Green King has recently disposed of one of their well known Hotels, The Dartmoor Lodge. Situated at Ashburton, Devon it is close to the Dartmoor National Park and provides en-suite accommodation, home cooked food, a good selection of real ales and function and conference facilities. The business was acquired by licensed property specialists Stonesmith in an “off market transaction” on behalf of retained clients Trevor and Di Crouchen.
Trevor and Di are highly experienced operators and have moved to the area with their children. Previously they ran the Manor at North Perrot and before that were general managers at the Great Western Hotel in Exeter, both of which were sold by Stonesmith.
Trevor and Di have already started to make their mark by bringing operations up to their high standards. Externally they are totally redecorating and will be constructing a new patio seating area. In the meantime they are improving the gardens and plan to landscape them next year.
Internally they have redecorated the function and conference rooms, providing up to date facilities for private and business parties, meetings, weddings, christenings, etc along with full conference and exhibition services. With the web site www.dartmoorlodge.co.uk up and running, Trevor and Di hope to promote all of the facilities at the lodge including the bar, restaurant and letting accommodation. Whilst the business has a good level of repeat and hotel trade Trevor and Di are keen to re-establish some of the local and neighbouring trade.
Trevor and Di have retained the hotels chef, who has 14 years experience at The Dartmoor Lodge. Having previously worked within the restrains of a pub company she is excited by the challenge of developing new menus. Already they have introduced traditional and seasonal English menus with fresh, home cooked food. They have sourced their produce locally including a local butcher whose meat is from a family farm close by. The day starts with breakfast from 7.30am and leads on to a lunchtime and evening menu, with snacks available throughout the afternoon. Whilst they have continued the traditional Sunday roast Trevor and Di will be re-introducing the popular Sunday carvery. They also plan to introduce wine evenings and themed nights and are already taking bookings for Christmas lunches and dinners.
To complement the meals there is a new selection of fine wines to suit every pallet, but one of Trevor’s passions is Real Ales. Over the years he has been recognised for his high standard of Real Ales. He has accolades in the past from CAMRA and is already being supported by South Devon CAMRA for his present 4 Real Ales.
The letting accommodation is all en-suite and in time, will be totally upgraded. Presently Trevor and Di are converting some of the letting rooms into private accommodation whilst still retaining some staff accommodation. They now have 22 rooms ranging from the usual singles, doubles and twins, to family and four poster rooms, enabling them to offer various packages to suit every need..
Stonesmith report “The sale of this freehold business was a confidential off market transaction, sold for a substantial undisclosed sum. This is one of several confidential sales concluded by us in the last couple of months and is further proof that the South West leisure market is not all doom and gloom”.
