It is no secret that taking time away from the office is good for business. Scientific studies show that taking time out and unplugging from the office environment can significantly improve creative thinking. That’s why business leaders are increasingly stepping away from their city boardrooms in favour of business retreats in destinations that encourage clear thinking, stronger connections and better ideas. North Devon is fast becoming a prime location for leadership retreats. Here on the coast, the pace slows, creativity comes more easily, and work feels more purposeful. The Carlton is one of the best places for business retreats in North Devon.
Located on the UK’s ruggedly beautiful South West coast, The Carlton hotel offers an unexpected business experience. It’s a quiet place where business leaders can come to work without their everyday distractions, where teams can blend work with wellbeing, and where a business event becomes a memorable stay. For founders, executives, and creative thinkers, coming to North Devon for a business retreat provides an opportunity to step back, slow down, reconnect, and plan what comes next.
The New Way Businesses Meet
Business travel has been quietly evolving over the past few years. With more teams working remotely, away from the corporate office, when they do come together, they are no longer looking for packed agendas and back-to-back meetings. More companies are choosing to gather in ways that support deeper focus, better conversations, and a renewed sense of connection for remote teams. International teams, in particular, are favouring destinations that feel intentional and worth the trip.
This shift has put smaller, character-filled venues firmly on the map when leaders are searching for the best places for business retreats. Businesses now want environments that feel personal rather than corporate, where the location and venue become part of the experience. A business retreat is now more than a simple corporate team meeting. It is a moment to reset, realign, and re-energise with your colleagues as you plan for the future.
A Coastal Setting That Inspires Big Thinking
North Devon may seem like an unlikely location for a leadership retreat, but this under-appreciated part of the UK offers so much of what is needed for a successful business retreat. The combination of open sea, dramatic cliffs, sheltered harbours, and expansive skies creates a natural sense of calm that’s hard to find in cities that make up traditional business destinations. For international teams seeking the best places for business retreats, North Devon will get your team in the right frame of mind before the meeting even begins.
There’s something powerful about moving strategy sessions, planning days or corporate away days into a landscape that invites you to breathe more deeply. People slow down just enough to think more clearly. Ideas have the time and space to drop in. Conversations unfold more naturally. Whether it’s an early-morning walk along the South West Coast Path or simply opening the windows to the sound of the sea, the North Devon coast adds a restorative rhythm that supports meaningful work.
The Carlton as Your Boutique Base for High-Level Work
A short walk from the harbour, The Carlton offers a warm and welcoming base for corporate teams who want the comfort of a boutique hotel with the practicality of a professional meeting venue. The hotel is small enough for your group to feel at home whilst hosting focused work sessions, private dining, and relaxed evening conversations.
Our flexible meeting rooms, reliable high-speed Wi-Fi, and thoughtful hospitality make it easy to settle in and get to work. We love to take a hands-on approach, helping you to shape a stay that feels seamless. Whether you need help organising breakout spaces or arranging local experiences that complement the purpose of your business retreat, we’re always on hand to ensure your team has everything you need.
When you book a business retreat at The Carlton, you will appreciate the ease with which everything comes together. Teams can enjoy a workation in North Devon without the noise of a corporate city centre hotel, enjoy good food without leaving the building, and feel looked after in a way that supports both productivity and wellbeing.
Where Business and Leisure Naturally Blend
One of North Devon’s greatest strengths is how effortlessly work can sit alongside rest, exploration, and connection. For international visitors, the appeal isn’t just the meeting itself, it’s the experience that accompanies a trip to North Devon.
Teams often arrive early or stay on for a long weekend to make the most of their time in this beautiful part of the country. Partners are often invited to join as there is plenty to do in the area if you’re not involved in the business meetings. Even the shortest business retreat can become a meaningful escape, and that’s part of why the region is now recognised as one of the best places for business retreats, particularly for companies that want to make travel feel worthwhile.
Within minutes of The Carlton, guests can wander through the harbour, explore a plethora of independent shops, visit local artisans, or take a slow coastal walk before dinner. For those who want something livelier, there are adventure activities, evening cruises, and off-road experiences. And for those craving downtime, there’s wellness, good food, and the simple pleasure of an ice-cream down by the harbour.
