Widger’s Art Group to the hotel.  Budding arts will have the opportunity to paint and sketch in the beautiful Hope Cove sunshine!

 

Saltram Summer Jazz Picnic – 20^th July 2013

The National Trust in association with Plymouth Jazz Club present their Annual Jazz Picnic Bring a picnic and listen, dine and dance to the music of two great Traditional Jazz Bands in the beautiful grounds of Saltram House.

Kingsbridge Fair Week - 20^th - 27^th July 2013

This is an annual event for the whole family!  With Carnival Procession, Raft Races, Road Runs, Stars In Your Eyes, Tag Rugby and of course, the Fun Fair!  There will also be local bands playing on the Quayside throughout the week, as well as a Lantern display and Fireworks.  Programmes can be purchased from the following locations:-

Martin McColl, Fore Street, Kingsbridge

Martin McColl, The Promenade, Kingsbridge

Kingsbridge Tourist Information Centre

Tesco’s, Kingsbridge

Ilbert Road Filling Station, Kingsbridge

Ashby’s Easy Stores, East Charleton

A Bit of Local History.............

Beside the bar is a cabin made from the timbers of the Herzogin Cecilie, a clipper that ran aground on the Ham Stone in Soar Mill Cove in 1936. This beautiful ship had won the famous 'Grain Race' but in this case her cargo let her down. Seawater entered the hold and the swollen grain burst her apart. Luckily no lives were lost. Some of our regular residents remember going to view the wreck when they were children. Enterprising farmers charged one penny for the use of their land for viewing!

“No completely satisfactory explanation has been found for this large windjammer to find herself so many miles off her course.  Foggy conditions were prevailing in the Channel on the dreadful night of 25^th April 1936; miscalculations of one kind or another may have played a part in this tragedy but the captain had already had experience of bringing the ship up the Channel on one previous occasion.  There were thirty-one people aboard at the time of the misfortune and most of these were taken off by the Salcombe Lifeboat at about 8am on the Saturday morning, the 26^th April.  The lifeboat returned in the afternoon and stood by as the sea had become too rough for it to get along side the Herzogin Cecilie”.

The Loss of the Herzogin Cecilie – Arthur L. Clamp

Things You May Not Know About The Cottage Hotel & Hope Cove……

Hope Cove Lift Boat

The first Lifeboat was stationed at Hope Cove on 28^th February 1878.  Many of the present day Auxiliary Coastguards are descended from the original coastguard families.  Today’s Hope Cove Lifeboat is a completely charitable organization. 

The Hope Cove Lifeboat

The Reading Room (“The Fisherman’s Reading Room”)

           

Now over 100 years old, owes its foundation to a widow’s wish to honor the memory of her husband and her philanthropic desire to provide a place of relaxation and learning or the Fisherman, Coastguardsmen, Lifeboatmen and Men of Hope.

The Reading Room

St Clement’s Church

Over 140 years old and was originally built as a Chapel of Ease for those who found the journey to St Andrew’s at South Huish too daunting.

St Clement's Church, Hope Cove

South West Coastal Path

The Coastal Path lies literally at the bottom of The Cottage Hotel driveway. and has some fantastic views over the sea and surrounding countryside.

South West Coastal Path

Herzogin Cecilie

Beside the Main Bar at The Cottage Hotel is a cabin made from the timbers of the Herzogin Cecilie, a clipper that ran aground on the Ham Stone in Soar Mill Cove in 1936.

Herzogin Cecilie

The Comic Strip “Supergrass” Movie

The Comic Strip filmed most of their comedy caper “Supergrass” in the village of Hope Cove.

The Emperor Heile Sellasie

The Emperor Heile Sellasie was accommodated at The Cottage Hotel during some of his period of exile.

Iron Age Hill Fort

Bolt Tail, Hope Cove is capped by an Iron Age Hill Fort.

Music Night at The Cottage Hotel.....

http://www.hopecove.com/hotel-events/summer-music.php

Roma's Second Art Holiday for Summer 2013.....

AT TANFIELD - ANNEX TO THE COTTAGE HOTEL

August 3rd to 8th 2013

 

 

Would you like to join Roma Widger's Art Holiday, staying at Tanfield, annex of the Cottage Hotel,in its magnificent position above the pretty and secluded fishing village of Hope Cove?

Tanfield offers beautiful views; it is a few minutes walk from the sea; and is reserved for the use of our party. This means we are able to come and go as we wish, and if the weather is too hot or damp, work inside, group together in the evening etc. We will dine in the Cottage Hotel each evening,

 

http://www.hopecove.com/hotel/food-drink.php

 

The holiday has a full programme of activities and is inclusive of half board, but not alcohol or materials.  Total beginners are welcome, as well as more experienced painters, and tuition will be available in all medias, with proposed projects and exercises, a group activity and talks. Should the weather be poor there will be provision to continue under cover, and although artists need their own basic art kit, there will be an opportunity to borrow and buy materials from Roma.

The holiday will be led by me, Roma Widger. The cost of the Hope Cove holiday is £420, for six days and 5 nights, sharing either a twin or double a room. For a single room, there will be a supplementary charge so the cost will be £450.

