Drake DevonshireEST. 2014

Even before we ever laid eyes on the Drake Devonshire site and began a loving restoration of this historic building, Drake had always brought a touch of country living to Toronto’s urban Drake Hotel setting. Whether it be our fall markets, outdoor fire pit—roasting marshmallows in the winter, a Sugar Shack on our rooftop Sky Yard celebrating the maple sugar tap and our extensive relationship with the Ontario farming community, our love of the County-side runs real deep. Our attraction to the County is really, really simple, as was the decision to replicate the Drake brand of hospitality, culture and community here. How could we resist internationally acclaimed vineyards, amazing beaches, a robust winter season plus noteworthy artwork and resident artists? The County boasts awesome biking and cross-country skiing, fly fishing, golf, yoga studios, and water sports at Sandbanks Provincial Park, to mention a few options. It’s also easy to explain our initial attraction to the magical Devonshire property. The space had the combination of good bones, historic architecture and a great story to boot; from its origins as an iron foundry all the way to today’s boutique hotel. We’re thrilled to be in an ideal setting; smack in the center of a wonderful town, overlooking Lake Ontario. The uninterrupted lake view is spectacular. We also love our neighbors; an impassioned local community that closely mirrors the engaged neighborhood we discovered in the exciting first stages of the original Drake Hotel renovation. Expect to find days at the Devonshire filled with great outdoor activities and Drake’s celebrated cultural programming, featuring local musicians, artists and performers that’ll surely inspire you. We are here as your County concierge. Count on us to talk up this amazing part of the world; from the plethora of activities we can help arrange for your stay to the art, wine, sightseeing tours and excursions. Just give us a shout and we’ll get the conversation rolling. Come sundown, cozy up by one of our indoor or outdoor fireplaces, sip a glass of your new favorite PEC wine, and sample the offerings from our farm fresh and lake-to-table menu. Ready your appetites for playfully sophisticated tastes from Chef Matt DeMille that highlight the amazing local ingredients with a classic, Drake twist. Over the next few months we'll be making many tweaks and ongoing improvements to the inn and grounds in time for our Grand Opening in April 2015. As an extra incentive and thanks to guests staying with us during our extended preview, we're providing special rates on our guestrooms and suites. Drake Hotel Properties is an evolving lifestyle brand focused on a growing collection of hotels, restaurants and retail stores. The Drake Devonshire extends our cultural mandate by doing what we do best: inviting you to experience our blend of bespoke hotel and cultural community centre while enjoying great seasonal menus, a deep cocktail list and sincere hospitality excellence. We are proudly creating our own version of a rural getaway where travelers, culture seekers and neighbours all happily intersect to enjoy the thoughtful contradictions of new and old, rural and urban and sweet and savoury. We hope that you’ll enjoy everything the Drake Devonshire and our County community has to offer, and that you return season after season to see and experience the ever changing landscape. Consider our Wellington home yours and enjoy your County sleepover.

From its industrial beginnings as an iron foundry to grander aspirations as the estate for one of Wellington's most prominent citizens, if the walls of our historic, lovingly restored Inn could talk, we're sure they'd tell a tale or two. How our c. 1897 building evolved into the Drake Devonshire Inn. Depending on where you sit you've got a view of expansive Lake Ontario, a salmon-spawning creek or our Drake-designed courtyard - no matter what you're looking for we have you covered.

With the friendliest staff in the County we're happy to help make your stay as unique as you are. Whether it's snow-shoeing in the winter months, wine tours for Saturday afternoons or a foraging lunch for your corporate retreat we're happy to help!