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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2022

Last update: January 2025

**WEDDING OPEN DAY SUNDAY 6TH APRIL 10.30AM TO 2PM**

Set beside the natural beauty of the River Stour lies one of the finest wedding venues in Colchester, Essex: Talbooth Restaurant & Marquee. Here, you can enjoy your special day in the most stunning surroundings. Established in 1952 and located in the heart of Constable Country, Talbooth Restaurant is a modernised, 16th-century listed building with a stunning marquee set within the riverside gardens that gently curve along the River Stour.

Stay the night before in the stunning riverside cottage, Idle Waters, and soak in the views of the glorious wedding venue across the river bank whilst getting ready for the big day. Alternatively, book a room at the luxury Talbooth House and Spa and enjoy some pampering the afternoon prior to the wedding while relaxing in the knowledge that everything is being taken care of.

The licensed restaurant is full of stunning period features and looks out onto the River Stour, terrace and perfectly manicured lawns. Getting married in the River Room, followed by a wedding breakfast in the marquee, means that the wedding party has exclusivity of Talbooth Restaurant during the wedding day, from the ceremony through to early evening.

It really is all about the food at the Talbooth. With great ingredients, imaginative menus and 70 years of expertise in catering for fabulous events, their chefs can create incredible options for your wedding based on all kinds of menu tastes and styles. Menu options include fine dining standard and restaurant-quality three-course banquets or exciting sharing-style menus for a slightly more relaxed vibe.

Three fabulous event planners are also on hand to assist throughout the planning process, and a dedicated event manager ensures that everything runs smoothly from start to finish on the day.

The nearby Talbooth House & Spa has 12 luxurious bedrooms, a tennis court and an outdoor pool (heated to a sizzling 85 degrees Fahrenheit), as well as a sauna and hot tub. The spa has six treatment rooms and offers a wide range of services enabling the wedding party plenty of time to pamper and relax before the big day. You can even take the whole house and spa and enjoy a fabulous wedding weekend. In addition to the Talbooth House and Spa, sister property Milsoms offers a buzzing brasserie restaurant with gorgeous grounds and a further 15 bedrooms. The Talbooth House and Spa is available for exclusive hire, and wedding weekends are a real thing at this venue!

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Frequently asked questions

Venue type:

In the country
Small hotel
Pub or restaurant
Unusual weddings
Historic
Marquees and tents
Outdoor license
Unique weddings

Ceremony options:

Civil ceremony licence

Dining options:

Seated meal facilities
Alcohol licence
Buffet meal facilities
In-house catering

Evening entertainment:

Marquee available
Dance floor
Entertainment licence
Live band facilities
Evening reception facilities
DJ facilities

Overnight accommodation:

Overnight accommodation for wedding couple
Overnight accommodation for guests

Venue staff assistance:

Master of ceremonies/toastmaster
Wedding coordinator

Venue leisure facilities:

Swimming pool
Beautician

Other features:

Exclusive use
Accessible facilities
Car parking
Confetti permitted
Pet-friendly
illustration notebook

Do you have any questions?

Reviews for Talbooth Restaurant

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to make your big decisions easier.
5.0 out of 5 rating
Hitched Wedding Awards 2025 Winner
5.0 out of 5 rating
37 reviews
100% recommend it
  • Quality of the service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value for money
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
C
Charlotte Sent on 04/01/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The perfect day!

Having our June 2024 wedding at Le Talbooth was absolutely perfect!

We worked with Jess who was always on hand, incredibly prompt and professional and easy to chat with about all and any small worries. She made everything about the day go so smoothly and we felt that we were in the safest hands. She made all our requests happen and no question was too silly.

The food was incredible and Le Talbooth managed the various dietary requirements and allergies guests had with absolute ease and skill. Our guests still talk to us about how delicious the food and wine was! Le Talbooth helped coordinate rooms at the Milsoms hotels for guests and removed all stress for us!

We arrived by boat and the setting on the river was superb and completely dreamlike. What an exquisite day and what a fantastic, experienced and utterly brilliant team.

