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Chaos, charm and courageous campaigning — one man’s story of hospitality and hard knocks.
Lee Cash
A hilarious trip through a lifetime of running a family hotel. I've known Will for nearly all of this time and know its all true! Will has dedicated his life to making the Cottage a home from home for the many people that have loved staying and working there. He's a big hearted guy who so often makes the extra effort to make the occasion special for people.
Dean Bennet
A Good Scrap, I Fear is a thoroughly enjoyable read, shining a light on the trials and tribulations of a hotelier running a family business. The author brings together funny and touching stories that offer a real insight into the chaos, charm, and emotional rollercoaster of hospitality life.
What really stands out are the truly shocking planning barriers encountered along the way - moments that leave you shaking your head in disbelief, yet completely absorbed in the journey. The combination of humour, heart, and hard-won victories makes A Good Scrap, I Fear a compelling and memorable book, and one I happily recommend.
Jacqui Dawson
As usual William has brought a lot of joy and laughter with this book.
However he has also shown how dedicated to his business and his fight for securing the future of this well loved hotel he is. Long may this continue and many thanks for the many happy memories the team as a whole have created.
Jane Phillips
A great read, really enjoyed this book. I've known the Cottage Hotel for many and this book describes the hotel and the family experiences so well. I recommend this book for everyone who values family run hotels. Thank you William for writing this book with humour
Sue Dunn
Bought for my husband, he is about half way through the book and is loving it. I have been staying at the Cottage for over 60 years, cant wait to read Williams book when hubby has finished it!
Pam Brewster
A brilliant read and very humerous with so many of the events/ people being recalled following over 50 years of staying at the wonderful Cottage Hotel! Managing a hotel must be a difficult role when dealing with so many diverse events yet still appearing cool , calm and collected at all times for the guests.
William and Sarah, and now Neil, are so dedicated and make everyone's stay a happy and memorable event. The Cottage is still my favorite place to be so, see you later in the year!
Graham Harding
“A Good Scrap I Fear” is a great read. My wife (Sue) and I have been coming to Hope Cove for well over 30 years, graduating to the “Cottage” when our previous accommodation was put up for sale and was no longer able to offer an evening meal. William and Sarah kindly took us in as dinner guests where the warm and friendly atmosphere together with excellent food encouraged us to become regular dinner, bed and breakfast guests. Well done William for tackling some awkward and difficult subject matter that we as guests would not normally be aware of, including your own personal challenges.
Keith Hatherley
An enjoyable read from start to finish, giving a hilarious insight into the goings on behind the scenes at The Cottage
Kerry Beck
Well I loved reading this book ! It was very interesting, imformative, funny. Loved hearing all about the hotel over the years. And the planning i read it all although a lot went over my head ! But my cosh what a Cock up !! Sounds so stressful what youve had to go through.
We love coming to your Hotel and try and come at least twice a year ( would come more if we didnt have so many animals ) since my op in 2016 this has been my happy place to come to. Ive just had a knee replacement op and your book came to hospital with me!
