Lewtrenchard Manor hotel closes ‘with a heavy heart’

The family-run Lewtrenchard Manor hotel in Lewdown, Devon, has permanently closed after over 30 years of trading.

The 13-bedroom property, which dates back to the 1600s, was run under the ownership of Sue and James Murray from 1988 until it was sold to Von Essen hotels in 2003.

In 2012, the son of Sue and James, Duncan Murray, reopened Lewtrenchard Manor as director, general manager and curator of wine.

The hotel won a César award from the Good Hotel Guide in 2021, when it was named Romantic Hotel of the Year.

The Murray family said in a statement: “It is with a significant amount of regret that we have permanently closed Lewtrenchard Manor. We made this decision with a heavy heart, but due to difficult trading conditions since Covid and several failed sales of our lease we had no further options to us.

“Our thoughts are with all the members of our wonderful and fantastic team who have lost their jobs, and we wish them all the best for the future, and to so many guests we count as friends, who chose to stay and visit us time and time again.”

Lewtrenchard Manor's 40-cover restaurant and eight-cover chef’s table private dining room were led by head chef David Brown at the time of The Caterer's visit to the property in November 2022.

David Brown left to become executive head chef of Wild Thyme & Honey hotel's the Crown at Ampney Brook in Cirencester in September 2023. According to LinkedIn, Tom Strick was head chef at the time of Lewtrenchard Manor's closure.

The hotel's food offer was previously recommended in the Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland.

Lewtrenchard Manor, which is a member of PoB hotels, was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a royal manor owned by Rogerius de Mole.