Thank you Le Talbooth!
C
Conor Sent on 27/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

June 2024 Wedding

We couldn’t have asked for a smoother process with the team at Le Talbooth.

Nothing was ever too much for Jess and the team who were always there to answer any questions we had.

The day went so smoothly thanks to the team who took care of everything throughout. There was never a moment where they weren’t on top of things!

We would also highly recommend hiring “Kathleen” the boat. This is an extra quirk for your special day that you’ll get nowhere else.

We had the best day and can’t thank the team at Le Talbooth enough for being part of it with us.
Lorna
Lorna Sent on 24/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Dream wedding!

Having our wedding at The Talbooth was perfect, the staff were attentive on the day and even more so beforehand. Jess & Alex had to deal with lots of changes and questions from us and nothing was ever too much.

The food on the day was outstanding and the bar staff kept our guests constantly topped up. The venue was beautiful and presented so well.

We couldn’t recommend the talbooth and their staff more, 10/10
K
Kerrie Sent on 19/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible venue!

Facilitated the perfect day

We had driven past Talbooth many times with intrigue, when it came to picking a wedding venue, we wanted the views, food, ambiance and service to ensure we as the bride and groom, our families and guests all had the best day. We looked at many venues, with the house and spa and Talbooth being the first. Simply nothing compared. Organising and arranging everything in advance is down to a fine, friendly tee and the day did not disappoint, it was simply perfect. The wonderful team could not do enough for everyone, the food was simply amazing, everything ran perfectly, the other suppliers found it a well oiled machine enabling the scale without fuss, but with the personal touch that made it feel so personal to us. We wish the day would have never ended. We booked out the cottage, house and spa and most of Milsoms, all feeling relaxed, spotless and well that lawn is the envy of many a professional groundskeeper. You certainly get what you pay for, so whilst the talbooth looked quite expensive on paper, it is one of the best investments we ever made, with everyone’s memories focussed on the right things with the perfect backdrop. On reflection, worth absolutely every penny and more.

Alex and Jess were brilliant, promptly answering our many questions and they were always super helpful. Thank you all so much!

Kerrie and Simon 🤍
J
Jane Sent on 10/11/2024
4.8 out of 5 rating

Magical riverside venue

We had a wonderful wedding day at the magnificent riverside surroundings of the Talbooth Restaurant and grounds. The day was joyful and relaxing as the staff were efficient and thoughtful so we had nothing to worry about. The addition of a small boat to take wedding guests up the river to see the countryside made the day extra special. The venue looked beautiful with stunning grounds and the backdrop of the River Stour. The service, facilities, food were second to none. I cannot recommend them highly enough. The staff went out of their way to make our day special.
I
Izza Sent on 06/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Our Wedding Day

Keighley and the team were excellent from the start to the finish. They were extremely flexible with our requests and responded very quickly to all emails.

The venue was absolutely perfect! We had rented out the Idle waters cottage for the weekend and it was ideal. There was enough space for all of the bridesmaids and I to get ready and it was amazing to be overlooking the wedding venue. The hotel nearby is great as well as guests were able to stay there for the weekend.

On the day, we really had the most perfect day and everything went very smoothly. We did not have to worry about a single thing on the day - they had taken care of everything - even things that we had not thought about previously!

The food was excellent - all of our guests really loved the food! Some of them said that it was the best food that they have had at a wedding.

Thank you again to Keighley and the team at the Talbooth for the most perfect day!!!
Gary
Gary Sent on 04/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Gary and Charlotte 24/8/24

What price for quality.The Talbooth really made our wedding from start to finish all guests felt the same A1+
What an amazing team xxx
K
Kim S. Sent on 02/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

The perfect wedding day

We couldn’t have dreamed of a better place to have our wedding! From start to finish, our day was absolutely perfect, all thanks to the incredible team at Talbooth Restaurant. The venue and location is stunning. Every detail was so well-organised that we were able to relax and fully enjoy our day without a single worry. From the warm welcome to the seamless transitions throughout the day, the staffs professionalism and care was fantastic.

