DUNKERY Beacon Country House Hotel is hosting a ‘Pie and the Sky’ stargazing and supper evening with an expert astronomer in March (2020).
Attendees can enjoy a cottage pie and peas for supper, or a vegetarian option, and learn about the night sky from astronomer Seb Jay on March 17, 2020 from 7pm.
John Bradley, who co-owns the award-winning boutique hotel near Dunster with his wife Jane and is a keen astronomer too, said: “We have previously hosted stargazing supper evenings as part of Exmoor’s Dark Skies Festival and they have been hugely successful.
“Each event has been fully booked and we even had several people on a waiting list for the last one, so we thought we would host another at a different time of year for anyone who has not yet had a chance to attend.
“We’ll be welcoming guests to our ‘Pie and the Sky’ for drinks followed by supper. We’ll also have a vegetarian option available on the night.
“A little later in the evening, Seb, who wrote the book ‘Exmoor Dark Skies’, will be on hand with telescopes to guide everyone through the night sky. Seb will impart some of his extensive knowledge gained from more than 20 years of stargazing.
“On the night we should be able to get a good look at Venus, the brightest planet in our night sky, as well as Sirius, the brightest star in our night sky. Orion and the Orion nebula will also be on view and we’ll have red supergiants and star clusters to see too. Some of the most distant galaxies will also be visible via the telescope.”
Tickets for the ‘Pie and the Sky’ supper and stargazing evening will cost £21.50 per person. Anyone booking accommodation at the hotel for the event will receive a 10% discount on their room and event ticket price.
The ticket price includes either a 125ml glass of wine, a bottle of beer/cider or a soft drink and a supper plus the guided talk by Seb and chance to view the stars. In the event of cloudy weather, Seb will give an indoor presentation instead.
John added: “Exmoor’s International Dark Sky Designation means that in favourable conditions it is a fantastic place for viewing the stars with the naked eye and a telescope isn’t always necessary. Exmoor is one of the best places in the country for stargazing as it has very little light pollution and is often free from clouds. According to the Campaign for Dark Skies, less than 10% of people in the UK can see a natural night sky full of stars above them. But interest is growing annually.
“As one of my other passions is photography, there’s always the chance for guests to do some astrophotography as there are some great photos to be had when the skies are clear.”
But it’s not just the heavens that look good at the multi-award-winning Dunkery Beacon Country House Hotel, the bedrooms, service and food are also star-studded.
“All rooms have pocket-sprung beds, big fluffy towels and top-notch toiletries. Guests are provided with fresh locally ground coffee, tea from nearby Minehead, fresh spring water and milk, and homemade shortbread so they can unwind after a long journey or have a midnight feast!
“Our rooms have white Egyptian cotton sheets and guests are offered the option of either synthetic or feather and down bedding. Our Egyptian or Turkish cotton bathroom towels are either 550 or 600gsm in weight and are very fluffy too.”
John has more than 27 years’ experience in catering, notching up numerous top chef roles in this country and overseas.
Jane also has a background in hospitality and worked in the wine industry for more than 15 years.
John continued: “We pride ourselves on offering luxury accommodation for those wishing to escape the humdrum of day-to-day life and to unwind in a truly tranquil location with stunning scenery all around.
“Our award-winning Coleridge Restaurant offers relaxed yet classic dining with a seasonally changing, à la carte menu and a focus on locally-sourced produce and our wine list is supplied by top London merchants, Berry Bros. & Rudd and Christopher Piper Wines in Ottery St Mary, Devon. We’re the only establishment in the area to offer such a sophisticated selection of wines to diners.
“We use as much local, seasonal produce as possible including Exmoor honey, eggs, pork and even offers Exmoor roasted coffee and blended tea.
“Also, on the menu is sea bass, bream, trout, cod and scallops from the nearby Devon coast –Exmoor straddles both Somerset and Devon.”
The ‘Pie and the Sky’ stargazing evening at Dunkery Beacon Country House Hotel takes place on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 from 7pm and tickets cost £21.50 per person.
To find out more, please call Dunkery Beacon Country House on 01643 841 241 or visit www.dunkerybeaconaccommodation.co.uk.
