The Fox and Hounds Country Hotel

The Fox and Hounds Country Hotel sits at Eggesford, near Chulmleigh, in the wooded valley of the River Taw in Devon. Six acres of gardens, lakes and riverbank surround the hotel, and it hosts weddings of every size, from small treehouse ceremonies to full celebrations with a hundred guests at dinner.

Why it suits LGBTQ+ couples

One team handles the ceremony setting, the food, the bar and your guests' rooms, so you deal with a single venue from start to finish. The range of spaces also means you can scale the day to suit you, from a ceremony for ten in the treehouse to a garden wedding with everyone you know. GLW recommends it for couples who want a straightforward country hotel wedding with a few genuine surprises.

Ceremonies

The garden gazebo, added in 2023, is dressed with flowers and voile and gives guests a clear view of the ceremony from all sides. It is covered, so you can marry outdoors whatever the weather. For something smaller, the luxury treehouse holds up to ten guests and suits intimate weddings and elopements.

Receptions and food

The wedding breakfast is served in a large, bright function room with a terrace, seating up to 100. The in-house chefs prepare canapés and either a formal plated three-course meal or a more relaxed rotisserie buffet or hog roast, and dietary needs can be catered for. A fully stocked bar and space for dancing carry the party into the evening, and the hotel works with local DJs, florists and stylists if you need them.

Staying

The hotel has 22 en-suite bedrooms in a range of sizes, so many of your guests can stay on site. The bridal suite has an extra-wide four-poster bed and a large bathroom with a double-ended bath. Treehouse accommodation is also available if you want a night somewhere a little different.

Getting there and the area

Eggesford lies between Exeter and Barnstaple, and Eggesford station on the Tarka Line is close by, giving guests a rail option from Exeter. The area is quiet, wooded countryside, with the Taw valley on the doorstep and Dartmoor, Exmoor and the North Devon coast all within driving distance. The six acres of grounds give you plenty of choice for photographs by the lakes and river.

Good to know

• The covered garden gazebo allows outdoor ceremonies in any weather.
• The treehouse suits ceremonies of up to ten guests.
• Guest rooms, a bridal suite and treehouse stays are all on site.