Kitley House Hotel, Kitley Estate, Plymouth

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Kitley House Hotel, Yealmpton, Plymouth, Devon, PL8 2NW
Telephone: 01752 881555
Fax: 01752 881667
English Tourism Council 3 Stars

Kitley House Hotel is situated between the villages of Brixton and Yealmpton, approximately six miles from the City of Plymouth. You arrive by the mile long drive into this magnificent and tranquil 300-acre private estate, and find yourself in an oasis of quiet luxury and elegance.

Kitley House Hotel, Plymouth, Front of Hotel

We aim to provide the very highest standards in comfort, cuisine and personal service in a country house hotel, which feels like a stately home.

Stylish and elegant function and conference rooms provide an ideal venue for personal or corporate events, with facilities for meetings from 6 to 60 guests. Large events can be accommodated on the formal gardens in a fully fitted marquee.

The hotel boasts 20 spacious bedrooms and suites, most of which have panoramic views over the estate and are richly appointed with furnishings designed to reflect the traditional elegance of this Grade 1 listed building, whilst incorporating all modern facilities demanded by discerning guests.

The smart Club Bar complements Terrace restaurant perfectly, both providing a relaxed and friendly atmosphere where guests can combine business with pleasure by conducting an informal breakfast or mid-morning meeting over coffee, enjoy a light lunch, or simply spend a carefree afternoon with family and friends for tea on the terrace.

Special dietary requirements can easily be accommodated, and a comprehensive selection of fine wines from our cellars serves to enhance a most memorable occasion.

Dining at Kitley is an occasion whatever the event. Terrace Restaurant was the original library of the house and is sumptuously decorated in its original colour scheme of burgundy and gold with marble columns in each corner of the room.

Kitley House Hotel, Plymouth, Dining Room

Conference & Banqueting Facilities
Kitley can offer extensive Conference & Banqueting Facilities at competitive rates.

Ground Floor
The ground floor is in use by other hotel guests at the same time as rooms are in use for a conference or a banquet.The Drawing Room is 6m (19'9") long x 5.52m (18') wide and enjoys spectacular views over the garden and across the fields to the woods. Located just off the main reception hall at the entrance to the hotel, the room is decorated as a print room with showcases containing historic artefacts found during renovation works.The Regency Room is 9.83m (32'3") long x 6.52m (21'4") wide and enjoys magnificent views over the gardens and across the fields to the woods, which are accessed by French doors. Located at the base of the main staircase in the centre of the hotel, this grand room is decorated with large old maps found during renovation works and various antiques.

First Floor
The Winston Churchill Room is 6m (19'9") long x 5.5 (18') wide. This light and airy room enjoys panoramic views and has the feel of a state room with its original cornices and cupboards. The room also serves as a sitting room to the Winston Churchill Suite comprising three rooms, which may all, be self-contained. This suite of rooms is available in any combination, either separately or as sitting room with either or both bedrooms.

Facilities
Facilities include overhead projector and screen, television and video, flipchart on stand with pens, name cards and stationery items and reception will be happy to provide photocopying or facsimile services, take messages, order newspapers etc.

Health & Beauty at Kitley

At Kitley House Hotel we are delighted to provide a full range of Health and Beauty Treatments. Enjoy a massage, facial or relaxing aromatherapy, Manicure or Pedicure.

The History of Kitley House

Kitley House Hotel, Plymouth, Sketch of Hotel

Kitley, built of silver grey Devonshire 'marble', reposes in richly timbered parkland, cleft with sudden hollows, at the head of one of the Yealm estuary's wooded creeks, south-east of Plymouth. In the words of Christopher Hussey, "Its silver grey granite contrasts, as if moonlit, with the dark woodlands".

This tranquil and romantic setting is the site of one of the earliest Tudor revival houses in England. George Stanley Repton, son of Humphrey Repton, pupil and later chief assistant of John Nash, remodelled the house in the early 1820'sfor the keen horticulturist, Edmund Pollexfen Bastard, who married a daughter of the second Lord Rodney and was an authority on the growing of pineapples. The previous edifice was early Georgian, incorporating a sixteenth century structure, and bore a close resemblance to such local houses as Antony.

