The Lifton Hall Hotel blog

Romance in the air

2010-02-15T00:09:00.003Z

Although Valentine's Day was a Sunday this year, which isn't always the best of days for celebrating, we managed to make sure there was plenty of love and romance going round.

We spread the luurve and had Valentine's Meals on Saturday night, Sunday lunch and evening. The highlight of the weekend wasn't the delightful raspberry and passion fruit pavlova built to share (which was devinely yummy), no this year the highlight was a marriage proposal (and acceptance) - right in the middle of the restaurant!!

Well done and many congratulations to Gavin and Kirsty - a lovely couple. Have you thought of a venue for the wedding? I know a really lovely little hotel . . .

New year - new website

2010-02-10T23:40:00.004Z

Hello and welcome to 2010. I know it's well and truly here now and that you're probably wondering what I'm going on about - it is February after all! But, this is my first blog of the year, so I'm reserving the right to wish you all Happy New Year.

I must apologise for the severe lack of postings to the blog over the last few months. My only excuse is that Christmas got in the way. That and I had flu! We had a very busy festive season, and although early on it looked as if things may have been quieter than the previous year, we managed to break all our records! We had a lot of fun too along the way, and certainly managed to enter into some of the festive spirit . . . (I'll say no more!)

This last few weeks have been spent tweaking our new website, which I hope you like as much as we do. This site has the facility for me to update regularly, so be sure to stop by every now and then to see the new stuff. Please take a few minutes to have a look around the site and let me know what you think - there's a contact us page for any comments. There are still a few things I need to add and a couple of minor changes to make, but on the whole it's ready - and raring to go!

We're also developing a Newsletter, which will go out quarterly - so you won't be bombarded with emails if you sign-up.

I remember, long ago, promising to do a series of 'Then & Now' blogs, with pictures of the hotel before and after we'd refurbished. I still intend to do these - hopefully over the next few weeks.

All that remains is to wish you all a great 2010 and hope to see you soon!

Christmas is here!

2009-11-15T00:45:00.005Z

Well, would you believe it. Christmas came a little early this year. I know it seems to get earlier every year, but early November?

Tonight, Saturday 14 November, we held our first Christmas Party. A great bunch of driving instructors, who all seemed to have a lovely evening. But, I have to say it did feel a little odd laying-up with crackers and sparkly napkins.

At the Lifton Hall Hotel we do a lovely Christmas Party. I've organised enough office parties and know what it's often like. Throughout December groups of office workers are squashed into small spaces and served, mass prepared food that has had little thought in its design. Service is usually poor and drinks are expensive. I've often advocated taking your Christmas Party in January, when all the hoards have gone and normal quality and service are resumed.

But not at The Lifton Hall Hotel. We do things differently. We never squash groups into small spaces. They are difficult to serve, if nothing else, and not conducive for a good night. We always carefully plan our menu. We also, more importantly, always carefully and elegantly prepare the food so that each dish looks stunning and tastes delightful. And to top it all off, we don't charge an arm and a leg for the privilege.

We still have some places left for Christmas Parties, so if you've yet to book yours give us a call - 01566 784863. This year we have two dinner dances and a murder mystery night if you fancy something a little different from the standard (but lovely) Christmas Meal. Further details are on our website or you can ring us.

Have a great Christmas . . .

More from Halloween

2009-11-07T11:26:00.005Z

Here are a few more photos from last week's halloween party for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Many thanks to Matt for the snaps.

TCT Halloween Party

2009-11-02T13:48:00.004Z

The Lifton Hall Hotel Halloween Party for the Teenage Cancer Trust was lots of fun. We managed to raise over £500 for the charity - so a BIG thank you to everyone who came along and helped to make the night so memorable.

Here are a few snaps of the staff before the night kicked-off. More photos to follow of the guests. Enjoy!

Three years . . . feels like ??

2009-10-25T19:10:00.006Z

Amazingly we've just passed our three year anniversary at The Lifton Hall Hotel. We arrived on a particularly wet 23 October, back in 2006. Looking back it seems so long ago, almost another time.

We've done so much and achieved so much during these three long years and it's not until we stop and really think back to how it was in the beginning that we really appreciate how far we've come.

I remember the first time we had guests in the hotel - two singles - and how timid we were about everything. We wanted to attend to their every need, when all they wanted was a meal and a bed for the night. I also remember our first Saturday night when we had a table of six booked in the restaurant - how we ran around thinking we were very busy. And now, how we moan if we do less than 40 on a Saturday!

Now that we've been at The Lifton Hall Hotel for three years I thought it was good opportunity to look back at some of the things we've changed, and hopefully improved. I thought I'd start with the outside of the hotel. Strictly speaking we didn't change the colour of the hotel, the previous owners did (thank goodness), but we have greatly improved the look by adding window boxes, new umbrellas, better signage and a lot more plants and colour.

Over the next few weeks I'll highlight some of the other areas we've improved. If I can remember I'll mention when the changes were made. And I'll always try to include some before and after photos . . .

TV crews everywhere!!

2009-10-23T16:53:00.006+01:00

It seems that we've developed a bit of a reputation. For no apparent reason we have become a favourite haunt of TV crews filming in West Devon and East Cornwall. Each crew denies passing on our details to any other, but still more and more crews come.

It all began during our first year when one of the brats that had attended Brat Camp was filmed for the programme. She came from Launceston, so Lifton was probably an obvious place for the crew to stay. The same crew returned a few months later to do a follow-up - again we were a logical place to stay.

Next we visited by a crew filming Escape To The Country - complete with the very charming Jules Hudson - who were filming around the area. They filmed inside and outside of the hotel, which was very exciting and even made it to the finished programme!

Our third film crew was for Country House Rescue, along with their presenter Ruth Watson (the hotel inspector). They've been three times now as the programme progresses. Shortly after their first visit we had a second crew from Escape To The Country - this time with the very lovely Alistair Appleton. During CHR's second visit we also had a crew filming a BBC documentary. And during their third stay we were overrun by a production crew making a new advert in Launceston for a national bank. The BBC crew also returned for a follow-up visit as well as another crew making a religious film in the area!