Ive finished it now and would really recommend it. ****
Steve Horner
This long awaited book is a very good read especially if you know the Cottage Hotel where my family have recived hospitality and a warm welcome since 1933 when my father first visited the village .During my long life time i have gradually watched as the hotel expanded at a slow but steady rate, never failing to offer a first class service and excellent dining -not forgetting a full english breakfast which includes kippers for those brave souls that enjoy this speciality dish. I have to marvel how William and Sarah and before them their parents have battled every obstacle to keep up high standards when other hotels in the village have slowly closed their doors . williams underlying purpose for writing the book is of course to explain his never ending battles with the local planning authority to expand the hotel facilities and keep all the buildings up to the most modern standards. it does not surprise me that this is a sad litany of the lost, I too have experienced the great bloated bureaucracy of the planning system in this country.It beggars belief that any local authority more especially the planners should throw so many obstacles and objections in an attempt to prevent a well run long standing business from expanding, which would assist not only local employment but also the local economy .My own experience is very similar as secretary of a community land trust in Devon it took five years to obtain planning consent to build six much needed affordable homes in our community .There were no local objections , total local support and land provided by a generous benefactor in the centre of a village As volunteers we were required to provide over 80 documnts./reports to achieve this at a huge cost all of which was funded by the public purse.It was the multitude of individuals who seemed to have their own subjective views and comments not helped by changes in ecological regulations to which we were forced to conform.Any Government of what ever political lleaning should enact legialation that will fast track such projects .A wise scWell done William and Sarah otsman once told me"Dont tell me how it can`t be done laddie tell me how we can get it done" Well done William and Sarah you have succeeded in adversity Yours Steve Horner
PS i also recommend the lobster pods delicious local fish and a glass of ice cold englsh white wine is to die for, i hope the summer is once agin kind to us
Ken Clayton
I'm a recent convert to the Cottage Hotel in Hope Cove but right from my first visit it was obvious that this was an unusual property. I've been involved with hotels professionally for many years and recognised the hallmarks of an extremely well-managed hotel. This book helps to explain how it has happened. William relates a huge number of anecdotes from his years at Hope Cove, most of them very funny. But the thing that comes out of almost all of them is an explanation for his family's success. They care - about the hotel, the staff, the guests, the community. In fact, they clearly care passionately. So this is a great book to read in order to get a behind the scenes look at what it takes to make an independent hotel a success. It's funny and touching. The one exception is the chapter on William's battles with the South Hams planning department. The treatment that they handed out demonstrates that William also has tenacity. Most of us would have given up and gone somewhere less unreasonably instransigent. Even so, this is an extremely enjoyable book. Highly recommended.
Nicola Parsons
I really enjoyed reading this book, such good anecdotes about the life at The Cottage, so much goes on behind the scenes that guests never see. i know your Planning took a long time but i didn’t realise quite how long!! a lesser person would have given up. Well done. It has certainly been worth it in the end with such lovely new rooms, not to mention that you managed to keep everything running smoothly and efficiently through it all..
Over many years i have stayed at The Cottage it is just as good as ever, nice to see lovely loyal staff, the only thing missing is “The Calorie Chariot”
but understand why it had to go! All food fabulous, i have never had a poor meal. The view is fabulous, so stay at The Cottage Hotel and buy the book.
Carole K
What a rollercoaster of a read this book is!
It's heart warming, funny and totally absorbing. It also shows the frustrations of dealing with dreadful planning situations over many, many years, but William's persistence wins through in the end!!
It really did play with my emotions ~ one minute I was laughing out loud, and then the next I was angry and frustrated with the many times William had to not only face the absolute disgraceful goings on within the planning department, where nobody was accountable for their accounts, but then to bounce back and fight to carry on after so many years of being knocked down. At times I did begin to wonder whether he would actually be able to win the fight, or lose his sanity!
We are all SO thankful that William' sheer persistence won through in the end. He had such a lot of support from his many loyal friends, colleagues and wonderful family, and we, his long visiting guests, thank him from the bottom of our hearts, especially for never giving up the long fight, even when everything was against him, and i truly hope that, with everything he and his family have endured, a positive change in local government/planning will transpire.
Long live the excellent Cottage Hotel, with William, Sarah, Neil and the super Cottage Hotel crew!! WELL DONE!!! We shall see you soon!!
Roger & Janice Mitty
Dear William. I have just finished reading your wonderful book. It is hilarious, engaging, inspirational and a great tribute to you and your family. It also is a perfect reminder of the many happy times that Janice and I have spent at your hotel enjoying friendship, banter and brilliant hospitality. See you on 26th April. Very best wishes - Roger & Janice Mitty
Mike Walshaw
Hugely entertaining. Not only William's anecdotes about the guests (us!) but his problems with planning. authorities. Absolute scandal which, I hope will be brought more into the light..
From his descriptions, I could picture him dealing with all these challenges and congratulate him on his perseverance, maintaining his enthusiasm and still running a successful hotel.
There may be a sequel. I can't wait!
Graham ixer
This is not the type of book I would normally read but having stayed at the hotel once a year in March for the past 18 years I had to read it. It certainly is a good read written in a unique style that makes you feel you are sitting down chatting with William as he shares his stories. I love biographies and this gives the background and detail of the hotel’s history and community. More than anything, William’s values of doing a good job, being descent and helping others, which come across strongly. William is a truly descent person. We knew some of the stories but many we didn’t. The planning process for the extension is sadly the outcome of poor planning regulation and proper processes to hold people to account. In my own experience in sitting in an appeal court on a planning matter the best solution where possible, is both sides sit around a table and sort things out. Well done William.
