Finding a relaxing retreat with a definite wow factor to celebrate a Ruby wedding anniversary is not easy but the hotel on Burgh Island hits the spot in so many ways. On arrival we were whisked across the sand bar in a Discovery right to the hotel door, knowing that in an hour or so the tide would be covering the access and the island would be truly cut off from the mainland. The beautifully designed Art Deco building beckons in a romantic and slightly mysterious Agatha Christie sort of way. Being shown to our suite, themed around Josephine Baker, we became more aware that we were entering a different time zone in which the clocks have been turned back to the twenties and thirties. Every room and every vista is designed with original Art Deco furniture, fittings and panache which gives a wonderful feeling of actually stepping back in time. Yet, Burgh Island manages to combine this time warp with an exceptional quality of service in every respect. The Josephine Baker suite included a large and comfortable bedroom with dramatic blacks white and reds, a bathroom with marbled floor and a sitting room with attractive red leather suite with zebra cushions, various Art Deco cupboards, tables and fittings including a Bush radio on which we could tune into Classic FM which just finished the ambience. We were welcomed into our suite which had a dozen red roses and bottle of Bollanger courtesy of Jackie and Mike. So we unpacked and then sat on the sun deck and downed a bottle of champers and a few chocolate biscuits. Of course slipping back to 1930 takes a bit of getting used to. Preparing for dinner becomes a more involved and time consuming process of bathing, pampering and checking clothes are fitting correctly and looking right. Pre dinner canope's and cocktails in the Palm Court gave us the opportunity to experience more of the ambience and have a bit of banter with Gary the quite eccentric barman who was very amusing. Dinner in the ballroom is always a special event at Burgh Island and we were not disappointed as both the food and the service were first class. The setting, used in some of Agatha Christie's Poirot movies, is a stunning room in which to have dinner. We retired to our suite to relax with a little music to find curtains drawn and bed turned down, a nice touch..
Saturday started with tea and coffee brought to our room and a tasty breakfast in the dining room around 9.30. We decide to stay on the island for the whole day and just chill and enjoy the surroundings. After reading the morning papers we took a stroll right around the island, not very far but with some fabulous views of the surrounding coastline and rock formations and some very scary sheer drops and cliffs. Not a place to bring young children unless they can fly! An hour of fresh air meant we required a drink so we sat in the Palm Court for a further hour and read our books. After this we retired to our suite and listened to the radio until taking afternoon tea and playing scrabble back in the Palm Court. It's quite tiring being a decadent person of the 1930's, there's just so much to do! It wasn't long before we had to start thinking about preparing for dinner again! Saturday evening dinner is even more special, with live music and everyone expected to wear black tie! Dress and jewellery was even more sparkly, mostly Marg's that is! and it wasn't long before we were back in the Palm Court sipping more cocktails and trying even more exotic canope', I passed on the squid, (that is correct 'I passed on the squid'!). The three piece jazz band, piano, bass and female vocal was in full swing by the time we started our meal, playing a list of songs from the era and providing a fun feel to the room. A few people ventured on to the dance floor giving those watching some amusement although the band did not really connect as well as it might have, but it was fun and we enjoyed the music and the food. We retired to our suite around eleven and chilled for another hour or so doing a crossword and listening to some more classical music.
Sunday arrived with more tea's, coffee's and breakfast. Reading some of the vast amount in the Sunday paper took an hour or so after breakfast before we had to pack our cases to vacate the suite. Having invited Ian and Angela to share lunch on the island with us we took a stroll up the hill to get some fresh air and watched part of a 'round the island charity swim' in which apparently 200 people took part. It looked pretty choppy on the far side of the island and, I imagine, quite hard going. After Ian and Angela joined us we enjoyed another meal and conversation before it was time to leave the island. We were duly shipped back to the mainland in the Discovery and taken back to the garage where we had left our car. It was an exceptional way to celebrate 40 years of marriage, both very enjoyable and very special. So thanks to Burgh Island for creating such a special place and thanks to Marg for sticking with me for such a long time and making it possible for us to celebrate this special day....
Will post some pics on flickr asap.... try the link...
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