New Year at Combe House, Devon

Celebrate the arrival of 2009 in luxurious style at Combe House, a wildly romantic Grade I Elizabethan manor hidden in a secluded 3,500 acre Devon country estate near Exeter. A Michelin Rising Star and South West Tourism Excellence Awards Small Hotel of the Year 2007/8, this magical hideaway with just sixteen bedrooms is the perfect venue to see in the New Year with family and friends.

Combe is offering a three-night New Year package from Monday, 29 December. Guests will see the house lights twinkling through the trees as they come up the mile-long private drive from the pretty cob thatched village of Gittisham. After settling in, they can enjoy a traditional Devonshire clotted cream tea in front of the Great Hall’s crackling log fire. The party starts in the evening as the champagne flows, guests mingle and the pianist plays before a delicious four-course candlelit dinner in the restaurant.

After returning from a day out on Tuesday 30th guests can enjoy a cosy buffet afternoon tea by lamp and candlelight in the restored Georgian Kitchen with fresh scones, hot mince pies and crumpets toasted on the kitchen fire – a true reflection of times gone by. Later, after champagne cocktails, they can sample a magnificent but informal spread as Emma plays the harp and Mark the magician strolls amongst the tables before chancing their luck in a glamorous, fun casino, Monte Carlo style.

New Year’s Eve starts with Buck’s Fizz and a splendid West Country breakfast, then it’s time to explore. Guests can take a bracing walk and go fossicking along the World Heritage Jurrasic Coast around Charmouth or hunt for Combe’s letterbox near Chagford on Dartmoor. Alternatively they can visit the historic city of Exeter, or simply relax.

The evening’s celebrations begin with a grand reception putting everyone in the party spirit with champagne, Kir Royales and canapés followed by a decadent five-course feast created by the hotels two Master Chefs of Great Britain, Hadleigh Barrett and Stuart Brown. Only the finest fresh local produce will be served including seafood from Brixham, poultry from Silverton, Ruby Red Devon beef and handmade West Country farmhouse cheeses. Afterwards there will be dancing in the Great Hall to ‘Pondlife’, returning by popular demand this sensational five-piece band is sure to keep feet moving into the early hours.

The three-night luxurious New Year’s Eve house party starts on Monday, 29 December and is priced from £855 per person sharing a double/twin room in the Linen Wing and £1,125pp for a suite in the main house while Combe Thatch Cottage, which sleeps just two and is hidden at the end of the drive, is £1,185pp. The tariff is fully inclusive of accommodation and all meals, champagne receptions and entertainment. Extra nights are available at special rates and dogs welcome in selected rooms.

For more information, visit Thishotel.com.