New Years Eve 2024 The Horn of Plenty Tavistock
It was an awful 2024 for us as we lost our dear beloved dog Archie very suddenly and totally unexpected at the age of just 7 and a half years in October. He was our world and he has left a huge hole in our lives and we miss him dearly so Steve (my husband) decided we needed a nice end to 2024.
He booked a one night New Year’s Eve celebration at The Horn Of Plenty which is a lovely Country House Hotel (that we have stayed in before) at Gulworthy (near Tavistock Devon) which is about a 40 minute drive from where we live.
Included in the package was a Devon cream tea at 3.30 p.m. A Prosecco Reception with canapes at 7.30 p.m with a guitarist. At 8.00 p.m a Gourmet 6 course New Year’s Eve Dinner followed by some music and some dancing and then at midnight a Champagne toast to welcome in the New Year. On New Year’s day breakfast and then a Falconry display.
31st December 2024 we arrived at the hotel around 2.45 p.m and shown to our room which was in the main house
Once unpacked it was then down to enjoy the Devon cream tea which was very pleasant.
After the tea we had a few hours to spare before we got ready for the evening so we sat in the lounge for a while.
It was then up the room for a shower and then get ready to don our formal evening wear (as it was a black tie event) for the celebrations to follow.
Just before 7.30 we enjoyed our glass of Proseco and canapes sat in the comfortable lounge before we were shown to our table for the 6 course gourmet dinner.
New Years Eve 2024 The Horn of Plenty Tavistock
It was a very pleasant meal but although the hotel is called The Horn of Plenty, the portions are very small but nonetheless very rich and tasty and to be honest we were full by the end. Below are photographs of each course and apologise for some being a bit blurred (due to my bad photography not too much alcohol!!!).
During the meal the guitarist played in the background which was very nice.
At the end of the meal each table was given a basket full of various balloons which included the ones you could model and a pump. There was a prize for the best model and although I tried very hard to make some sort of shape I failed miserably as they kept unfolding.
The music then started and people were up on the dance floor (including ourselves) and enjoying letting our hair down. At this point I would say that most of the guests were our age – old!! (with quite a few being older) but the older you get the more the inhibitions go!! We all seemed to be having a good time. Then we stopped boogieing for a moment as we all raised a glass of champagne to welcome in the New Year.
Back to the dance floor for a few more dances and then to bed after a very good evening.
1st January 2025. Down to breakfast where both Steve and I chose the full english which was very good.
The weather however was atrocious with heavy rain and wind but the falconry display still went ahead and quite a few of the guests braved the weather. Well I have to say it was more of a falconry talk as it appeared it was too wet for the birds to fly!!! The falconer had 3 birds which were a Harris Hawk called Three Fingered Jack. This name was given after the Jamaican slave who lost fingers from a hand during fighting in Jamaica in the 1740’s and the Hawk has three claws on each foot.
A Tawny Owl, called Ootie. However it was the only bird that actually did some flying but only when it decided to fly off onto the hotel roof and then down the valley. It was eventually caught but I think it enjoyed the few moments of freedom.
And a Turkey Vulture called Marion the Carrion (which I have to say was quite ugly). She was however quite clever as the Falconer got us to ask Marion after the count of three to open her wings, which we did but she didn’t. However we had forgotten to say the word “please” and once we all asked her to open her wings with the added “please” she obliged!!
All this time we were stood out in the pouring rain getting thoroughly soaked, so we were quite glad when it all finished and we were able to get in the warmth of the car for the journey home.
It had however been a very nice evening and we were glad to see the back of 2024 and hoping that 2025 will be an improvement.
New Years Eve 2024 The Horn of Plenty Tavistock
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