NEWS FROM EXMOOR TOURISM

February 10, 2016

Tourism set to take centre stage

The annual Exmoor Tourism Conference takes place on the 3 March 2016 at the Beach Hotel Minehead, with an impressive line-up of speakers covering a range of important topics.
The conference provides an ideal opportunity for everyone involved with tourism whether an attraction, accommodation business, retailer, activity provider, service industry – large or small. The invitation is equally extended to supporting organisations and community groups, to come together in preparation for the new visitor season. In addition to the conference, this year’s event incorporates the popular ‘Exmoor Exchange’ with over 25 trade stands booked (to date) to share information, gather literature and network with colleagues.

The conference starts at 11.15 am and will cover a range of important and exciting topics including:

Reviews and updates of the work of Exmoor Tourism to promote Exmoor, featuring newly appointed agency Greentraveller who will outline PR and marketing plans for the year and Elke Winzer, ET’s new Development Manager who will share thoughts on future opportunities.

Details of new and exciting ventures such as the Watchet Boat Museum, Lynton to Barnstaple Railway extension and the Steam Coast Trail.

Insights into a range of successful Exmoor businesses such as the West Somerset Railway and its 40th anniversary plans, the award-winning Cross Lane House boutique hotel, and South West Lakes Trust who’ve retained their Gold Green Tourism Business Award at iconic visitor attraction, Wimbleball Lake.

Partner updates from Exmoor National Park, Hinkley Tourism Action Partnership and Visit Somerset

Entry to the conference, and exchange, including buffet lunch and refreshments is only £15 for Exmoor Tourism members and £25 for non-members. Advanced booking is essential, and can be made online at http://www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/trade/conference2016.

The Annual General Meeting takes place immediately before the conference at 10.30am and is open to all members of Exmoor Tourism.

Looking ahead to the day, Evelyn Stacey, Chairman of Exmoor Tourism, said “This promises to be an informative and useful day for everyone involved in Exmoor’s tourism industry which contributed a staggering £253m to the local economy in 2014. I hope that as many people as possible will join us as we share plans for the future – the whole community stands to benefit from the development of sustainable tourism.”

“Exmoor Tourism was formed a year ago by bringing together the former Exmoor Tourism Partnership and Exmoor Tourist Association into a single body. Since then we’ve achieved a huge amount. With new contractors joining us, including the appointment of Greentraveller as our marketing agency for the next 12 months, we’re confident that we will be able to deliver more for our members in the coming months and years.”

A limited number of trade stands are still available to be booked on a first come first served basis. A stand costs £35, to include one entrance to the conference and lunch. For further details contact Teresa Lovering at secretary@exmoor.com.

Simonsbath Silhouette

February 10, 2016February 10, 2016

Photo by Richard Williams.

Headwaters of the Exe Launch

February 10, 2016February 10, 2016

Left to right: Bea Davis (Headwaters of the Exe project manager), Adam Lockyear (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South West), John Hickey (Westcountry Rivers Trust), Katherine Williams (Exmoor Hill Farming Network), Stanley Johnson, Mark Thomasin-Foster (Chair of Headwaters of the Exe steering group). Photo by Steve Guscott/ENPA

Eighty-five people gathered to celebrate the launch of the Headwaters of the Exe project at Hawkridge Village Hall recently and the project team was delighted to welcome Stanley Johnson – former MEP, author, journalist, environmentalist and local landowner – to formally launch the project.

The Headwaters of the Exe project is working with farmers and land managers to ensure good water quality in the catchment of the River Exe. It is part of South West Water’s Upstream Thinking programme. The project will run until 2020 and is funded by South West Water and Exmoor National Park Authority, with support from the Exmoor Hill Farming Network.

At the launch event a number of presentations were received from project partners, including the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South West, Westcountry Rivers Trust, South West Water and Exmoor National Park Authority. The event also included a nearby river walk to discuss water quality issues.

Chair of the Steering Group, Mark Thomasin-Foster, said “This excellent project will build partnerships with farmers and land managers bringing increased benefits to the valuable water resource and ecology of the River Exe headwaters. We are very grateful to South West Water and Exmoor National Park Authority for providing this opportunity.”

Project manager, Bea Davis, said “We were overwhelmed by the fantastic turn out for the launch event. It was wonderful to see so many people coming together to celebrate this innovative new project.”