 Non painting companions are welcome. There will be ample opportunities for their enjoyment, and they will be counted in for meals and excursions.

 

 

Contact Roma immediately if you are interested.
£100 deposit ensures your place on this holiday.

 

Tel; 07896708031 / 0117 - 9241930 or widger@blueyonder.co.uk

Local Wildlife......

Summer has finally arrived in the South West and with it comes all kinds of local wildlife; such as Badgers, several different species of Bat, Herring Gulls, Basking Sharks, Otters and Dartmoor Ponies.  Hope Cove has its own selection of wildlife; such as Grey Seals, Dolphins and Porpoise, various rock pool marine life and due to the villages’ rural location, a large population of wild Rabbits.  And, as one guest recently pointed out, in the warm summer evenings (usually between June to August), you can also see Glow Worms in Hope Cove!

 Herring Gulls

 Dartmoor Ponies

 Grey Seals (the seal pup was actually born on Hope Cove beach!)

 Spider Crab

“The Kiln” Have Lunch on the Beach…….

Through the summer months, The Cottage Hotel opens the doors of its ice-cream bar, “The Kiln” (this is located at the bottom of the hotel drive-way, just by the beach).  We serve several different flavours of Yarde Farm Ice Cream (made in the West Country with real fresh cream, real fruit and of course, the finest quality natural ingredients), as well as Ice Lollies, Ti Amo Filter Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate and soft drinks.  Snacks are also available, such as freshly prepared Sandwiches (made to order at The Cottage Hotel - between 12noon and 2pm and served at “The Kiln”) including Hand-picked Local Crab, Fresh Scottish Salmon, Westcountry Prime Roast Sirloin of Beef and many more!  And for those chillier days, try a cup of our Home-made Soup of the Day. On the lighter side, we also serve Home-made Dark Fruitcake, Chocolate Brownies, Crisps and Biscuits.  Come and have a English Sea-side Summer experience!

 Hayley Coates - ready to take your order at "The Kiln"

Time for Tea.....

What better way to spend a warm and sunny afternoon than sitting on one of the sun terraces at The Cottage Hotel, both of which over the sea, as well as the beautiful village of Hope Cove and it’s golden sandy beaches.

Treat yourself to Afternoon Tea (served all day):-

Pot of Coffee/Tea and Biscuits (per person) £2.75

Devonshire Cream Tea – Two Warm Scones, Clotted Cream, Strawberry Jam and a pot of Tea (per person) £5.95

Tea with Home-made Fruit Cake – One Slice of Moist, Rich, Dark Fruit Cake with a pot of Tea (per person) £4.30

The Sweet of the Day (changes daily) £5.00

Yarde Farm Ice Cream (Clotted Cream Vanilla, Honeycomb Delight or Chunkie Chocolate) £4.50

Sandwiches (freshly made with a choice of brown or white bread):-

Home-cooked Cornish Ham £5.25

Cream Cheese and Cucumber £4.50

Finest Scottish Salmon (locally smoked) £6.85

Food Glorious Food.....

Our Head Chef, Edgar Rodrigues and his kitchen team have created some delicious new dishes this year using fresh local produce.  We have our 2-Course Set Lunch Menu (at £10.95) and our extensive bar menu individually priced, served Monday to Saturday inclusive and our Dinner Menu (2-5Course, between £20.95-£29.95) as well as a Traditional 3-Course Sunday Lunch (at £17.50).  Not forgetting our Devonshire Cream Teas, Full English Breakfasts and Morning Coffee.

Grilled Sardines with a Cherry Tomato Salsa

Pear and Blue Cheese Salad with Walnuts

Braised Lamb Shank, Roasted Shallots, Garlic and Rosemary, Red Wine Jus

Grilled Whole Plaice with a Prawn and Parsley Butter Sauce

A Selection of Sweets from the Trolley

 

A Successful Week......

The Cottage Hotel has had a rather successful week – we were awarded a Grade 5 (Very Good) for Food Hygiene “Scores on the Doors” from the Food Standards Agency and Martin Hesp (from the Western Morning News) wrote an article in the newspaper regarding the Hope Cove to Salcombe section of the South West Coastal Path “it is one of Devon’s finest bits of coast” (to read the full article, please visit the Western Morning News’ website, by clicking on the link below).

http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Views-good-character-novel/story-18889254-detail/story.html

Spring has arrived to Hope Cove….

We’ve enjoyed some beautiful weather this week in Hope Cove, with glorious sunshine and warm sea breezes. The primroses are in full bloom within the hotel grounds and the crystal clear waters around our beaches have never looked more inviting. Check out our hotel webcam around sunset – we promise you will not be disappointed with the view!

South West Coast Path Association – Charity Cream Tea…..

The Cottage Hotel was proud to take part in the South West Coast Path Association 40th Anniversary charity event yesterday. £100.00 was raised by walkers and guests at The Cottage Hotel who enjoyed our complimentary Devonshire Cream Teas. The funds will be donated to the South West Coast Path Association to help with improvement projects to the coast path. We would like to say thank you to Liz Wallis and her team for organising the event and also convey our thanks to John Sterry who kindly provided the musical entertainment which contributed to the relaxing atmosphere. Finally, we would like to say a big thank you to all those who made donations and indeed all those who took part in the Great South West Walk.

