COMBE HOUSE HOTEL & RESTAURANT

Sumptuous Elizabethan country house in deepest Devon

IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY Combe House simply oozes romance. Hidden deep within acres of lyrical Devon countryside, it's a magnificent Elizabethan manor. From the ancient cedar trees to the oak panelled walls, ancestral portraits, flamboyant flowers, squashy sofas and roaring log fire in the Great Hall, this serene, antique-filled house makes a wonderfully romantic getaway.

Watch the Arab horses and pheasants roam freely through the rolling 3,500 acre estate of this luxury Devon hotel as you enter the mile of winding drive. Make time to explore the scented corners of hidden gardens, and drink in timeless West Country views. Wild flowers cover the meadow in front of Combe House in springtime, and in late summer the smell of freshly-cut hay fills the air.

Sprawling bedrooms built for the aristos of times gone by mix character with 21st century comfort.Each one is individually decorated with small, quirky touches; beds are dressed with soft linens and hand-made patchwork quilts.

Private walled garden

Bedding down in this sumptuous Devon hideaway is pure indulgence. Cuddle under the canopy of a four-poster bed in the Willington suite or unwind in Combe House's new Garden suite, with its lush sunken bath and private walled garden.

Dining is also to be savoured. Combe House has been named a rising Michelin Star and master chef Hadleigh Barrett makes great use of seasonal vegetables and aromatic herbs home-grown in the gardens. Tuck into pan-roasted partridge or stun the senses with a sensual trio of chocolate, and a glass of vintage Chablis.

You can work off your excesses later by striding out over the rugged open spaces of Dartmoor or strolling down the drive to the chocolate-box cob and thatch village of Gittisham – a picture of timeless Devon. Nearby you can search out hidden coves on secret beaches along the World Heritage coastline, and be sure to make time for some chilled champagne (awaiting all Room for Romance guests, with compliments) while watching the sun go down.


Combe House Hotel was reviewed for Room for Romance by Mike North

Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.

Dining in
Combe House's restaurant serves contemporary British cuisine prepared by master chefs Hadleigh Barrett and Stuart Brown. There’s a choice of three rooms to dine in: the Green Mural Restaurant, with its oriental-style walls and elegant carved stone fireplace, the warm, oak-lined Panel Room and the Pink Restaurant. Whichever you choose, you can enjoy dishes such as foie gras with duck rillette with caramelised apple and boudin noir, seared fillet of bass with sautéed fennel, saffron linguini and langoustine vierge, with perhaps a delicious custard tart with rhubarb to follow.

Breakfast
Full breakfast is served until 10am

Room service
Available from 7am to 11pm



See & Do
From the estate you can walk into the pretty thatched village of Gittisham and 20 minutes away is a costal path stretching from Sidmouth to Lyme Regis, one of Dorset’s finest seaside towns. There are many country pubs to stumble upon, while the cathedral city of Exeter, just 25 minutes away, awaits exploration.

Diary Dates
May
Sample all that Devonshire has to offer at the Devon County Show.

GETTING THERE

Location
Gittisham, Honiton, Devon EX4 3AD

Parking
There is free guest parking.

Trains
Honiton station – four miles

Taxis
Around GBP 7 from Honiton station.

Airport
Exeter airport –10 miles

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
GBP 179-399

Open/closed
Closed for a short period at the end of January.

Check-in
2pm

Check-out
10:30am

Minimum night stay?
Two nights at weekends.

Children
Welcome if they are sharing their parents’ room. Children’s supper is served between 5-6pm.

Pets
Dogs are allowed in certain rooms.

Air conditioning
No

Wedding license?
Weddings are based on exclusive hire of the property if there are over 40 guests. Weddings in the house can cater for up to 100 guests, or up to 150 on the croquet lawn.