Frequently asked questions

When are you open to visitors?

We host a number of events throughout the year, including Spring Garden Open Days, Afternoon Teas in the Castle, Wedding Open Days, Summer Outdoor Theatres and our popular Carols in the Courtyard. Non-castle guests can otherwise visit year-round through our Friends of Pentillie garden membership scheme. Outside of these dates, the estate remains closed to the public, to respect the privacy of our castle guests. For a full list of our upcoming events, please click here.

Are you dog-friendly?

Yes, we are very happy to welcome your four-legged friends onto the estate and there are some excellent walks throughout the woodlands to enjoy. Dogs are also welcomed into the castle, with three dog-friendly bedrooms (a small fee does apply for the privilege). Please click here to read our full dog policy.

Is there disabled access?

There is plenty of parking in the castle courtyard providing easy access for those with limited mobility. The ground floor is completely disabled friendly (all doors are more than 3 feet wide), with a ground floor bedroom designed to accommodate a wheelchair user too. There is, however, more limited accessibility in the gardens and on the terraces. Pentillie staff are available, and will guide or assist anyone in need of help. Our full accessibility statement, can be found here.

Do you have any electric car chargers?

We have 2 Tesla superchargers and 2 universal chargers available for guest use. A small fee applies.

Can we hold an event at Pentillie?

Yes, we host events of all types. From residential retreats, wedding celebrations, stag and hen parties, and self-catered holidays, to group lunches, business meetings, baby showers and even wakes. We would love to discuss your plans, please do get in touch.

Has Pentillie been on TV before?

Well spotted, yes! We have had the privilege of being used as a filming location for various television programmes. Most commonly known; BBC One’s Beyond Paradise, Sky One’s Delicious, FFP Media’s Rosamunde Pilcher and Channel 4’s Country House Rescue. For a full list of our features, please click here.

Will you be offering Bed and Breakfast again?

Unfortunately, we do not have any plans to open our accommodation under a B&B basis again. However, there may be the rare occasion where we do open up our bedrooms for a special night or two. (i.e. for Valentine’s or during our Outdoor Theatres). Please click here to register your interest or keep an eye on our ‘What’s On’ page.

Our private hire questions relate to all residential bookings, including stays, retreats, conferences and weddings. For further wedding information, please refer to the extended queries below or view our wedding essentials page here.

What time is check in and check out?

The Castle is exclusively yours from 5pm on your arrival date and up to 10am on your departure date.

How many guests can you sleep?

The Castle can accommodate up to 22 adults and up to 4 children throughout 9 luxury ensuite bedrooms and two additional bedrooms in the castellated turrets. View our bedrooms gallery.

Do you have any family rooms?

Whilst we do not have any formal family rooms, the Dewhurst Suite and Victor bedroom can both accommodate an additional 2 cots or 2 pop-up beds for children under 12. The Spencer and Kitson bedrooms also allow 1 additional cot or pop-up bed. In total, the Castle can sleep up to 22 adults and 4 children, at any one time.

Are there a minimum number of nights?

A minimum of 2 nights hire are required, or 4 nights if your stay is over the Christmas/New Year period and 7 nights throughout the summer holidays. Shorter stays may be available upon request, please contact us to discuss.

Is housekeeping included?

As all stays are on a self-catered basis, housekeeping is not included. However, this can be arranged for an additional cost.

Are there any catering options?

We are very happy to recommend a selection of local chefs, who regularly cater for our guests and pride themselves in excellent seasonal and locally sourced dishes. They can provide select meals of choice (i.e. a one-off celebratory dinner) or fully-catered packages. We are open to discuss any external caterers not recommended, additional fees apply. Our team can also arrange catering on your behalf, please get in touch to request.

Can we arrange a food shop delivery?

Yes. As private hire is on a self-catered basis, we welcome you to order a food delivery with plenty of storage space in the pantry and fridges/freezers. Waitrose, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda all deliver to the estate, some of these are also within a short drive for any additional needs during your stay. We are also very happy to recommend several local suppliers, including butchers, veg growers and vineyards.

Do you have a BBQ?

We have a large gas BBQ with plenty of seating on the terrace. On the lower terrace by the summer house, you can also find an outdoor fire pit for toasting marshmallows and gazing at the stars.

Can we use the swimming pool?

Yes, our outdoor pool is open between March and October, and is included within all private hire stays. As it is solar heated we cannot guarantee a set temperature.

What can we do on the estate?

There is plenty to do on the estate … you can explore our 55 acres of woodland gardens (by foot or bike), go for a wild swim or SUP experience on the River Tamar, forage for wild edibles, team up for a treasure hunt, book archery, clay pigeon shooting or wine tasting, or even take a cruise along the Tamar. Please click here for our full list of activities.

Can we invite additional guests to visit?

If you are looking to invite a couple of local friends to join you to catch up over tea and cake, we would be very happy to discuss your plans. Should you wish to host a larger affair with a number of additional guests, your booking would be classed as a “Party” and additional costs will incur. Please note, weddings are quoted separately.

What are your payment terms?

A 25% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking, the remaining balance is then due 3 months prior to your stay. We also request a precautionary deposit of £1,000 payable 2 weeks prior, which will then be refunded less any damages within 14 days of your departure.

While all weddings at Pentillie are bespoke, our FAQ’s provide an outline of our offerings. For further information, please enquire with our professional team or visit our wedding essentials page.

