As we enter the height of the UK’s summer hospitality season, two standout events are drawing attention for very different reasons. In Devon, a historic manor house has reopened following a major renovation, while in Greater Manchester, one of the region’s biggest food festivals prepares to welcome thousands. Here’s what’s happening:
Lewtrenchard Manor Reopens After £3M Restoration
One of Devon’s most distinctive country house hotels has reopened its doors following a comprehensive £3 million refurbishment. Lewtrenchard Manor, a Grade II*-listed Jacobean manor located near Okehampton on the edge of Dartmoor, is now back in business with refreshed interiors and a fully modernised operation.
Lewtrenchard Manor has undergone a £3 million renovation
Previously operated by the Murray family for over 30 years, the property is now part of The Original Collection—a group of independently owned hotels and venues across the UK. The relaunch has seen major structural improvements including a new roof and commercial kitchen, alongside careful restoration work that retains the building’s period charm.
The hotel’s fine dining restaurant, now named Origin, has been completely reimagined and is once again focusing on the use of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients from Devon and Cornwall. The 14-bedroom manor also offers landscaped gardens, a private chapel, and access to the surrounding countryside, making it an attractive option for weddings, retreats and luxury escapes.
The reopening positions Lewtrenchard Manor as one of the South West’s leading rural hospitality offerings and is a strong example of heritage-led redevelopment done right.
Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival Returns this Weekend
Closer to home, Manchester’s Heaton Park is preparing to host its annual Food & Drink Festival on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August 2025. Now in its ninth year, the festival has grown to become one of the North West’s most popular summer food events.
This year’s edition will be held in Dower House Field—slightly relocated from the usual site to accommodate the Oasis concerts earlier in the summer—and is expected to attract thousands of visitors over the weekend.
Highlights of the 2025 festival include:
- Over 20 street food traders, featuring a mix of local favourites and nationally recognised names offering global dishes.
- A 100+ stall artisan market with food producers, bakers, brewers, spirit makers and craftspeople.
- Live chef demonstrations from a star-studded line-up including MasterChef winner Alex Webb, Manchester chef Mary-Ellen McTague, and Great British Bake Off alumni Makbul Patel and Gill Howard.
- Three stages of entertainment, from live bands and tribute acts to comedy, roaming performers and children’s activities.
- Wellbeing initiatives, in partnership with Manchester Mind, continuing the event’s strong charitable focus. The festival has raised over £146,000 for mental health causes to date.
The Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival continues to be a celebration of Northern food culture and community, with a format that successfully combines family-friendly entertainment with serious culinary talent.
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