Choosing a break in North Devon means choosing a destination where the business agenda doesn’t overshadow everything else. It enhances the trip.
Experiences That Elevate Your Business Retreat
What makes North Devon stand out for international business retreats is the variety of experiences to be found right on the doorstep. The landscape, the local makers, and the maritime heritage all offer corporate teams something different and memorable.
Coastal and Maritime Moments
From harbour cruises to shoreline walks, the coast offers a reset that naturally complements focused work. Teams can unwind on the water, explore the tidal life of the estuary, or simply enjoy the coastal views that frame the day.
Adventure and Team-Building
For something more energetic, there are off-road experiences, surf sessions, guided hikes, and outdoor challenges that help teams reconnect through shared activity rather than forced exercises.
Artisan and Cultural Encounters
North Devon is home to independent wine makers, artists, potters, woodworkers, chocolatiers, and small-batch producers who welcome visitors into their workshops. These encounters add a personal, cultural dimension to a retreat, especially for guests travelling from overseas.
Wellness and Slow Living
Yoga, coastal mindfulness sessions, spa treatments, or simply a quiet morning by the sea help balance the working rhythm and support deeper focus when the meetings begin again.
Food and Drink to Remember
Seafood, farm-to-table dining, award-winning restaurants, and local producers give teams and partners plenty to enjoy. Many groups choose to end their working day with a long, relaxed dinner.
These experiences add colour and meaning to a retreat, turning a business trip into something more rewarding for international teams looking for the best places for business retreats.
A Natural Fit for International Industries
While North Devon welcomes all kinds of business travellers, it holds particular appeal for sectors with a connection to the coast, craft, creativity, or the outdoors. This is where the region feels especially aligned with what international teams are looking for when seeking the best places for business retreats.
Maritime and Marine Sectors
With its working harbours, marine heritage, and access to coastal research environments, the area suits businesses involved in shipping, marine engineering, conservation, and ocean-focused innovation.
Wine and Food Producers
Independent vineyards, local distilleries, and artisan food makers create a natural draw for producers, importers, distributors, and hospitality brands who want a setting that reflects quality and craftsmanship.
Creative and Design-Led Companies
The landscape, slower pace, and abundance of local makers makes North Devon an ideal location for agencies, creative teams, designers, and founders seeking inspiration away from the noise of city studios.
Outdoor, Adventure, and Wellness Brands
From surf schools to adventure companies, the region naturally complements brands affiliated with nature, movement, and wellbeing.
Focusing on these aligned industries helps international teams feel an immediate connection to the place and makes their retreat feel purposeful from the moment they arrive.
Travel That Is Easier Than You Think
For international teams, the idea of travelling to a coastal region can sometimes feel complicated, but North Devon is surprisingly straightforward to reach. International visitors arriving from the US, Spain, or wider Europe can fly into Exeter, Bristol, or London, with onward travel by train or private transfer. We are, of course, always happy to assist with the final stage of the journey, making your transition from airport to coast smooth and stress-free.
Why The Carlton Makes Business Feel Effortless
For international teams seeking more meaningful ways to meet, North Devon offers something rare: a place where work, rest, and inspiration collide. And with The Carlton as your base, you gain the comfort of a boutique hotel, thoughtful hospitality, and the support needed to shape a retreat that actually moves your business forward. It’s no surprise that the region is emerging as one of the best places for business retreats, especially for leaders who value clarity, connection, and a change of pace.
Book Your Business Retreat in North Devon Today
If you’re considering North Devon for your next business gathering, the team at The Carlton can help you plan and organise your stay. Whether you’re planning a leadership retreat, a corporate away day, an international team off-site, or a smaller strategy meeting, we can recommend the best spaces, experiences, and itineraries to make your time here seamless. Get in touch to start creating a retreat that gives your team the space to think and the surroundings to enjoy every moment.
Call 01271 862446 or email eliot@ilfracombecarlton.co.uk to book your business retreat today.
Need more convincing? Find out why our guests rate us as one of the best hotels in North Devon.