Phew!

Maybe we should edit a short film using all the snippits shot here at the hotel. We'd have quite a few minutes now . . . although perhaps not our 15 yet!

Halloween

2009-10-18T12:55:00.003+01:00

This year Halloween falls on a Saturday. What greater excuse did we need to throw another of our legendary parties? Some of you may remember my blog about last year's party - and tried to forget the photos!

This year we're throwing our party to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust. This charity has been close to our hearts this year so we thought it would be good to give something back! All the proceeds of the ticket sales and 5% of the night's takings are going to the charity. Plus, I'm sure there will be some kind of raffle too!

We hope to raise as much as possible for the TCT and it would be great to see you there. Tickets are £5, which includes entry and dancing - and they're going quickly!! We'll be selling snack food on the night - BBQ burgers or similar - and of course our usual range over the bar, including two surprise guest ales that are suitably spooky!

If you aren't able to make it on the night, have a Happy Halloween, and watch out for the vampire nun!

Water, water everywhere . . .

2009-10-04T12:44:00.007+01:00

. . . but not a drop to drink!

We really like water. Living in Devon, with some of the best coastline in the country, and probably some of the highest rainfall, we've come to love water in all its forms. However, not everyone around the world is so lucky.

At the hotel, every time someone requests a jug of tap water we make a small charge. Then, every six weeks or so we donate this money to the charity WaterAid, who are working to bring drinking water and sanitation to some of the world's poorest countries. We hope that by asking for the donation we're helping to raise awareness of the plight for water that some people have to face. It's probably not a well known fact, but approximately 5000 children die every day from diseases caused by unsafe water - that's one every 15 seconds!!

It's really amazing what the charity are doing around the world, and amazing how much difference even a small donation can make to people's lives. Please take a look at their website for more information.

This month we've managed to donate £43.50, which rises to over fifty pounds when the lovely people at the government give back the tax. So, well done to everyone who's asked for a jug of water . . . keep on drinking!

Busy, busy

2009-10-03T16:01:00.003+01:00

My apologies, but it's been over a month since my last post. This is partly due to the fact that we've been very busy and I've had hardly a moment to scratch my nose (not that I'm complaining), and partly due to the fact that my laptop has recently died, cutting me off from any late night blogging.

Since my last blog we finished decorating Woodstock and have been using it a lot. The room is looking lovely now and we've had some great feedback on it. I have some before and after pictures to add as soon as my laptop is repaired.

The last three months have been our busiest ever. Each month busier than the last. I'm not sure if it's that more folk have stayed in, or visited the UK this year for their holidays, or because our reputation is spreading. I like to think it's predominently the latter, but perhaps it's a bit of both. We've had some more great reviews on Trip Advisor, which I know lots of travellers look at before booking.

Blogs coming soon . . .

Water, water everywhere
TV crews R us!
Halloween charity party
The Lifton Hall Hotel has Christmas all wrapped up

Catch you again later - and I promise not to leave it a month next time!!

Woodstock

2009-08-29T10:57:00.003+01:00

Well, it's changing rooms again at the Lifton Hall Hotel. And this time the room was well overdue for a make-over . . .

We only have a few of the rooms to decorate now. Rob, Sarah and I decided to pick one each and to be responsible for the colour scheme, updating and generally project managing it all. It's Rob's turn at the moment and he chose to decorate Woodstock - on of our twin rooms. (Woodstock is one of the names we're going to change!)

As always we allow ourselves as little time as possible to get the job done. All of our rooms are booked on Wednesday next week, so we need to be finished by Monday (Tuesday at the latest) to allow the room to air properly. The room's refurb has involved moving the main room door and sound-proofing the wall that backs onto reception.

It's a little odd now that the door is in a completely new place. Going in is alright, but leaving the room I have to think twice about which direction to take!

Rob is doing a marvellous job and most of the painting is done. Just a wall to paper and then putting everything back in place. Should be finished in time . . . (fingers crossed!)

A little clue

2009-08-25T09:43:00.002+01:00

I've been trying to think of a way to give you a clue to tonight's BUSTER round. With £115 at stake I don't want to make the clue too obvious, but on the other hand I don't want to be too obtuse either. So, here goes . . .

The round this week is in the style of other BUSTER rounds in the past. And this week it's highly appropriate to people living in the area!

There we are. Good luck!

Jackpot alert

2009-08-20T09:42:00.004+01:00

It's Pub Quiz Night again this coming Tuesday. The jackpot lives on and is now a huge £115. If I remember, early next week, I will post a cryptic clue to the BUSTER round I have planned where you can scoop this amazing prize. I could give you a clue now, but that would give you too much time to think about it!

If you don't already know - quiz starts at 8pm in the bar. We charge £1 per person and encourage teams of no more than 4. You get a snack to nibble on at half-time, and we serve our full menu if you fancy something to eat before or during the fun. The winning team get a prize, as do the losers. It's lots of fun (well I enjoy myself) and not to be taken too seriously!!

See you on Tuesday - and look out for the £115 clue!

What's in a name?

2009-08-17T21:50:00.004+01:00

Those of you who've stayed at The Lifton Hall Hotel will know that our rooms all have names. They're the names we inherited when we moved in and generally people seem to like the fact that the rooms have names and not just numbers.

However, the names we have don't appear to have any relevance to anything to do with the hotel, the village, Devon, or anything (that we've been able to determin). There are theories about how the 10 rooms acquired their names, but the bottomline is that the names seem random and irrelevant.

So, we've decided to change them and after much deliberation we've plumped for famous Devonians. Which of the array of the counties celebrities we pick is still to be finalised, but there are plenty to choose from, ranging from Sir Francis Drake and Agatha Christie to Jo Pavey and Beryl Cook.

