Lympstone Manor Vineyard & Estate: A Devon Country House Hotel with Award-Winning English Wines
A Devon Country House with a Vineyard on the Exe Estuary
Set in 28 acres of gardens and parkland sloping down to the foreshore of the Exe Estuary in East Devon, Lympstone Manor is a Grade II listed Georgian manor house that has been transformed into one of the most distinctive luxury country house hotels in England. The property is the personal creation of celebrated chef Michael Caines MBE, who opened the hotel in April 2017 after a painstaking restoration. Within six months of opening the restaurant had earned a Michelin star, and by the end of that same year Lympstone Manor was admitted to the prestigious Relais & Châteaux collection, a distinction it still holds.
What truly sets Lympstone Manor apart from other five-star hotels in the UK is its own 10.8-acre single-estate vineyard, planted in May 2018 on the south-west facing parkland below the manor. Some 17,500 vines now grow on the estate - Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay - and from them Michael and his team produce a small but award-winning range of wines that are poured in the restaurants and sold through the Lympstone Manor Estate Wine Shop.
The History of Courtlands and Lympstone Manor
The story of the estate goes back more than a thousand years. Lympstone itself was formed from the cohesion of three small Domesday manors - Leveneston, Notteswille and Sowden - and a Saxon lord named Saeward is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the holder of the manor of Levenestone before the Norman Conquest. The name "Lympstone" is thought to be of Saxon origin and has been variously spelt through the ages: Leveneston, Leustona, Veneston, Weleston and Limpston.
Originally a farmhouse, Lympstone Manor was known as Courtlands House. It was the Baring family - the German and British merchant bankers who founded Barings Bank - who transformed the simple Georgian structure into something more substantial from the 1760s onwards, adding the sweeping veranda and Picturesque garden that still define its appearance today. The historic Lady's Walk around the boundary of the estate was also established during their ownership, alongside the walled garden and parkland plantings that follow the principles of the contemporary landscape movement.
After the Barings came Mr and Mrs Spicer (1829 - 1861), then Octavius Browne, and later William Lethbridge, who was the last major investor before Michael Caines. Through the twentieth century the asset gradually deteriorated, with much of the original estate sold off, the glasshouse removed and the significant walled garden broken up.
Michael Caines first viewed Courtlands in 2014 and completed the purchase in 2015, beginning the extensive renovation in November of that year. He set up an office on site and worked closely with skilled master craftsmen and women to restore the Grade II listed manor house, reinstate its period features and add a new bedroom wing that balances the original architecture. The hotel opened in April 2017, the vineyard was planted in May 2018, the first harvest was taken in 2020 and the award-winning Classic Cuvée was launched at the estate's harvest festival in October 2023.
Michael Caines MBE: Chef, Owner and Visionary
Michael Caines is one of Britain's best-loved chefs. He held two Michelin stars for 18 consecutive years at Gidleigh Park on Dartmoor before embarking on his own venture at Lympstone Manor, and now holds a Michelin star for the Manor as well as five AA Rosettes. His cooking style is what he calls "Terroir Cuisine" - modern British food that expresses a sense of place, drawing on the bounty of the Exe estuary and the outstanding larder of the South West.
Michael received an MBE in 2006 for services to the hospitality industry and was named AA Chef's Chef of the Year in 2007. He was granted Freeman of the City of Exeter in 2016 and founded both the Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink and the Michael Caines Academy at Exeter College. He has also partnered with the Williams F1 team since 2011, bringing Michelin-starred food to the team's motorhome facility over race weekends across the globe.
The Vineyard: 10.8 Acres of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay
The Lympstone Manor Estate vineyard sits within the heart of the hotel grounds, on the south-west facing parkland that slopes down to the Exe estuary. It comprises 17,500 vines - Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay - laid out with the latest viticultural technology, including lasers to ensure perfectly straight rows. Winemaking is overseen with a strong sustainability ethos: sheep graze in the vineyard in the off-season to replenish nutrients and encourage clover growth, products used in disease management are chosen within DEFRA guidelines with particular attention to the estate's proximity to the estuary, and the winemaking process uses three parts of the press to reduce by-product waste. The rosé is made from the second press of the Classic Cuvée, while the estate Gin and Eau de Vie are distilled from the grape pomace. Vinification itself is conducted locally, reducing the carbon footprint of grape deliveries.
The Estate Wines
- Triassic Pinot Noir 2024 - An elegant and expressive Pinot Noir with aromas of bramble fruits layered alongside classic savoury notes of mushroom and fresh earth. The palate is medium-bodied with a silky, supple texture, showing blackberry fruit complemented by subtle nuances of rosehip, black tea leaf and a gentle hint of black pepper spice. Sourced exclusively from the Lympstone Manor vineyard from all three Pinot Noir clones and aged for 12 months in old French oak.