Kitley, in its final form, is a fascinating link in the evolution of the Tudor revival between Nash's earlier studies such as Luscombe built for Charles Hoare, 1799-1804, and Salvin's mature essays, for instance, at Moorhead designed for Sir Robert Newman, Bt., 1927-1833.

A Kitley Wedding
Approved for Civil Marriage Ceremonies

Kitley is an approved venue for the conducting of civil wedding ceremonies, and details about the legalities and procedures for using this facility are available from the Superintendent Registrars Office.

We are happy to assist with additional Wedding Day Services such as evening entertainment, as well as recommending local companies who supply dresses and formal wear, photography, videos, cakes, flowers, cars, horse-drawn carriages etc.

As every wedding is unique, we suggest that you make an appointment to visit Kitley and be guided through the range of options available, in order that we may tailor our resources to fit your requirements and budget.

At Kitley every wedding is special to us, and we enjoy making new friends who come back again and again to re-live warm feelings and happy memories of a special day.

Do remember that the best of anything is always in great demand. Our venue and the services of the people that we recommend need to be booked as far in advance as possible, so if you are sure that you are going to have no last minute change of mind about your partner, come in and see us sooner rather than later, that way you can't afford not to get married.

Extension
Kitley will be happy to arrange a bar or entertainment's extension to the licence, free of charge, to wedding parties. Please note that such applications have to be made in writing at least one month in advance.

Menu
Care and attention has been taken in compiling the menus with local ingredients chosen for their quality and seasonal availability, and are available for functions serviced in the hotel for numbers between 10-60 persons. Special dietary requirements, including allergies to flours, shellfish etc. can easily be accommodated.

Your choice of food should be confirmed two weeks prior to the event, and the final number of guests within five days of the event, as we must respectfully point out that this will be the amount invoiced. Children under 12 are charged at half price for reduced portions, and babies in high chairs are free of charge.

Room Hire
There is a charge made for this facility subject to the room/s chosen and the setting involved. The rate charged will be at the General Manager's discretion.

Guest Information

Accounts
Credit cards, personal cheques and travellers cheques, or of course cash are all most welcome.

Afternoon Tea
Afternoon teas are served each day in the lounge. Tea can also be brought to your room if preferred.

Animals
For a small extra charge, dogs are welcome at the Hotel. However, they are not permitted in the Dining Room, and we request that they are kept on a leash in the grounds.

Arrival & Departure
Rooms are available after 1.00pm on the day of departure, unless prior arrangements have been made. We respectfully request that our guests vacate their room by 11.00am on the day of departure, otherwise an additional charge may be made. We are most happy to assist with the storage of luggage or any other matters regarding a late departure, and would ask that you please advise us when you are ready for your luggage to be brought down.

Babysitting

Babysitting requirements can be set up by prior arrangement. Alternatively, a baby listening service is available.

Bedboards & Bedding
Bedboards are available, as are extra blankets, pillows and hot water bottles. Please do not hesitate to contact Reception.

Car Hire
Self Drive cars and taxis can be arranged through Reception.

Doctor
In case of illness, a doctor can be contacted at all times. Please dial reception (0).

Early Morning Tea
A tray of tea and/or coffee can be brought to your room each morning between 7.30am and 8.30am. Please order at Reception. This will be charged to your account.

Facsimile & Photocopier Machines
Documents can be copied or transmitted by arrangement with Reception.

Fire Precautions
On the back of your bedroom door you will find details of action to be taken in the event of a fire. Please acquaint yourselves with these procedures and methods of escape once you have settled into your room, and please inform us if you are hard of hearing or have any special difficulties.

Laundry/Dry Cleaning/Shoe Cleaning
An iron and ironing board is available upon request. Washing and dry cleaning can also be arranged. Please leave your clothes with Reception before 9.00am same-day service. This service is available Monday to Friday.

A complimentary shoe cleaning service is available by leaving your shoes outside your door before retiring for the night. Alternatively, please call Reception.

Newspapers
Should you require a newspaper, please inform Reception before 11.00pm the night before. The cost will automatically be charged to your room bill.

Picnic Lunches
If you are exploring the area, or indeed just wish to have something with you for your journey, then we would be delighted to provide you with a picnic lunch. These can be ordered at breakfast for that particular day.

