Bickley Mill Inn is located out in the country near Newton Abbot in beautiful Devon countryside of the Stoneycombe Valley. Close to Paignton and Torquay with Dartmouth just around the corner, but far enough away to not even feel like you’re anywhere near anything.
A converted Flour mill, Bickley Mill Inn is now a stylish and contemporary homely, chic, modern hotel with 10 individually designed en-suite bedrooms of all different sizes and shapes, a gorgeous cosy yet restaurant-like restaurant and bar area with open fire in the colder months. They also have a large function room, Millers Room, for anything from wedding receptions to Halloween and birthday parties! Not to forget the warmer summer months they have a large decked area near the bar which is cleverly half covered with gazebo for those who prefer a little shade when sipping your icy pint.
How do I know Bickley Mill Inn?? We had our wedding reception there in the Millers Room!
We first came across Bickley Mill Inn by fluke. We were out one day looking for somewhere for lunch when my now husband remembered this little gem. We went in, were greeted by friendly helpful staff and of course, delicious food. While we were sat there we noticed little leaflets advertising their Millers Room for wedding receptions at a reduced rate for mid-week bookings. Mid week was not of interest to us at all but the fact we could have our wedding reception there…ohhh yes!
We had searched many venues for our reception. Some grand, some old, some new, some even blue! But with much frustration we just couldn’t find anywhere we both agreed on. I had grand ideas but sadly we didn’t have a grand budget. He had small ideas but sadly we had too many people wanting to come for that.
After a couple weeks of our search we decided to slow it down and have a look on the internet to see what we had missed and see what ‘random’ and ‘unusual’ places we could find. But then, a day later, we discovered Bickley Mill Inn who at the time had their Millers Room all set up after a wedding the night before and as we sat there chomping our delicious lunch the bride and groom came down to thank the staff for all their help the night before and didn’t do anything but rant and rave about how amazing it was. This, was the best ad any hotel could possibly have in front of us.
We had a nosey around the room and decided it was for us. That same day we made an appointment to meet with the wedding coordinator at the hotel and booked it in. Luckily we weren’t fussy when the wedding was as long as it was sometime in 2011 and the registry office could accommodate us as some point on that day. We pencilled in 1st October and off we went to book the registry office, who out of pure coincidence only had 1 space left on 1st October – which we grabbed!
All of our meetings with the hotel went smoothly and very helpful. Emails where slow to be answered but this was understandable as she was a very busy lady with many weddings to plan but ours.
As the day drew nearer the colour scheme was chosen, the dress was chosen, the bridesmaid dress was chosen, the florist was chosen, the rings were chosen, even the suit was chosen!
We had one last meeting with the planner a week before the wedding to finalise everything, emailed all the menu choices over and it was sorted. So easy! After all the hotels we had looked at, they had the simplest, easiest to understand booking and charging structure of all. Room or no room, decking or no decking, drinks, eats etc! easy peasy. Nothing was too much trouble – which when planning a wedding is essential as you have so much other stresses and worries around you the last you need is stress from the venue too.
We were lucky enough to be let into the room the day before to set us, as I had a very specific room layout and colour scheme that I had set in my head that only I could do. This, fussy brain, they understood perfectly and were more than helpful for our every need while setting up. Even coming in to help out!
They supplied all the tables and linens, but the chair covers, which was a saving grace. I chose to have my own napkins because they were black but they would also have supplied napkins if I so wished.
The night before the wedding myself and my family all stayed at the hotel to have a meal and natter – and my last night of being a single lady with may family! But we were so late finishing setting up the room we missed our slot for our table booking. I thought we would have to go elsewhere for dinner but being the ever helpful staff, and kitchens, they were they stayed on and cooked dinner of our choice for 6 of us. Ok, we paid for it but they could like many restaurants told us they were going home!
We all stayed at the hotel that night. Taking up 4 of their individually designed rooms. My sister and I shared in Edward’s Room on the ground floor as it was 2 single beds!
A gorgeous room with woodland views, feature old fireplace, wardrobe (for the all important wedding dress!) flat screen tele for the music channel, free wifi, tons of pillows and of course an en-suite bathroom with shower over. It’s was quite a compact room the morning of the wedding, when there is a hairdresser, 2 make-up artists, 2 mothers, a bride and a bridesmaid in it topped off by a photographer and 2 florists!!! But somehow we all fitted in snugly with many bottles of bubbly to help it all go along well!