- Isabeau Rosé NV - A vibrant wine, a subtle blend of the 2023 and 2024 vintages, with hints of summer berries leading into fresh citrus tones. Soft fruit and some minerality are balanced with crisp acidity and just a hint of citrus on the finish.
- Classic Cuvée NV - A premium English sparkling wine produced by the méthode traditionnelle in a classic blend of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay, with the latter predominantly aged in French oak for nine months prior to blending. Notes of apple, spiced pear and toasted brioche, with a rich and creamy mousse and a long, complex finish. Aged for a minimum of three years on the lees.
Awards
- Triassic Pinot Noir 2020 - Gold Medal (95 points) at the International Wine Challenge 2023 - the only English red wine to achieve a Gold Medal that year - together with the Best Producer Trophy for First Vintage. Bronze at the International Wine and Spirit Competition 2023.
- Classic Cuvée 2020 - Gold Medal (92 points) at the International Wine Challenge 2024, Best in Show by Country Category, and Silver Medal at the IWC 2024.
- Isabeau Rosé 2022 - Silver Medal at the London Wine Competition 2024, Bronze at the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2024 and Bronze at the International Wine Challenge 2024.
Vineyard Tours and Experiences
Vineyard tours at Lympstone Manor are held every Tuesday and Friday from May to September - in 2026 the season runs from 1st May to the end of September - and the experience is one of the most distinctive things to do on a Devon wine holiday. Guests arrive at 10.15am for tea, coffee and biscuits before the guided tour begins at 10.45am and lasts approximately 45 minutes. The vineyard team suggests wellies in wet weather and a limited selection is available to borrow. Dogs are not permitted on the tour itself, but can be left to enjoy the grounds or the Pool House Restaurant while their owners are out walking the rows.
Vineyard Tour and Michelin Star Lunch - £155 per person
Pair the guided tour with a four-course Michelin-starred lunch in the fine dining rooms of the Manor, with tea or coffee on arrival and a glass of Lympstone Manor Estate Classic Cuvée with canapés. The lunch can be upgraded to Michael's eight-course Signature Tasting Menu for an additional supplement. View the Vineyard Tour and Michelin Star Lunch.
Vineyard Tour and Pool House Lunch - £105 per person
A more casual option pairing the same 45-minute tour with a relaxed three-course lunch in the Pool House Restaurant and Bar, with tea or coffee on arrival and a glass of Lympstone Manor Estate Classic Cuvée. View the Vineyard Tour and Pool House Lunch.
Residents Vineyard Tour - £50 per person
Hotel residents are very welcome to join the tour, including a glass of Classic Cuvée. Tours take place on Tuesday and Friday mornings, plus Friday afternoon, and should be booked via Reception or Reservations in advance of the stay.
Gift vouchers for the Vineyard Tour and Lunch experiences are available through the Lympstone Manor Gift Experiences shop.
The Hotel: 21 Rooms, Six Shepherd Huts and 28 Acres of Grounds
The hotel has 21 individually designed guestrooms and suites, each named after a bird of the Exe estuary, with interiors inspired by the plumage and colours of their namesake. Watercolours of the birds by local artist Rachael Toll hang in each room and were used as the starting point for the interior design. The rooms are grouped into five collections:
- Superior Estuary Suites - the Heron and Greenfinch, the two best suites in the house, with private terraces, fire pits and soak tubs.
- Grand Estuary Suites - Woodwarbler, Avocet and Tern, the largest suites with panoramic estuary views.
- Master Suites - Magpie, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Woodpecker and Gannet, with balconies or private terraces.
- Junior Suites - Kingfisher, Oystercatcher, Gull and Redshank, all south-west facing in the main house.
- Deluxe Estuary View - Yellow-browed Warbler and Merlin, located on the first floor with private balconies.
- Deluxe Rooms - Wheatear, Fieldfare and Little Grebe, with views of the front entrance fountain and manicured lawn.
- Classic Rooms - Dunlin and Egret, interconnecting and perfect for families.
An additional six luxurious Shepherd Huts - Hare's Rest, Otter Holt, Bee Hive, Hedgehog Row, Fox Den and Badger Sett - sit in the secluded woodland at the bottom of the vineyard, named after woodland animals and designed for a romantic, immersive escape. Each hut offers apartment-style living space, a king-size bed, a kitchenette, a log fire for winter nights and outdoor touches such as a fire pit and soak tub, with two of them (Bee Hive and Fox Den) featuring a Bohemian Hikki wood-fired hot tub heated by a real log fire.