It's not quite as simple as deciding on some new names - although that's been quite a mission in itself. Each room's door has a brass name plate that has to be replaced. Each room also has a key fob (and a spare) that, again, need to be replaced. On top of that our on-line booking software uses the room names, and we have internal procedures, paperwork and years of experience of the old names to change. Nothing too difficult, but lots of different things to think about.

Changing the names of the rooms will allow us to have more ownership. It will also allow us to 'theme' the rooms, very slightly, around each of their namesakes. I'm really excited about this new development and will keep you posted. Perhaps I should create a poll to pick the top ten Devonians . . .

Drinking locally

2009-08-15T10:07:00.004+01:00

We always try to stock locally produced drinks in our bar. Currently this includes beers, lagers, ciders, water and a range of soft drinks. Sadly, we don't yet have any locally produced wines.

Two new editions to our range this week are Luscombe's Organic St. Clements and Old Moors Cider with Blackberry, both which come from Devon.

We've been selling a few of the Luscombe drinks since we first arrived in Lifton (nearly 3 years ago now). We really like them and they've all proven to be popular alternatives to some of the more commercially known juice-style drinks. Their St Clements is a welcome addition to our range of Hot Ginger Beer, Strawberry Lemonade, Raspberry Lemmonade (my favourite with a shot of gin!), and Apple and Pear Juice, which won a Great Taste Gold Award in 2007.

We've only recently started stocking Old Moors from The Devon Cider Company. They make a range of different ciders and the one flavoured with Blackberry is really lovely. We already sell their Pear Cider, which I have to say is far nicer than another well known Irish brand.

If you have any suggestions for other locally produced drinks (or foods for that matter), please let us know.

Tree-surfing

2009-08-09T09:43:00.007+01:00

In our mission to find new and exciting things to tell you about, that you might like to do, in the area of the hotel Rob and I went tree-surfing this week. What's tree-surfing you might ask? Basically, it's climbing high into the tree canopy, swinging on ropes, crossing walkways and descending zip-wires.

Tree-surfers has been open for only a few months and already proving to be very popular. They describe the attraction as an

"incredible treetop eco-trail [that] transports you to the truly awesome
canopy of one of Britain's prized woodlands."

"Test your limits, and get a natural high. A complex of ladders, rope bridges, zip wires and walkways gives you the freedom to explore our astounding native broadleaf trees from the top down... and all in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Don't just get close to nature. Be part of it."

Rob's not great with heights, but you soon forget how high up you are. We both felt totally safe all the way round the course, that took us about 2 and a half hours to complete. It's fairly strenuous but lots of fun - as our pictures show.

Summertime

2009-08-03T23:59:00.003+01:00

Summer's here! And to celebrate, our Tuesday Night Food Club this week is a BBQ. Yes, I know the weather forecast isn't good, but the good old British spirit will see us through!

We're not insisting on everyone sitting outside. No, only Rob (the chef) will need to go out if the weather is inclement. But, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the sun will make an appearance - even if it's a brief one!

The BBQ is fully booked, but if you fancy coming along to any of our other food nights, drop us an email (relax@liftonhall.co.uk) or call 01566 784863 for more info.

White lines

2009-08-02T12:16:00.003+01:00

I'm very happy. After months of searching for the right person for the job we've finally had the white lines repainted on our car park. I know, I'm very sad to be so excited about this.

Our car park isn't huge - I think we can fit in about 18 cars - but it works best when everyone parks considerately. Unfortunately, without prescriptive white lines, this wasn't happening. Well, now it will . . .

As well as the standard parking lines we've added a disabled space and the words 'WELCOME' and 'GOOD BYE'. It all looks great and has lifted the look of the car park, which had begun to look a little shabby!!

Warning

2009-07-31T10:35:00.005+01:00

I've received the following in a a couple of emails and thought you might find it amusing.

Do you suffer from shyness? Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?
If you answered yes, ask your GP about a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. It can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell th eworld you're ready and willing to do anything. Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache and a desire to sing karaoke.

Warning

The consumption of Sauvignon Blanc may make you believe you are whispering when you are not.

It may cause you to tell your friends over and over again how much you love them.

It may create the illusion that you are better-looking and smarter than others.

Of course, we sell a lovely Sauvignon Blanc . . .

Quick quiz update

2009-07-29T14:48:00.003+01:00

It was the pub quiz last night. A new team won the overall quiz - Grandma's Guess - so well done to them. The booby prize went to one of our regular teams, but I won't embarrass them by naming them! Although they came last, they do get to have the Joker at the next quiz, which entitles them to double points in a round of their choice.

The BUSTER round, with the jackpot, wasn't won. As a result the jackpot increases to £110 for the next quiz, which is on Tuesday 11 August.

If you fancy coming along and joining in the fun and games, please do. We start the quiz at about 8pm in the bar - although it's advisable to arrive earlier than this to get a table!

What do you think?

2009-07-27T16:34:00.003+01:00

If you read this blog did you know that you can leave comments? There are different ways to add your comments, depending on where it is you read the blog.

If you're looking at the blog on the main hotel website you can add your comment about my latest rambling, by clicking any of the titles. This will take you to the main blogging site, where you can add a new comment by clicking 'Post a comment' under the number of comments that have been left.

If you follow the blog via the blogger site simply click where it says how many comments there are (just under the particular blog text) and follow the instructions.

You don't have to be a member, or even to leave your name - you could use a nickname. It would be great to get some feedback and to make the blog (and our website) more interactive.

If you visit the blogger site you'll see there's a question running, that has a few days left to go. I'm trying to get a feel about who's reading the blog - so if you've got a spare minute please "place your vote"!

Cheers!

Bonus ball

2009-07-20T16:22:00.006+01:00

One of the things we do in the pub of the hotel is a weekly bonus ball game. It's not an original idea - I've certainly seen it done in a few pubs near us. But it is a bit of fun and we also use it to raise some cash for charity.