Chris Eagles
A great read and insight into the running of a very busy and popular hotel. We’ve visited many times over the years and will continue to do so. Owners, management and staff second to none!
Arthur Hopkins
Having just finished reading your most fascinating book I am surprised that you still have hair and a determination to carry on with your project not to mention the Planning Officers
Jan Carter
A brilliant read – you'll laugh at the hilarious behind the scenes stories; you'll be moved by some of them and you'll be angry reading the injustices of a personal vendetta waged against William by the local council planning department. A wonderful page-turner of a book.
Karl Quinney
A fascinating and entertaining read. Anyone who has been to The Cottage Hotel will know what a wonderful place it is, and in such a beautiful setting, so the stories conveyed to the history of this South Hams icon and the people who have and still make it what it is make this more than a book, but more a time capsule in print.
Coupled with William’s accounts of understandable frustrations with local and regional bureaucracy when it comes to planning, A Good Scrap I Fear presents a great balance between a passionate look back at what has made the hotel so special over many decades against the attempts and unnecessary obstacles to essentially safeguard its future.
Lee Cash
A hilarious trip through a lifetime of running a family hotel. I've known Will for nearly all of this time and know its all true! Will has dedicated his life to making the Cottage a home from home for the many people that have loved staying and working there. He's a big hearted guy who so often makes the extra effort to make the occasion special for people.
Dean Bennet
A Good Scrap, I Fear is a thoroughly enjoyable read, shining a light on the trials and tribulations of a hotelier running a family business. The author brings together funny and touching stories that offer a real insight into the chaos, charm, and emotional rollercoaster of hospitality life.
What really stands out are the truly shocking planning barriers encountered along the way - moments that leave you shaking your head in disbelief, yet completely absorbed in the journey. The combination of humour, heart, and hard-won victories makes A Good Scrap, I Fear a compelling and memorable book, and one I happily recommend.
Endorsed by: Alex Polizzi (Hotelier/Tv Presenter Michel Cochrane (Actor). Also by a Lawyer and a Barrister!
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The Cottage Hotel, Hope Cove
Nestled on the cliffs above the harbour beach at Hope Cove in South Devon, The Cottage Hotel is a family-run seaside retreat distinguished by its timeless charm and commanding views of the coastline.
For decades, guests have awakened to spectacular sea vistas, dined under sunset skies, and meandered straight into village life from the terraces and lounges overlooking the Cove.
Operating since 1973 under the Ireland family, the hotel combines warmth and continuity with a welcoming attitude toward all who arrive. Today, many of its rooms still open to the sea, and its lounges, bar, restaurant, and terraced outdoor areas remain central to its character.
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A Place of Stories
What appears to many as a picturesque coastal getaway is, behind the scenes, the living setting of a rich, complex narrative. The daily rhythms, the staff camaraderie, the emergencies, the long summer days and quieter off-seasons—all form the tapestry of life behind the scenes. In A Good Scrap I Fear, William Ireland lifts the curtain on this world, inviting readers into the hotel’s heartbeat as much as its views.
Hospitality, Heart, and Horizon
The hotel’s website highlights features that echo through the memoir:
- Dining rooms opening onto view-filled horizons and guests catching the orange hue of Devon sunsets.
- A terrace for afternoon tea, afternoon dining, or just lingering over conversation.
- A restaurant that welcomes residents and locals alike, with classic menus, seasonal offerings, and a tradition of reserved tables for guests.
- A bar and lounge that offer both expansive views and cosy refuge, depending on time of day or weather.
These are not just amenities; in the book, they are settings where loyalty, character, and crisis unfold.
Press & Contact
For all media enquiries, interviews, speaking invitations, and event requests, please reach out directly. William Ireland is available to speak about the book, his family’s story, the hospitality industry, and the broader issues of fairness and accountability raised by the campaign.
Whether you are a journalist, festival organiser, or community group, you are welcome to get in touch.
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