Our Story

A family story, a lifetime of hospitality

Fingals Devon was born from a lifelong love of good company, great food, and the joy of sharing a beautiful home with others.

I grew up in a large, lively family home in Scotland with six siblings and a steady stream of visitors. Our house was always full — long dinners around a big table, laughter spilling into the night, and the sense that there was always room for one more. Those early memories shaped everything that came after.  In the 1970s, I opened my first restaurant in Fulham, London — also called Fingals. It quickly became a much-loved meeting place, known for its communal dining table, relaxed atmosphere and the simple pleasure of connection.  But the call of the countryside was irresistible.  In 1980, a chance drive down narrow Devon lanes led me to Coombe Manor Farm, a hidden valley near the River Dart. The old buildings were in need of complete restoration — and they were perfect. Fingals Devon was born: a place where city dwellers could escape, unwind, and rediscover life’s simple pleasures.

Over the years, with my wife Sheila, we transformed Fingals into a boutique country hotel and later into four self-catering holiday cottages in Devon. Each cottage has its own character, filled with light, comfort, and a touch of eccentric charm — reflecting our shared backgrounds in restaurant hospitality, modern design, and publishing.

Today, Fingals remains a family-run retreat where guests can slow down, connect, and feel truly at home — just as they might have around that big family table all those years ago.