Found in the pretty market town of Tavistock, the gateway to Dartmoor National Park, is the majestic Bedford Hotel where it was said the traditional cream tea was invented! Warm and welcoming, this gorgeous property serves award-winning food all-day long from generous breakfasts to light lunches to three-course evening feasts.
The Bedford Hotel is perched on the edge of Dartmoor which means their restaurant uses some of the finest and freshest local produce straight from the moor. Enjoy the fresh ingredients at Breakfast and have your choice of a delicious cold buffet with fresh pastries and toast or enjoy a hearty Devon Breakfast which is cooked to order. There are also early morning favourites such as whole grilled kipper and succulent eggs benedict. You can also do it like the Europeans and tuck into a plate of cheeses, ham and home-made bread - yum!
Whether you’re arriving at midday or the evening, the lunch and dinner menu has a lot to offer. Take your pick from the nibbles on the menu and have a mock-tapas selection or, for an evening feast, go for the full 3 course-meal. Have your choice of some of the most succulent meat on Dartmoor from treacle cured Howells’ sirloin steak to juicy Dartmoor Venison or perhaps try some local hams and cheeses with the ‘Bedford Platter’ ploughman’s. The Bedford Hotel also serve Sunday Lunch – the menu is always evolving to make the most of the best seasonal ingredients, but you can enjoy a 2-course or 3-course meal of Sunday lunch favourites. Throughout the year, you can also enjoy ‘Jazz Sunday Lunch’; perfect for music enthusiasts or those who just enjoy the smooth sound of jazz during their meal – be sure to check The Bedford Hotel’s website to see when the next Jazz Sunday Lunch is.
For a more relaxed affair, enjoy a traditional afternoon tea right at its very birthplace! It was said that Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford, created ‘Afternoon Tea’ in the mid-1840s when she served Darjeeling tea with sandwiches and cakes to keep the hunger at bay between lunch and dinner. Carrying on the tradition, you can indulge yourself to a ‘The Duchess of Bedford Afternoon Tea’ which consists of a tasty selection of freshly prepared sandwiches, home-baked scones, Hogs Bottom strawberry jam, Devon clotted cream and home-made moist cakes. You can also upgrade your afternoon with a flute of prosecco, plus there is a selection of hot drinks, barista coffees and you can treat yourself to an extra special deluxe hot chocolate.
Perfect for a pit stop before entering the moor and whether you’re after a casual get together or wanting a private dining experience for a special occasion, you are guaranteed a wonderful time at The Bedford Hotel.
Feeling inspired? Have a look through our perfect selection of luxury cottages in Dartmoor here.
The Bedford Hotel, 1 Plymouth Road, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 8BB | 01822 613221 | www.bedford-hotel.co.uk
