Hammet House
Hammet House, Llechryd, Pembrokeshire, SA43 2QA
01239 682382
Category: Hotels, Pembrokeshire
Outside, there's the timeless, traditional scene of salmon and sea-trout swimming in the clear, cascading waters of the River Teifi. Inside, Hammet House’s young owners, Owen and Philippa Gale, are steering this elegant Georgian mini-mansion into adventurous, arty new waters.
The faded hotel they acquired just a year ago is being transformed into a dazzling, no-holds-barred boutique property - and Great Little Places readers are amongst the first to know about it. Damien Hirst’s formaldehyde shark would not feel out of place next to the tongue-in-cheek mock animal heads made from pressed cardboard, or the glittering Phillipe Starck lighting, or the intense splashes of primrose-yellow that enliven the soothing grey décor, Owen and Philippa have put a lot of passion into their new venture.
Influences from their extensive travels have found their way to this idyllic, sleepy part of the country, where Pembrokeshire meets Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire. Hammet House is a true one-off. But please don’t think of it as a temple to fadiness and ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ fashion. The couple have brought inventive, humorous, playful and quirky design ideas to a fine Grade II-listed building, dating from 1795, which maintains its inherent quality and architectural dignity. ‘We want to give it new life and make our own mark,’ says Owen of this brave, bold marriage of new and old, where one reception room has letterbox red retro furnishings, the other traditional chesterfields.
The work is ongoing, with a choice of bedrooms ranging from ‘Cosy’ to ‘Outstanding’. Quality, taste and local craftsmanship are the watchwords here - something that also applies to the food, which is well crafted and inspired by a bountiful local larder.
Visit Hammet House
01239 682382
www.hammethouse.co.uk