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News

Not a day passes without at least one improvement to the hotel. Many are out of sight and simply contribute to the smooth running of the hotel. Others are more tangible to guests and visitors. Below are some of our exciting recent developments.

'All Day Snail Breakfast'

It must have been a slow news day, but the launch of our 'All Day Snail Breakfast' hit the headlines.
Having teamed up with local suppliers Dorset Escargots, we decided to give a new twist to a traditional French dish. The Snail Breakfast is the prefect blend of French & English: the finest home reared snails (cooked a la Steve), black pudding, bacon, tomato, fried bread all topped with a quails egg - perfection on a plate. And at £6.95, it's no wonder they've turned our Head Chef, Steve into something of a celebrity.

September 2010 - Tamara Drewe - Feature Film Premiere and Gala Night

It's already another iconoclastic Stephen Frears epic!
Tamara Drewe - a feature film and modern tale loosely based on Far From the Madding Crowd has been filmed at numerous locations around Beaminster.

We were especially privileged to have Stephen and the cast stay with us at the BridgeHouse last Autumn during filming.

Release is imminent and is likely to enhance further West Dorset's reputation as a stunning venue. Watch for our 'Love Dorset' offer later this month to co-incide with the premier.

Gala night with Stephen and author, Posy Simmonds - 17th September at the Electric Palace, Bridport. Tickets £30. Contact Bridport Tourist Information or call the hotel for our special Tamara Drewe weekend offer.

Saturday Telegraph Travel Review - 21st November

It's always nice to receive positive feedback. Lesley Gillilan at the Telegraph stayed and seemed to like what we do.....
Her review (Sat 21st November 2009) goes like this:

It used to be all peach frills and Eighties wallpaper borders , but when Mark and Joanna Donovan left London (she was a fashion buyer, he was in television) to take on the BridgeHouse five years ago, they could see the potential. And they have succeeded in updating this historic Dorset hotel - a medieval priest house in a former life - without losing an ounce of atmosphere.
Some of the rooms are fresh and floral with views of the walled garden; ours was dark and romantic, with gilded Baroque wallpaper and heavy, velvet curtains draped over a mullioned window overlooking Beaminster, a corner of West Dorset destined to become 'Tamara Drewe Country.' when the film version of Posy Simmonds' Hardy-esque tale, shot in the area, is released in 2011 (director Stephen Frears was sleeping in the room next door).
'I love to see our guests kicking off their shoes and curling up by the fire with a book,' Joanna says, as I sink into a sofa in the lounge to order dinner. There are two restaurants, the BridgeHouse and the more informal Brasserie, though they basically serve the same menu. The food is fresh and local (Dorset lamb, home-made bread, Lyme Bay seafood). The beaches and footpaths of the Jurassic Coast are 20 minutes away.

The Wild Garlic & the BridgeHouse Beaminster

We are delighted to be able to offer '09 Masterchef winner Mat Folla's guests the very best accommodation in the town as part of a Gourmet Break offer (see Offers page). For those who love their food, there's the chance to dine at the Wild Garlic as well as experience the BridgeHouse restaurant - the Beaminster Brasserie: our stunning al fresco brasserie and dining restaurant. To celebrate the wildgarlic's opening, we're also giving away a complimentary bottle of champagne.

Shock Horror! Ex-Sun Editor, Kelvin MacKenzie at the BridgeHouse

A surprise two-night visit by former Sun Editor and columnist, Kelvin MacKenzie to the BridgeHouse Hotel, Beaminster led to a glowing review in the tabloid newspaper.

Following a poor experience at an Oxfordshire hotel, Kelvin feared the worst coming to West Dorset. But his experience at the Beaminster hotel proved the opposite: 'The room was spotless, the food delicious and plentiful and the staff friendly and helpful. No, I am not receiving a bung for this article……..I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending the hotel.’

By sheer co-incidence this was not the first time Kelvin and I have crossed paths. I worked as a casual reporter at the Sun in the early 1990s and later helped another MacKenzie media project, Live TV. Kelvin also worked with my last employer before taking on the hotel, Lion Television.

However, nearly 15 years on, neither of us knew we were to meet again.

