South Devon's luxurious Buckland Tout-Saints Hotel has won national acclaim with selection as one of the top 200 romantic hotels in Britain and Ireland.

This award reflects the quality of its facilities, accommodation, cuisine and overall performance.

And the awards is particularly unusual in that the owners, Mark and Julia Trumble, are first time hoteliers.

Under their ownership, the 17th century country house has undergone extensive renovations and the interior of this Grade II listed building is now as magnificent as its fine exterior.

The hotel was forced to close throughout a full season during the £1m renovation, yet key staff such as hotel manager Julie Hudson were retained and the business has been transformed.

The 16-bedroom hotel, which boasts 3 prestigious red stars and two AA Rosettes, is a triumph of fine antiques, romantic bedrooms and magnificent public rooms.

Buckland Tout-Saints is a spectacular location for weddings, with acres of gardens overlooking rolling countryside and since the renovation, the hotel now offers the highest quality wedding and conference facilities.

Whether relaxing in the deep comfort of the public rooms or the luxury of four poster beds in spacious bedrooms, the hotel can be your own country retreat.

The Queen Anne Restaurant, under the supervision of head chef Jean-Philippe Bidart, offers the best English and French food with fresh, natural foods including both local fish and meats and fine wines from the hotel cellars.

A sample menu might include char grilled scallops set onto a bed of leek and coriander with a pannequet of langoustine mousse and a vanilla sauce followed by pan-fried fillet steak set onto fondant potato and accompanied by a fresh woodland persillade sauce.

There is more to a hotel than just its physical presence and at the Buckland Tout-Saints, their events and functions add life to the local community.

For more information about the hotel, phone 01548 853055 or visit www.tout-saints.co.uk.