Previously named Courtlands House, Lympstone Manor was bought in 2014 by renowned British chef Michael Caines. Not only has Michael established a gastronomic destination, but he’s also created an exclusive modern country house that celebrates waterside views, outdoor living, and exquisite food and drink.

I have been admiring Lympstone Manor from afar as a bucket-list destination to dine and stay, reserved for a big birthday or anniversary, so I jumped at the chance to sample the new winter menu at the newly built Pool House.

The Pool House is one of the newest additions to the estate. Usually reserved for guests and House members, the modern building offers indoor and outdoor dining centered around the inviting heated outdoor swimming pool. I can’t think or a more exclusive setting on a warm summer evening.

With the launch of the winter set-menu, non-residents can now enjoy the sumptuous surroundings of the laid-back Pool House with a two or three-course seasonal menu.

We were fortunate to visit on a crisp blue-sky day in mid-November. The approach was as impressive as I had imagined, with the gleaming white manor appearing behind the wind-stripped trees.

Alejandro, the hotel’s Bar Manager gave us a warm welcome and showed us to our seats. He did a wonderful job of talking us through the menu, suggesting wine pairings to match our choices.

I couldn’t resist a glass of the Michael Caines, Blanc de Blancs, Brut N/V to start, it was the perfect way to start our meal. As you’d expect, the dining experience was faultless. The exacting standards of a high-end restaurant served in the casual surroundings of a modern Pool House.
We opted for the three-course menu which started with goats cheese maple brulee, pickled beetroot, pecan, and a ham hock terrine, piccalilli, toasted morvan. The piccalilli is a family recipe of the Pool House chef, James, which we thought was a lovely touch.

For our main courses we chose pan-fried salmon, creamed leeks, saffron cream sauce, and Confit Creedy Carver Duck, hash brown, tomato fondue. Alejandro recommended the Triassic Pinot Noir 2020 to accompany the duck, one of the wines produced from the estate’s Vineyards. For dessert, we couldn’t resist the Vanilla crème brulee, blackberry compote. The perfect ending to a superb meal.

Every plate of food was beautifully presented and utterly delicious. Hats off to James, who was the chef on the day.

If you live nearby, the new winter offer is a great way to experience the Lymptone Manor lifestyle without booking a stay (although, having seen one of the bedrooms and an uber-cool shepherd’s hut, I wouldn’t need an excuse to stay!)

When we’d finished our meal we went for a leisurely stroll around the grounds via The Lady’s Walk, a circular trail established in the 1760 which extends around the boundary of the estate. Lympstone Manor is also a must for art lovers with talented local artists Emma Solley and Rachael Toll creating work for guests to enjoy. Art also spills out onto the grounds where you’ll find 53 unique sculptures created by more than 20 sculptors from around the country. Each sculpture captivates the imagination being precisely placed to make the most of its natural surroundings. We loved it all!

The Details

Pool House Restaurant and Bar Winter Dining
Set menu – two courses £45, three courses £60
Drinks not included in the offer
Winter offer is available until March 2023
Visit Lympstone Manor for more details and to making a booking.

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