The South Hams is Devon at its finest. Far, far away from London, down the motorway until you reach a maze of wildflower and tractor strewn country lanes. If you make the journey, The Whitehouse is where you'll want to stay on arrival. Tucked away in the peaceful village of Chillington, on a blink and you'll miss it country lane, here is your very own blissful, funky country retreat that's already made it into the pages of Vogue.
Great hotels make you feel like you are the only guest they really want. The Whitehouse, owned and run by three friends Tamara, Ally and Matt, achieves this down to the smallest detail. If you arrive in the day, you will be greeted like a treasured friend and sat down to a scrumptious free cream tea. At night, the greeting is as warm and you are invited for drinks and nibbles at the retro bar. Then there are the most enormous squishy leather sofas to dive into. Sofas that beg you to put your feet up.
Quirky and Intelligent
The Whitehouse is an elegant Georgian house that kept to its handsome self until, in 2008, it was transformed into a quirky, intelligent mix of vintage fabulousness and contemporary chic. You will find pieces, from the sparkly chandeliers to the ultra cool sunken baths, that you would love to take home. And so to the bedrooms. There are just six bedrooms - you are never going to feel overrun here - and they rock. Beds you can lose yourself in, with crisp Frette linen for total luxury.
The rooms combine pared down elegance with splashes of kitsch. There are inviting velvet sofas, huge plasma TVs, an iPod dock, a Nespresso coffee machine for your caffeine fix, a tempting mini bar. Sink into a vast custom-made bath, or take a rainfall shower for two. A rocking chair piled high with fluffy towels sits near a tall window overlooking the gardens.
Long Lunches and Slow Dinners
If you can tear yourself away, simply wander downstairs to the airy dining room. Head Chef Ally believes in long lunches and slow dinners, using the stunning array of produce found on right her doorstep. The menu changes regularly so you might be treated to artichoke soup with truffle oil (£5), pan-fried fillet of wild sea bass with parsley potatoes, wilted spinach and sauce vierge (£19) or a sturdy bullfighter's stew with macaronade and steamed vegetables (£16). Puddings are equally delicious, like a gooey chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream (£6).
Breakfast is a celebration of Devon's farming community. Riverford Organic creamy yoghurt, lightly spiced poached plums, rustic breads and jams, local cream and milk, sausages and bacon that you can tell have not clocked up the food miles.
Take your time, you will want to remember this place.
Details
WHITEHOUSE, Chillington, Devon TQ7 2JX, United Kingdom
+1548 580505