Enjoy a foodie retreat in the Cornish countryside
FOOD IS THE FOCUS AT THIS RESTORED FARM IN THE CORNISH COUNTRYSIDE
LEFT The restored farmhouse is surrounded by nature. BELOW Decor is kept simple and homely
This idyllic, foodie home-fromhome is the love child of chefs April Bloomfield and Tom Adams, conceived as a return to simple hospitality and humble cooking. To achieve their dream, the owners have sensitively transformed a Cornish dairy farmstead dating from the 18th century into a rustic, unpretentious guest house – albeit one that boasts one of southwest England’s most talked about restaurants. Though Coombeshead’s bona fide foodie credentials are certainly its principal draw, guests also come here to explore the surrounding 60 acres of rolling arable parkland, the enchanting wooded walks and a friendly, back-to-basics atmosphere. COOKING CORNWALL
It has become a cliché to talk about zero-waste cooking and sustainably sourced ingredients – these days, most restaurants worth their salt take these environmental concerns into consideration and do what they can to shop local. At Coombeshead, the chefs go to great lengths to ensure as many ingredients as possible come from Cornwall and Devon, or even better, are grown at the farm. Dinners here are guaranteed to delight those of us with even the most pedestrian of palates. One set menu, with no choice, is served in a beautiful converted barn after aperitifs and nibbles in the main house. Expect a long evening of dishes such as hand-harvested scallops and wild garlic-infused lamb cutlets. When morning comes, breakfast is another celebration of homemade delights.
REST YOUR HEAD
If you’re looking for extravagance, you won’t find it here. The decor and bedrooms are understated and flourish-free, but supremely comfortable. Furniture has mostly been sourced from vintage stores and auctions, carefully chosen in the way you would for your own home. Beds are plush and welcoming, and there are sitting rooms with honesty bars and roaring wood burners. Rooms start at £125 a night. Coombeshead Farm, Lewannick, Cornwall PL15 7QQ, coombesheadfarm.co.uk