Hidden deep in the heart of the Devon countryside and just 12 minutes away from the M5, Huntsham Court is a massive Victorian Gothic 34-bedroom mansion house set in five acres of land, which is in turn located within the 5,000 acre Huntsham estate.
Huntsham Court is surrounded by acres of Devon countryside
Exclusive hire Devon manor house
A large country house available to hire for private parties, weddings, family gatherings, shooting parties, special occasions or just to groups of friends desperate to get out of London for the weekend, the atmosphere is comfortable rather than grand, relaxing rather than intimidating, and that’s just the way Huntsham Court owners Chris and Damian want it.
Rather fittingly for a wedding venue, Huntsham Court was built as a home for newly-weds Charles Troyte and Katherine Walrond back in 1868 when her family didn’t think her husband’s own house passed muster for their daughter.
Huntsham Court was built for 19th century newly-weds
The Great Hall where guests can relax – or prepare for a spot of ceilidh later
Arriving at Huntsham Court
I arrived at Huntsham Court at night, my car crunching on the gravel as I pulled up to what looked like a castle out of romantic fiction looming out of the darkness. Inside though the feel was more shabby chic than gothic horror: there is the Great Hall complete with original Jacobean oak panelling and large fireplace, a book-lined library and the cosy Yellow Room which had a roaring open fire, squashy sofas and cream tea laid out on the table.
The Yellow Room is one of several rooms off the Great Hall where guest can treat the place like a home
Huntsham court bedrooms
My room was vast, with a massive four-poster bed and en-suite bathroom (and as the guys had pointed out in a friendly welcoming note that the house had a lived-in feel, I didn’t mind too much that my bathroom door didn’t shut properly, the wardrobe was tiny and there weren’t all the mod-cons you’d expect from a country house hotel) and the bare floorboards and battered furniture meant it did actually feel like my very own country home.
My bedroom was big enough not to be dwarfed by this rather splendid four-poster
I could see what a perfect party venue it was and how great it would be to get all my friends down here for the weekend – it’s big enough to give everyone their own space, relaxed enough so you didn’t feel you had to be on your best behaviour, and was so remote you could make as much noise as you wanted – a far cry from London flat-living.
Huntsham Court’s library, which was turned into an extended dining room for the Burns Night supper
Burns Night supper at Huntsham Court
There wasn’t much time before the evening’s festivities got underway – a Burns Night supper complete with bagpiper, haggis, poetry and Ceilidh – so I found the cosy bar (priorities) and took my G&T up to have in my bath. This turned out to be a roll-top bath so a little improvisation was needed – lucky a nearby ornament made a great drink holder – and soon I could hear the piper inviting us in to dine.
It was Burns Night at Huntsham Court – and so the haggis was duly piped in
In between bouts of piping and poetry we were served suitably Scottish fare: Cock-a-leekie soup and Cullen skink salad, traditional Macsween Haggis served with crispy smoked bacon neeps ‘n’ tatties, creamed savoy cabbage and roasted carrots and hot clootie pudding with clotted cream and a dram of whisky. Guests wishing to hire Huntsham Court can self-cater or choose to be catered for – and there is a Butler’s Pantry stocked with all sorts of goodies for those midnight munchies.
Guests enjoying the best of Scottish cuisine
After our feast there was no danger of that, and while some chose to work off the calories with an energetic hour of two of Ceilidh, others repaired to the cosy bar and worked their way through everything from champagne and hot toddies to amaretto, Scotch whisky and back again till gone four in the morning.
Huntsham Court’s cosy bar which was rather lively at 4am (not pictured, thankfully)
Thankfully a walk round the grounds in the morning after breakfast was a great way to clear the head – it was a perfect, fresh, clear Sunday morning and the house looked stunning.
It was hard not to take a decent picture even on my phone, with such a great view
Devon wedding venue
Huntsham Court Devon is only available to hire out as a whole and it’s not cheap – check out its website for current prices – but the total price is for 80 people and compares very well to hotel price per person per night. Rates are reduced for weekdays and off-peak and it is available for day hire for corporate events. Until that long-lost relative leaves me a stately home, or my numbers finally come up, then it’s the closest I’m going to get to having my very own slice of country house life.
Huntsham Court info
Huntsham Court
Huntsham
Devon
EX16 7NA
If you are looking for luxury hotel wedding venues then look no further than these great places – Luton Hoo hotel, a classic country house; My stay at Cliveden House hotel; Relaxing in grand style at the Hare and Hounds Tetbury;