Heron Farm Vineyard - Eat, Explore & Restore on the River Otter
Tucked into the rolling Devon countryside just outside Honiton, Heron Farm is the kind of place that makes you slow the car down as you pass. A 17-acre patchwork of vineyard, orchards, kitchen garden and walled garden, with the River Otter and its resident beavers and otters running through the edge of the property, the farm has grown from a single food-writer's vision into one of East Devon's most quietly exciting destinations. Today it is a working English vineyard, a seasonal kitchen, a shop full of its own produce, a year-round programme of workshops and tasting evenings, and the home of Heron House, a contemporary eco-stay that sleeps a dozen.
A new chapter on the River Otter
Heron Farm's story begins with food writer Mark Diacono, the former head gardener of River Cottage, who established the original Otter Farm as a productive landscape of unusual and delicious crops. Walking the land you can still taste that vision: medlars and quinces in the orchard, pecans warming on south-facing slopes, fragrant Sichuan pepper in the kitchen garden and, threaded through it all, around 3,000 vines of Solaris, Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir.
In spring 2026 the farm passed into the care of Toby and his wife, who brought their own backgrounds in hospitality, wine and architecture to the project. Their aim is not to reinvent Diacono's original plantings but to nurture them, opening the farm up as somewhere people can eat, explore and restore throughout the year. As they put it themselves, the new chapter is about thoughtful additions: evening dining cooked over wood fire, seasonal guest-chef collaborations, creative workshops, a refurbished wellbeing studio, sauna experiences, Forest School sessions and family-friendly seasonal events.
Finding Heron Farm
Heron Farm sits in the village of Weston, just a mile or so off the A30 on the outskirts of Honiton, in the heart of East Devon. The setting makes it an easy stop whether you are travelling from Exeter, Sidmouth, Lyme Regis or Seaton, or breaking up the long run between London and Cornwall.
- Address: Heron Farm, Weston, Honiton, Devon, EX14 3NZ
- Phone: 01404 46208
- Email: hello@heron-farm.co.uk
- What3words: ///winemaker.urban.finders
- Nearest train stations: Honiton (2.5 miles) and Feniton (4.8 miles) - onward travel by bus or taxi is recommended
- Bus: routes 44 or 44a from Honiton, about a five-minute walk from the farm
On site you will find ample free parking (including disabled bays close to the entrance), step-free access to most areas, baby-change facilities, two InstaVolt 50kW DC rapid EV chargers, covered bicycle parking, outdoor hand washing, a play park, a Fairy Trail and a small flock of friendly Ouessant sheep. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the shop, the restaurant and the walled garden.
Opening hours
The vineyard, restaurant, kitchen and shop are open Friday to Monday, 9am - 4pm, including bank holidays. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are set aside for private hire, meetings and events. The current trading company is Heron Ventures Ltd (company number 11588928; VAT 307764295).
The vineyard and the wines
Around 3,000 vines spread across a 3-acre site beside the River Otter. Three grape varieties anchor the range, each chosen for how well it suits the East Devon climate.
Solaris
Solaris - literally "sun" - is a German-bred hybrid grape created in 1975 at Freiburg's grape breeding institute by Norbert Becker. It ripens early, shrugs off fungal disease and frost, and gives wines with fruity, perfumed aromas of elderflower, ripe stone fruit and citrus, layered with hints of banana and hazelnut. At Heron Farm it goes into the rosé alongside Pinot Noir and provides the backbone of the still white.
Seyval Blanc
Often compared to Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc, Seyval Blanc is one of England's most reliable hybrid grapes. It ripens early, loves cooler climates and produces elegant wines with bright acidity, crisp apple notes and refreshing citrus. It forms the heart of the award-winning 2023 Vintage Still White and the 2018 Traditional Method English Sparkling Wine.
Pinot Noir
Perhaps the most famous grape in the vineyard, Pinot Noir contributes elegance, delicate fruit and structure - especially to sparkling wines - while also producing a beautifully expressive still rosé.
A different approach to growing
Because of the farm's location close to the river, the team works with nature wherever possible. Soils are left uncultivated between the rows so grasses and wildflowers can flourish, attracting insects and birds across the growing season. The result is a vineyard that looks, sounds and feels alive in every month of the year.
