Description
Bolton Abbey Estate is in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. Its grandeur and unspoilt beauty make it the perfect wedding destination. From breath-taking views to picturesque backdrops, the Dales are rich in history and romance. There is plenty for your guests to enjoy around the estate, including an abundance of scenic walks, discovering the wonderful Bolton Abbey Priory and ruins, enjoying a pre-wedding afternoon tea, or soaking up some relaxation time at the Devonshire Spa. There’s something special about an English countryside wedding. Add in the glorious surroundings of the Yorkshire Dales, and you have the recipe for something truly magical. We specialize in creating memorable weddings for 2 to 80 guests. Whether you are after an intimate celebration or a show-stopper wedding, our dedicated wedding team will be on hand to ensure your day is perfect. Our hotel wedding venue has a charming country house character, and the grounds provide a captivating countryside backdrop for framing perfect pictures—every detail is bound to take your breath away. We have a variety of different rooms available depending on what your vision looks like. For larger celebrations, our Cavendish Room is a large and flexible space with a private bar so you and your guests can dance the night away in private. For an intimate civil ceremony, we have a selection of flexible, freshly decorated rooms that can be used for a ceremony or private wedding dinner. With a range of bedrooms on site, you can arrange to book a selection for the wedding party and guests to stay onsite. We also have exclusive use options available, where all our facilities, including the bedrooms, lounges, and outdoor spaces, would be exclusively yours.
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Overview of The Devonshire Arms Hotel
Pricing for The Devonshire Arms Hotel
Reviews (26)
- CChris and Annie26/08/2025A very blessed and happy wedding day!A very blessed and happy wedding day!Thank you very much to Helen and the team for making our wedding day at The Devonshire Arms so special! We had the most incredible day celebrating our wedding in the beautiful grounds and buildings of the hotel with our guests. We were incredibly fortunate with the weather, and were able to have an outdoor ceremony on the lawns with views of rolling hills and Beamsley Beacon. The food, drinks and service were incredible, and the day really couldn't have been better! We had high expectations of what we would want the day to be, and Helen and team blew us out of the water. What a special place to get married surrounded by beautiful Yorkshire Dales countryside. Nothing was too much trouble for the team either in the planning stages or on the day itself, and we were able to customise the day with our own special touches, ideas, and supplier choices. Thank you to all the team for making our wedding day so special! We (and some of our guests) also stayed over the night of the wedding - the rooms were immaculately presented with lots of lovely amenities, the breakfast in The Garden Room was fabulous, and we particularly enjoyed visiting the spa the following day. Gorgeous place!Thank you very much to Helen and the team for making our wedding day at The Devonshire Arms so special! We had the most incredible day celebrating our wedding in the beautiful grounds and buildings of the hotel with our guests. We were incredibly fortunate with the weather, and were able to have an outdoor ceremony on the lawns with views of rolling hills and Beamsley Beacon. The food, drinks and service were incredible, and the day really couldn't have been better! We had high expectations of what we would want the day to be, and Helen and team blew us out of the water. What a special place to get married surrounded by beautiful Yorkshire Dales countryside. Nothing was too much trouble for the team either in the planning stages or on the day itself, and we were able to customise the day with our own special touches, ideas, and supplier choices. Thank you to all the team for making our wedding day so special! We (and some of our guests) also stayed over the night of the wedding - the rooms were immaculately presented with lots of lovely amenities, the breakfast in The Garden Room was fabulous, and we particularly enjoyed visiting the spa the following day. Gorgeous place!
- RRachal S.14/10/2024Luxurious and romanticLuxurious and romanticThis was spectacular. Attended the spa and was very impressed. We had a tent, that contained everything. Hairdryers, tea, onsies, heaters. Lunch was taken outside and delivered in hampers. Idyllic location. Powerful jets in the pool and the barn spa was stunning. Duncan deserves a special mention for obtaining GF cake for my friend. Supplying us with coffee all day and homemade biscuits. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Beautiful This was spectacular. Attended the spa and was very impressed. We had a tent, that contained everything. Hairdryers, tea, onsies, heaters. Lunch was taken outside and delivered in hampers. Idyllic location. Powerful jets in the pool and the barn spa was stunning. Duncan deserves a special mention for obtaining GF cake for my friend. Supplying us with coffee all day and homemade biscuits. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Beautiful
- SSuzanne G.14/10/2024Exceptional service highly recommendExceptional service highly recommendI am going to try and not gush too much, but it is very difficult, as this is a fantastic hotel and spa, and apart from the location being amazing, the food is great, but it is the staff that make it even more special. Raff in the Brassiere was very professional, friendly and very smiley, along with all the staff around him. All the staff in the hotel and spa, were professionally friendly, but more than that, they all seemed happy in their roles, and that happiness is very contagious.I am going to try and not gush too much, but it is very difficult, as this is a fantastic hotel and spa, and apart from the location being amazing, the food is great, but it is the staff that make it even more special. Raff in the Brassiere was very professional, friendly and very smiley, along with all the staff around him. All the staff in the hotel and spa, were professionally friendly, but more than that, they all seemed happy in their roles, and that happiness is very contagious.