The Great South West Walk......

THE SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION IS CELEBRATING ITS 40^TH ANNIVERSARY

You are invited to the Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove
on 18^th April 12.30 -2.00 pm

There is a 35 day event commencing on 3^rd April 2013 to 7^th May 2013, with a series of daily guided walks covering the entire 630 miles of the South West coast path, each walk lead by a local expert. Further information can be found on the Associations website, www.greatsouthwestwalk.co.uk

Everyone is invited to either join in the whole walk or just a small part of it, along with celebrating the 40^th anniversary, there is also an opportunity to raise funds to help improve the path which gives us all so much pleasure.

The Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove is offering all Great South West Walkers and anyone who just wants to join in the celebration, a complimentary cream tea with tea/coffee in the hotel restaurant, from 12.30 - 2pm. The hotel restaurant and terrace, overlooks the coast path and Bigbury Bay, John Sterry will be providing musical entertainment while you enjoy the celebration cream tea and panoramic views.

Please telephone the Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove on (01548) 561555  and reserve your space, there is no charge for the event, however there will be a collection box and any donations will be given to the South West Coast Path Association.

Spectacular Seas.......

Despite the mixed weather in Hope Cove this week, our guests have taken advantage of our warm open fire and Devonshire Cream Teas, sat back and watched the large rolling waves crashing against the rocks on Hope Cove Beach.  Check out our hotel webcam on our website - with the high Spring Tides, the sea has been truly amazing to watch.  If you’re lucky you might catch a glimpse of a seal or two playing around in the waves – they adore the big surf!

We had a walking group staying at the hotel this week, which braved the elements and enjoyed the stunning views from the surrounding cliff-tops on the South West Coastal Path.

The Blessing of the new Hope Cove Lifeboat…..

The blessing of the new Hope Cove Lifeboat took place on Sunday 31^st March 2013.  The service was performed by the Bishop of Plymouth.  The charitable trust, Hope Cove Life Boat, provides rescue cover for Bigbury Bay and complements RNLI cover in the area.  To view the BBC News Devon article and photographs, please click on the link below:-

Arcticle and Photographs of the Blessing of the Hope Cove Lifeboat

The Great South West Walk.....

THE SOUTH WEST COAST PATH ASSOCIATION IS CELEBRATING ITS 40^TH ANNIVERSARY

You are invited to the Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove
on 18^th April 12.30 -2.00 pm

There is a 35 day event commencing on 3^rd April 2013 to 7^th May 2013, with a series of daily guided walks covering the entire 630 miles of the South West coast path, each walk lead by a local expert. Further information can be found on the Associations website, www.greatsouthwestwalk.co.uk

Everyone is invited to either join in the whole walk or just a small part of it, along with celebrating the 40^th anniversary, there is also an opportunity to raise funds to help improve the path which gives us all so much pleasure.

The Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove is offering all Great South West Walkers and anyone who just wants to join in the celebration, a complimentary cream tea with tea/coffee in the hotel restaurant, from 12.30 - 2pm. The hotel restaurant and terrace, overlooks the coast path and Bigbury Bay, John Sterry will be providing musical entertainment while you enjoy the celebration cream tea and panoramic views.

Please telephone the Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove on (01548) 561555  and reserve your space, there is no charge for the event, however there will be a collection box and any donations will be given to the South West Coast Path Association.

A Memorable Week…..

This week has indeed been a memorable week for the Cottage Hotel and the Ireland Family, with the christening of William and Lucia’s son, Maximilian Alexander Ireland at St. Clements Church in Hope Cove.

Earlier in the week some of our hotel guests were fortunate enough to see a large naval battleship sailing close to the shores of Hope Cove.  It was an impressive sight to see the scale and detail of the ship from The Cottage Hotel lounges.

A Wintery Week......

With much of the UK under a blanket of snow earlier this week, it was unusual to find a dusting on the beaches of Hope Cove.  Sadly, it didn’t last long enough for us to capture a photograph.  Temperatures are slowly rising again and the daffodils are just starting to appear, ready for the warmth of spring.  The Cottage Hotel hosted the 40^th Anniversary Luncheon of the Silverhill Women’s Institute this week and will welcoming Kingsbridge Twinning Association for their annual lunch this Sunday.  With only a couple of weeks left of March, why not take a last-minute break at The Cottage Hotel and take advantage of our Winter Tariffs (for further details, please contact our Reservations Team).

This weekend (the 1st & 2nd March 2013), The Cottage Hotel is hosting its ninth Murder Mystery Weekend with the cast of “Murders Assured”.  The title of the production is “Murder with Moonshine”.  With a murderous Country and Western theme, folks and critters alike better scurry!  As our murder weekends are so popular, we are also hosting another Murder Mystery Weekend on the 1^st and 2^nd November 2013, please contact our Reservations Team for more information.