The Heron Farm range in the shop
The farm shop online is the easiest way to taste Heron Farm at home. Standard delivery is £7.50 (free on orders over £75), with gift vouchers delivered electronically free of charge or in print for £1.50.
- Vineyard Case - a six-bottle mixed case containing two bottles each of the Gold award-winning English Sparkling Wine, the Rosé and the Wine GB Silver award-winning 2021 Vintage White. £110.00.
- 2018 English Sparkling Wine - traditional-method sparkling made from Heron Farm Seyval Blanc. Light, refreshing and richly expressive. From £32.00 (single bottle) up to £345.60.
- Elderflower Sparkling Wine - traditional-method sparkling wine made from carefully selected Trebbiano grapes mingling with English elderflowers. From £18.00 to £216.00.
- 2023 Vintage White Wine - 100% Seyval Blanc, beautifully clear and balanced with vibrant fruity and floral aromas. From £18.00.
- 2021 Vintage Still White and 2021 Vintage Still Rosé - award-winning wines in the same honest, food-friendly house style.
- Heron Farm 'Ma La' Gin - a 50cl, 40% ABV small-batch gin distilled in Devon and infused with Szechuan peppercorns grown on the farm itself, layered with grapefruit, bergamot, juniper, angelica root and coriander. Food Drink Devon Silver Award winner 2022. £30.00.
Heron Farm Harvest
The "Harvest" arm of the shop gathers everything that is grown, pressed, jarred or stirred on the farm.
- Local Honey - runny honey from the farm's own apiaries, set away from disturbance at the back of the vineyard. 340g, £9.50.
- Apple Juice - pressed from heritage Devon apple varieties grown on site. £4.50.
- Sweet Chilli Sauce, Rhubarb Chutney, Tomato & Chilli Chutney and Piccalilli - all small-batch, made by the Heron Farm chefs using produce grown in the kitchen garden or polytunnel. £4.95 each.
Tours, walks and tastings
The Heron Farm & Vineyard Tour is the centrepiece of the experience. Tours run every Saturday from April to September, starting at midday, and last 75 to 90 minutes. Tickets are £20 per person. Guests are guided around the vineyard, orchard and kitchen garden, with tastings of the sparkling, white and rosé wines, Ma La gin and apple juice along the way. There is plenty of room for questions, no intimidating wine language, and the tour is designed to be relaxed for newcomers and rewarding for seasoned English-wine enthusiasts.
When Saturdays sell out, an extra Sunday slot is often opened. Tours are outside walking tours, so comfortable clothing and sturdy footwear are essential, and waterproofs are wise in British weather. Most tours continue in light rain; only severe weather changes the format. After the tour it is easy to stay for breakfast, brunch, lunch or one of the seasonal evening events.
Beaver Conservation Circular Tour & Talk
A second guided walk focuses on the wildlife side of the farm. The £20, 1.5-hour Beaver Conservation Circular Tour & Talk highlights the beaver activity and conservation work along the River Otter, run in partnership with the Devon Wildlife Trust. Tours run on specific Mondays through the summer and autumn (August 2026: Monday 17th; September 2026: Monday 14th, 10:30am). Note: rough ground, not suitable for under 5s, no dogs.
Private tours and tastings
For birthdays, anniversaries, corporate away-days or larger parties, private vineyard tours and tastings can be arranged through private hire.
Eat & drink at the Vineyard Kitchen
Leading the kitchen is chef Simon Payne, who trained for five years under Sam Harris at the acclaimed Italian restaurant Zucca in Bermondsey before going on to head up the celebrated The Parlour at Long Bredy. His cooking is built on exceptional produce and generous, flavour-led dishes - which at Heron Farm means the kitchen garden is never far from the pass.
Daytime dining
The daytime menus run Friday to Monday and change with the seasons:
- Brunch - 9am - 3pm
- Lunch - 12pm - 3pm, with daily specials
- Kids' menu - available all day
- Drinks list - featuring the Heron Farm range, seasonal cocktails, local beers and a Devon-leaning wine list
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea is a Heron Farm speciality. Expect freshly prepared sandwiches, savoury tartlets, cakes, mini desserts and fresh home-baked scones with local jam and Devon clotted cream, all made in-house. Tea, coffee or a glass of Heron Farm Traditional Method English Sparkling Wine complete the picture. Priced at £25 per person, including a hot drink. Booking is essential with at least 72 hours' notice; dietary requirements are catered for. Afternoon Tea can be taken in the walled garden, on the terrace or inside the restaurant. Book afternoon tea online.