- AAnthony E.14/10/2024Love this hotelLove this hotelI really love this hotel. A warm welcome on arrival I'd booked a double deluxe room. Which had beautiful views over the garden & surrounding hills. The rooms are crisp & spotlessly clean & very comfortable. We had a really good night sleep.bed and linens are really comfortable. The Spa and the pool are fabulous. Soaked in the steam room & sauna for a few hours before lunch in the spa bar/ dining room attached. Staff are really amazing there.I really love this hotel. A warm welcome on arrival I'd booked a double deluxe room. Which had beautiful views over the garden & surrounding hills. The rooms are crisp & spotlessly clean & very comfortable. We had a really good night sleep.bed and linens are really comfortable. The Spa and the pool are fabulous. Soaked in the steam room & sauna for a few hours before lunch in the spa bar/ dining room attached. Staff are really amazing there.
- CCharlie S14/10/2024Beautiful spa and teamBeautiful spa and teamWonderful place. We purchased the twilight deal arrived early for a walk through the beautiful grounds. Enjoyed the spa which was quiet and relaxing. Very clean and well kept. Enjoyed a smoothie by the pool before getting ready for dinner in the brasserie. The staff were excellent with particular thanks to the spa team. Will be back ⭐️ Wonderful place. We purchased the twilight deal arrived early for a walk through the beautiful grounds. Enjoyed the spa which was quiet and relaxing. Very clean and well kept. Enjoyed a smoothie by the pool before getting ready for dinner in the brasserie. The staff were excellent with particular thanks to the spa team. Will be back ⭐️
- GGrace and Stephen18/08/2024Our perfect day!Our perfect day!Exactly what we wanted, a perfect day which turned out better than I could of ever imagined. Helen did an amazing Job answering my every random question and changing things to suit our needs, wouldn't change a thing if we were to do it again. The venue and location just made it perfect!Exactly what we wanted, a perfect day which turned out better than I could of ever imagined. Helen did an amazing Job answering my every random question and changing things to suit our needs, wouldn't change a thing if we were to do it again. The venue and location just made it perfect!
- LLisa R.07/06/2024Perfect Wedding StayPerfect Wedding StayWe stayed at the Devonshire Arms for our ‘elopement wedding’ at the beginning of March. We travelled with another couple and had a blast. The rooms were fabulous and the whole experience was wonderful. Team members were on hand throughout our stay and the service from the restaurant, housekeeping staff and front of house was all great. We stayed in one of the suites and it couldn’t be faulted, the soft furnishings and bedding were all at a very high standard.We stayed at the Devonshire Arms for our ‘elopement wedding’ at the beginning of March. We travelled with another couple and had a blast. The rooms were fabulous and the whole experience was wonderful. Team members were on hand throughout our stay and the service from the restaurant, housekeeping staff and front of house was all great. We stayed in one of the suites and it couldn’t be faulted, the soft furnishings and bedding were all at a very high standard.
- MMarshall L.07/06/2024Delightful suites, very dog friendly!Delightful suites, very dog friendly!Spent a lovely Sunday night here celebrating my wife's Birthday. The suites really are delightful. The Hotel is excellent for dogs, dog walking and the staff really friendlySpent a lovely Sunday night here celebrating my wife's Birthday. The suites really are delightful. The Hotel is excellent for dogs, dog walking and the staff really friendly
- DDessi07/06/2024Best part.. the staff!Best part.. the staff!Beautiful and peaceful. Those are the two words describing the place.The rest of the hotel is beautiful and has many areas to relax, all in keep with the style of the place. The dose are so very welcomed here. There was a doggy welcome gift in our room. The biscuits have been very much appreciated by Lola, our dog. The ball provided her with loads of entertainment, too. The best part of our stay was the staff! Very polite and attentive but never in your face and not over familiar. Beautiful and peaceful. Those are the two words describing the place.The rest of the hotel is beautiful and has many areas to relax, all in keep with the style of the place. The dose are so very welcomed here. There was a doggy welcome gift in our room. The biscuits have been very much appreciated by Lola, our dog. The ball provided her with loads of entertainment, too. The best part of our stay was the staff! Very polite and attentive but never in your face and not over familiar.