As it was an early wedding, 11am, the hairdresser and I had to be up very early. Unfortunately breakfast isn’t served in rooms or the restaurant till 8am which is quite late when you’ve been up since 5am and didn’t get to sleep till 3.30am!!
Luckily for me though they do a breakfast tray of cereals and pastries with coffee and tea which you make with the kettle in your room, rather ingenious idea!
The coffee slipped down a treat and the pastries were yummy too, but unfortunately being my wedding morning food was the last thing on my mind!
We all shuffled into our cars and off we went to the wedding. A couple hours later we, and all the guests, returned to the hotel for the reception. Greeted by once again very friendly staff holding trays of drinks and canapé (which we had paid for!
) and the all important smile I instantly felt at ease we had booked somewhere decent and it was going to be a good night.
We had booked the exclusive use of the decking area outside for arrival drinks and just somewhere for people (and us) to escape to when it got too much or too warm in the room. It was a beautiful sunny day and everyone was out on the decking sipping their bucks fizz and eating canapés.
You wouldn’t have known the staff were there as they didn’t shout about it but everything went so smoothly they had to be there.
We were all called into the room and again the staff were great. They got everyone in and they announced our arrival. This was a rare thing for a hotel to do – so we found. Many make your bestman do the calling. Which is ok but ours was rather too shy and wouldn’t do it!
The food came in so quickly so we could all eat at the same time. There must have been 5 or 6 waiters/waitresses if not more, serving us all. Head table first then everyone else. It wasn’t just head table first, it was bride then groom then the rest of the head table. Everything was so well thought out and they were so well trained and knowing. I called them over a couple times for a few things, music being one thing, and within a minute there was music playing as if by magic! Nothing was too much trouble and everything I asked them for they smiled and said ‘yes of course that’s not problem’ every brides favourite words!!!
The food was amazing too. We had 2 options for each course and we had 1 each so we could have a bit of both between us! Both options from all 3 courses were delicious and un-fault-able (if that’s a word!)
As the evening ticked by the tables were cleared like lightening around us, obviously people weren’t still sat at them! And in came the dj for the evening. The cake somehow they moved to a better cutting location in the room and more noticeable for the photographer along with a bottle of champers in an ice bucket (which my dad very kindly bought for us to go with the cake cutting)
Unfortunately I don’t remember much more of the evening so we will stop there!!!!
We, Mr & Mrs, stayed in the bridal suite, also known as Riviera. It has a gorgous balcony with 2 wicker chairs and little table for sipping champers or a cup of tea, a huge bed and a massive shower room with walk-in shower big enough for 2 (cough!) Being tucked away from the other rooms it makes a perfect bridal suite and only has 1 wall that backs onto another room but being an old mill all the walls are thick as a country and nothing can be heard through them.
The bed was ubber comfortable – I say no more of the wedding night!
Sunday morning - Breakfast time they had laid out a massive big table for all the wedding guests in a separate room from the main restaurant so we were all together again. It felt so nice and intimate it was a lovely gesture I wasn’t expecting. Tho somewhat awkward when people asked ‘did you sleep well?’!
Breakfast was well needed and again delicious. Having the full works of full English with delicious pork and leek sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, beans and toast with a pot of tea.
What else could a girl want the morning after the night before?!
All in all our stay and wedding reception at Bickley Mill Inn was brilliant. As you can see I cant rant on enough about it!
Oh one downside – theres no mobile reception if you’re with Orange and possibly other networks- but oh so worth the peace and quiet!
I’m sure I’ve missed some bits out of our stay and event but that’s inevitable with such a beautiful, amazing place. We will definitely be back and probably stay for our anniversary!
To book to eat, stay or party at Bickley Mill Inn their website is www.bickleymill.co.uk
They can be found at Stoneycombe, Kingskerswell, Devon, TQ12 5LN. Or you can talk to them on 01803 873201
They have recently updated their price list so best you look on their website or contact them for the recent prices.
Thanks for reading my review and I hope you find it helpful if you are looking for a wedding reception venue or just for somewhere to stay in South Devon.
~Naomi~
A little gem in the valley 
