Celebrate New Year at Combe House, Devon

Celebrate the arrival of 2008 in luxurious style at Combe House - hotel and restaurant - a wildly romantic Grade I Elizabethan manor hidden in a secluded Devon country estate near Exeter. Winner of the Good Hotel Guide UK Country Hotel of the Year 2007, this magical hideaway is the perfect venue to see in the New Year with family and friends.

The three-night long weekend package starts on Saturday, 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. On arrival they can enjoy a traditional Devonshire clotted cream tea in front of the Great Hall’s crackling log fire. In the evening champagne will flow as guests relax and the pianist plays, followed by a delicious four-course candlelit dinner.

After returning from a day out on Sunday 30th guests can enjoy a cosy buffet afternoon tea by lamp and candlelight in the restored Georgian Kitchen – a true reflection of times gone by with fresh scones, hot mice pies and crumpets toasted on the kitchen fire. Later they can sample an informal spread for dinner 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.

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

Prices for the three-night New Year package start from £835 per person including accommodation, all meals, champagne receptions and entertainment.

For more details, visit Thishotel.com.