Watermouth Cove occupies 25 acres of North Devon coastline between Ilfracombe and Combe Martin, and it is one of very few wedding venues in the country with its own cove, its own beach and its own caves. The estate runs from clifftop down through woodland to the water, and it has been in the same family for well over a decade, which lends the whole operation a warmth that larger coastal venues rarely manage.
There are three places to marry and they could hardly be more different. Viewpoint is the headland spot, open to the sea with Combe Martin, Hangman Hill and Broadsands Beach laid out below, and it is as dramatic as anywhere in the county. The Woodland Barn is the sheltered alternative, seating 125 beneath a vaulted, open-plan ceiling of exposed timbers. And then there is the beach itself, which is licensed, and which is the reason a good many couples book the place at all. The Stonehouse is the main reception space, looking out over the cove and taking up to 125, with The Snug next door for anybody who needs five minutes away from the noise. Getting ready happens in the Glam Room and The Den, one for each side of the party.
Accommodation is spread across the estate in cottages, a penthouse bridal suite and a handful of cheerfully retro caravans, enough to keep a large chunk of the guest list on site, and it is included in the hire. Catering is done in-house and stays that way, with menus and a tasting included, and there is a bar with its own cocktail list. Marquees, confetti, open flames and dogs are all fine, setup can start the day before, and with exclusive use of the cove and caves most couples stretch the celebration across more than a single day. The Stonehouse is currently being enlarged and reworked for 2027, with a coastal terrace, a cocktail lounge and a dedicated dancefloor on the way.
Where the band plays
The evening happens inside, and sensibly so — the Stonehouse with 125 people in it is a nicely sized room for a four- or five-piece, and it will be a better one still once the new dancefloor arrives. Daytime music, though, is where this venue really earns a second act. Something acoustic on the headland or by the water while the light holds is glorious, but it is worth booking a duo with its own small PA rather than a genuinely unamplified act, because a sea breeze swallows an unassisted guitar the moment it picks up. Running a daytime act into an evening band suits a day that starts outdoors and moves in.
Practicalities worth raising early
Evenings here generally run to midnight, occasionally to 11.30pm, so your band gets a full run at it once everybody is inside. Two things are worth flagging at enquiry rather than at quote stage. The first is distance: Ilfracombe is a long drive for most acts, which usually means travel time and an overnight, and makes booking early worthwhile. The second is the site itself — wind, salt and damp, and equipment being carried across open coastal ground. None of it troubles an experienced band, but it is a reason to allow more time for load-in than you would inland.
Bands available in Devon and perfectly at home in a venue like this.
More live music in Devon.
- Devon Wedding Bands
- Events Bands in Devon
- Tribute Acts in Devon
- Devon Wedding DJs
- Corporate Entertainment in Devon
Worth reading before you book: First Dance Guide. More questions answered on our England & Wales FAQs.