For those who possibly don't know what its all about - the game is based around the Saturday Night Lotto draw. Each week pub regulars, guests and staff alike, buy a number between 1 and 49 for £1. If their chosen number matches the bonus ball from the Lotto draw they win the prize fund. The fund is made up of all the £1s minus £5, which we give to charity every week. If no one has picked the number then the fund rolls over to the following week.

The charities we're supporting are:

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust

Devon Air Ambulance

Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Thank you to everyone who continues to play and to support these great charities.

It's raining, it's pouring

2009-07-18T00:50:00.002+01:00

If you've ever wondered why Devon is so green and luscious, it's because it rains so much! The last few days have been testament to this - BIG TIME!

I don't want to give the wrong impression, because it doesn't rain all the time - probably no more than lots of other places in the UK. It is slightly warmer, however, which may account for the extra, greenness!

Despite all the rain in the last few days, Devon remains a beautiful place to live in and to visit. I've lived here nearly 3 years now and the rolling hills and wild landscapes never cease to amaze me. I may be driving a road I've often gone down, and turn a corner that I've travelled time and again, but every time it's different in some way - more spectacular, more beautiful. It's not often that we stop and appreciate our surroundings, but living in Devon I try to do just this - every chance I get.

The jackpot lives on

2009-07-16T09:57:00.002+01:00

At the quiz this week the Buster Round was all about books of the old testament. I gave the names of 12 books and the teams had to say if they were old testament or not. One team got 11 right and were so close to winning the £100 jackpot they could almost taste it!

For the next quiz, in two weeks time, the jackpot rises by another £5.

I'm sure everyone things I try to make it hard so no one ever wins. Thing is, I can't make it too easy as lots of teams will win. So I try to pick a subject that only one team will win - which is really difficult to do. I really thought one team would know their Bible!

No one understands the pressure I'm under . . .

100 and not out (yet)!

2009-07-13T19:32:00.005+01:00

Back in May I wrote about the jackpot in our pub quiz, which had reached the princely sum of £85. The rollover jackpot lives on and tomorrow's quiz sees the prize swollen to an amazing £100! A ton! A century.

As always, to win the jackpot teams have to answer all 12 questions correctly. And, also as usual, the Buster Round (as I call it) is never easy.

The last quiz occured while I was away, so to make sure that no one won the jackpot (then £95), I set a real stinker of a Buster. I compiled a list of 12 different hormones and teams had to guess which part of the body they came from! I'm sure there must of been a few groans when that one was announced!!

As to this week's Buster. Any clues? All I'll say is it's about a lot of old books - most of which I haven't read!

Liquid sunshine

2009-07-10T17:16:00.005+01:00

No this isn't a rant about the lack of summer weather today - I have faith that the sunshine will return. No, Liquid Sunshine is the name of one of our up-coming guest ales.

At the Lifton Hall Hotel, probably the best seller over the bar is our real ales. Our 'house-beer', which happens to be from Devon, is Otter Ale. It's a lovely malty and fruity beer from the Otter Brewery near Honiton. We've tried a few of their different ales, but Otter Ale was the most popular - hence it's now our regular ale.

We rotate our guest ales every week or so. We always try to buy beers from the South West - Devon or Cornwall - and there are some great beers to chose from. We also think its important to support local businesses and to reduce our carbon footprint by keeping our 'beer-miles' low!!

Liquid Sunshine is a new beer from St Austell Brewery in Cornwall. They have an impressive range of ales, so this new one should be good. Be sure to drop by and try a pint!!!

Sweet music from Holland

2009-07-09T18:34:00.004+01:00

We get some really lovely guests at the hotel. People come from all over the world. Some are new guests who we get to know for a few days only, others return every year and we've begun to build more of a relationship. Getting to know our guests and chatting with them about their lives is one of the things I really enjoy about being a hotelier.

This last week we had a couple staying from The Netherlands who were a really lovely couple - plus they really loved our hotel! It wasn't until their last day that I discovered that Jan is a harpsichord maker, and a very good one at that! His website shows some of his amazingly beautiful instruments, and I'm sure he won't mind me letting you know all about his work. If you have a minute please take a look. The site allows you to listen to some very relaxing harpsichord music, which I have done on quite a few occasions recently.

Out and about from Lifton Hall

2009-05-30T08:33:00.008+01:00

Rob and I were lucky enough to have two full days off together this week. We ceased the opportunity and headed out for some well needed R&R. Unfortunately, on the first of our days out it was raining! Not to be stopped we headed West in search of a couple of National Trust properties - always a good option when it's wet.

We're lucky, in the South West, to have an abundance of NT properties to choose from. Rob and I have been members for a number of years, but it's only since moving to Devon that we've begun to make use of our membership.

This week we visited Trerice and Lanhydrock. Both properties are worth a visit - Lanhydrock is perhaps the slightly better of the two.

Trerice is an Elizabethan manor nestled among some of Cornwall's best countryside. In the main hall they have reproduced artifacts that you can handle and examine - including some chain-mail and a helmet! The manor was once owned by the Arundell family and its rooms are furnished in an Elizabethan style and a delight to walk around. Being half-term there were extra activities organised for children - including making your own camera-obscura or brass rubbing (which Rob and I did). At the front of the house sit two granite lions that once were to be found in the grounds of a hotel in Lifton. We understand that they once sat either side of our main entrance and were only returned to their rightful place in the 1970s. We're investigating this further - and I'll let you know what I find out.

Lanhydrock is a huge country estate. There are beautiful gardens (although we didn't walk around them) and a fabulous late Victorian manor house. Parts of the house date back well before Victorian times, but a fire destroyed most of the house in the 1880s, and was rebuilt in a Victorian-style. Walking around the house was like stepping back in time to an era when life was truely 'upstairs' and 'downstairs'. I found myself imagining whether I'd be scrubbing out in the scullery or sat taking afternoon tea with the ladies of the house!