Can we book a viewing?

Yes, we would love to show you around and hear all about your plans. Please click here to see our available appointment dates and times, and details of any upcoming open days/evenings.

What are your capacities?

We are happy to accommodate wedding parties of all sizes. The Castle itself can seat up to 60 guests for a wedding breakfast and host up to 120 guests for an evening reception. Larger receptions with up to 200 day guests and 250 evening guests are possible with the additional hire of a marquee. We also welcome elopements (2-6 guests) and offer a separate tariff for more intimate weddings with up to just 22 guests.

Is there accommodation for guests?

All Castle bookings include the exclusive use of our 11 luxury bedrooms, accommodating up to 22 adults and 4 additional children under the age of 12. We can also recommend various accommodation suppliers nearby for any surplus guests travelling from afar.

Can our guests book and pay for their bedrooms directly with you?

To ensure you are in complete control of who stays with you in the castle, we allow you to allocate your guests to our bedrooms. If your guests are contributing to the cost of their stay, payment should be made directly to you.

Are there set suppliers or can we choose our own?

We have a recommended list of suppliers who we love to work with due to their professionalism and talent. External professional caterers other than those expressly recommended, are permitted only with advance written authorisation after completing a thorough induction. Charges do apply for the induction. Further suppliers (such as hair and beauty) may be chosen by you, although additional costs may incur.

What staff will be there on our wedding day?

Our Weddings Manager will have extensively prepared to ensure all suppliers are checked, aware of the facilities, expectations and timings prior to arrival. They will then greet and direct your suppliers on the day itself, and ensure your ceremony runs without a hitch. Our House Manager will lead all aspects of service between your guests and your caterers, through until the end of the evening. Our bar team will open and run the bar immediately after your wedding ceremony until our licence ends at midnight.

Can we use the grounds for photographs?

Yes! Please use the gardens as the backdrop for your photographs, there are some incredibly beautiful spots; from the riverside Bathing Hut and historic Mausoleum, to the American Gardens, Lime Avenue and Stone Circle. We always promote a photographer visit prior to your special day, to plan where you would like your photographs. Please get in touch to arrange yours.

Do you have a bar?

Yes, we have a licensed bar. No other alcoholic drinks vendors are permitted on site.

Do you charge a corkage fee?

We offer a varied drinks packages and an extensive wine list for you to choose from. If however, you would prefer to supply your own wines, corkage is charged at £15.00 per 75cl bottle of sparkling wine and £12.00 per 75cl bottle of still wine.

Once your meal is finished, our Pentillie bar operates an exclusive drinks service.

What are your licence times?

Entertainment must routinely stop at 11.45pm, with live bands finishing at 11.15pm. Last orders are called at 11.45pm, with the bar closing at midnight. All non residential guests must then depart by 12.30am.

Can we use confetti?

Confetti is permitted outside only and must be real petals or bubbles. Why not learn how to make your own?

Do you allow fireworks?

Due to our location within the valley, we only allow low noise fireworks booked through Celebration Pyrotechnics and with a minimum of 1 month’s notice.

Is there a car park on site?

There is ample free parking both at the Castle and riverside quay. Couples often request the front of the Castle remains clear for photographs, which our car parks further afield allow for. The front lawn also acts as landing pad for any special helicopter arrivals.

Do guests need to pre-arrange taxis?

Definitely! We recommend booking taxis at least one week in advance, as we have found they are not available to book on the day/night. A list of taxi contacts can be found on our recommended suppliers list.

What do your prices include?

Our wedding prices include the private hire of the Castle from 5pm on the day of your arrival until 10am on the day of your departure. This includes the exclusive use of our 11 luxury bedrooms, the public reception rooms and the gardens immediately surrounding the castle. You will also have a choice of indoor and outdoor licensed ceremony locations, a bespoke planning service with our dedicated Weddings Manager and use of our outdoor lawn games for reception entertainment.

What are your payment terms?

A non-refundable booking fee is required to secure your date (for those looking to provisionally hold a date, we can do so for a maximum of 7 days). 50% of your outstanding balance is due 9 months prior to your check in date, with the remainder due 3 months prior. A precautionary deposit of £1,500 is payable 2 weeks prior to your event, and will be refunded less any damages within 14 days of your departure.

Do you offer a discount to NHS workers and military personnel?

As a historic venue with an extensive military history and having acted as a maternity hospital during the war, we are very happy to offer a 5% discount to NHS cardholders and both serving and retired military personnel. This discount applies to wedding and private hire bookings only.

Can we marry in your riverside Bathing Hut and host our celebrations elsewhere?

Yes! Our quaint Victorian Bathing Hut provides a beautiful setting for those looking for a ceremony only venue (or perhaps you’d even like to elope?). Seating up to 60 guests with access to the grounds for your photographs included. Separate terms and conditions apply, please contact us for more details.

How do we book a civil ceremony?

Step 1) Provisionally hold your agreed date with your venue (Pentillie). This can be held for a maximum of 1 week.
Step 2) Contact Cornwall Registrars to book and confirm your ceremony time. They will require a small deposit to do so.
Step 3) Confirm and pay your venue deposit, and begin your planning journey!

Do you have any churches locally that would welcome our ceremony?

There are a number of churches and places of worships locally, serving a variety of faiths:
- Church of England (Tamar Valley)
- Roman Catholic Churches
- Plymouth Synagogue
- Piety Mosque, Plymouth