On Monday 12th of September at The RAC CLUB, Pall Mall the Williams-Hawkes family and staff we awarded Food and Travel Bed and Breakfast of the Year 2016.
The Salutation Inn is owned by the Williams- Hawkes family South Western Hotel & Catering Company Ltd (who previously owned The Imperial, Exeter) and was purchased on New Year’s Eve 2010 from Punch Taverns.
The property had been empty for two years and was in need of care. The Grade 2 * listed building was granted planning permission in late 2011 when the rebuilding project commenced, creating a 45 cover glazed atrium cafe, a 30 cover Fine-Dining Restaurant and now most importantly four lovingly restored en-suite guest bedroom accommodation and two additional suites. Now run by Tom Williams-Hawkes and partner Amelia Boalch they have a young vibrant team attracting many regulars locally and further afield.
Tom attended Exeter College as a chef trainee for three years graduating as Top Student, then on to Gordon Ramsey at Hospital Road, Chelsea then to Petrus under Marcus Wareing before returning to Devon and working his way up to Sous Chef at Gidleigh for Michael, a spell in France followed for the Rothschilds during Gidleigh refurbishment and then on to the Abode in Exeter as Executive Chef for three years.
With dinner and breakfast cooked by Tom and his wonderful brigade, served with fabulous smiles after a great night sleep Naturalmat bed we have won. We cannot thank you enough for the votes, support and lovely words, we feel very blessed! To be alongside the names on this list of winners hopefully speaks for itself………. The Salutation Inn, Bed and Breakfast of the year looks forward to welcoming you soon.