As always, both NT properties were well organised, had friendly and helpful staff and provided a reasonably priced tea-room/restaurant. I'd highly recommend either for a visit - whether it's raining or not!

Your starter for 85 (£s that is)

2009-05-25T12:16:00.006+01:00

Every two weeks at the Lifton Hall Hotel we have a pub quiz. It's been running now for about two years, every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 8pm.

The main aim is for people to have some fun - I certainly do as the quiz master!

Every week there are 6 rounds, each of a dozen questions. We always start with some general knowledge, just to get everyone warmed up. There's always a picture round during a short interval - when we serve some free nibbles. We often have a music round to finish off the quiz, that might include classic tracks, or TV show theme tunes, and perhaps some classic movie sound bites. Each of the rounds has a theme to it, such as the colour red or mothers, but the questions are varied and may include reference to sport, films, history etc etc. It's rare for there to be a complete round about one subject - that way if it doesn't happen to be a subject you're familiar with (or even like), you have some chance of getting a few questions right.

We have one team who win a lot! They know who they are (so does everyone else) so I won't mention them by name, other than to say that their name resembles the back end of a chicken! They must of won 9 times out of every 10 - so well done to them, and try harder everyone else!

One round we have each week is called the BUSTER. It's the round where you can win the cash, but because there's a prize worth winnning you have to get all 12 questions right, and of course, they're harder. The kitty always starts at £25 and rises by £5 everytime it's not won. The kitty currently stands at £85 for the quiz on Tuesday 26 May. No clues about the theme this week - but I think the BUSTER may again go unwon!

If you fancy coming along for the quiz you'd be very welcome. We try to keep teams to a maximum of 4 people - and it's a £1 per person to play. It's always worth arriving early as the bar can get busy with regular teams grabbing their favourite tables.

Elite Wings fly in

2009-05-06T10:10:00.009+01:00

The May Day bank holiday weekend was a busy weekend at the hotel as we were fortunate enough to receive a second visit from some of the members of Elite Wings - A Honda Goldwing Motorcycle Touring Club.

The club first stayed with us in October 2008 when they visited Jethro's and had such a great time that they booked to come again while they were still with us. We were very happy to have them back, as they're a great bunch of people and lots of fun! Not at all what you'd expect of a group of bikers! :)

As the photos show, members of the club all ride Honda Goldwings. They make quite an impressive spectacle lined up outside the hotel or touring down Devon's winding country roads. Visit their website for more info on the club - and if you fancy joining.

We'd be more than happy to hear from other groups of enthusiasts who might want to stay here in delightful West Devon. The hotel is a great place to base yourself for touring a wide area of Devon and Cornwall, and there are loads of super things to see and do. We're also very easy to get to as the hotel is about a mile from the A30 - although it could be a million miles away as we're so quiet here. We can offer comfortable rooms, great food and drink and a very warm welcome!

Going green

2009-04-22T14:34:00.006+01:00

It's World Earth Day today so I thought I'd write a little about the 'Green' things we do at The Lifton Hall Hotel. I'm even writing in green!

We think it's really important to be as environmentally aware as possible, and we try to look at everything we do with at least one 'green eye'. We're currently waiting to be assessed by the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

Recycling has become part of our daily routine. We also try to use recycled products, such as paper and envelopes. We currently recycle:

paper and cardboard
glass
plastic
ink cartridges
some food waste.

We have a rolling-programme to replace all of our light bulbs with low-energy alternatives. This hasn't be as easy as you might think. We have a number of chandeliers with candle bulbs that are controlled with dimmer switches. Most low-energy bulbs don't dim! And I have to say it, most low-energy candle bulbs are less attractive than they could be. Needless to say, we found some suitable bulbs in the end.

Our new flat screen, digital TVs have a built-in standby mode that, unlike many appliances, uses next to no energy.

We're lucky that all our radiators are fitted with thermostats so that the heat in each room can be controlled individually. We always turn them down when there's no one in the room. Unfortunately, however, we're unlucky as we're a grade 2 listed building which means we can't have double glazing - so some of our windows are a bit drafty. However, each room has heavy, lined curtains that help to keep the room warm.

Were at all possible we source our food stuffs and products locally, helping to keep down our food miles. We make this a feature of our Tuesday Night Food Club where the price is under a tenner, and the main ingredients of the food come less than 10 miles (where possible).

We now do a lot of our laundry in-house. This allows us to reduce our laundry miles and helps us to keep all the bed lined and towels clean and fresh. We encourage guests to reuse the towels and only to ask for fresh ones when really needed.

We encourage our guests to save on the amount of water they use and have begun to fit water saving shower heads that mix air with the water. This uses up to 75% less water without compromising the shower experience. We've also fitted 'hippos' in the toilet cisterns to reduce the amount of flush.

We're looking into the possibility of installing other energy saving devices around the hotel. Solar tubes to heat the water would be great, but complicated as we're a listed building - not necessarily impossible though.

If you have any other suggestions of ways we could help to save the planet - we'd love to hear them.

Relaxing in West Devon

2009-04-08T18:22:00.004+01:00

The sun has been shining here in Lifton. It's still a little chilly first thing in the morning and last thing at night, but on the whole things are looking up. The Spring flowers are blooming. Birds are twittering away and busy nesting. People are smiling . . .

We've been relaibly informed that 2009 is going to be a good year. One of our regulars in the pub heard from a friend, who caught the end of a radio programme given by a specialist in long-range forecasting, that the summer was going to be long and hot. Apparently it has something to do with sedum rooves (don't ask me what) and that the specialist in question has predicted two wet summers followed by a hot and dry one. All of us here at The Lifton Hall Hotel have our fingers crossed . . .

To encourage the weather to be good we're offering some special Summer Deals on accommodation. During July and August we're giving away rooms.

Book 7 nights and only pay for 5, which is a massive saving of over 29%.
Or, if you'd prefer a shorter visit (can't think why) you can book 4 nights and only pay for 3 - a 25% saving.

