From quaint cottages to rustic barns and grand stately homes, the Cotswolds is home to its fair share of romantic venues – and Ellenborough Park is no exception. A country retreat with a whole lot of history, the 15th century pile makes for a quintessential countryside wedding venue or the perfect hideaway for some pre-wedding R&R with your bridal squad.
The Location
On the outskirts of Cheltenham – just a short drive from the historic town centre – Ellenborough Park sits down a country line, atop 90 acres of rolling Gloucestershire countryside.
Keen to soak up the stunning vistas as soon as we arrived, it wasn’t too long into a quick stroll around the grounds that we spotted the famous Cheltenham Race Course in the distance – on a clear day you’d be able to spot the action on the track from the comfort of the Restaurant in the main house.
The Main House
Dating back to the 15th Century, Ellenborough Park has undergone a number of renovations and transformations in its time. With the Great Hall dating back to 1435, the Ellenborough park estate become home to the 1st Earl of Ellenborough in the 1833.
In a later life, the manor house became a private school for before taking shape as a hotel and settling into its current form as Ellenborough Park around seven years ago. Steeped in history, Ellenborough Park honours its rich history with rich interiors and a number of restorative renovations.
Dining at Ellenborough Park
The Main House is also home the restaurant serving up a delicious selection of classic British dishes, while the Great Hall serves as the perfect backdrop to a quintessentially English afternoon tea.
Although the sun was out in full force for our November stay, the nip in the air meant we stayed firmly put in the cosy confines of the restaurants and bar areas. However, for those visiting the warmer months Alfresco dining is available on the Tattinger Terrace, Cedar Pavillion tent or, for those on the lookout for a photo op, one of the quirky dining carriages on the lawns.
The Suite
There are a variety of rooms at Ellenborough Park, each uniquely – and beautifully – designed and decorated by Nina Campbell. We stayed in a garden room, a short stroll down the path from the main building.
The room came with its own private patio, serving as a gorgeous setting for an al fresco breakfast.
The Spa
However, it’s the heated outdoor pool which really sets Ellenborough Park’s spa offering above the rest. A bright autumn day meant we could relish in the great outdoors and give ourselves a real re-fresh with an outdoor swim– although it did require a bit of a quick dash to make it into the water before the chilly November air hit too hard.
The Spa also offers up a menu of energising and revitalising treatments, each using an array of indulgent Elemis products – chosen to match your skin type.
Weddings at Ellenborough Park
With stunning architecture, enviable vistas and bespoke luxury packages to choose from, those on the hunt for a Cotswolds wedding venue need look no further than Ellenborough Park. The hotel can hold up to 150 guests and is available for exclusive hire, and the sprawling grounds lend themselves to a marquee set up for even bigger celebrations.
For couples wanting to house their guests there are also 61 rooms and suites available to book out for the wedding party. With the venue secured, Ellenborough Park’s dedicated team of wedding coordinators will be on hand to guide you from the planning stages right through to the moment you walk down the aisle.
Ellenborough Park is currently offering a ‘To Have and To Hold Package’ from £5,300 for 40 guests. The best late availability deal for autumn or winter weddings, this includes Prosecco or mulled wine on arrival, a three-course wedding breakfast, a glass of wine per person, a glass of Prosecco for the toast, pork baps for the evening reception and more. Venue options are the lovely Old Chapel for the wedding ceremony and the rustic Old Chapel pavilion for drinks as well as De La Bere Court for the wedding breakfast.
The hotel provides a Sonos system for music with a dedicated banqueting manager and a honeymoon suite for your wedding night.
Price: Starts at £5,300 based on minimum 40 guests
Dates: 1st October 2022 – 28th February 2023
The next Ellenborough Park wedding open day is on Sunday 11th July.