‘I was amazed when I heard my old boss was staying at the BridgeHouse. Kelvin was equally surprised. It was with some trepidation that we met again. Kelvin ruled the Sun with an iron fist in those days and he certainly hasn’t gone soft in his later years. Regardless of what some might say about his reign at The Sun, he remains a true tabloid genius in my opinion. Jo and I are delighted the hotel satisfied such an uncompromising critic.’

Kelvin also recalls in his column those times in the early 1990s with characteristic modesty: ‘I seem to remember The Sun had a particularly good editor at the time and the managing director of Live TV was also hugely talented.’

MacKenzie added: ‘Mark and Joanna, a fashion buyer, decided on a whim to buy the hotel five years ago. They knew nothing about the business but loved the area. They took a massive risk with their money and their lives but it’s paid off handsomely.’

Rewards Card

While the rest of the world seems obsessed with economic doom and gloom, the BridgeHouse continues to thrive largely thanks to many of you who have stayed with us before, and keep returning.

Our commitment to you is to continue to improve the hotel, our service and ultimately the enjoyment and value for money we are able to offer. Therefore, we are launching a Rewards Card as a way of giving a little back to those who stay with us time and again.
It’s nothing fancy…..just straightforward freebies as follows:

2nd Stay* Royal Cream Tea
3rd Stay Bottle of Perrier Jouet on the house
4th Stay Complimentary Four Course Dinner
5th Stay Two Nights B&B – no charge
6th Stay Free Weekend on us - Dinner B&B

Rules & Restrictions: We consider a *stay to mean two nights or more B&B, Dinner B&B at list
price. Offer includes our annual Winter Promotion but excludes any other 3rd party, corporate or
discounted rates. Complimentary B&B or Dinner B&B is subject to availability and cannot be
taken at Bank Holidays, public holidays, Christmas, Easter etc. A Rewards Card B&B or Dinner
B&B complimentary stay excludes wine, drinks and all other extras. The Rewards Card applies
to new bookings only from February 1st 2009 and provisionally ends 31st December 2011.
Terms and Conditions may vary.

A Rewards Card will be issued to everyone on check-out. Hope to see you again.....and again......

Stop Press: All those qualifying guests who have stayed with us since February 1st 2009 will soon receive their Rewards Card in the post.

Top 50 Cosiest Hotel - Sunday Telegraph

Recognition at last!
The Sunday Telegraph has voted the BridgeHouse as one of its top 50 cosiest hotel's in Britain. 'With its inglenook fireplaces, oak beams and handsome bedrooms it's just the spot to go for the weekend,' it says.

Beaminster Brasserie - New HotShot Chef!

Linda, our Head Chef for 14 years in the top job has decided to take more of a back seat. We can't thank her enough for all her professionalism and skill during our five years at the BridgeHouse.

With the success of the Brasserie we felt she needed a helping hand as well as giving her the time to spread her wings.

Therefore, we are very excited that Steve Pielesz, has accepted the top job in the kitchen. He comes with a thoroughbred culinary credentials having trained at the two Michelin star L’Aubergade restaurant in the south of France, then rose through the ranks at the Bath Spa and Chewton Glen hotels and finally as Head Chef at the Bowood Golf & Country Club.

We are very excited to have secured Steve who was sought after by several high grade restaurants. His fresh, new menus are coming on stream now.....the perfect excuse to visit the Brasserie again if you haven't done so for a while.

Hotel Guru, Fiona Duncan passes judgement.....and it's great!

Hold The Front Page
The Sunday Telegraph's 'Hotel Guru,' Fiona Duncan, stayed with us earlier this year. When she passed judgement, we we're thrilled with what she had to say. The hotel scored four out of five in all categories bar one, which scored the top mark of five for 'character.'

Among her comments were:
'I found a relaxed atmosphere, but attention to detail, high standards and delightful staff. The charm of the place is intact and it has been freshened and modernised without sacrificing character.....

'But it's the well-regarded restaurant, now a calm, elegant space with white walls and tablecloths, rattan chairs, flowers and candlight, that's at the heart of the operation. My friend, jane and I swiftly demolished chef Linda Paget's Winter menu, wishing we had ordered one each of the divine chocolate fondants to finish.....

Full published review is on Fiona's website: www.thehotelguru.com

Read some comments from our guests...

Or read a Restaurant Review...

Mary Mills finds new owners making an impression at this established hotel and restaurant.
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