A WEST Devon hotel is this week celebrating a top accolade awarded in a national newspaper.

The Arundell Arms Hotel at Lifton has been awarded five stars for its food, character and value for money in a review by Fiona Duncan, 'The Hotel Guru', published in last weekend's Sunday Telegraph.

The hotel was featured in the paper as the hotel of the week. Fiona Duncan is one of the top hotel reviewers in the UK. 

She stayed at the Arundell recently and was impressed by all areas of the hotel and in addition to the five stars for food, character and value for money, also graded the hotel four stars for its rooms and service.

Adam Fox-Edwards, the hotel's managing director, said: 'I am thrilled that we have received this great review. Fiona Duncan seemed to enjoy all aspects of the hotel and particularly our food.

'The performance of the whole team at the hotel has been recognised and this reflects really well on all of them.'

The Arundell Arms is a 300-year-old former coaching inn, one of the country's leading sporting and country house hotels. The hotel has been family owned and run since 1961 by Anne Voss-Bark and is now managed by her son Adam Fox-Edwards.

The kitchen's talented and enthusiastic young team is led by Steven Pidgeon — one of only 80 Master Chefs of Great Britain.

Hotel operations are led by general manager Heather Measey, with front of house managed by Alex Thomson

l There is an opportunity to hunt out some unusual gifts for Christmas at a special fair being held at the hotel next week.

There will be more than 25 stalls at the fair, being held on Wednesday, November 10.