One of Devon's most romantic wedding venues. This Grade II-listed Elizabethan mansion house is a big draw for lovebirds, who come for its period features, tasteful décor, valley views and delicious food. It's close to Plymouth, National Trust property Saltram House and Wembury Beach.
Langdon Court is five miles from Plymouth, where the Barbican, National Marine Aquarium and Royal William Yard are top attractions. Wembury, one of Devon's best rock-pooling beaches, and the South West Coastal path are a 15-minute walk away. Saltram House, a Tudor National Trust property, is six miles away.
This romantic Grade-II listed Elizabethan mansion house manages to strike a balance between being both grand and homely, with beautiful period features — wood-panelled staircase, painted windows, stone fireplaces — cosied up by tasteful, neutrally-toned provincial French-style décor. Padded window seats give way to romantic views of well-tended Jacobean gardens, a lily pond, small vineyard and Wembury valley beyond. Walls are decorated with botanical displays and framed finds, and there's an enormous moose's head over the staircase.
Service, though functional, was perfunctory and lacked confidence. I received a very hurried, off-hand welcome, which comprised of little more than having my bathroom pointed out to me. Staff would benefit from genning up on local attractions. When I asked about wet weather activities, I was advised by one member of staff to go to the beach or gym, while another gave an extremely vague answer, then handed me a wad of leaflets. They would also benefit from being better briefed about the history of the building; I can't have been the first to ask about it. With a stove and comfortable sofas, the hotel's wine bar is a relaxing place for a pre-dinner drink.
The standard rooms I saw were small and awkwardly-shaped, but they were comfortable and tastefully decorated. Each room has coffee and tea-making facilities and a television. The bathrooms in the standard rooms are small. Towels were thin and fraying. There are complimentary Molton Brown toiletries. More expensive rooms are larger, have romantic valley views, four-poster beds, roll-tops and walk-in showers.
Dinner and breakfast is served in the wood-panelled, formal dining room, by white-gloved waiters. Some tables are long and thin so you may be sitting some distance from your companion. Although portions are small, the food is exceptionally tasty and beautifully presented. Starters included pigeon Kiev and hand-dived scallops, while mains concentrated on Devon classics, cooked to perfection: pork belly, beef fillet or plaice. The wine list, predominantly Old World, was fantastic. The buffet breakfast had a good selection of cereals and pastries, and the cooked menu included scrambled eggs with pesto and parmesan shavings, an original offering.
Double rooms from £129 all year round. Breakfast included. Free Wi-Fi.
There's no wheelchair access to the bedrooms. A ramp can be arranged for wheelchair access to the bar and restaurant.
Sofa-beds, interconnecting rooms and cots available.
Wembury, Plymouth PL9 OD, Devon, England.