The Column Room Restaurant

This venue is a bit of a gem! Hidden in the countryside and not well signposted (thanks to Google maps, we navigated to it!) Large grounds (50 acres) easily explored by gravel paths set in beautiful woodlands. With numerous covered seating points to allow visitors to rest and enjoy a view at different vantage points. It felt all a bit like Stourhead but smaller and less cultivated (no bad thing). Very nice café and exceedingly welcoming staff. A very pleasant day out. (Dog friendly too)

Lovely formal gardens with different garden levels and different planting. Nice woodland walk around the estate up to the Georgian landscape garden lots of different buildings to see there are some steep slopes up there. There is a lovely cafe back by reception to have something to eat, the scones were delicious but the cream tea with 2 scones come with tea for 1 not 2 people

We had an incredible wedding reception at Hestercombe, following a church ceremony. While planning, our wedding coordinator Julie was brilliant: always quick to respond, helpful, and experienced. Also, very reassuring during the stress of wedding planning! All food and drinks were delicious, with vegan and meat options. Everything was carried out seamlessly on the day thanks to Julie, the manager Dave and all staff. Hestercombe gardens and the venues are all stunning, and really characterful. We had a lot of kids at our wedding. There was plenty of space for kids to play, and still be seen by parents, meaning everyone had a brilliant time. Also, very flexible for the evening. Room for DJ hire dancing, and great indoor and outdoor evening space for drinks and chatting, so guests could enjoy the best of both. A really diverse, fun, wedding venue with a great team. Couldn't recommend more highly!

It was wet and windy. Still we had a lovely time. Afternoon tea was a bit cake heavy, scones we're really nice. Would have preferred a bit more savory but that's personal choice. We also went for a walk. Got the last 16 minutes in the bee education centre which was fun. Even for us adults. Event in the wet and the rain it was a lovely walk. Even fed the ducks up close and personal

Review- Garden only: There are two parts to Hestercombe, a woodland walk to the North and the formal gardens attached to the house. The woodland walk follows the stream and the 4 lakes and is just over a mile round trip. There is plenty to see, a waterfall and numerous temples and monuments etc. I noticed on the way around that with the ducks and swans children seemed to really enjoy this walk. Attached to the house there are Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian gardens. From the South side you look down onto the main garden which has a great sense of scale. This garden is flanked by two water gardens and a beautiful pergola at the bottom. The Dutch garden is an absolute gem, super soft cool colours. All staff and gardeners are wonderfully polite and welcoming, the service at the Stables restaurant is impeccable and they serve the best lamb burger I have ever tasted. Put Hestercombe on your list of visits, these gardens really are lovely, easily five stars.