The Horn of Plenty

Gazing over a glorious expanse of the Tamar valley, The Horn of Plenty has garnered praise for gastronomic excellence since it opened as a restaurant in 1967. A hotel since 1985, it outgrew the original Victorian house, to occupy the coach house, then a new ‘coach house’ annexe. Dual-aspect house room 3 is a favourite, with a balcony, roll-top bath and walk-in shower. Coach house rooms have more contemporary styling. Sought-after room 11 has bifold doors to a west-facing terrace overlooking the walled garden. One reader whose room had ‘a sideways view over a sloping field’ noted without rancour that ‘most others probably had a better view over a lovely valley, best seen from the restaurant’. There, Ashley Lewis’s menus feature dishes such as pan-roasted sea bass, mussels and sea vegetables. ‘Food and service were good’, with ‘friendly and welcoming staff’. A dog’s dinner awaits your four-legged friend on arrival, while you might treat yourself to a Devonshire cream tea. New owner Jeremy Vincent says he plans to keep everything much the same, but with ongoing refurbishment. (Tony and Shirley Hall, Anthony Bradbury, and others)