Combe House Devon wins Condé Nast Johansen award for Innovation in Sustainable Hospitality
Last updated 11/14/2009 3:00:40 PM
A luxury rural boutique hotel, Combe House Devon, near Exeter has won the coveted Condé Nast Johansens UK and Ireland 2010 ‘Most Excellent Innovation in Sustainable Hospitality’ award for the hotel’s focus on sustainable projects over the past ten years.
The awards are based on responses from guest nomination forms and survey reports, plus the judgement of Johansens’ regional inspectors who visit the hotels featured in their most recent guides. They were presented on the 9th November at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower in Knightsbridge, London.
In making their assessment Johansens’ judges described the Grade I Elizabethan Manor as being in a beautiful, natural setting with great food and being ‘green’.
“Over the past two years the owners, in addition to creating a bat habitat, have restored the extensive Victorian kitchen gardens, greenhouses and potting sheds to the highest standards,” commented the judges. “This home grown produce ensures that their two Master Chefs of Great Britain talk in food metres rather than food kilometres.”
Hidden in a secluded valley surrounded by a 3,500 acre wooded estate, Combe was acquired and refurbished by Ruth and Ken Hunt some ten years ago. The Johansens commendation follows the hotel’s recent Green Tourism Business Scheme silver award.
Highlights of other green projects recently undertaken at Come House include the creation of the Thatched Bath House alongside the House for Thinking, a thatched folly in the woodland gardens, and re-introducing Tom Putt’s cider (circa 1757) using apples from the hotel’s ancient orchards. Work is also continuing with the restoration of the Victorian Potting Sheds, Georgian Orangery and another large Victorian walled kitchen garden; around 50 free range chickens are to be introduced into the apple orchards.
Delighted with their award, Ken Hunt said, “Restoring Combe House and its grounds has been a labour of love shared with our team, local artisans and, of course, Charlie the gardener. Their enthusiasm to restore it to its rightful place for all to appreciate has given Combe a very strong foundation from which to grow naturally.”
Accommodation at Combe is in 15 luxurious bedrooms and suites plus a beautifully restored cottage for two with its own walled garden at the entrance to the mile-long drive. Prices start from £175 B&B per double/twin room per night.
www.combehousedevon.com
www.johansens.com
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