Bovey Castle awarded five AA stars

Bovey Castle in the Dartmoor National Park, Devon, has been awarded five stars by the AA, two years after being acquired by the Eden Hotel Collection (EHC).

EHC embarked on an extensive £3.5m improvement programme within six months of buying the 60-bedroom property, which also offers 22 luxury lodges. The work has included the restoration and refurbishment of the spa, brasserie, restaurant, public areas and bedrooms. Significant investment has also been made in staff training programmes.

This year has seen the first phase of the bedroom refurbishment, with 22 bedrooms completed and the remainder due to be finished within the coming months, while 2015 saw the launch of the hotel's Great Western restaurant and Smith's Brasserie.

The estate offers a number of leisure facilities including an 18-hole championship golf course, falconry, tennis, archery, cider and sloe gin-making. It also recently added an off-road driving experience and a dedicated area for men's treatments in its Elan Spa.

Gary Baldwin, senior hotel and restaurant inspector for AA, said: "Bovey Castle has been brought back to life and transformed into an excellent example of true hotel keeping. The high-quality refurbishment throughout the public areas, excellent dining options and top-notch bedrooms and bathrooms make Bovey Castle a really first-class south west destination."

Mark Chambers, managing director of EHC, added: "The dedicated team at Bovey Castle is committed to providing exceptional levels of service and hospitality. The recent refurbishment has taken the facilities and services on offer to another level and we are thrilled that the hotel and its hard-working staff have been given the recognition that they deserve."

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