Within the grounds there is also a Sculpture Walk featuring 69 works by more than 20 sculptors from around the country. It takes around 30 minutes to complete and maps are available at Reception. The Lady's Walk - an historic circular route developed in 1760 - winds around the boundary of the estate and skirts the estuary.
Dining: Michelin Star Cuisine and a Pool House Restaurant
Food is at the heart of the Lympstone Manor experience, with two very distinct dining rooms under the same roof.
Fine Dining in the Manor
The Michelin-starred restaurant occupies three dining rooms of the Grade II listed manor - Berryhead, Mamhead and the principal room - and showcases Michael's Terroir Cuisine. Wine is central to the experience: the cellar contains over 600 bins from around the world, with 24 exceptional wines available by the glass through the state-of-the-art Wine Emotion dispense system in the dedicated tasting room. The current menus include:
- Summer Fine Dining Set Lunch - from £75 per person (available 1 June to 31 August 2026), with a complimentary glass of Lympstone Manor Estate Isabeau Rosé on arrival.
- Signature Tasting Menu - Michael's 8-course signature tasting menu, £265 per person, available at lunch and dinner, with vegan and vegetarian versions.
- Estuary Tasting Menu - a 7-course tasting menu dedicated to the bounty of the sea, £250 per person, available at dinner.
- A La Carte Menu - Michael's faultless four-course menu reflecting seasonality, regionality and creativity, £215 per person, available at dinner.
- Early Dine Menu - a specially designed 4-course menu available between 6.30 and 7.00pm, from £115 per person, with optional coffee and petit fours for £10 per person.
- Father's Day Lunch - a special fine-dining experience with vegan and vegetarian options available.
Afternoon Tea - £55 / £80 per person
The full Lympstone Manor afternoon tea is served from 3.00pm to 4.30pm in the fine dining rooms, by the fire in the lounge or on the terrace overlooking the estuary, with Devon clotted cream scones, local jams and a daily selection of handmade cakes and French pâtisseries. A vegetarian and vegan version is available on request. The champagne afternoon tea at £80 includes a glass of Champagne. View the Afternoon Tea menu.
The Pool House Restaurant and Bar
The Pool House is the informal dining space that opened in May 2022, set around the all-year-round heated outdoor swimming pool. The a la carte menu celebrates the finest ingredients from the South West - locally landed fish and shellfish, grass-fed meats and just-picked vegetables - with the kitchen overseen by Michael and his team. The Pool House set lunch menu is £36.50 for two courses or £46.50 for three courses, and the Sunday Roast has become a particular highlight of the week. The Pool House is also dog-friendly and family-friendly.
Opening hours: Lunch 12.00 noon to 2.30pm, Dinner 5.30pm to 9.00pm. All restaurant prices include VAT and a discretionary 15% service charge is added to bills.
What's On: Events, Wine Dinners and the Celebration of Speed
Lympstone Manor hosts a year-round programme of events from supper clubs and wine dinners to nature walks, art workshops and the hotel's flagship motoring weekend, the Celebration of Speed. Upcoming public events include:
- 8 August 2026 - An Evening Get Together with Veuve Clicquot (Chasing the Sun). 6.00pm - late.
- 9 September 2026 - Summer Jazz Supper Club with the Ronnie Jones Trio in the Pool House.
- 15 September 2026 - Dusk Nature Walk and Dinner with Countryside Manager James Chubb.
- 16 September 2026 - Taste East Devon Festival: Vineyard Tour and Pool House Lunch.
- 23 September 2026 - Japanese Wine Dinner with Damon Little of Liberty Wines.
- 6 October 2026 - Winter Nature Walk and Lunch with James Chubb, with a glass of Classic Cuvée.
- 20 October 2026 - 'Flight' Watercolour Workshop and Lunch with artist Rachel Toll.
- 19 November 2026 - Beaujolais Nouveau Wine Dinner hosted by Chris Piper.
- 2 December 2026 - Cosy Festive Watercolour Workshop and Lunch with Rachel Toll.
- 31 December 2026 - Michael's New Year's Eve House Party, hosted by Michael Caines MBE, with dinner, dancing, live music and a firework display over the estuary.
Recurring weekly through the summer: Public Vineyard Tours every Tuesday and Friday from May to September, with optional lunch pairings.
