Whether you’re eating in or out, or perhaps a bit of both, enjoy our selection of festively flavoured products, gifts, menus and events
Wear Park Restaurant at Exeter Golf and Country Club is running its Festive Menu in December (main picture). You can book a table in the restaurant, go big with a Party Night, or do your own thing with a private dining room.
The creative, seasonal menus – which feature locally sourced ingredients – include ballotine roast turkey, and chestnut and cranberry nut roast. There’s an extensive list of wines and spirits available, along with some top regional gins and a wide range of rums.
Festive lunch or dinner for groups of 2–16: Monday to Saturday, 1–24 December. Two courses: £26, and three courses: £32.
Christmas Party Nights for small groups or private bookings: 7, 12, 13 and 19 December. Enjoy fizz on arrival, three courses, a photo booth and disco until midnight.
Private Festive Dining: a two- or three-course menu in a private room, suitable for groups of 16–120.
Festive Afternoon Tea and New Year’s Eve celebrations are also available.
Early pre-booking is recommended. See the website for further details.
The Cornwood Inn near Ivybridge is putting on a set Christmas Menu, available from 22 November 2024.
Starters include spiced parsnip soup; baked brie with honey and almonds; pâté with Melba toast; or prawn cocktail. Mains include traditional Christmas turkey; roast sirloin of beef; or nut roast. Desserts include Christmas pudding; chocolate brownie with Irish cream; or ice cream bombe.
A two-course lunch costs £29.95 and a three-course evening meal costs £35.
Whether you fancy a Christmas meal or a day filled with family fun, dining at The Old Pottery Restaurant at House of Marbles will leave you feeling satisfied, jubilant and brimming with festive spirit. Here’s a round-up of what’s on this December.
Christmas Lunches
From the 1–24 December, the Christmas Lunch menu offers a delightful escape from the seasonal hustle and bustle in a festive setting. Tuck into traditional roast turkey and seasonal dishes served in the warm, inviting ambiance of The Old Pottery Restaurant. And why not create the perfect recipe for a splendid afternoon by enjoying a glass of Prosecco or a local ale with your meal.
Late Night Shopping Dining
The Old Pottery’s Late Night Shopping evenings will take place on 5, 12 and 19 December. Explore The Emporium gift shop, and treat yourself to a festive dinner before or after your shopping spree. The menu features a variety of dishes to cater for every palate, whether you’re in the mood for a light snack or a hearty dinner. It’s the ideal pause from all the shopping excitement, giving you the energy to tackle your Christmas tasks with renewed vigour!
Saturday Full Trimmings Dinners
On the 7, 14 and 21 December, a traditional Christmas feast complete with all the trimmings will be served. You can enjoy juicy turkey, crispy roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and rich gravy, followed by decadent desserts and coffee.
These special evenings offer the perfect festive night out, with a warm and inviting atmosphere set among the pottery kilns and pontoon lights.
Family Festivities
Christmas at House of Marbles is not only about dining – it’s a whole day of festive fun too. Marvel at the 20-foot Christmas tree, then enjoy family-friendly activities such as festive games, Santa’s Grotto and Santa Paws. Creative workshops for adults include crafting glass baubles, willow star weaving, or Christmas cocktail making.
Visit The Emporium for gifts you won’t find on the high street, ranging from handcrafted marbles, jewellery and bespoke chocolates to one-of-a-kind toys and homeware.
Turtley Corn Mill is running its popular Christmas Menu for groups of up to 40 (as well as smaller parties) from 20 November until 24 December 2024.
Festive starters include spicy prawn taco with a mango salsa; or Loch Duart salmon carpaccio with crème fraîche blinis. Mains include roast turkey, pig in blanket, roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables; or vegetable tagine, apricots, couscous, toasted almonds and flatbread. The festive dessert options include Chef Verity’s Christmas pudding with brandy custard and ice cream; or baked lemon cheesecake with whisky clementine garnish. Other desserts will also be available.
For groups of 12 or more, guests must order from the same menu and pre-ordering is required. Two courses: £35, or three courses: £41 per person from Sunday to Thursday. Two courses: £40, or three courses: £46 per person on Friday and Saturday.
As the festive season approaches, The Carlton Hotel in Ilfracombe invites you to experience Christmas in North Devon. Whether you are looking for an indulgent treat, a lively Christmas party with friends, family members or colleagues, or a cosy New Year getaway, here are some lovely ways to celebrate the season.
Festive Afternoon Tea
Enjoy a festive afternoon tea full of savoury and sweet seasonal treats, including sliced turkey with sage and onion stuffing finger sandwiches, cranberry and clementine scones served with clotted cream, and ginger Christmas tree biscuits. It’s the perfect way to relish the season’s flavours.
Christmas Party Nights
It’s party night every Friday and Saturday throughout December, so gather your friends, family members or colleagues for a lively evening of delicious food, drinks and entertainment. Perfect for small groups or larger parties, and gluten-free and vegan options are available.
New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner & Stay
Ring in 2025 with a luxurious three-night stay and Gala Dinner at The Carlton. Your New Year’s holiday will begin on 29 December with a warm welcome and afternoon tea in the lounge, followed by a three-course dinner in the Brasserie.