Reception
A Receptionist is available from 7.30am - 11.00pm daily. Should any guest wish to make an early departure, we ask that they notify us beforehand in order that the necessary arrangements can be made for the settlement of accounts.

Restaurant & Bars

The Library Restaurant is open during the following times:

Breakfast	7.30am - 9.30am
Sunday Luncheon	12 noon - 1.45pm
Dinner	7.00pm - 9.00pm

NB On Fridays & Saturdays last orders are 9.30pm

We prefer that guests do not wear jeans and trainers in the Restaurant. We also have a no smoking policy in the Restaurant.

The Club Bar provides a friendly atmosphere and an ideal place to meet before dining, or just to enjoy a relaxing drink.

Room Service
Room Service is available between 8.00am and 10.30pm. We do ask you to kindly remember that we are particularly busy during the evening whilst dinner is in progress and may not be able to comply with your request at this time.

Smoking
Although we would not wish to detract from the enjoyment many guests derive from the occasional cigarette or cigar, we do ask that you refrain from smoking in the dining room, and also consider the sensibilities of those for whom smoking is not a pleasure.

Telephone
Direct dial telephones are available in all our bedrooms. Telephone calls are charged per unit and will automatically be added to your bill.

A supply of toiletries are available at Reception

Valuables
Articles of value should be deposited at Reception. The hotel is not responsible for valuables left in guests' rooms or elsewhere in the hotel. May we also advise you not to leave valuables in cars, as the hotel is not liable for losses from, or damage to, vehicles in the car park.

Videos
A selection of videos are available upon request. Please contact the Reception.

Wake-up calls
Please book your call with Reception before 11.00pm. Alternatively, your telephone can be programmed.

Towns & Villages of Interest
Salcombe
Salcombe has rather a unique form of charm and beauty. Its harbour is always full of sorts and sizes of marine craft, and yachtsmen throughout the world make for the shelter of this wonderful estuary. The harbour entrancehas the ruined wall of a mediaeval castle which guarded shipping 450 years ago and stood for King Charles against Cromwell. It is said that Tennyson adored it.

Salcombe is also renowned as the original home of Salcombe Dairies where the nationally acclaimed ice cream was produced. When the owner, Peter Howard, first started making this fabulous ice cream he had to charge almost threetimes as much as any other ice-cream producer. The reason being that he was not prepared to cut corners. Rum and Raisin for example, was not made using a rum essence but by soaking the raisins in genuine Lamb's Navy Rum overnight!

Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge rises steeply from the Salcombe estuary. The tower of the church stands on massive 13th century arches and much of the rest of the church is anything from the 15th century to the nave and aisles of the 20th century.

For a small town it has produced a variety of famous people, amongst whom was William Cookworthy who founded a way of using Cornish china clay to make English porcelain. He is remembered in the Cookworthy Museum ofRural Life in Fore Street. Housed in a 17th century school building, it has period costumes, porcelain, old local photographs, a complete Victorian pharmacy and a magic world of dolls houses and toys which delight children of all ages.

Totnes
Totnes is historically one of the finest towns in the country. First mentioned in the reign of Edgar (about 959), it was then probably a small settlement. Since then many tales are told of this busy little town, which is really one long street climbing up a hill by the River Dart. The old Butterwalk, with its pillars supporting the projecting houses, was mostly built in the 16th century. Today it houses a number of busy small shops.

Tavistock
Tavistock is possibly one of the nicest small market towns in the country, and is probably one of the oldest parts of Devon to be inhabited. Its most important son was sailor, buccaneer, and favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, Sir Francis Drake.

Exeter
The historic city of Exeter is Roman, Saxon and Norman. It has walls and a tower built by Athelstan, the first King of England, but most of all it is mediaeval. There are still miles of quaint streets and passageways, ramblingwalls and of course the Cathedral, bequeathed by many generations of the finest builders, apart from its Norman walls and tower. The 20th century has crept in and much has had to be changed, but this has been done with the grestest of care.

Historic Houses & Places of Interest
Buckfast Abbey
One thousand years of history are yours to discover at Buckfast Abbey, home to a living community of Benedictine monks. The centrepiece is the magnificent Abbey Church. It was rebuilt on its mediaeval foundations this centuryand astonishingly represents 32 years of labour by just four monks. In additional to its pastoral work in the local area, this thriving monastic community keeps bees, runs a farm, makes stained glass and, of course, produces the famous Buckfast Tonic Wine.

