Hotels are re-opening and all those wedding plans that were put on hold can begin to take shape once again
Hotels are re-opening and all those wedding plans that were put on hold can begin to take shape once again. Whether you’re planning a speedy ‘I do’ for just a few this year, or are planning ahead for the celebration of a lifetime, here the Good Hotel Guide shares some of the best hotels for weddings in the Cotswolds, that will always guarantee it’s a magical occasion...
• The Lygon Arms, Broadway
A luxury coaching inn in the Cotswolds, The Lygon Arms still features historic elements that date back to the 1300s. A warm and welcoming environment filled with history, you can stay in the suite that Oliver Cromwell stayed in the night before the Battle of Worcester in 1651 and see the carvings of John Trevis’ name on the arch of the front door, etched into the hotel’s history in 1620.
Between the charm, the picturesque location and the five star service, it is little wonder that weddings here are extremely popular. The romance of all those medieval features, roaring fires in winter, wood panelled walls and award-winning food and drink to tuck into, makes for exquisite occasions, whether it’s for two or 100 people to enjoy.
• Lords of the Manor, Upper Slaughter
Lords of the Manor is a 17th-century hotel in the unspoiled Cotswold village of Upper Slaughter, between Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold. Set in eight acres of lawns and grandiose gardens, the honey-coloured stone manor house dates back to 1649 and has a magical way of evoking a dreamy sense of wonder and elegance.
Traditional and cosy, it’s a storybook location for a wedding, catering for anything from two to 60 guests in the hotel restaurant, up to 90 extending across to the conservatory or up to 150 guests in a marquee in the grounds.
• Widbrook Grange, Bradford-on-Avon
An 18th-century 19-bedroom Georgian country house hotel near Bath, Widbrook Grange is a former farmhouse turned chic hotel. Set in 11 acres of grounds, it is a relaxed environment, where proprietors have used the property’s heritage to inform a unique sense of style. You might find an authentic vintage tractor, hay cart and milk churns in the gardens, while rooms combine luxury soft furnishings with exposed stone walls and comfy Chesterfield armchairs.
The property is ideal for elegant country weddings - accommodating up to 60 people for ceremonies in the barn and 80 people for receptions, the day is complete with award-winning dining and a bar serving a selection of more than 150 gins!
• The Feathered Nest, Chipping Norton
In a tiny Cotswold village, The Feathered Nest is a feast for the senses - beautiful surroundings, magnificent countryside, superb food and luxuriously comfortable accommodation. With its large terrace and gardens, The Feathered Nest Inn also makes for a charming and intimate wedding venue.
There is space for up to 65 guests to attend a ceremony, while the grounds would accommodate a marquee for up to 120 guests at your reception. Smaller receptions can also take place inside the hotel with guests enjoying the chance to roam from the bar to the snug, and the wedding party enjoying the chance to stay after the celebrations.
• The Swan, Bibury
In an enchanting location on the banks of the River Coln, The Swan is a former Cotswold coaching inn that offers total peace and tranquility. Swathed in vines, the chocolate box property combines historic and contemporary style inside, sympathetically blending the two for the best of modern hospitality. Rooms are achingly stylish with carefully chosen soft furnishings and beautifully patterned fabrics.
It is little wonder The Swan is so popular for weddings, whether you’re planning something intimate or a big family occasion. Take photos in the gardens with their gentle trickling stream and pretty summer house (also licensed for ceremonies), enjoy receptions for up to 110 people and choose from collection of rooms for the ceremony, wedding breakfast and a good party. The stay in the 22 bedrooms afterwards so there’s no need to get taxis home!
• Calcot and Spa, Tetbury
A celebrated luxury hotel and spa, Calcot and Spa is set in 220 glorious acres of grounds and offers guests a variety of accommodation, from Cosy Rooms to Comfy Rooms, Generous Rooms to Family Pads or The Tetbury, the hotel’s two-bedroom home from home. Famed for doing everything beautifully, from the food to the spa treatments, the gardens to celebrations, their beautifully converted 14th-century barn is the perfect location for a wedding.
It has a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces that can accommodate up to 100 guests for your civil ceremony and up to 150 guests for your reception, while the team have a talent for making every wedding celebration unique whether you’re in the market for balloon rides, an outdoor gin bar, circus tents or jazz bands.
• Barnsley House, Cirencester
A fairytale escape surrounded by romantic gardens and grounds, Barnsley House offers timeless and intimate style. Bringing together historic charm and modern luxury, the hotel is luxuriously furnished, and also has a contemporary hideaway spa in the grounds. From a private cinema to its own pub, the hotel has everything you could possibly ask for at a country retreat, and when it comes to weddings it would be hard to find a more tranquil and picture-perfect setting.
It can host up to 100 guests for a ceremony, up to 70 for a wedding breakfast in the restaurant or up to 120 in a marquee in the grounds, there are also 18 individually designed bedrooms, plus six more at The Village Pub across the road. So there’s also plenty of space for you and your guests to stay afterwards and turn it into a full weekend of celebrations.
• The Bell at Hampton Poyle, Kidlington
An intimate, nine-bedroom hotel, The Bell at Hampton Poyle is a boutique hotel, pub and restaurant formed of a historic inn that still retains original features such as the flagstone floors and oak beams.
Rooms are fresh and inviting, and there’s a real sense of country charm throughout the property. Wedding receptions here are intimate and relaxed with the restaurant seating 80 people comfortably and enough space to accommodate the wedding party.
• Old Parsonage Hotel, Oxford
A luxury, five star hotel, the Old Parsonage is a 17th-century building that combines original charm and character with the luxury, amenities and technology of a five star hotel. Chic, modern interiors juxtapose with the ancient architecture, while beautiful touches such as a carefully curated and vintage bicycles that are available to borrow for exploring the city, point to the location’s illustrious history.
These dramatic surroundings are a wonderful place for a wedding. The Pike Room is a favourite, with its original stone fireplace, lattice windows and walls adorned with oil paintings following canapés outside on the secluded walled terrace.
• The Painswick, Painswick
A picture-perfect Palladian property, The Painswick is a magnificent house boasting roaring fires, sink-into-me sofas and 16 bedrooms. It’s the ideal combination of warm and welcoming as well as elegant and timeless - think welly boots, Smorgasbord-style menu but delectable afternoon teas as well.
Little wonder that when it comes to weddings, they really know what they’re doing. Lavish style oozes from every wood panelled wall with a variety of spaces available for celebrations of all sizes.
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