Our history

Our lovely Main House dates back to 1866.  It was built for the Duke of Bedford’s Mine Captain, James Richards, who was responsible for the mining of copper and tin in the Tamar Valley.  The house remained inextricably linked to mining throughout the boom years until 1918, when it became part of the Bedford Estate.  On a clear day you can still see the chimneys of several of the Cornish mines from our patio and restaurant.

In 1967, the house was converted into a restaurant, which is where our rich foodie history began – founder Sonia Stevenson was the first British woman to be awarded a Michelin star!

In 1985, the restaurant became a hotel with 10 bedrooms.  Then in June 2014 we extended our Coach House with 6 additional rooms,  bringing the total to 16.

Food remains at the core of our offering; add to that luxurious bedrooms, lovely public rooms and stunning views, and you’ll find this is the perfect place to escape the humdrum for a short break.

Please click here for more information about The Horn of Plenty’s history, or here for further information about the mining in the Tamar Valley.

Origins of our name

The horn of plenty (or cornucopia from Latin cornu copiae) is a symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly a large horn-shaped container overflowing with produce, flowers or nuts.