Early January - getting ready for 2012 guests

We're in the process of spring cleaning The Barton Granary and Brimbles in readiness for our 2012 guests.  You would not believe where we have found cobwebs!

I'm also in the process of updating our guest information folders.  Anyone who has visited us before knows that we are very keen to promote local food suppliers and restaurants and we have, on previous experience, a huge amount of foodie guests.

Phil and I spend an exhaustive amount of time researching and sampling local restuarants and pubs in order to make recommendations to our guests.  I know it's a horrible job, but we just about manage to endure it!

Sadly, of the 25 local (including Tiverton, Crediton, Exeter,  South Molton and surrounding areas) restaurants that I have contacted for further information about opening hours, menus, etc.  Only 1 has bothered to reply to me.  How sad.

I would have thought that in the current economic climate that local eateries would embrace tourists with open arms. 

Watch this space - hopefully some of them will reply soon.

Belated Happy New Year to all my followers and all our past and future guests!

Welcome to Louis

Louis on the Prowl!

Louis - our posh new Hampshire Down ram arrived last week.  

He set to work with his new ladies almost immediately and we await our new arrivals (due at the end of March) with eager anticipation.

Otherwise, life goes on at the usual hectic pace here at The Barton.  Autumn has certainly made itself felt in Devon, and we've had a huge amount of rain.  But between the showers, it's still beautiful on the farm.

We have produced our own apple juice (with the help of the kind people at Westlake Farm, who produce wonderful award-winning Perry from our perry pear tree).  It's available to order in advance for £2.75 per bottle, and we also have a limited amount of delicious Westlake Cider available.

We've already started to take bookings for 2012 for The Barton Granary and Brimbles and have even taken a booking for 2013 - now that's what I call planning ahead! 

I'm looking forward to welcoming the remainder of our 2011 guests and to getting the cottages ready for Christmas and New Year.  

Where has the summer gone?

I can't believe that we are almost at the end of October!  We've had a great summer here at The Barton, despite the terrible August weather.  I have enjoyed meeting new guests and have taken great pleasure in welcoming our many guests who returned for a second (or in one case fifth) time!   I'm really looking forward to welcoming our winter weekend guests.

I've enjoyed cooking for several visitors this summer who all said they enjoyed the experience - I do hope they were not just being polite!!!!  Favourite dishes so far this year are - chicken liver pate, posh sausage & mash (with pork, venison and lamb merguez sausages), beef daube, and the ever popular lemon posset pots!  Our menu is always changing and reflects the seasons - the majority of our ingredients come from within six miles of us and reflect the slow food ethics of many of our local farms and suppliers.  If you'd like me to cook for you, just let me know and I'll send you our up-to-date menu.

If you are considering coming to stay at Brimbles or The Barton Granary please do consider ordering our produce or taking our advice about locally available produce.  Contact us for an up to date price list of our own produce (we now sell our own apple juice and cider as well as our own beef and lamb and our locally produced pork,  wild venison and lamb merguez sausages) or for details of other local food producers.

Happy Autumn!

Tiverton Food Festival

I had a great time visiting The Tiverton Food Festival on Sunday.  Pity it wasn't better publicised!
There were some great stands (just great for a foodie like me) but the highlights of my visit were Devon Smokehouse - loving the Smoked Devon Sea Salt and the Coconut & Lime infused Salt - and I absolutely loved  Janice Voce's (AKA Fancy That! Outside Catering) amazing take-away Caribbean Food (Salt Fish & Ackee and Goat Curry - Yummy!).

May - Special offers for The Granary

The Granary (sleeping 8 in 2 double and 2 twin bedrooms) is currently available for 7 nights commencing Friday 13th May at the reduced rate of £475.00, which includes linen, bath towels and bathrobes, cot/highchair (s) and free wifi (subject to terms and conditions of use).  Short breaks are also available, starting at £330 for 3 nights.

Contact us for more details

Play Area & Wellies!

As I mentioned way back last year, we now have a small play area on the farm, fenced and turfed and suitable for children up to the age of 14.

Phil's had a bit of a challenging time trying to stop the chickens from marauding over the lovely new grass and bark chippings, but he thinks he's cracked it now!

The Carriage House is now up and running - we've a stock of maps, guidebooks and some excellent local circular walks on easy to follow laminated sheets (researched and written by my good friend and intrepid walking partner - Jill).   There's also a DVD library and some outdoor toys for guests to borrow, plus a wellie bank (just in case you forget yours!).

Local Food and Businesses

I've just spent a very enjoyable morning at a local produce market and table top sale in the nearby village of Morchard Bishop.  This is a regular event that takes place once a month (usually on the second Saturday) in the car park of The London Inn

It's so lovely to see both small and larger local producers and suppliers of food selling their wares directly to the public.  I met some delightful people and purchased some lovely food:

Ann Pollard from Riverside Goats Cheese provided me with some delicious cheddar style goats cheese and a pot of truly divine soft creamy goats cheese with wild garlic.  She is based just down the road from us in Woolfardisworthy (pronounced Woolsery!) and is just about to launch a new website, which we will link to.  She is very happy to sell direct to our guests, providing they phone ahead!

I also met Sarah Flower and her mother Christine who have just launched The Crafty Pantry.  Sarah is a writer and truly terrific cake baker!  She supplies puddings to The London Inn and is able to bake cakes for any occasion.  If you are planning to come to us for a celebration, she is more than happy to bake a cake for you (so much better than my boring old victoria sponges!)

Amaryllis is a lovely little shop that has recently opened in Morchard Bishop.  The owner, Claire Houghton Ward specialises in wedding flowers, but also sells beautiful gifts and cards and has a small studio/gallery where she sells the work of local artists and photographers.  She has limited opening hours at the moment (Sundays 11 - 4 and to coincide with the Morchard Bishop Market) but is really happy to open by appointment.