Thank you for helping us create the best day of our lives! We’re so grateful and our constant smiles said it all.
Corey
Corey Sent on 24/10/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Most magical wedding EVER

There wouldn't be enough room in this review for how many FANTASTIC things I have to say about Talbooth. Let's start with the obvious - the setting is so gorgeous it's hard to put into words let alone pictures. It is honestly MAGICAL and couldn't be a more perfect setup for weddings - both logistically and visually. Onto the team, I wish I could name every single person who made our weekend special but I have to reserve this space for one in particular - Alex. She is the first person we met when considering Talbooth as a venue and a big part of the reason we did. From the start, I knew she would be so caring and attentive. She went ABOVE and BEYOND our (pretty tough) expectations. From that first meeting to being in the room (at my request) with our parents before the ceremony - shedding a tear together - she made every single decision, question, crazy request, late night emails, calls, frantic changes, etc seem like it was all a breeze for her. She never made us feel like we were asking too much or putting her out. She is a gem - her and her team are a really important part of why our wedding went so smoothly and was so magical. To sum up, you would be LUCKY to have your wedding at this magical spot with this INCREDIBLE team.
Ellie
Ellie Sent on 24/10/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Our perfect day!

As soon as we arrived at Le Talbooth restaurant we knew it was going to be the place to hold our wedding. The location is stunning and we were warmly welcomed by staff from day one. They offered their expert advice to help us create the most perfect day. They responded quickly to any questions we had and were always on hand to meet or talk through the plans, nothing was too much to ask. The staff made sure our day ran smoothly and took any stresses away which meant we could relax and enjoy our day. The food was amazing and staff were attentive to us and our guests. Everyone commented on how beautiful the venue is and how delicious the food was. Le Talbooth Restaurant will forever hold a special place in our hearts and we cannot wait to come back soon! Thank you ❤️
O
Orli Sent on 24/10/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect from start to finish!

We used two Milsoms venues for our wedding, we had out ceremony in a church and then our wedding breakfast at Mr G's at Milsoms and then after a month (and a honeymoon) had gone by we had a wedding party in the marque at the Talbooth restaurant.
Talbooth was the first and only venue we looked at to host our party, we knew as soon as we arrived that it was for us. We know the food is always outstands and the venue itself was too beautiful for us to need to look elsewhere.
Our experience from start to finish was perfect, we have no complaints whatsoever.
At both venues we got exactly what we paid for which was exceptional service, beautiful food and stunning surroundings. For our party we chose to have the BBQ menu which went down really well with our guests, we also had an eton mess bar as well as a gelato bar which was really fun and also delicious!
Keighley helped us to organise our evening from start to finish and it ran seamlessly. The staff could not have done enough for us and they chefs were really helpful when it came to accommodating tweaks to the menu.
The law and marquee were such a beautiful settings for our event and we were lucky enough to be able to arrive on a river boat to the reception which both us and our guests loved.
Both of our events were the most special days but they would not have been half as magical without the amazing staff at Milsoms going above and beyond in everyway.
C
Chris Sent on 24/09/2024
5 out of 5 rating

A truly exceptional and magical wedding venue!

An absolutely incredible venue from start to finish which oozes sophistication and elegance. The venue is truly beautiful with exceptionally manicured gardens and the food / beverages were delightful. A special mention to the staff who demonstrated professionalism throughout the process - the organisation completely took away any stress from the preparations. We had an absolutely incredible day and our stay in the idyllic Idle Waters extended the magic. Cannot recommend this venue enough,
David
David Sent on 11/07/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Mr & Mrs David Hill

