Boringdon Hall, Plympton, PL7 4DP
Harden's survey result
Summary
Highly rated in feedback this year, this well-reputed destination – a raised gallery in a five-star hotel converted from a 16th-century manor house just outside Plymouth – tweaked its formula somewhat in July 2025, a couple of months after our annual diners’ poll had concluded. As well as its existing four-course format, there’s a new seven-course tasting menu curated by head chef Scott Paton, dedicated to ‘heritage flavours’ and ‘hyper-seasonal produce’ (for £180 per person).
Summary
You eat on a raised gallery that overlooks the great hall of this five star property, which occupies a fine old 16th-century manor in countryside just beyond Plymouth’s city limits. All feedback this year acclaims an “absolutely stunning food experience” from the four-course menu prepared by chef Scott Paton, alongside “wonderful service”. (Another fan is The Telegraph’s William Sitwell, who in his November 2023 review found service that was “fabulous, attentive, professional” and a chef displaying “confident work” alongside “subtle decorative skills”).
Summary
In early 2023, Scott Paton and his team added a Michelin star to their list of accolades at this impressive-looking five star near Plymouth, which is now in its fourth year of operation. The dining area occupies a raised gallery inside the great hall which it overlooks via a wooden balustrade, and is the venue for a four-course meal for £120 per person. Although there are modern flourishes, the cuisine is traditionally rooted and includes numerous luxury ingredients (lobster, truffle, caviar, crab, wagyu…).
Summary
A 40-seat raised gallery overlooking the Great Hall of this very impressive-looking (like a castle!) five star near Plymouth provides the venue for this ambitious dining space, which is entering its third year of operation. Feedback is not as plentiful as we’d like for Scott Paton’s cuisine, showcased with a 4-course menu, but such as we have acclaims it as “amazing from start to finish!”.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Àclèaf at Boringdon Hall?
Owner's description
Truth with elegance
Overlooking the Great Hall you’ll find the intimate and sophisticatedly romantic Àclèaf; a space to gather around the table and taste exquisite menus created by Head Chef Scott Paton.
A showcase of inventive British fare, using only the finest locally sourced ingredients, Àclèaf is a unique dining experience exclusive to Boringdon Hall. A choice of two menus is on offer when dining at Àclèaf; Scott Paton’s seasonally led signature four-course menu and a truly unforgettable seven-course tasting menu. To complete the dining experience, paired wine flight perfectly matched to each individual dish are available.
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £40.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.00 |
 Extras |
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|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
Restaurant details
The chef
Scott says: "Àclèaf presents a uniquely immersive dining experience, one that looks to invigorate the fine dining scene and allows guests to explore a variety of menus which have been curated with the ingredients rather than techniques front of mind.”
Scott Paton, Head Chef of Àclèaf (formerly The Gallery) joined Boringdon Hall Hotel & Spa in 2016, following stints at The Horn of Plenty and The Jack in the Green. As Head Chef at The Horn of Plenty, time experimenting allowed Paton to realise and develop his own cooking style which, at Àclèaf, he describes as “truth with elegance”. His dishes are simple, yet sophisticated, allowing quality ingredients to shine through. The Gallery at Boringdon underwent an extensive refurbishment and rebrand in 2020 to become Àclèaf, which has since gone on to win 4 AA Rosettes (2022) and a MICHELIN star (2023), awarded consecutively in 2024 and 2025.
Paton launched his first cookbook at the end of 2022 aptly named Àclèaf. An emulation of the restaurant itself, the book is a celebration of seasonality, quality produce and adorned with an essence of culinary creativity sprinkled throughout. After years of planning, Àclèaf the book unfolds a story of how Àclèaf began, how dishes evolved and how partnerships formed. Alongside recipes from Scott and his team, Àclèaf speaks a modern narrative, encompassing the evolution of a dining space created to bring people together over simple, honest food.
Àclèaf at Boringdon Hall Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Just great. We had a absolutely lovely time. "
Boringdon Hall, Plympton, PL7 4DP
Opening hours
| Monday | 6:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Tuesday | 6:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 6:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 6:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 6:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 6:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Sunday | 6:30 pm‑11 pm |