Buckfast Abbey boasts a Bookshop, Gift Shop, Abbey Exhibition and a Monastic Produce Shop. Also renowned for its generous Devonshire Cream Teas, The Grange Restaurant is a popular venue for morning coffee and an essential stop for lunch. All the dishes served are homemade from the freshest ingredients.

Buckland Abbey
Tucked away in its own secluded valley on the edge of Dartmoor, Buckland Abbey holds the secret to over 700 years of history. Here mediaeval monks established a Cistercian monastery "far from the haunts of men". Here Sir RichardGrenville converted the abbey into a dwelling place, and Sir Richard Drake lived at Buckland during the turbulent period of the Armada. Exhibitions, furnished rooms and ancient buildings rediscover this exciting story, and walks through the farm estate allow exploration of its beautiful and historic setting.

Cotehele
Cotehele is situated just across the River Tamar (approached via the Tamar Bridge) in Cornwall, and is a fascinating and enchanting estate set on the steep wooded slopes of Tamar. The steep valley garden contains exotic plants which thrive in the mild climate, and a walk through the garden and alongside the river or down the lower drive leads toCotehele Quay which was a busy river port in Victorian times. One of the least-altered mediaeval houses in the country, Cotehele is built in granite, slate and sandstone. Inside, the ancient rooms, unlit by electricity, are famed for their furniture, textiles and tapestries. Near the house, the great mediaeval barn now houses the National Trust Shop and the licensed barn restaurant, which serves a delicious range of home-cooked meals.

Mount Edgcombe House & Country Park, Cremyll
Sir Richard Edgcombe of Cotehele built a new home in his Deer Park at Mount Edgcombe in 1547-53. Miraculously the walls of his red stone tudor House survived a direct hit by bombs in 1941 and it was restored by the Earl of Mount Edgcombe between 1958-64. It is beautifully furnished with family possessions, including paintings by SirJoshua Reynolds and Gerard Edema. There are three gardens - the Earl's garden was created beside the House in the 18th century and is home to many ancient and rare trees, The Formal Gardens are grouped in the lower park, and the English Garden with its unusual trees - cork, oak, maidenhair, magnolias and the 'handkerchief' tree.

Saltram House
With its Palladian facades wrapped around its Tudor core, this perfectly proportioned mansion boasts some exceptional plasterwork by Robert Adam, and a virtually intact Georgian painting collection, including ten by SirJoshua Reynolds. Also of interest is the Great Kitchen, a gallery of local art in the chapel, and an orangery in the Garden. The house starred as Norland Park, the Dashwood's family home in the film Sense and Sensibility.

Places of Interest to Children
Beaches
There are a number of beaches in the area, those closest to the Hotel being Wembury, Mothecombe, Challaborough, Bigbury, Bantham, Thurlestone, Hope Cove and Salcombe.

All these beaches have car parks, but these are not necessarily alongside the beach. Refreshments are available at many beaches, but this may be limited to the summer season.

Butterflies & Otters Buckfastleigh
An all-weather family visit. Otters are fed three times daily; underwater viewing area; live exotic tropical butterflies in a rain forest habitat to wander through; butterfly hatching area; also birds, fish terrapins and other small creatures.

Dartmoor Wild-Life Park, Sparkwell
Set in 30 acres of beautiful Devon countryside with over 150 species of animals, including a comprehensive Big Cat collection. Falconry displays are held daily. See "Indy" the Jaguar seen in the BBC series, "Spirit of the Jaguar".

Paignton Zoo
75 acres of conservation in action. New Marie Le Fevre Ape Centre, new desert habitat, new woodland enclosures for lions and tigers, new brookside walk through aviary. One of England's biggest zoos with over 60 endangered species.

South Devon Railway Buckfastleigh
Steam trains; Great Western branch line; 7 miles beside the River Dart; Picturesque scenery; Living museum; Time Warp.

From Exeter
Follow the A38 towards Plymouth and exit at the sign for the National Shire Centre - (A3121-formerly-B3120) follow road and turn right onto A379 towards Yealmpton.

From Plymouth
Follow signs for A379 towards Kingsbridge - entrance on right hand side between Brixton and Yealmpton.

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