SPOTLIGHT ON WEST WILTSHIRE

We reveal where to wed

PRIORY STEPS IN BRADFORD-ON-AVON

Award-winning Wolsey Lodge offers luxurious bed and breakfast accommodation, whether it’s for a staycation minimoon or as a wedding guest (quite a few Wolsey Lodges are also wedding venues.) Wolsey Lodge is a non-profit membership that lodge owners join and to attain the Wolsey badge, they must live up to certain expectations of excellence.

The many locations throughout the UK include countryside dwellings, coastal spots or those built near popular towns like the elegant Aylworth Manor that’s situated just outside Cheltenham in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Nestled in its own farmland in a picturesque Cotswold valley, it boasts unrivalled rural views and an all-weather tennis court. The Granary at Aylworth Manor is a luxurious conversion sleeping up to six people on a bed and breakfast basis. It’s home to two guest bedrooms, a large kitchen, diner and sitting room and a mezzanine area. Guests wanting to explore will be close to the glorious gardens at National Trust property Hidcote and 100 miles of footpaths on the national trail Cotswold Way.

Across the border in Wiltshire, Priory Steps in Bradford-on-Avon offers visitors the chance to combine market-town facilities with access by rail. Originally a terrace of six 17th-century weaver’s cottages, it was converted in 1985 into a wonderful bed and breakfast property showcasing panoramic views stretching across the town. There’s also the cosy Bullocks Horn Cottage located in Malmesbury dating back 200 years. The cute cottage garden is home to an arbour for al fresco dining and accommodation is in the form of two twin bedrooms and a single bedroom.

Ceremony licence? No for Priory Steps Contact: 01225 862 230 , https://wolseylodges.com/lodge/priory-steps

♥ We love... that Brook House located near Chippenham is the newest Wiltshire-based addition with a designer-led interior. There are six bedrooms, a dining room, sitting room and a sunny terrace.

KIN HOUSE, KINGTON LANGLEY

Kin House is a beautifully restored Grade II listed private Georgian manor house located in the Wiltshire countryside. It’s set within 10 acres of walled gardens and private woodland and has been sensitively restored to its former glory over the last year with interiors led by British design studio Barlow & Barlow who are known for their eclectic combinations of antique furniture, bold prints and bright colours.

The stately-home wedding venue comprises 12 stunning en suite bedrooms, a multiple bar, dining and lounge spaces, and a glamorous dressing room equipped with hairdryers, tongs, hair-washing sinks and swivel chairs placed at a stylish marble bar for the bridal party. There’s even a speakeasy-style barbers for male grooming treatments. Attached to the side of Kin House is Kilvert Hall, a stylish banquet hall with space for up to 200 guests to dine and dance. The stunning woodlands also offer the perfect setting for al fresco feasting and outdoor wedding ceremonies.

Kin House looks to provide the ultimate hotel experience that’s tailored exclusively to private events, including weddings, and a talented in-house team of chefs are on hand to create delicious menus and feasts tailored to all preferences and needs.

Ceremony licence? Yes Contact: https://kinhouse.co.uk ♥ We love... that during their stay, guests can enjoy yoga classes, croquet, movie nights and more.

FONTHILL ESTATE, FONTHILL BISHOP

Bake Barn is a restored shooting lodge perched in a private, remote spot in the Wiltshire Downs on the 9,000-acre Fonthill Estate. It’s one of three venues for hire on-site that also includes Quarry Wood, a stunning woodland spot where a wedding under a stretch tent can be held. Deer Park Barn is the third venue on the estate that’s best suited to intimate micro weddings.

The modest stone and tiled exterior of Bake Barn, along with the pitched central glass doors, gives it an old-fashioned village school feel and it’s sheltered by a stone perimeter wall creating a courtyard effect. Partly grass and gravel with a covered loggia area, it’s a self-contained blank canvas ideal for a rural and rustic-inspired real wedding.

The interior boasts exposed beams and rafters, repointed stone walls and a wooden floor. A large fireplace at one end provides a focal point and a photo backdrop when decorated for a wedding. Natural light streams through the middle of the building which features glass doors on both sides and upstairs above the main hall, the Beater’s Loft is a light and airy industrial-style space for those seeking something a little more contemporary. Ceremonies take place here for up to 80 loved ones and there’s a separate entrance and private staircase for the bride or groom to enter.

The Main Hall can set up to 120 guests for the ceremony and the covered Loggia situated outside in the pretty courtyard is open on one side allowing guests to gather and watch. Up to 30 people can be seated undercover on hay bales or benches with the remainder standing or sitting outside in the courtyard which offers another ceremony option since the laws have been relaxed. Drinks and canapés can also be enjoyed in the courtyard while the wedding breakfast is served inside the main hall. Those wishing to dine al fresco against the uninterrupted views can do this by hiring a marquee to erect on the lawn and these vistas make fantastic backdrops for photographs with the lake and Beckford Arch both being recognised beauty spots.

Ceremony licence? Yes Contact: 01747 820 246, www.fonthill.co.uk ♥ We love... that with no neighbours nearby, there are no curfew and noise restrictions. Interior images of Fonthill Estate courtesy of

THE MANOR HOUSE, CHIPPENHAM

The Manor House is a 14th-century luxury hotel and golf club located in the historic village of Castle Combe offering a spectacular setting on 365 acres for weddings, first-night stays and staycation honeymoons. There are 21 opulent, individually styled rooms and suites and 29 picturesque on-site cottages including a new private cottage located in Castle Combe. Baker’s Cottage has added a self-catering option to the hotel’s already impressive line-up of accommodation. It’s a two-bedroom, dogfriendly property with a garden terrace, kitchen and lounge. The double bedroom, twin bedroom and sofa bed available in the lounge sleep up to four adults, ideal for wedding guests.

The championship-standard, 18-hole golf course is one of the best in the South West. The hotel is also home to the Michelin-starred Bybrook restaurant which has retained its Michelin star for the fifth consecutive year. While this is an adult-only environment, there are informal areas that welcome children throughout the property. There’s also al fresco dining to be enjoyed on the outdoor terraces and a dedicated gin bar.

The village is also home to a sister venue, The Castle Inn, a 12th-century pub offering a relaxed dining experience for couples and families.

Ceremony licence? Yes Contact: 01249 782 982, www.exclusive.co.uk/the-manor-house