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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2022

Last update: February 2026

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
Barn
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
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Reviews for Talbooth Restaurant

Claire
Claire Sent on 18/06/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Absolutely beautiful wedding venue !!!

The talbooth really did exceed our expectations!! They were very accommodating, professional throughout and ensured our wedding day went to plan!! A special mention to Natalie who was amazing in the day! So friendly and efficient!! She meet our every need and was always on hand if we needed anything. Thank you to all the staff who made our day so special! The venue itself is stunning , such a beautiful location to get married, the food was excellent too!

Thanks so much everyone !

Claire and Stew xx
K
Kellie Sent on 03/06/2026
5 out of 5 rating

The most perfect day!

We recently held our wedding at Talbooth and honestly could not have asked for a better venue. From the very beginning of the planning process right through to the wedding day itself, the service was exceptional. Every detail was handled with professionalism, care, and genuine enthusiasm, making the whole experience enjoyable and stress-free!

A special thank you must go to Alex, our event coordinator, who was fantastic throughout the planning process. Alex was always helpful, responsive, and reassuring, ensuring everything came together perfectly for us! We’d also like to thank Rachel, who ran the event on the day and did an incredible job keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes so that we could simply relax and enjoy every moment!

The food was outstanding and received so many compliments from our guests. We opted for the BBQ and it was absolutely amazing – the quality, presentation, and flavours were exceptional. So many of our guests commented on how delicious the food was and how much they enjoyed it!

The grounds are stunning and provided the perfect backdrop for our wedding. The beautiful setting made for incredible photographs and created a wonderful atmosphere throughout the day!

We are so grateful to the entire Talbooth team for helping create such a memorable day. We couldn’t have wished for a more perfect venue and would highly recommend Talbooth to anyone looking for a truly special wedding venue!!!
C
Caoimhe Sent on 14/12/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding at the Talbooth Restaurant - August 9th 2025!

We got married at the Talbooth Restaurant on the 9th August 2025. The venue was incredible and we cannot compliment the staff enough. They were very attentive and helped us with every little thing.
P
Phil Sent on 03/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The venue was breathtaking

After taking the decision to hold our wedding at the Talbooth we knew we were in for a treat. From the moment we arrived we were greeted with smiling faces and champagne. The venue was breathtaking with manicured lawns and despite the weather the flower beds shone with colour.

The staff went above and beyond to make our day seamless and a keen eye made sure nobody had an empty glass. The BBQ we chose was simply stunning, and along with the canapes selection was a hit for all dietary preferences, with the dessert platters topping out the meal.

The marquee was the perfect venue with the tables laid out thoughtfully and with great attention to detail, nothing was missed.

The more senior guests were able to enjoy a coffee and a slice of cake on the soft seating while the younger crowd danced the night away.

The day was simply perfection, and if you're looking for a perfect venue come rain or shine, the Talbooth is it.

A sentiment shared by all our guests.
Charlotte
Charlotte Sent on 02/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Our wedding

I can highly recommend Milsom wedding having recently got married in September we had our reception at Tollbooth in The Marquee- The grounds are simple stunning. Arriving on the boat was a great surprise to our guest and something a little different where quests can then have a trip up & down the river. The service on the day was fantastic by Rachel & Natalie along with there team who work so hard. Along with Jess and the girls leading up to the big day are very efficient and make the whole process very smooth. We knew from the moment we booked it was the correct decision and the service throughout confirmed we made the right choice in booking our wedding here. If you are thinking of booking with Milsoms wedding do it! You will not be disappointed.
Aaron
Aaron Sent on 01/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Our September Wedding

We are so glad we booked our wedding at the Talbooth Restaurant, it was a truly magical day and the venue and team added to that.
Keighley and Alex were both fantastic at helping us organise the day, and the team on the day led by Natalie and Rachel were faultless.
Everything was perfect from the food and wine to the atmosphere in the marquee, The Talbooth is a truly special place.
The team were able to fit everything into our budget, and it was certainly value for money.
Hiring Kathleen, the river boat, was a perfect way to spend some time together as a newly married couple and float away for some peace before the drinks reception.
We would recommend getting married here to everyone and anyone, our day was simply perfect and we can't thank The Talbooth and team enough.
Chloe
Chloe Sent on 25/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Perfection!

Everyone at Milsom’s made our wedding so magical. Planning was so easy and they were happy to meet us several times and also discuss all the different options we thought up. On the day it went to smoothly due to the team handling everything, we just enjoyed every moment! We loved staying at the cottage they also run across the river. The food was insane and so delicious, all our guests said they couldn’t believe how much food we had throughout the day and were very full and happy!
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 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.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to make your big decisions easier.

Badges

Hitched Wedding Awards 2025 Winner
Hitched Wedding Awards 2024 Winner
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Talbooth Restaurant Real Weddings

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

Deals

Meet the team

Alexandra Carr
Alexandra Carr
Event Coordinator

Meet Alex, the driving force behind Milsom Weddings and mastermind within the wedding team, she possesses unparalleled knowledge of all things weddings. With 20 years of experience, she will guide you through each stage of the planning process, from the initial phone enquiry to the moment you leave at the end of your stay.

Email: alex@milsomhotels.com

Tel: 01206 321 105

Keighley Robson
Keighley Robson
Event Coordinator

Logistical queen! Keighley is our eagle eyes in the wedding office, with her meticulous attention to detail and dedication to exceeding guests expectations. With Keighley planning your wedding day you will be safe in the knowledge that every detail is being taken care of. As a pivotal member of our team, Keighley sets out to work on your behalf to ensure a stunning wedding day.

Email: keighley@milsomhotels.com

Tel: 01206 321 102

Jess Savill
Jess Savill
Event Coordinator

With a twinkle in her eye and a thoughtful approach to planning, Jess recognises the importance of those magic little touches that all together create something truly special for your wedding day. Jess’s experience spans from restaurant management to overseeing outside catering events and running weddings onsite at Hengrave Hall. Now a vital member of the Dedham event team, she specialises in co-ordinating beautiful weddings, and loves nothing more than transforming guests dreams into reality on their special day.

Email: jess@milsomhotels.com

Tel: 01206 321 526

Preferred suppliers

Abigail's Collection
4.8 out of 5 rating , 25 reviews
· Bridalwear Shops
DJ Scott Dewing
4.7 out of 5 rating , 13 reviews
· Music and DJs

Map

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