POP-UP HOTEL AT HUNTSHAM COURT

Escape to an authentic country house hotel

If you’ve ever wanted to stay at the country pile, Huntsham Court, then now is your chance to experience a beautiful luxurious home-from-home with space and modern comfort at the heart. 

This striking Victorian country house, known for its exclusive hire - normally only bookable for weddings, events and private parties – has been turned into a pop-up hotel for a limited time only, with innovative dining options from different guest chefs each weekend, including the seasonally-focused, Devon-based Milkshed Catering, Posh Nosh, masters of outdoor catering prepared with flair and Bristol-based Queen & Whippet, renowned for their on-trend fuss free dishes, inspired by the West Country.

All guest chefs are about celebrating the best of the southwest with ethically sourced produce, that is scape-the-plate-clean tasty!

Set amongst rolling countryside, Huntsham is close to the moors and Wimbleball Lake as well as the heritage villages of Bampton, Dulverton and Honiton, with both the north and south the coasts a short drive away.

The allure of Huntsham’s magic 

The temporary pop-up hotel will allow guests to book individual rooms and enjoy a restorative countryside escape, combining luxurious accommodation with wholesome Devon breakfasts and gastronomic suppers, served in two specially created dining rooms, with use of the beautiful gardens, lounges and table bar service. 

 Reception rooms have been transformed into spacious lounges where guests can enjoy a drink next to a roaring open fire with panoramic views across the Devon countryside. 

 Settle into the grandeur of this gothic-inspired 18th century Manor House, just 30-minutes from the M5, and I guarantee that you won’t want to leave. 

Huntsham originally opened up as a Pop-up hotel back in October, as a gap had appeared in the calendar, enabling owners Damien Lambias and his partner, Chris Badham the chance to do something exciting after months of being closed due to lockdown. 

“Whilst it was sad not to be able to hold the large events planned during lockdown, we saw it as a short opportunity to do something different and enable people to enjoy the house in a different way. 

All the couples that got married here could actually come back for the first time and book individual rooms for a little romantic break, plus people who have not been invited to large private events here could come enjoy a delicious supper and experience the place,” says Damien.

The country pile was a huge renovation project, with the house having been neglected for several decades. With its ornate chandeliers, antique finds and luxury mattresses, it’s come a long way since its 45amp fuse.  

 The statuesque house has five acres of beautiful gardens, within the 3000 acre Huntsham Estate, with spectacular views across beautiful countryside in every direction. The gardens back onto public footpaths offering ample walking routes to explore, making it an ideal bolthole for those who enjoy the great outdoors as well as opulent interiors. 

Posh but Playful 

 Full of character and charm in abundance, the house boasts original features including gothic archways, granite columns and a vaulted octagonal kitchen. Created as a home-from-home for guests to enjoy, with a relaxed grandeur that celebrates the building, yet is far from stuffy.

 A sympathetic renovation ensures that the Victorian Gothic roots are celebrated and far from oppressive and dark like so many striking buildings. Think original wallpapers, a fusion of fabrics with lots of gold and silver to reflect light and different textures to add depth. Old definitely meets new at Huntsham, showcasing an eclectic vibe that has evolved over time. 

 Every room is unique, some with hand-painted murals. 

High ceilings allow the creation of some brilliant silk-draped beds with four-meter high canopies that are as Damien describes  ‘rather bling.’

“Everyone needs a little bit of whimsy in their life – especially as you drift off to sleep!”

 It was also important to Damien and Chris that the house was alive not just a period museum piece. 

 “Most importantly, it had to feel homely for our guests to feel they can kick back and relax whilst still feeling a sense of magic and being ensconced somewhere special.”

 As a Hotel Pop-Up, some of the bedrooms have been adapted so there are larger two-room suites with lounge and bedrooms or more studio apartment style – meaning that as well as the public spaces, guests have a bit more private space to enjoy their own rooms. 