- WWill M.07/06/2024Amazing experience cannot wait to returnAmazing experience cannot wait to returnThe Devonshire Arms, where to start. My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience here. We had booked the “twilight spa experience” as the venue is only a 40 minute drive from home it looked like the perfect Friday evening treat. We got welcomed and served throughout our spa experience by a lovely lady who couldn’t have been more helpful, her etiquette was sublime. The spa was very well kept in a beautiful beautiful barn conversion.The Devonshire Arms, where to start. My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience here. We had booked the “twilight spa experience” as the venue is only a 40 minute drive from home it looked like the perfect Friday evening treat. We got welcomed and served throughout our spa experience by a lovely lady who couldn’t have been more helpful, her etiquette was sublime. The spa was very well kept in a beautiful beautiful barn conversion.
Location & Contact Details for The Devonshire Arms Hotel
Describe the best wedding that happened at your venue?
We have had the honour of hosting many beautiful weddings, but one that stands out as particularly exceptional;
The couples celebration was a true testament to the magic that can happen here. The ceremony took place in our picturesque garden, under a stunning floral arch that perfectly complemented the natural beauty of our grounds. The bride and groom exchanged vows surrounded by their closest family and friends, with the gentle sounds of a string quartet creating an enchanting atmosphere.
Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a sophisticated cocktail hour on our terrace, complete with gourmet canapés and signature drinks crafted by our talented mixologists. The reception was held in our elegantly decorated Cavendish Room, where the theme of timeless elegance was brought to life with exquisite floral arrangements, ambient lighting, and a beautifully set dining area.
Dinner was a culinary delight, featuring a bespoke menu designed by our award-winning chefs, showcasing the finest local ingredients. Each course was paired with carefully selected wines, enhancing the dining experience. The evening continued with heartfelt speeches, a lively dance floor, and a live band that kept guests entertained well into the night.
The couple’s attention to detail, combined with our team’s dedication and expertise, created a seamless and unforgettable experience. It was a day filled with love, laughter, and joy—truly the perfect wedding.
What is your No.1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Our number one planning tip for wedding couples is to prioritise and communicate your vision and expectations clearly from the very beginning. Here’s why this is so crucial:
Set the Tone: Establishing a clear vision helps set the tone for your entire wedding, guiding all your decisions from venue selection to décor and beyond.
Budget Management: By knowing what aspects of the wedding are most important to you, you can allocate your budget effectively, ensuring that you invest in the elements that matter most.
Vendor Alignment: Clear communication with your vendors about your vision and expectations ensures everyone is on the same page, leading to a more cohesive and seamless execution on the day of your wedding.
Stress Reduction: When you and your partner are aligned on your wedding vision and have communicated this to your planning team, it reduces stress and allows you to enjoy the planning process more fully.
Remember, this day is a celebration of your unique love story. Prioritising and clearly communicating your vision ensures that every detail reflects who you are as a couple.
What’s your favourite personal touch you’ve seen at a wedding?
One of the most memorable personal touches I've seen at a wedding here was a beautifully curated "Memory Lane." This was a dedicated space where the couple displayed a collection of photographs, letters, and mementos from their journey together. The display was thoughtfully arranged along a picturesque pathway, leading guests from the ceremony area to the reception.
Describe your venue in 5 adjectives.
Traditional - Luxurious - Romantic - Charming - Picturesque
Where’s the best photo spot at your venue?
Inside: the light-filled conservatory, offering stunning views of our Italian Gardens.
Outside: the historic Bolton Abbey Priory Entrance Tower and its picturesque grounds.
Have you had any celebrity guest or wedding at your venue?
We've had a few, but those are our little secrets!
What’s your favourite canapé?
Goats cheese & red onion tart
What’s your favourite midnight treat?
Pizza!
What is your venue's most unique feature?
Owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, who also own Chatsworth House in Derbyshire – isn't that impressive!
What part of your business are you most proud of?
Our rich heritage, exceptional teamwork, and the countless glowing reviews we have received over the years.