Festive Season: Christmas and New Year at the Manor
Lympstone Manor is now open for Christmas and New Year 2026 bookings, with a programme that includes two- and three-day Christmas packages between 24 - 27 December, Christmas Eve Lunch with Christmas Carols, the Michelin-starred Christmas Day Lunch, Boxing Day Lunch, the black-tie New Year's Eve gala dinner, New Year's Day Lunch, the Festive Afternoon Tea, the Pool House festive set lunch menu and the Christmas with Caines dinner personally hosted by Michael. A 50% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking for Christmas and New Year packages, with final payment due no later than 1 November.
House Membership
The Lympstone Manor House Membership is strictly limited and offers the most regular guests a deeper relationship with the estate. Annual fees are £1,060 per house member or £1,600 per joint membership. Benefits include unlimited non-residential access to the hotel's leisure facilities (the outdoor heated pool, tennis court and croquet lawn) and the Pool House Restaurant, exclusive early booking access to events (seven days before general release), early check-in (2pm) and late check-out (12pm), 15% off room reservations, 10% off food and beverage spend, two complimentary tickets to the annual Christmas Carols and Pool Party, and a complimentary bottle of Michael Caines Blanc de Blanc Champagne on the lead member's birthday. Apply via the House Membership page or call the members' line on 01395 200939.
The Location and How to Get Here
Lympstone Manor sits in a commanding position overlooking the Exe estuary, near Exmouth in East Devon. The 28-acre estate runs from the manor house down to the foreshore, surrounded by the green hills of Devon and looking out across to the Jurassic Coast - England's first natural UNESCO World Heritage Site - which extends for 95 miles from Exmouth to Old Harry Rocks in Dorset.
By road, the hotel is approximately 3 to 3½ hours from London via the M4 and M5. By rail, London Paddington to Exeter St David's takes around 2 to 2½ hours, with connecting Avocet Line trains via Exeter Central or Exeter St David's to Lympstone Village station (a 15-minute walk or short taxi ride to the Manor). Exeter Airport is about 20 minutes by taxi; Bristol Airport is around 1.5 hours. Complimentary on-site parking and EV charging points are available to guests.
Address: Courtlands Lane, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 3NZ. Telephone 01395 202040, email info@lympstonemanor.co.uk. For rooms and reservations email reservations@lympstonemanor.co.uk; for restaurant tables email tables@lympstonemanor.co.uk or call 01395 200920; for private events and exclusive use, email salesandevents@lympstonemanor.co.uk.
Sustainability and Community
Lympstone Manor's sustainability plan aligns with Relais & Châteaux's "In Harmony With All Life On Earth" initiative, which was pledged to UNESCO in 2024, and addresses environmental, social and economic pillars. Initiatives include active planting of pollinator-friendly species, maintaining estate beehives and a bug hotel, allowing parts of the estate to re-wild, working with the National Trust on the boundary brook, no single-use plastics, Nespresso pod recycling, a bottle collection scheme with local company Beer Water, working with Coastal Recycling, cooking-oil collection for fuel, on-site composting and Michael's cooking ethos of carcass balance to minimise waste. The hotel works with regenerative local farmers and adheres to the Responsible Fishing Scheme for seafood. The team fundraises for local charities including RNLI Exmouth, Exeter Chiefs Foundation, the Down's Syndrome Association, Farms for City Children, Little Valley Animal Shelter (RSPCA Devon), the Deaf Academy, Hospitality Action, the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, Movember, Exeter Leukaemia Fund, HeadsUp Mental Health Awareness, Pete's Dragons and Cats Protection Devon Cat Centre.
Practical Information for Visitors
- Check-in from 3.00pm; check-out by 11.00am.
- Dress code in the fine dining restaurant: smart casual at lunch and dinner; gentlemen may wish to wear a collared shirt. Tailored denim is welcome. No sportswear. The Pool House has no dress code.
- Children are welcome throughout the hotel, with cots and Z-beds available. Children are welcome in the Pool House at any age; in the Michelin-starred restaurant children aged five and above are welcome, with a dedicated children's menu available.
- Dogs are welcome in two dog-friendly suites (Tern and Greenfinch), all six Shepherd Huts, the Pool House Restaurant, the outdoor terraces and the grounds (an additional £30 per dog per night applies, maximum two dogs per room).
- Accessibility - the Magpie Master Estuary Suite on the ground floor has step-free same-level access, a spacious walk-in shower, separate bath and fitted assistance handrails, offered at Classic Room rate. The main entrance, reception, lounges, bar, dining rooms and accessible restrooms are all on the ground floor.
- Cancellation - for flexible rates, cancellations may be made up to 3.00pm, seven days prior to arrival. Cancellations within 48 hours of a restaurant booking incur £85 per person for lunch, £55 per person for afternoon tea and £215 per person for dinner.
- Service charge - 15% discretionary on all food and beverage bills; 5% on the room charge for packages.