From the very beginning of us planning our 40th Wedding Anniversary we couldn’t have imagined just how perfectly well the day would go.
Alex Carr at The Talbooth seemed to take all of our requests in her stride. Nothing was too much trouble, nothing was too complicated for her to take on and arrange. On the day we had just over 40 guests for the renewal of our vows, a buffet and then dancing and more food going into the evening. Every member of staff was ‘on point’, attentive, polite and friendly.
All of our guests commented on the beautiful venue and the incredible food, the entire experience was amazing.
Alex was always available to offer advice and support and it is due to her and her incredible wedding planning team that our day was such a success, we just cannot praise them, and thank them enough for making our day so special. We used the marquee and garden for our event, it was so beautiful. The gardens are amazing.
We did provide our own canopy for the event inside the marquee but the staff ensured we had sufficient access and time to put it all together with our friends.
Everyone was so professional, nothing was left to chance. In the evening, Natalie who was running the bar, ensured that everything was perfect for us, well done to all of you! We did appreciate everything that you did for us.
If you’re looking for the perfect venue to use for a celebration, look no further, it’s here at The Talbooth.
M
Megan Sent on 17/05/2024
5 out of 5 rating

The best wedding venue in essex!

I cannot recommend getting married at the talbooth enough! Not only is it a stunning venue, the food, the team and all the finer details are just incredible. Keighley and the team did everything in their power to make our day as perfect as possible. Not ask was too big or small, they went above and beyond to make our day special. You do not have to worry about anything, they take all the stress away so you can just enjoy your day. I highly highly recommend!
Adrian
Adrian Sent on 09/05/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Best wedding venue ever!

Such an idyllic location, properly stunning and very romantic.
The staff on the day were absolutely excellent. Special mention here to Natalie who saw to it that the wedding breakfast went without a hitch and ran very smoothly.

And now to both of you, Alex and Keighley.
We couldn’t have asked for more from either of you. Your comms were excellent, always quick with your replies to our (many) queries. You both were friendly, efficient, knowledgeable and an absolute pleasure to have to help us along the way.

We have had many comments from guests stating it’s the best wedding they’ve ever been to; and while we (Vicky) take a little of the credit for that, the whole experience on the day was testament to how well Talbooth handled everything.
The food was outstanding (everyone said this), the service was top drawer, and you even arranged a day of sunshine!!

Thanks to all at Talbooth/Milsoms for the best day of our lives.
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Badges

Hitched Wedding Awards 2025 Winner
Hitched Wedding Awards 2024 Winner

Talbooth Restaurant Real Weddings

Eloise & Sam
22 photos · 07/04/2023
Emily & Fraser
33 photos · 25/08/2022

Deals

Events

06 Apr
Open Door

We’re back with another spectacular Wedding Open Day in the marquee at Talbooth Restaurant.

Come along to our Wedding Open Day for couples and their families to explore and get a feel for what a special Talbooth wedding will be like beside the river at Talbooth Restaurant.

Undecided between a small and intimate ceremony, or a bigger marquee party? Or perhaps your dream wedding comprises a series of celebrations spread over a few days and venues. This Open Day is the perfect opportunity to envision a celebration in the stunningly situated marquee:

  • Explore the Marquee at Talbooth Restaurant
  • Meet excellent wedding suppliers
  • Look across the river to Idle Waters, our self-catered cottage popular with wedding parties.

Enjoy a glass of fizz or tea and coffee whilst you meet a member of the Milsom Wedding team who will greet you to discuss all your exciting plans and guide you through our beautiful riverside marquee.

If the venue and setting aren’t enough to make you say Yes, we have award-winning food and our kitchen will be serving canapés throughout the day that will be sure to wow.

There will be a chance to meet some of our recommended suppliers who will be exhibiting across the properties on the day too!

Entry is free, but pre-booking is required by submitting our online entry form, speaking to the Milsom Wedding team by phone or email.

Date: From 06/04/2025 to 06/04/2025 Schedule 10:30 - 14:00
Place: Talbooth Restaurant, Gun Hill, Dedham, Colchester, Essex

Preferred suppliers

Abigail's Collection
5.0 out of 5 rating , 14 reviews
· Bridalwear Shops
DJ Scott Dewing
4.7 out of 5 rating , 12 reviews
· Music and DJs

Map

Talbooth Restaurant, Gun Hill, Dedham CO7 6HP Colchester (Essex)
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