Friday Fire Feasts
Friday and Saturday evenings through the summer belong to the Fire Feasts: menus from the wood-fired oven, the BBQ smoker and a custom-made Parilla grill, designed to be shared and stacked. A sample of what you might find:
- Snacks & small plates - Padron peppers £9; jalapeño, chickpea & cumin hummus with flatbreads £9; sourdough with preserved lemon & dill butter £5; smoked cod's roe with focaccia £9; beef carpaccio £14.
- Wood oven - meatballs & mozzarella £14; prawn & mussel saganaki £14; smoked anchovy pizzetta £13; broccoletti & goat's cheese pizzetta £13; aubergine parmigiana £15.
- Charcoal grill - whole red mullet, gremolata, aioli £10; pork belly, salsa pollera £17; local octopus £10; whole local bass for 4 £70; hand-dived scallops £5.
- Sides - potato & pickle salad £7; grilled corn, lime butter, pico di gallo £7; Trill Farm baby gem "Caesar" £7.
The walled garden is also the place to drop in for after-work cocktails and sundowners while the kitchen is firing. View Fire Feasts details and book a table online.
Christmas at the Vineyard Kitchen
The Christmas set menu runs from 28 November to 29 December (midday), priced at £28 for two courses or £38 for three courses. Pre-order is available for groups of 10 or more, or for private-hire celebrations. The team can also host private Christmas evening events for larger groups.
Events, workshops and tasting evenings
The annual programme of events, workshops and tasting evenings runs throughout the year. Highlights from the current programme include:
Woodfired weekends and live music evenings
The summer Friday and Saturday wood-fired evenings pair a small-plate menu with live music. Past editions have featured Andy Ellis and Terrie Rae; upcoming and current highlights include the Ibiza Chill Balearic-themed evenings with DJ-K in the walled garden and a special Sea Shanties night with Mariners Away warming up for the Falmouth International Shanty Festival.
- 15th August - Woodfired Weekend & Sea Shanties - £10 per person, includes a free arrival drink, from 6:30pm in the walled garden.
- 21st August - Ibiza Chill & Wood-fired Menu - £10 per person, includes a welcome glass of Heron Farm Traditional Method Sparkling Wine 2018, from 6pm.
- 28th August - Ibiza Chill & Wood-fired Menu - second Ibiza Chill evening, £10 per person, from 6pm.
Guest chef evenings
The new chapter has launched a series of guest-chef collaborations.
- 31st July - Mark Hix at Heron Farm - the legendary restaurateur and food writer brings a four-course tasting with suggested pairings from Castlewood Vineyard's Devon Minnow and Tonnix Red to Julian Temperley Burrow Hill Ice Cider. £95 per person including a welcome cocktail. Reserve the Mark Hix evening.
- 4th & 5th September - Annie Coplestone Restaurant Take-over - two nights only with the chef behind Fennel Tapas and The Monmouth Table, who returns from Barcelona with a late-summer Spanish-influenced sharing menu. Booking essential. Reserve Annie Coplestone evening.
Sip & Supper evenings
A relaxed monthly series on the third Friday of the month, each evening built around a different guest host, vineyard or theme, followed by a simple seasonal supper.
- 18th September - guest host to be announced
- 16th October - Anna of Bride Valley Wines, Dorset
- 20th November - Rob Corbett of Castlewood Wines, Devon
- 18th December - Nikki & Olivia of Heron Farm
Tickets are £40 per person, including tasting samples and the food menu. View Sip & Supper dates.
Creative workshops
Throughout the year Heron Farm hosts hands-on creative days.
- 11th July - Bloom & Brunch with Charlotte Heaviside. A relaxed morning of hand-tied bouquet making with a Heron Farm brunch. £50.00. Book Bloom & Brunch.
- 10th October - Dried Floral Workshop: Autumn Wreath Making with Bex, including all materials, refreshments and a seasonal lunch. £120.00 per person. Book the wreath workshop.
- 21st September - Willow Weaving Deer with Jo Sadler. A full-day willow sculpture workshop with one of the South West's most respected basket makers. £145 per person, including tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments. Book the willow deer day.
