A West Devon hotel and restaurant — in the top league of the country's eating places — is about to change hands writes Wendy Hanwell.

The Michelin one-star Horn of Plenty at Gulworthy, has been bought by a Hertfordshire couple who take over from Elaine Gatehouse.

Contracts were exchanged last Friday between Paul and Andie Roston and Mrs Gatehouse. Completion is due to take place next Thursday when the restaurant will close over lunchtime then it is business as usual.

Mr Roston is a business development director from London and his wife was a fashion designer and part-time teacher of arts and crafts to young children.

The restaurant has maintained the highest standards during Mrs Gatehouse's eight and a half years reign with the help of master chef Peter Gorton whose own national reputation has grown resulting in TV programmes, books and videos on food.

Mrs Gatehouse took over the Horn of Plenty from Patrick and Sonia Stevenson who started the business in 1967.

'It has been an enormous challenge and I get a tremendous thrill from seeing how happy our guests are at the end of each evening,' said Mrs Gatehouse.

'It gives me enormous pleasure to see how well the staff work and the sense of achievement from a real team effort. I have enjoyed working and decorating the house which appears to have appreciated everything I have done.'

After the handover, she will be retiring to Bath to join her husband Ian who runs his own business in Bristol.

'I came from Bath as a housewife and I will be returning there to be a housewife again,' said Mrs Gatehouse.

'We leave with a great sense of sadness and will miss the Horn and the many friends and acquaintances that we have made in Devon and Cornwall whether they are guests, suppliers or, of course, the very loyal team led by Peter Gorton which has supported us over the last eight and a half years.

'The Horn of Plenty has been a successful restaurant for over 30 years — quite an achievement in the catering industry — and Ian and I are very proud to have played a part in its history.

'We have taken time and effort to look for a successor who will not only continue to maintain the standards of service and quality for which the Horn is renowned but also to look after our very special guests in and around Tavistock.

'I believe Mr and Mrs Roston have great plans and we look forward very much to returning for a relaxing weekend later this year.'

Since the New Year, the restaurant served 957 lunches as part of the Financial Times £10 voucher promotion. Every year over 600 restaurants take part and this is the third year for the Horn of Plenty which has won the £7 category for the last two years for raising the most money for charity.

'This year has gone amazingly well and we hope to win again in our new category,' said Mrs Gatehouse. 'We have raised over £2,000 for Save the Children and this is thanks to Peter Gorton who turns out consistently good food.'