The Headwaters of the Exe project covers an area of 27,559 hectares and includes the upper Exe, the Rivers Barle, Quarme, Pulham, Haddeo and smaller tributaries, as well as Wimbleball Reservoir.

If you would like to get involved with the project please do not hesitate to get in touch with Bea Davis on 01398 322278 or bdavis@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk or Katherine Williams on 01643 841455 or KWilliams@northdevonplus.co.uk.

For further information please visit the project webpage at http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/headwaters.

HotE gathering compressed

Exebridge

January 27, 2016

A stormy day in Exebridge yesterday….

Photo by Julia Amies-Green.

Old Cleeve Church

January 27, 20161 Comment

Photo by Les Shackleford.

One Night. Four Chefs. A Taste of Exmoor.

January 26, 2016

Only 2 days to go!!!!

Award winning chefs from the Exmoor region are joining The Castle’s head chef on 28 January in Taunton to prepare a mouthwatering Taste of Exmoor menu. Tickets are limited, so early booking is very advisable:

Canapés & Fizz
Hospitality Students
(The Combe, West Somerset College, Minehead)

Starter
Olivier Certain (Clavelshay Barn, North Petherton)
Pays d’Oc, Laurent Miquel, Père et Fils, Grenache-Syrah

Slow Roasted Belly of Little Oak Farm Pork, Black Pudding & Quail Scotch Egg, Apple and Cider

Fish Course
Mark Dodson (Mason Arms, Knowstone)

Pan Fried Scallop with a Thai Style Salad, Rice Wine Dressing

Main Course
Liam Finnegan (The Castle Hotel, Taunton)
McHenry Hohnen, Shiraz, Margaret River, Western Australia

Roast Exmoor Venison Loin, Faggot, Red Cabbage,
Jerusalem Artichoke and Wild Mushrooms

Dessert
Paul & Donna Berry (The Swan, Bampton)

Lemon Cheesecake with Exmoor Wolf Gin, Tonic and Thyme Sorbet

Petit Fours and Breads
The Castle Hotel

Four course dinner: £75.00 per person
(including a glass of fizz & 2 glasses of wine)

BOOK NOW

Award winning Exmoor-based chefs are joining The Castle’s head chef Liam Finnegan to cook up a Taste of Exmoor menu as the launch of the 2016 Exmoor Food Fest which takes place all over Exmoor in February.

The Chefs:
Mark Dodson
Mark and his wife Sarah took over the The Mason Arms in Knowstone in June 2005. In July 2006, the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star which they still hold. Since then, Mark and his team have gone from strength to strength, receiving many awards and accolades, including Michelin Pub of the Year 2010.
Prior to moving to Exmoor, Mark spent twelve years as Head Chef of Michel Roux’s Waterside Inn in Bray.
Paul and Donna Berry
There aren’t many awards Paul and Donna haven’t won for their historic pub “The Swan” in Bampton. Best Trencherman’s Pub of the Year 2016, Visit Devon Pub of the Year Gold Award, and AA Gold Star Award are amongst the most recent accolades, recognising Paul’s and Donna’s passion for food and the use of local, seasonal produce.

Liam Finnegan
Liam Finnegan, who has been head chef at The Castle Hotel in Taunton for three years, grew up in Carlingford, Co Louth in Ireland from where he still sources their famous oysters. However, whenever possible, he uses local suppliers.

Liam’s career path took him through some fantastic restaurants such as The George Hotel on the Isle of White, The Bath Priory and Gidleigh Park where he worked for Micheal Cains, and The Nuremore Hotel (Ray McArdle). When asked about awards Liam counters that a full restaurant and happy customers are more important. “Of course accolades are brilliant, but anything we get, we receive and share as a team.”

Olivier Certain
Marseille-born Olivier moved to Somerset in 1998 following his Michelin star training in La Bonne Etape Chateau Arnoux and Les Roches in Le Lavandou. In 2006 he joined Woods in Dulverton as head chef where he achieved 2 rosettes and the accolade of Somerset Dining Pub of the Year 2008, 2010 and 2011. In 2009 in reached the finals of the South West Chef of the Year competition.

Olivier now heads the kitchen at Clavelshay Barn in North Petherton.

The Students
The Year 13 hospitality students from train at West Somerset College, Minehead under Chef Lecturers Paul Ruttledge (a former British Master Chef) and Werner Hartholt.