Day will celebrate the life and death of infamous Devon pirate Tom Crocker who is said to haunt the Island’s historic pub The Pilchard Inn
Visitors and Hotel guests to take part in a day of family festivities and food
On Wednesday 14 August 2019, the Burgh Island Hotel will be hosting its annual Tom Crocker Day Festival. The Festival will celebrate the life and death of a locally renowned pirate, Tom Crocker, who famously haunts The Pilchard Inn, the island’s historic pub. Both visitors and Hotel guests are invited to take part in a day of family festivities and food.
Burgh Island has a rich history and heritage. Famously, the Island is home to the luxury art-deco Burgh Island Hotel and is still a hideaway haven for the rich and famous. But it also has a distant past enshrined in lawless pursuits and scandal.
Formerly known as ‘Burr Island’, it was a favourite among smugglers. Most notorious of all was Tom Crocker who is rumoured to have inhabited the Island’s southern caves. He made Burgh Island his base and the Pilchard Inn was his favourite haunt and the location of his demise. His ghost is said to wander the Island, causing mischief and looking for his lost treasure.
The Day will be packed with live music and a variety of family friendly activities including a hunt across the Island in search of Tom Crocker’s lost treasure, a lobster raffle, face painting and a sandcastle competition. The Hotel encourages visitors to dress up and take part in a costume competition that will separate the sailors from the scallywags.
A range of food and refreshments will be available throughout the Day, including a hog roast and BBQ station expertly prepared by resident chef Tim Hall. Visitors can also enjoy the homely delights of the Pilchard Inn and savour an opportunity to drink in the same pub as legendary pirates and smugglers. If the weather gets a little too hot for pirates young or old, the Langage ice-cream shop will be able to assist.
For the more seasoned pirates, Salcombe Brewery will be at hand along with a dedicated Devon gin bar, where each glass will be paired with their perfect garnishing to celebrate the best of the West.
Visitors and guests are welcome to join the festivities from 10am on Wednesday 14 August 2019.
Giles Fuchs, owner of Burgh Island Hotel, said: “When we bought the Burgh Island Hotel we inherited a rich history, of not only wild parties in the Roaring Twenties, or tales of famous guest such as Agatha Christie and Winston Churchill, but also of pirates and smugglers who add to Island’s mystery and mystique. We are delighted to be hosting a day of festivities that celebrates a singularly unique aspect of the Island’s history and we invite visitors and our Hotel guests to come and celebrate on Devon’s very own Treasure Island.”
For further information please contact:
Sapience Communications – Tel: 0203 195 3240/07751087291
Richard Morgan Evans, Louisa Nairne, Seonaid Strachan and Rhianna Miller
