New chapter for Deer Park Country House
The runaway popularity of East Devon’s Deer Park Country House as the backdrop for amazing, memorable occasions has resulted in the decision to focus exclusively on weddings and events in future.
The elegant Georgian manor house is set in 80 acres of glorious countryside and is long established as one of the region’s favourite places to eat, stay and celebrate. Its classic architecture and sumptuous decoration are matched by impeccable service, and visitors are delighted by the charming atmosphere, personal attention and the touches of whimsy which abound around the property.
Weddings and events have played a key part in the Deer Park success story. The approach to the house, down a secluded lane through fields and woodland, gives visitors the sense they are entering a different, private world. Exploring the grounds is an adventure in itself, as you discover an Italian garden, a walled vegetable garden and an al fresco Mediterranean kitchen. Most romantic of all is Deer Park’s famous thatched tree house, a fairytale structure perched among ancient oak trees, complete with log burner, roll-top bath and wrap-around balcony.
Clients who choose this venue will enjoy the full Deer Park experience. Guests will be treated to the unforgettable food offering, prepared by the expert hands of chef Richard Still and his team. Over recent years the estate has been painstakingly restored to its former magnificence, and many of the vegetables, herbs and fruits used in the kitchen are grown in the walled garden; other ingredients are foraged from round the estate. Deer Park Country House has played an increasingly important part in the local economy, both as an employer and by focusing on local suppliers, and now enters its next chapter.
Mark Godfrey, MD of Deer Park Country House, says: ‘The demand for Deer Park as a wedding and event venue just keeps growing. One of the secrets of a successful business is to respond to what’s happening in the real world, so we feel it’s the right time to focus on that side of our business, and specialise in creating one-off celebrations for customers who are looking for something truly out of the ordinary.’
‘The great thing about this new chapter is that it’s a logical progression of all the massive effort and investment we’ve been putting in over the past few years. The house and estate have never looked better, and the brilliant team behind the scenes are excited by this change of direction. We have always regarded ourselves as part of the local community, and hope that we will in future be drawing customers to Devon not just from all round the UK, but from all over the world.’
‘The hard part of the decision is that we’ll genuinely miss hosting guests for lunches, dinners and overnight stays. It’s been a real joy that so many of our local customers have grown into genuine friends. We don’t intend to lose touch, however. Deer Park Country House will still be hosting charity events and summer and winter balls, and we have just received planning permission for a new Cider Barn, so stand by for our first community wassailing event.’
The Deer Park Country House will remain overseen by the dedicated John Spiller-Jones (General Manager). The wedding side of the business will continue to be managed by the ace team of Sophie Brooke (Wedding Manager) and Kate Wilkinson (Wedding Coordinator), who between them have years of experience in helping couples make their dreams come true at Deer Park Country House. Events will remain in the expert hands of Georgie Spiller-Jones (Events Manager) and Connie Paul (Events Coordinator), perfectionists who know how to plan and execute every sort of occasion, from a corporate away day to a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