There are also two cottages and 20 flexible bedrooms and suites in the main house for romantic breaks of family bubble breaks.

 An authentic country house experience 

Huntsham has something of a timeless quality, offering lashings of character, intimacy and integrity.  A private country house that offers a real home-from-home experience 

 It’s a place to visit, relax by a log fire and ensconce yourself with a great book in one of the grand libraries, enjoy board games and croquet on the lawn before setting out to discover the surrounding countryside.  Within moments guests can go clay shooting, wander the moors and enjoy horse riding and quad biking or explore local heritage towns. Wake to a hearty relaxed breakfast, before a day out in the countryside, followed by a cosy supper in the relaxed grandeur of a country house 

Take time out and unwind, enjoying the best of the southwest whilst being surrounded by a much-loved period property and indulging in some incredible food

 “It’s been a fantastic opportunity to offer access to the house to individual couples and small groups of family and friends like we have never been able to before. The grand mansions are part of the UK’s heritage and we feel sharing the experience of enjoying them is a responsibility as big as protecting these buildings for the future,” enthuses Damien. 

 I loved Huntsham for its fascinating fusion of relaxed grandeur and authentic charm – likened to visiting a close relative’s grand country pile you’ve loved all your life, with the addition of great service.

Tips for furnishing a country pile 

Damien’s quest to breathe new life into Huntsham was very much dependent on sourcing authentic interiors, whilst using heritage colours and fusing modern furnishings with existing period features.

 Visit auctions for authentic pieces- We are lucky that often at auction, large country house items are quite reasonable priced these days  - we have been rummaging for years and have bought some very special and unusual pieces when they come on the market. 

Look for functionality as well as style- Across the bedrooms and reception rooms, we have over 70 sofas aside from having to look pretty, most importantly they had to be incredibly comfortable as well as robust, allowing them to be continually moved. 

Consider the room’s heritage when choosing paint colours and wall papers- We chose Dulux Heritage colours or Farrow & Ball colours for the interior, along with some wonderful heritage wallpapers from Watts & Co. In the Library we chose Shrewsbury Welby wallpaper and in the Diamond Room, we chose Little Green’s Bayham Abbey wallpaper in Portland.

Play with a variety of art, fusing genres and periods – Huntsham’s art is a combination of 18thcentury to contemporary, aimed to lift the spaces. For example The Snug Bar has large format black and white prints ranging from 18thcentury hunting prints to abstract 20thcentury drawings. 

Spend time sourcing the right fabrics– We love going to the Colefax and Fowler annual clearance sale, where normally incredibly expensive fabrics are sold at bargain prices. Every year we visit with a huge trolley and buy up some amazing embroidered silks, patterned damask and heavy linens to adorn windows and four-poster beds.

Treat your tastebuds with seasonally-led West Country dishes

About Milkshead Catering– The kitchen team at Milkshed are renowned for creating delicious and innovative cuisine, with modern twists on classic dishes using seasonal and local ingredients – transforming simple ingredients into extraordinary mouth-watering plates. 

 About Posh Nosh– All about creating menus to inspire, the family-orientated team at Posh Nosh work to deliver a unique experience using Devon’s finest produce; working closely with local suppliers to utilize the abundance of ingredients the county has to offer – from the superb farms to the prolific coastline 

 About Queen & Whippet– Recognised as the best Roaming Kitchen at the 2019 Crumbs Awards for sensational on-trend food and impeccable service, Queen & Whippet is headed up by husband-and-wife team, Pete and Jo, who believe that catering should be fun, flexible and tailored to the individual. Based in Bristol, the talented duo are inspired by the West Country, and aim to bring high-end, fuss free food to your plates!

* Huntsham will be open as a Pop-up Hotel until 21st July 2021, with the ability to book the whole house as an exclusive use takeover for whatever event you wish, including birthdays and weddings.

To book a room, visit https://www.huntshamcourt.co.uk/hotel-pop-up-book-a-room/

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