Family run for generations

It’s a family thing…

Nigel Bell, owner/manager of Sampsons, grew up at the farm, and for four generations his family have been looking after visitors to Devon and Cornwall. That “let us look after you” gene runs strong in their line! Nigel loves to share his vast store of local knowledge and good cheer with guests.

“As the owner of Sampsons, I love to share my love of the place and our wonderful county. I’m very much a hands-on person, and you’ll see me most mornings, serving the odd breakfast, making sure the guests are happy, and offering advice and insider knowledge on all the best places to go. I look forward to meeting you soon!”

Nigel’s wife, Sarah, is a professional artist and writer who runs painting holidays at Sampsons, and her original paintings in all the rooms always create a lot of interest amongst the guests. Not many restaurants double as an art gallery! Sarah loves to explore Devon, and is an expert on all those delicious, tucked away places in Devon: ask about the best beaches; museums; architectural walks; foodie haunts; secret tea gardens, vintage and designer shopping. And of course, she can teach you how to paint too!

Nigel’s son, Chris, is a sea faring type, and spends most of his time working his way around the world, and crewing ocean going yachts. But during his occasional extended appearances at home you’ll probably find him waiting on you in the restaurant, just as smiley as his father. But at 6’ 4” he has to watch his head on the low beams…

Daughter Eliza is Head Chicken Keeper, in charge of egg collection for your breakfast. She can usually be seen of a morning, before school begins, in blue overalls and red wellies tending to her flock of rare breed hens, ducks and geese in the orchard, or preventing Daisy her black and white cat from becoming too interested in the poultry…

Granny Hazel is often around, taking care of the garden. You can see Hazel as a child in the 1940’s on the black and white photo top right: she’s the little girl on the bottom left, with her dad’s arm around her. This is our favourite family photo ever! Hazel’s sister, mother, and father are here, plus guests from London, as well as the farm workers and Fritz, the German POW farm worker. Fritz is the good looking blonde sitting at the back…. they are all having a picnic during harvest time.