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The Owners
Nick & Juliette Mountford We have been living in and running our guest over the past six years, since our move from Sheffield in 2000. Karslake House is very much a family run business as well being our home, we were very taken with Exmoor's beauty and the diversity of its landscape, we often enjoy walking our dog on the moor and on a sunny afternoon a stroll along the banks of the beautiful river Barle.To watch the sparkling dance of the suns rays on the burbling crystal clear water of this productive wild brown trout and salmon river is a memory to be cherished. And something to be experienced whatever the time of year. Please take a moment to have a look at an extract from the Somerset Life magazine article about us: Tucked away in the wooded hills of Exmoor, Karslake House is on the threshold of the most stunning country- side. It's an ideal hide-away for a peaceful few days break, as well as being an easy-to-reach venue, less than thirty miles from Taunton,for a delicious dinner.
The 15th century malt house was renamed in the nineteenth century after its owner Sir John Burgess Karslake, an eminent lawyer, Member of Parliament and Privy Councillor. Although much of Sir John's life.was spent in London, or at his seats of Andover and Huntingdon, he must have revelled in the tranquillity of this, his country seat. And now Karslake House is home to Nick and Juliette Mountford, who, like Sir John, have escaped to Exmoor from the hectic world of commerce: in their case, Nick's high-pressure position as group chief accountant to the stainless steel division of British Steel. We had been coming to the Williton area for fifteen years, since we found it the ideal place for an October holiday,' explained Nick.
'It gradually dawned on us that since we valued our de-stressing breaks so highly, we could get out of our rut and open a country house hotel which would give its guests all the rest and relaxation they needed, in a lovely setting with plenty to do, or not do, nearby. | 'Juliette is a gifted cook, and so when the opportunity arose, we decided to buy Karslake House and build on its reputation, adding our own touches to create an intimate atmosphere with a welcome for all 'Like many other businesses in the West Country, Karslake House has been badly hit by the foot and mouth epidemic which kept American tourists away and, since Exmoor was closed to walkers, even prevented visitors from other parts of Britain from coming to the area. 'We have weathered 2001, and feel that in the coming year, things can only improve for this area,' says Juliette. 'This part of the country is so heavily dependent on tourism that the farmers' troubles have had a huge impact on everyone, so we are hoping for a good season to put Exmoor back on track!' While visitors were being kept away, Nick and Juliette took the opportunity to refurbish the hotel, so that it now echoes the quiet charm of its setting with tasteful comfort in the six bed- rooms as well as the pleasant, south- facing diningroom and
lounge. They also worked on the garden and have created charming outdoor seating areas where guests can enjoy a pre-prandial drink, or the complimentary afternoon tea with home-made biscuits which is included in the room rate. | Fresh, home-grown produce is the order of the day in the kitchen, with fish delivered direct from Brixham, beef, lamb and poultry from local suppliers and a range of local market gardens providing fruit, vegetables and herbs, while Nick has developed a fine wine list, covering all tastes and regions. From her native Derbyshire, Juliette has brought some delicious recipes, including the North Country habit of serving fruitcake with cheese, as well as a determination to suit the needs of all her guests.
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| 'Many people are sensitive to different foods and find it difficult to eat out. So long as I know what they wish to avoid, I'm only too pleased to be able to provide a meal which they can eat and enjoy. 'It's all part of the intimate atmosphere we aim to create: our guests are our friends, so we naturally want to make sure they enjoy their visit to the full!' The Somerset Gourmet can confirm this: my companion is allergic to dairy produce and was delighted to find that Juliette had prepared some of her dishes to cater for his needs. So what did we eat?
All meals are freshly cooked to order, so with our pre-prandial drinks, we enjoyed a selection of appetisers: Smoked Trout Roulades, made with cream cheese; Smoked Salmon Croustades with Roquefort made from ewes' milk, spiced Cashew nuts, and wonderful large olives. -To begin, I chose a Terrine of Chicken, Guinea Fowl & Duck, served on a ring of salad with a home-made Chutney of Mixed Fruits with Ginger. The mixture of flavours and textures | made a delightful contrast and so did the Balsamic Dressing over Roasted Beef Tomato Salad, which was garnished with fresh Parma Ham and black olives. I'm fond of Clapshot, potato and swede mashed together, so could not resist Escalopes of Salmon served on a bed of Clapshot & Lovage, with a sauce of Orange & Drambuie: it's a was a delicious combination, and one which I'll be using at home. My companion, in the meantime, found his Confit of Duckling with Honey & Ginger, served on Parsnip Puree, was a well-balanced combination of sweet and tangy flavours which left his palate and his appetite equally satisfied. To finish, chose from Juliette's selection of sheeps' and goats' cheese as well as other local cheeses, which in the true north-country tradition she serves with homemade fruitcake and wholemeal biscuits. In the meantime, I sampled the Soft Lemon Tart, which was accompanied with freshly poached Spring rhubarb and clotted cream: readers, try it! It's wonderful !
Courtesy of Somerset Life Magazine.
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Somerset Life Magazine 2002-2004 |  |
Karslake House is open to non-residents for dinner from Friday to Saturday or by arrangement, from 7pm to 8.30pm. To book, telephone 01643 851242 
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