Venue Name: Deer Park Country House Hotel
Location: Honiton, Devon, EX14 3PG
What type of venue is Deer Park Country House Hotel and how old is the building?
Deer Park Country House Hotel is an 18th Century Georgian mansion wedding venue in Devon. With 80 acres of glorious grounds, beautiful boutique hotel bedrooms, a pretty Italian garden and a ridiculously tasty double-rosette winning restaurant, we think you’ll agree it’s a delightful bundle of wonderfulness.
Influenced by the best of British, the hotel is the epitome of a quintessentially English Country House. We strive for excellence in everything we do, and were tickled pink when awarded four stars this year, and voted the Best Venue in The South West Tourism Awards.
Tell us a little about the beautiful venue’s history
Deer Park Country House Hotel, a Georgian Squire’s Mansion dated 1721, is set in 80 acres of glorious grounds in an ancient Parish known as ‘Buckerell’, regarded as the most beautiful part of Devon, yet a mere eight miles from the coast.
Known as the Deerpark in ancient days and providing a centre for the kings of England together with their gentlemen, not to mention their ladies — the Chase is surrounded by history. The Old Iron Age fortress of Hembury is not far away, and the Deer Park mansion overlooks the old Roman road, the Fosse Way. For a thousand years and more this carried the horse-drawn coaches and carts, and highwaymen, from the Cathedral cities of Lincoln and Peterborough to the sister City of Exeter.
Around the end of Cromwell’s rule, Nicholas Fry pulled down the Old Barton and built the first Deer Park Mansion. The Fry family lived here until the end of the 18th century. The present house, built in 1755, faces directly south, with much thought given to its design, seen from the large windows which all receive a full measure of sunshine from sunrise to sundown.
How long has the hotel been a wedding venue?
We have successfully run weddings at the Deer Park Country House Hotel for over 20 years.
Is Deer Park Country House Hotel licensed for wedding ceremonies?
Licensed for civil ceremonies, Deer Park Country House Hotel is perfect for exclusive use weddings in Devon. Wonderful whatever the season, you can tie the knot in our secluded secret garden surrounded by wild flowers, inside our vintage-chic country house, or in the light and bright Orangery, with its toasty underfloor heating and ambient lighting.
What is the capacity for a wedding ceremony and wedding reception at Deer Park Country House Hotel?
We can accommodate up to 60 wedding guests in the main house for intimate celebrations, and up to 210 wedding guests in our showstopping Orangery.
Which parts of the house are available for weddings? Do you have a favourite?
Here at Deer Park the whole house can be your home. My favourite location must be our hidden ceremony location called the Summer House. Wedding ready, follow the drifts of live music. You’ll walk through the secluded garden, under the wisteria arch, until you reach the enchanting ceremony setting. Say “I do” in our wooden summer house, in front of your loved ones and the onlooking deer.
What would a typical wedding breakfast menu be at Deer Park Country House Hotel?
Carefully crafted by Head Chef Richard Still and his top-notch team, our menus use only the freshest produce and delights from our kitchen garden. Our aim is to include fresh, top-notch home-grown ingredients with every starter, main course and dessert we serve at the hotel. A typical wedding menu would be…
Starter
Crispy Fritter of Devon Beef Brisket, Homemade Brown Sauce, Watercress Salad
Main Course
Roast Chicken Supreme, Dauphinoise Potato, Celeriac Puree, Roasted Button Onions, Madeira Cream Sauce
Dessert
Chocolate Cheesecake, Blood Orange Sorbet
Does the venue have a set price for weddings or is there a tiered pricing structure? What packages do you offer?
Prices start from £85 per head for day guests and from £10.95 for evening guests
Do you have a wedding coordinator on site and, if so, are they available on the day of the wedding?
Wedding Manager Sophie Brooke and Wedding Coordinator Kate Wilkinson always go above and beyond to ensure that every wedding day goes without a hitch, so the bride and groom can relax and enjoy the best day of their lives.
What can a couple expect from having their wedding at Deer Park Country House Hotel?
We specialise in fun, original, made-to-measure weddings. With over 80 acres of spiffing grounds featuring wild flower meadows, woodland walks, manicured lawns and riverside trails, it’s no surprise that Deer Park is considered one of the most romantic wedding venues in Devon.
The venue is original and will help plan your made to measure wedding to the finest detail. With years of experience within the creative industry, we know how to make your wedding day spectacular!
How many weddings does Deer Park Country House Hotel hold per year on average?
We hold over 100 weddings each year, alongside private and corporate events.
How many rooms does the hotel have for guests to stay?
We have 34 stunning bedrooms including our luxury bridal suite tree house and self-catering house sleeping six adults, perfect for the bridal party the night before a wedding.
Is there other accommodation nearby for guests?
Yes, we have a range of luxury hotels nearby.
What is a typical working day like at Deer Park Country House Hotel?
There is never a typical day here; we never know how exciting our day will become.
We love to lavish attention in the finer details to create a perfect wedding day for our couples. This results in a relaxed couple who can really enjoy the lead up to their wedding and the day itself, safe in the knowledge everything is being taken care of by complete professionals.
Describe the venue in three words
Unique, exclusive, astounding.
What is your top tip for choosing the perfect wedding venue?
When choosing a venue you must make sure that you experience that warm, fuzzy feeling. Also, remember it has to be a decision you are both happy with.
Random question… How would you spend £1,000,000?
As a millionaire I think I would probably keep at the adventure game, working on creative projects and trying to help other people with theirs.
Where can I find out more about Deer Park Country House Hotel?
- Website: www.deerpark.co.uk
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/deerparkcountryhouse
- Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/deerparkhotel
