Generally I feel having a cup of coffee and a few biscuits in an establishment hardly justifies a write-up of that establishment.
We called in for coffee but spent a couple of great hours here.
In the case of the Farm Lodge Country House Hotel I believe an exception is very much warranted on the basis that the coffee was without doubt the best coffee I had tasted in some time and the biscuits were delicious. The coffee is home grown and home roasted and the biscuits were home made. Coffee and biscuits were prepared as we enjoyed a lovely stroll in the gardens.
Stephen and Maureen are fantastic hosts and were more than happy to cater for us arriving mid-afternoon without announcement (the hotel is open to non guests only by prior arrangement). I had been “introduced” to Stephen and Maureen though spending some time with Maureen’s sister on my trip from Cape Town to St Helena and am so glad I took up her invite to just call in at her sister’s any time.
The building itself is worthy a visit. It was built in around 1750 as an East India Company planter’s house and was at one stage considered as an appropriate lodging for Napoleon during his exile on the Island though, for security reasons, the more exposed Longwood house was used for this purpose. There is however a link with Napoleon here – in fact two. As I mentioned in my Longwood House review an original wine-cooler and chaise longue belonging to Napoleon were acquired from Longwood and are here for the pleasure of guests. Stephen and Maureen spent a very large amount of money and many years renovating the house prior to opening it as a hotel and in addition to the Napoleonic artifacts the place is packed with delightful high quality furniture and memorabilia.
The lodge is set in its own grounds of five acres with lawns and lush tropical gardens which include the small coffee plantation alluded to earlier.
I gather, the slightest complement of the coffee here provides Stephen with ample excuse to get you out for an explanation of his coffee sideline – a true labour of love. In addition to his coffee making and hotel business, Stephen has had a fascinating life (on the high seas – much of it with the RMS St Helena) and is a splendid raconteur. You will love him.
The afternoon was topped off by the unexpected sighting of a Wirebird – St Helena’s endemic and national bird. Refer to my separate review – Go find a Wirebird.
Clearly the hotel is not here merely to provide coffee and biscuits to uninvited guests. This is a fully operational hotel and if you chose not to stay in Jamestown (see my general accommodation review on this), based on feedback from some RMS St Helena friends who did stay here ( I didn’t) I have no hesitation recommending it and its food. Reviews elsewhere on the internet would also support this recommendation. Even if your not staying here you can still dine here by prior appointment – most of the food – including some meat – is grown on the property though the cigars are imported!
I honestly can’t recall for sure what I paid for the coffee and biscuits for two – I think it was GBP5 which, for what we got and the location, was fantastic value.
This blog entry is one of a group (loop) of entries on my trip to St Helena. I suggest you continue with my next entry – Go Find a Wirebird – or to start the loop at the beginning go to my St Helena Introduction entry.
The Rambling Wombat 