The Bedford Hotel Food Review.

The Bedford Hotel, Tavistock. November 6th 2008

We hadn't seen Os and Janet for at least 4 years despite regular e-mails, and when one of us suggested that we
meet up for lunch, the question was 'where?'. As Tavistock residents, I thought that they would want to try something
away from home, but when I mentioned that I wanted to have a quick look at the Bedford Hotel's new room make-overs, they told me that although they have lived in Tavistock for 12 years, they had never been in for refreshments, and
that if I thought that they would like it, then they were happy to give it a try...

I booked a table for 4 in the Duke's bar, but when we arrived, we had been placed in the large comfortable
sitting room at the rear with plush settees and a fireplace - with fire; all very relaxing. The young staff were
well on the ball as far as welcomes go, drink orders taken at the bar with a tab sorted. Our pals arrived and
the transition from hungry travellers to active feeders took no time at all.

At this stage, I must say that I was especially impressed by a young New Zealand lass, who, as she was clearing a table next to us, realised that we were waiting to place our order. 'No problem, what would we all like for lunch?' This with
no order pad or pen to hand. She waltzed off carrying an armful of dirty pots with the 4 mixed food orders in her head, no fuss whatsoever, and needless to say our meals arrived just as we had ordered. I do like to see young staff using
their initiative. The main bar was full of happy eaters, and the room around us was filling up, and she confidently
used her common sense. What a refreshing change from the lacklustre waiting staff I sometimes get to see.

Janet and Os both chose the Tenderloin of Pork stuffed with mozzarella, wrapped in Parma ham, with creamy
mashed potatoes at £8.95 and from the moment it arrived I wished that I had chosen it too. Rob opted for the
Beef and Jail Ale Pie, £8.95, served just as it said with chips and peas. This with it's shrivelled up peas looked
decidedly dreary next to Janet's plateful, but I had a mouthful of the pie and as Rob said, it was excellent.
Wonderfully braised beef in a light crisp pastry. I was very disappointed with my meal, the Wild Mushroom and
Leek Bake at £8.50. On the menu as 'mushrooms and leeks in a creamed herb sauce, topped with sliced potatoes &
cheese and oven baked'. No mention of bread whatsoever, but sadly as you can see from the photo above, 2 great
chunks of bread with pats of butter and a not very well thought out salad drowning in balsamic vinegar (who said
I wanted it dressed anyway ?) and only a small pot of the bake were what arrived. Certainly, the bottom 3/4 of an inch
of the bake was worthy of high praise, a creamy collection of leeks and mushrooms, but it lasted only for 3 forkfuls
and the rest was decidedly average. Maybe I should have made a choice from the specials board in the bar.
A good pot of coffee at £2.50 each rounded the meal off, and then dear reader, I had a look around some of the
bedrooms for you with my camera at the ready. A young porter showed us around 3 of the newly revamped bedrooms,
the first at the back of the hotel overlooking the car park, is a large four poster room with heavily draped canopy.
With it's up to the minute brand new bathroom it's ideal for a winter break.
The next room, again away from the road was another 4 poster, this time in contemporary style with rich warm reds.
The rooms have all the usual facilities, a drinks tray, hairdryer, telephone and goodness only knows why .....
a yellow pages in the last one, a charming large room at the front of the hotel, see pics with blue cushions.
I really like being in this hotel. I don't know if it was ever one of the great railway hotels, but it has that solid
feel about it. You know at once that many a happy bride and groom have set off from it's steps and the
bar well stocked would find itself in any Agatha Christie classic.It's warm and friendly with a reassuringly old
fashioned charm that is utterly English. Large rooms, the odd lead pipe from the original heating system butting
out of the wall, still doing sterling service. Slightly creaky floorboard in the upstairs corridors, some fresh flowers dotted about the place, along with old fashioned pictures and antiques that so far have not been ousted,
and I say, long may they reign.
I love the fact that the staff are properly dressed and they treat you with good manners and a smile.
It's an old hotel with bags of history. I do hope that the makeover only extends to the bedrooms and that the
public rooms remain the same. I'm sure they will. The bill for 4 of us for lunch came to £ with drinks.
Will we go again ? Oh yes, and so will Ossie and Janet ...
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