Christmas and New Year at Ilsington 2026/27
Christmas and New Year at Ilsington is all about rest, relaxation and plenty of good food. The emphasis is on good traditional hospitality with a friendly, family feel.
We don’t have non-stop entertainment yet there are events during your stay to add to the festivities and enhance the truly magical feeling of spending Christmas in a Country House Hotel. Our stunning Spa will help you burn off the extra calories and ensure you well and truly relax.
Festive Dining At The Bar
Throughout December, from Monday to Saturday, we’ll be serving our Festive Menu in the bar for smaller groups of up to eight guests. Gather friends, family or colleagues and enjoy a relaxed seasonal meal in a warm and welcoming setting.
Choose from
1 course for £23.00
2 courses for £30.00
3 courses for £36.00
Available until Saturday 20th December, it’s the perfect way to celebrate the season with delicious locally inspired dishes and a touch of Christmas cheer.
Large Group Festive Dining
For those planning a bigger celebration, we offer a Festive Menu for groups of 10 to 110 guests, ideal for company parties, family gatherings, or festive get-togethers with friends.
Lunch prices start from £42.00, with dinner options from £48.00, and group accommodation is available for those who’d like to extend the celebration. Enjoy exceptional food, attentive service, and a beautifully festive atmosphere.
Christmas and New Year Dining
From 23rd December to 1st January, enjoy exceptional festive dining in our main Restaurant. Throughout the Christmas and New Year programme (excluding Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve), guests can enjoy beautifully prepared four-course dinners, beginning with canapés in the lounge, accompanied by our resident pianist and finished with coffee and petit fours.
Dinner is priced at £65 per person and advance booking is essential.
On Christmas Day, indulge in a traditional six-course festive lunch for £150 per person, while New Year’s Eve features an unforgettable six-course tasting menu with entertainment from local Ceilidh band Blue Jewel, helping us welcome 2027 in style.
The New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner is priced at £110 per person. Advance booking is essential for all festive dining experiences.
A Little Festive Downtime
Escape the winter chill and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation in our Tibetan-inspired spa. Sink into the warm waters of the hydrotherapy pool, swim a few leisurely lengths in the heated indoor pool, or unwind in the sauna and steam room. A well-equipped fitness suite and a range of massages and facials complete the experience.
From twilight spa sessions with dinner to leisurely spa days with treatments, lunch or afternoon tea, our collection offers plenty of ways to make time for yourself. For a longer escape, explore our spa breaks and enjoy a little more time on Dartmoor.
Christmas Festivities
Rooms from £990 per person for 3 nights
Wednesday 23rd December
Arrive to a warm welcome with traditional Devonshire cream tea, served with homemade scones, clotted cream and jam beside the fire.
In the evening, enjoy a welcome drink followed by a sumptuous dinner prepared by our talented chefs.
Christmas Eve – Thursday 24th December
After a leisurely breakfast and relaxed morning, enjoy a fascinating bird of prey talk and flying display by West Country Falconry on the front lawn.
Traditional cream tea will be served during the afternoon before a delicious four-course dinner in the evening. Guests wishing to attend Midnight Mass can visit nearby Ilsington Church later that evening.
Christmas Day – Friday 25th December
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, with a special visit from Santa for younger guests, before indulging in a traditional six-course Christmas lunch.
Spend the afternoon relaxing with a stroll across Dartmoor or unwinding after the King’s Speech. In the evening, a festive buffet supper will be served, followed by a fun and relaxed Christmas quiz in the lounge.
Boxing Day – Saturday 26th December
Enjoy breakfast at your leisure before spending the day as you choose — perhaps exploring Dartmoor, enjoying some Boxing Day shopping, or relaxing in the hotel and Spa.
Afternoon cream tea will be served in the lounge, followed by another wonderful dinner in the Restaurant.
Sunday 27th December
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye, unless you choose to extend your stay and enjoy our Twixmas programme.
We wish you a wonderful festive season and look forward to welcoming you again soon.
Twixmas Breaks
Rooms from £375 per person for 2 nights
From 27th to 30th December 2026, our popular Twixmas break runs between Christmas and New Year and is a great way to unwind after the excesses of Christmas or to take some relaxation time before the New Year celebrations.
We only offer a dinner, bed and breakfast option with all meals being served in the main Restaurant. Menus change each evening, highlighting the culinary skills of our talented chefs. Cream Teas are served during the afternoon and included in the package.
New Year and Gala Dinner
Rooms from £580 per person for 2 nights
Wednesday 30th December
With the New Year upon us, new arrivals can bask in Ilsington Country House comfort with the simple pleasure of a traditional Devon cream tea. Homemade scones, generous spoonfuls of clotted cream and fruity jam are served fresh each afternoon, best enjoyed beside crackling fires.
New Year’s Eve – Thursday 31st December
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and relaxed morning before afternoon cream tea in one of our cosy lounges.
From 7pm, drinks will be served in the lounge ahead of an exceptional six-course gala dinner in the Restaurant at 8pm. The celebrations continue with music and dancing, as local Ceilidh band Blue Jewel leads us into 2027, complete with a complimentary glass of fizz at midnight.
Black tie is preferred, though not essential.
Please note: dinner will be served from a set menu, with dietary requirements catered for with advance notice.
New Year’s Day – Friday 1st January
After breakfast, enjoy a fascinating bird of prey talk and flying display by West Country Falconry on the front lawn.
Traditional cream tea will be served during the afternoon before the final dinner of your stay.
Saturday 2nd January
Following a leisurely breakfast, it is time to say goodbye.
We wish you a very Happy New Year and look forward to welcoming you again soon.
Gift Vouchers
Give the gift of unforgettable experiences with one of our luxury gift vouchers. From relaxing countryside stays and indulgent afternoon teas to fine dining and rejuvenating spa treatments, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Beautifully presented and perfect for any occasion, gift vouchers can be purchased online or directly from Reception.