Of course, these offers are subject to availabilty and based on our standard room rate. Call 01566 784863 or email to book. Our web based and totally safe, booking service can also be used.

So, if you want to be part of the summer this year and not kicking yourself, stuck behind a desk looking out at the glorious sunshine - be sure to book ahead. And don't forget your bucket and spade . . .

Strictly Come Dancing comes to Lifton

2009-03-31T16:40:00.003+01:00

Sadly not the BBC TV programme, but lots of fun nonetheless . . .

For the last few weeks we have been hosting dance classes at the hotel every Monday night. Willing novice dancers have been strutting their stuff around our dining room and learning how to salsa, jive and do the Argentine tango. They've been admirably taught by our resident dance teachers - Paul & Jean, who teach all over Cornwall. We've developed quite a band of regulars who do all three classes and a few who do one or two.

We're having a short break for Easter, but classes resume on Monday 20 April at 7.30pm. There will be just the two classes for this new session - salsa from 7.30 and then Latin from 8.45. Each class lasts an hour.

Please give us a call if you'd like more details about these classes, or some dance intensive weekends we're planning - 01566 784863.

And don't forget . . . keep dancing!

Time for Devonshire tea

2009-03-14T16:50:00.007Z

We're delighted to be able to offer our guests and customers a brand new tea that has been especially blended to give a Taste of Devon. It makes perfect sense that the world famous Devonshire Cream Tea should be served with a nice cuppa of Devonshire Tea. Well now it can.

This new and exciting tea has very recently been launched across Devon. Devonshire Tea is available at selected outlets and can't be bought in the 'multiples', such as convenience stores and supermarkets.

We're serving it to all our guests at breakfast and with our cream teas, and have gift packs for sale so you can take a piece of Devon home with you. If you fancy a nice cuppa of real tea, then pop in - the kettles on!!

Snow in the village

2009-02-06T22:11:00.004Z

Like many places across the UK, snow fell in Lifton this week - twice. It's a rare occurrence, but one that was greeted with much merriment and good cheer.

On Tuesday we had a morning or snow that amounted to about 2 inches. Not enough to break any records, but enough to make snowmen, and throw snowballs and to go sledging.

Thursday night and Friday morning saw lots more snow, and although we weren't cut off, some roads were difficult to pass. We didn't get some of our deliveries and the postman failed to call.

It's during weeks like this one that you really notice that you live in a village. It was lovely to see many of the village's children (and quite a few of the child in heart) bombing down the best slope in Lifton, while others bombarded them with snowballs. Everyone was in great spirits - all sharing in the joy that a bit of fun in the snow brought. And then on Friday, when the snow in Devon was far worse, and deliveries to the local shop couldn't get through, we were rationed in the amount of bread and milk we could buy.

This week has really made me feel part of the community, just at a time when I was hankering for city life again. Bring on more snow . . .

Photo comp winners

2009-01-17T11:31:00.014Z

The photography competition we launched back in the summer of 2008 came to a spectacular end this week when the winning pictures were announced at a wine reception in the hotel.

The standard of photography was very high, which made judging quite tricky. But, after some heated discussion we managed to select 12 finalists from over 50 entries across the five categories - Devon/Cornwall scenery, coast, wildlife or townscape, or Lifton village.

As well as the five category winners we chose a separate overall winner. This was Kyle Ronan, with a superb photo of the sunset at Millook, Bude.

The category winners were:
- Devon/Cornwall scenery - "Late April snow" by Graeme Bence
- Devon/Cornwall coast - "Looking after the surfers" by Peter Moss
- Devon/Cornwall wildlife - "A Lifton couple" by John Courtice
- Devon/Cornwall townscape - "Tin mine" by Howie Fowler
- Lifton village - "Green fence" by Heather Crow

Photographs submitted by Robert Williams and JD Gallow were highly receommended.

We'd like to thank everyone who took the time to get out there with their cameras and submit photos.

The top six photos will be displayed here (as soon as I have them all in a format that I can use). All 12 photos will be on display in the hotel until 30 January 2009, so if you'd like to come and have a look please do.

A black and white new year

2009-01-02T13:06:00.003Z

The frost wasn't the only thing that was white in Lifton this new year's eve. The theme of our NYE party was Black and White. As always most of those that came made the effort (some more than others).

Costumes ranged from flapper girls, to Newcastle Utd footballers, with their WAGs. There were a few B&W Minstrels, a handful of dominoes and a delightful group who formed a tableau from a Charlie Chaplain film!

The staff, who all worked valiantly throughout the evening (and well into the morning), wore bright colours - we like to stand out in a crowd - and when grouped together looked like some kind of children's TV show.

A good night was had by all and despite a few sore heads the next day, 2009 arrived for the Lifton Hall Hotel without any problems. We wish you all a healthy and prosperous new year - and hope to see you soon.

Changing rooms - part 2

2008-12-07T18:43:00.003Z

It was very close this time, but our newly refurbished room was ready for the guest checking in (well just about). I have to admit though, it was very much like an episode of Changing Rooms - Laurence would of been proud.

Anyone whose done some major DIY, or who has ever refurbished a bathroom and a bedroom will know that there are always going to be things you can't plan for. It might not be a big thing, and often isn't, but anything that can delay your schedule can throw out the whole plan and cause absolute havoc.

Fortunately, because we've done this before, we've managed to aquire a strong team of different tradesman and suppliers who are great at 'mucking in' when the need arises. At one point we had the plumber fitting the bathroom suite, while the chippy worked on the door frames and our decorator slapped paint on the new walls - only to have the carpet fitters arrive to lay a new bathroom floor! All good fun . . .

There are still a few bits to finish in the room, such as hanging a couple of pictures, that we didn't get time to do as the guest was checking in, but nothing too major. The room looks great. There's a large four-poster with some luxuriuous cushions, and a brand, spanking-new luxury bathroom! Not to mention the very comfortable sofa and a new flat-screen TV, that's ready for the digital switchover.