On New Year’s Eve, the celebrations will start with a glass of Champagne and canapés at 6:30pm, leading into a sumptuous six-course dinner. As the evening continues, dance your way through to midnight, when the arrival of 2025 will be marked with warm bacon rolls – your first bite of the new year! Whether you stay for the full three-night holiday or simply join for the Gala Dinner, it’s the perfect way to start the year in style.
Festive Afternoon Tea: £19.50 per person; Christmas Party Nights: £39 per person (plus £15 deposit on booking); and New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner & Stay: from £349 per person for a three-night break, or £439 per person for a four-night break.
The Hotel Riviera in Sidmouth is offering a special three-course Christmas luncheon or dinner. Enjoy seasonal dishes and fine wines served by the friendly and attentive staff. Choose from traditional dishes, including white onion and cider soup; potted duck with crusty bread and salad; roast Devonshire turkey served with chestnut stuffing, chipolata, cranberry sauce and roasting jus, followed by Christmas pudding with a brandy cream sauce.
1–15 December. Three-course luncheon/dinner: £35 per person.
The Christmas Feasts at High Grange are a wonderful way to celebrate the season.
Surrounded by beautiful woodland, you can enjoy a festive cocktail in the outdoor kitchen and have the opportunity to wander around the grounds, which are lit with fairy lights and fire pits. Guests are then seated inside the cosy Shippen barn, where the log burner will be twinkling, and you’ll be served a delicious, festive five-course meal. Expect exciting flavours, generous portions and a little bit of magic.
6 and 7 December, from 7pm–11pm. £85 per person.
Bearslake Manor is a 13th-century thatched inn on Dartmoor, complete with roaring fires, twinkling lights and the warmest of welcomes.
Head Chef Dolton Lodge has designed a sumptuous seasonal menu, with the finest local produce, including traditional roast turkey and decadent Christmassy desserts. The Festive Party Menu is ideal for groups of six or more, offering a delicious selection of seasonal dishes.
Available from 25 November to 23 December, two courses for £29 per person, and three courses for £36 per person. Pre-booking is essential.
The Bearslake is also offering Festive Afternoon Teas every Friday and Saturday from 22 November to 21 December, between 2:30pm and 4pm.
This dark Belgian chocolate bar combines a special blend of South Devon Chilli Farm’s Devon-grown chillies, sultanas, orange, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. It has hints of Christmas pudding flavours – perfect to enjoy with coffee at the end of a festive meal, or as a stocking filler.
£5.50 for an 80g bar.
The Northgate Hotel at Buckfast Abbey in Buckfastleigh has created a special Christmas Party Menu for this festive season. The chefs work closely with the Abbey Gardens and Abbey Farm to keep the menus full of delicious seasonal dishes as much as possible.
Festive starters include three cheese croquette with cranberry gel and winter leaves; duck or mushroom brûlée; or mackerel fillet with sweet and sour beetroot. Mains include roast turkey and trimmings (including ‘posh’ sprouts); butternut, spinach and chestnut Wellington (plus vegan option); or pan-fried salmon fillet. Desserts include Christmas pudding (plus vegan option); Baileys cheesecake; or chocolate orange millionaire.
£40 per person. Enjoy an offer of 10% off accommodation when booking the Christmas Party Menu for a group.
Celebrate Christmas at The Cricket Inn in Beesands with its special Christmas Party Menu.
Starters include mushroom and port parfait; Beesands crab and smoked salmon tian; pheasant terrine; or Beesands scallops. For mains, there’s a choice of turkey ballotine; sirloin of beef; butternut squash nut roast; 36-day matured côte de boeuf (for two people); or monkfish with shellfish risotto. All roasts come with goose fat roast potatoes, truffled honey roots, cauliflower and leek gratin, and winter greens. Desserts include glazed lemon tart; Christmas pudding; dark chocolate fondant; or pistachio baked Alaska.
Every Friday from 15 November to 20 December. £10 deposit per head. Visit the website for more details and to book.
A seasonal drink to enjoy over the Christmas and winter period, this is a great non-alcoholic alternative to mulled wine. It’s a blend of organic cherry juice with hibiscus and traditional mulling spices, including cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
Serve chilled over ice for an alcohol-free tipple that’s refreshing and spicy, or gently warm and serve with a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick.
Box of 6 x 740ml: £27.40; box of 12 x 270ml: £26.50.
Devon Hampers’ Christmas-themed hamper is packed full of savoury nibbles, sweet treats and yuletide eats, making it a wonderful gift. It includes a traditional Christmas cake, savoury snacks, chilli peanut butter, Prosecco, crackers, chocolate, mince pies, mulled wine and popcorn. During periods of high demand, hamper items may occasionally need to be substituted.
£69.
To coincide with the popular Bay of Lights Illumination Trail in Torquay, don’t miss the Christmas Market at Torre Abbey this year. The market has two large, covered areas where customers can grab a mulled beverage or local beer, and tuck into, or shop for, some delicious festive goodies.
The market, which focuses on local brands, runs from 29 November until 22 December, while the Trail runs from 29 November until 2 January 2025.
Visit Newton Abbot racecourse on Saturday, 30 November, for some festive magic. There will be over 100 exhibitors, and plenty of entertainment for children and families. Several foodie outlets will be selling a variety of festive food, and the café will also be open upstairs.
10am to 4pm. Adults: £3, children: free.
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