- 14th December - Willow Weaving Stags with Jo Sadler. A festive version of the same workshop, £145 per person. Book the willow stag day.
Forest School Holiday Clubs
Run by Forest School Meg, these full-day outdoor clubs are for ages 5 - 11 and run 9am - 4:30pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays during school holidays. £32 per child. Days include den building, bushcraft, safe tool use, fire lighting and outdoor cooking, nature crafts and a fire circle. Forthcoming dates include 12 & 13, 19 & 20, 26 & 27 August and 2 & 3 September 2026. View Forest School dates.
Private hire, weddings and meetings
The whole estate can be hired exclusively for parties, weddings, away-days and corporate gatherings. Three core options are offered.
- Whole estate hire - 17 acres of vineyard, walled gardens and orchards exclusively for your guests, with menus from informal wood-fired barbecues to a five-course tasting. Adding Heron House means accommodation for 10 - 12 guests and a private wood-fired hot tub.
- The Mezzanine - a private first-floor space above the bistro overlooking the gardens, suited to groups of 20 - 40 for afternoon tea, sharing boards or a breakfast buffet.
- Meeting rooms - smaller gatherings in the wine cellar meeting room or adjacent rooms at Heron House; larger groups can spill into the bistro and walled gardens. Private vineyard tours and tastings can be woven into the day.
The Private Hire team handles whole-estate bookings, weddings and corporate gatherings. A review from a recent 60th birthday celebration praised the team's flexibility, with guests aged from 8 months to 83 all enjoying the garden barbecue and the Heron Farm wines.
Heron House - Vineyard Stays
Sleeping up to 12, Heron House is a contemporary, Grand Designs-approved eco-home at the heart of the farm. It features a wood-fired hot tub, plenty of indoor and outdoor social space, and sweeping views over the vineyard and surrounding Devon countryside from the wrap-around balcony. It is ideal for large families, groups of friends, retreats and long weekends, and dogs are welcome.
Guests at Heron House can add bespoke farm-shop hampers, private farm and vineyard tours, wine tastings or a private chef for the evening. Full details and bookings are available through Heron House accommodation or Holiday Cottages.
Wellness Hub
The Wellness Studio at Heron Farm is being refurbished and is currently closed. A new programme - including Kundalini yoga, yoga for pregnancy, yoga for strength and mobility, TIBI DO yoga for mums and babies, nurturing maternity support and tai chi & qigong - is on the way. Practitioners interested in running classes from the venue can email hello@heron-farm.co.uk.
Conservation and community
Heron Farm works alongside the Devon Wildlife Trust to maintain a healthy population of beavers and otters along the River Otter and the adjoining Wolf river. Visitors can spot them on the conservation walks and during the regular beaver talks. The team also opens up the walled garden, orchards and vineyard for volunteer days on Mondays, covering market gardening, fruiting tree care and vineyard work, with hot drinks and cake provided.
A year at Heron Farm
If you visit more than once a year, you'll see the vineyard tell a different story every time. Winter is for hand-pruning 3,000 vines; February carries on the same work in crisp air; March is for tying down fruiting canes; April brings the first burst of budburst; May sees explosive canopy growth; June is flowering; July, tiny green bunches; August, patience as flavours develop; September, harvest; October, golden vineyard colours; November, maintenance; December, a slower pace and reflection. Every bottle of Heron Farm wine is shaped by months of work and the rhythm of those seasons.
Visitor essentials
- Address: Heron Farm, Weston, Honiton, Devon, EX14 3NZ
- Phone: 01404 46208
- General enquiries: hello@heron-farm.co.uk
- Privacy / data enquiries: info@heron-farm.co.uk
- Opening hours: Friday - Monday, 9am - 4pm (closed Tue - Thu, except for private hire)
- Vineyard tours: every Saturday April - September, 12pm, £20
- Beaver Conservation Tours: £20, 1.5 hours, selected Mondays
- Afternoon Tea: £25 per person (72 hours' notice required)
- Wine deliveries: £7.50 (free over £75); vouchers from £1.50 or free as e-vouchers
- EV charging: two InstaVolt 50kW DC rapid chargers on site
- Accessibility: step-free access to most areas, disabled toilet and parking close to the entrance
- Dogs: welcome on leads in the shop, restaurant and walled garden