Luxury comes to the Lifton Hall Hotel

2008-11-29T11:05:00.002Z

My, it's the end of November already! I really must try harder to update you all more often.

Anyway, the push is on to decorate another of our bedrooms. However, this one isn't a just a paint job - this time we're building a whole new bathroom. This involves moving a wall and installing a complete new suite. The bedroom is also getting a facelift, including fresh wallpaper, and a new lick of paint, plus soft furnishings for the newly purchased four-post bed. When finished the room will have a luxurious touch.

As always happens in these situations, things don't go quite to plan and the renovations are slightly behind time. We need the room for Tuesday (2nd December) as the hotel is fully booked, as it is for the rest of the week. I have every faith it will be ready on time - has to be really!

I'll let you know what happens . . .

Spooky Party

2008-11-04T11:12:00.015Z

My apologies, but it's been a long time since my last entry. I'm blaming it on a busier than usual summer - despite the lousy weather! Anyway, autumn seems to be well and truly upon us now and with it came our Halloween Party. The 31 October this year also happened to be our housekeeper's 50th birthday. Larraine has been with us since we started at the Lifton Hall Hotel (over 2 years now), so we pulled out all the stops to make sure she had a birthday to remember.

It was fancy dress - of course - and as the villagers of Lifton always do, they embraced the theme whole-heartily. I've never known a group of people like it: young and old, were all there sporting various horrible outfits. I think everyone had a good time - there were certainly a few sore heads the next morning. I hope you like the photos . . .

A big thank you to everyone who made the effort (as you always do) and here's to our New Year's Eve party, which this year has a Black & White theme.

Web reviews

2008-08-05T15:21:00.005+01:00

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with web based reviews. In the past I've always been a little dubious of them. I've always thought that glowing reviews were perhaps written by the hotel themselves and couldn't be trusted. And that a bad review, written by an individual who happened to have a bad experience (for whatever reason) could taint all the other reviews a hotel may have - and be unfair.

However, we've had some really great reviews and none of them have been written by us. I now also think that people who read online reviews have enough intelligence to realise that one bad review, amongst a selection of good ones, doesn't mean the hotel is going to be appalling.

TripAdvisor seems to be one of the main sites for hotel reviews. We've done really well and I'm very grateful to anyone who has taken the time to put finger to keyboard and write a few lines about us. To read what they've said just follow the link and search for Lifton Hall Hotel.

Photo comp

2008-07-10T23:50:00.007+01:00

Have you taken any great snaps lately? We're looking for a budding David Bailey or Ansel Adams.

At the Lifton Hall Hotel we thought it would be a great idea to run a photo competition to show case some of the great countryside in and around Devon. I'm sure lots of people take loads of great pictures when they're down here on their holidays, or even if they are lucky enough to live here.

There are five categories that people can enter - and they can enter each as many times as they like. Entry is free too! The categories are:

Lifton village life
Devon Cornwall scenery
Devon Cornwall coast
Devon Cornwall town scape
Devon Cornwall wildlife.

We're really excited about the whole project and have received a lot of interest.

There are some great prizes to be won, so if you fancy yourself as a bit of a photographer drop us an email and we'll send you an application form.

We aim to publish the winning shots on our website and possibly display them in an exhibition at the hotel later this year.

I've attached a couple of my shots to give you inspiration. Go on - give it a go . . .

Christmas comes . . .

2008-06-24T14:27:00.003+01:00

Well, it seems that Christmas will soon be here. I know we've only just had the Summer Solstice, but at The Lifton Hall Hotel we've been thinking all about the festive season.

Admittedly it does seem earlier than last year, but we've already taken a few bookings for Christmas parties and have people booked in to stay over Christmas. It's made me feel a bit like a fashion designer - always working a season ahead. I must admit, however, it does feel odd managing the day-to-day practicalities of summer, while planning what soup to serve with Christmas lunch!

If you fancy getting away from it all for Christmas 2008 you'd be very welcome to join us here at The Lifton Hall Hotel. We're offering a choice of packages to suit everyone's needs, but all include loads of merriment and festive cheer (plus a glass or two of bubbly!) We still have spaces (despite all the early bird bookings) so give us a call - 01566 784863 - or drop us an email and we'll send you all the information.

But in the meantime, let me be the first to wish you Happy Christmas :)

Tuesdays are always special at The Lifton Hall Hotel

2008-06-11T17:27:00.002+01:00

For some time now at The Lifton Hall Hotel we've been celebrating Tuesdays. We really like Tuesdays, and so, it seems, do many of our regulars.

Each Tuesday is either a food themed night or a Pub quiz night. To make it simple every 2nd and 4th Tuesday is a quiz night - all the other Tuesdays are food nights.

The quiz nights have attracted quite a following. One of the teams - The Parson's Knows - have been particularly strong and managed to win most weeks. You'd think this might put others off, but it seems to have spurred them on. The losing team gets to have a 'Joker' to use at the next quiz. This entitles them to double points in a round of their choice - but sadly doesn't always help them to win!

Our food themed nights have become equally as popular and to some extent turned into a bit of a diners club. Popular nights over the last few months include:

Thai night
1980s food night - yes there was Black Forest gateau
Indian food night
School dinners.

We always run our usual menu alongside the food night specials, although we'd encourage everyone to try something new. If there's a particular cuisine you'd like us to try please let us know.

Website goes live

2008-05-12T08:34:00.005+01:00

Hello - there's a chance that if you're reading this that you already know that our fantastic new website is up and running, but you might not so I'm going to say it anyway.

It's been a long haul, but the hotel's website went live to the wide world on Saturday 10 May. You can check it out at http://www.liftonhall.co.uk/

We love it and hope that you do too. It's packed full of loads of info about the hotel and the services we provide, and has some great photos so that you can see what the place is like.

We have lots of new stuff still to add and some ideas to make it a bit more interactive, but as the first go we think it's great.

