Plumber Manor
In the same family since it was built in the early 17th century, this manor house in Thomas Hardy’s ‘vale of little dairies’ has a timeless appeal – but change has been afoot. More
Good Hotel Guide Review
In the same family since it was built in the early 17th century, this manor house in Thomas Hardy’s ‘vale of little dairies’ has a timeless appeal – but change has been afoot. Bedrooms, in the main house and a converted barn, have been updated, as avocado bathrooms fade from memory, and some now have a bath and super walk-in shower. Not that loyal fans should fear: the look remains traditional, the welcome warm as ever, from Alison and Richard Prideaux-Brune and their Labradors, with the ambience of a much-loved home. Interiors are furnished with antiques, the gallery is still hung with ancestral portraits. Richard’s brother Brian continues to cook alongside head chef Louis Haskell, serving traditional British fare. At night Richard tours the dining rooms, making sure that diners – including ‘lots of locals’ – are enjoying their wild mushroom millefeuille, lemon and rosemary chicken, or brill with orange and chives, from a short but varied menu. ‘Wine very reasonably priced,’ writes a reader. The waiting staff are ‘lovely and very efficient’. In all, a ‘very pretty house, nice gardens, lovely planting’.
Hotel details
Address
Sturminster Newton
Dorset
DT10 2AF
England
Telephone
01258 472507
Bedrooms
16. 10 on ground floor in courtyard, 2 suitable for disabled.
Open
all year except Feb.
Facilities
snug, bar/lounge, dining room, gallery, in-room TV (Freeview), civil wedding licence, 14-acre grounds (3-acre garden, tennis, croquet, stream), EV charging, restaurant, lounge and toilet wheelchair accessible.
Background music
none.
Children
all ages welcomed, cots £10, extra bed £20.
Dogs
allowed in 4 courtyard bedrooms (no charge), not in main house bedrooms or public rooms.
Credit cards
MC, Visa.
Prices
B&B doubles from £180, singles from £130. Fixed-price dinner £38–£45.
Other reviews
Good Hotel Guide articles about
Plumber Manor
- Britain magazine: The 10 best British country house hotels
- Britain Magazine: 10 of Britain’s best historic hotels
- The Independent: Britain’s best historic hotels
- Huffington Post USA: Historic hotels in England you have to visit
- The Standard: 10 of the best dog-friendly hotels in the UK
- The Independent: Top 10: Dog-friendly hotels in the UK