Lots of thanks go to Lucy our web designer who's pulled it all together despite battling some really tough odds.

We'd really welcome your feedback on the site. Is there anything you think works well or perhaps something that you think would benefit from a tweak? May be there are things we've missed out that you think should be included? Please let us know by emailing richard@liftonhall.co.uk

Enjoy it!

Summer's coming

2008-05-04T00:25:00.004+01:00

Hello and welcome to May. The weather has been fairly changeable here in Devon, which probably isn't news to anyone who knows Devon! We've had some glorious sunshine, and it's even been quite warm. But we've also had a lot of rain, some of it very heavy, and even hail and thunder storms. As I always say - you really can't get bored with the weather in the UK.

Although some of the weather hasn't been the most inviting, if you're planning a trip down to Devon, it does provide a striking backdrop to some of the UK's wildest countryside. Our view out across Dartmoor is always changing. The moorland landscape seems to reflect the colours of the ever changing sky. One moment its dark and moody - the next its bright and golden. I never tire at looking at it.

With the (slightly) better weather we've been welcoming more hikers to the hotel. We've also had our first Lands End-John O'Groats cyclist who couldn't find his campsite and relished in the comfort of our open fire and a warm and comfy bed for the night. Long may they continue to stop in on their merry way . . .

Pet friendly

2008-04-10T13:23:00.004+01:00

People sometimes ask us what it means to be a 'pet friendly' hotel. They assume (quite rightly) that we welcome pets into the hotel, but does it mean anything more than this.

At The Lifton Hall Hotel, and indeed in the Village Inn, we are very happy for guests to bring their pets with them when they stay. To date we've only actually had dogs visit us, but we'd be open to pretty much any type of pet.

We do ask that your pet is house-trained, and that you keep them off the furniture and bedding, but apart from that anything goes. We don't charge for pet visitors, not unless there's an unexpected cleaning bill!

To be honest I don't really envisage that we'll get many other types of pet, but I did hear of a family who take their hamster with them when they go away, so you never know!

We're very happy to meet people's pets in the pub, and often get to meet a few of our regular's dogs. Again, there haven't been any other types of pet! We have a big jar of dog chews, that have proved very popular with our canine guests, and have a large bowl should they fancy a drink.

I'll let you know if we ever get any unusual pets coming to stay . . .

Didn't he do well

2008-03-24T16:54:00.007Z

Easter arrived and along with it came a brand, spanking new dinning room. Big praise goes out to Jon, who masterminded the project and to the team of staff and workman who helped him to deliver.

We're very proud of our new look and feedback has been really positive. "Stylish and elegant" one of our regulars described it. "Lovely" said another.

I hope that you like the look too . . .

The final push . . .

2008-03-20T10:15:00.006Z

With just a few hours to go until the dinning room should be finished, the pace has certainly picked up. This morning the floor is being laid, but the electricians are also in installing a new lighting system and our builder is also trying to hang curtain poles! As you can imagine it's fairly crowded and very much like a scene from BBC's Changing Rooms. Poor Larraine (our housekeeper) has never made so many cups of tea!

We're not slacking, watching it all happen - oh no! Jon has been adding some of the finishing touches - door handles etc, as well as trying to do some of the last bits of painting. Robert and Sarah have been discussing the curtains - which need to be slightly adjusted to fit (I fear there may be a few pins involved on opening night, as time is fast running out), and I've been busy organising new planting arrangements for the window sills.

As soon as everything is finished I'll take some photos - but if you're curious about how it all looks, you're best to come and see for yourself.

No peace for the wicked . . .

2008-03-14T12:02:00.010Z

It's all hands on deck at the Hotel - once again.

Not content with the on-going project that is the barn conversion, we've embarked on a major redecoration project in the dining room. This involves a new ceiling and a new floor, as well as patching up most of the walls - before it can all be decorated and new lights can be fitted. The timing of the whole project is fairly crucial and hasn't been helped by an elusive plaster (and his mate) who kept everything hanging by a thread for two days and then disappeared altogether. Luckily there are some good guys out there and everything is now back on track - and Jon's stress levels have subsided to a manageable level.

Hopefully the dining room will be ready for Easter. Fingers crossed, as there's quite a few booked in over the weekend and they have to sit somewhere!!

It all reminds me of the time we refurbished the bar - during February 2007. We allowed ourselves 4 and a half days to open up a fire place that was hidden behind a radiator, replaster half of the room, put in new 'old' beams, strip three layers of paint off the Cornish stonework (which Larraine is doing in the photo), as well as decorate and lay a new carpet. We were gallantly assisted by Brian, our long-suffering jack-of-all trades, and everything just about went to plan. Thirty minutes before opening time it was a bit like a scene from 'Changing Rooms'. We were frantically cleaning, hanging pictures, re-arranging furniture and plumping cushions. The only thing that didn't quite go to plan was that the new varnish on the bar counter didn't dry. We covered it in cling-film for the evening!

With summer fast approaching we'll lay-off on major refurbishment for a while. I wonder what we'll do next? Maybe the reception area (logistical nightmare) or the laundry room/toilets. There are still rooms to be decorated - oh, and the barn conversion to finish - but, they're much simpler projects.

Finally we're blogging

2008-03-04T17:20:00.003Z

Hello and welcome to the Lifton Hall Hotel blog. We've been meaning to get started for a few months now, and as always - there never seems enough time!

The main aim of our blog is to keep you up-to-date with all that's going on at the hotel and to let you know about things that are coming up over the next few weeks and months. Its our intention to add postings to the blog every few days or so - and at least once a week. Please bare with us if we don't quite achieve this, but we will try!

We'd very much like to hear back from you - so if you have any comments or suggestions about the blog, please feel free to add them.

The last few feeds from the blog should also appear on the hotel's main website - www.liftonhall.co.uk - so you can also check it out there.

That's it for now. Happy blogging and speak to you soon . . .