Charlotte Boston is the Managing Director of Cornwell Manor, an exclusive venue in The Cotswolds that’s perfect for weddings, events, and house stays. You might have seen the property showcased in stunning wedding scenes on Instagram or heard about it through word of mouth. The estate is an ideal choice for anyone looking for a ‘quintessentially English’ location, especially with the manor’s central fountain, which is the very one featured in the movie ‘The Holiday.’ Here we discuss the topic of celebrity weddings and explore some of the charming attractions in the surrounding area!
My most memorable occasion at Cornwell Manor is of our very first wedding, back in July 2015, which was a 4-day wedding with all 100 guests flying in from Holland and staying on site in our own temporary glamping village; it was the ‘wedding of dreams’ and a great starting point for us. We followed that up with Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall’s son’s wedding the next year!”
Charlotte Boston, MD, Cornwell Manor
C&B: “Charlotte, huge congratulations on your beautiful country house being voted one of the CITY & BEACH LIFESTYLE TOP 10 SPECIAL EVENT VENUES of 2024! Hosting James Jagger’s wedding back in 2015 was a fantastic way to launch your fabulous venue. What’s the background of Cornwell Manor, and how did you come to be in charge?”
CB: “I’ve always worked in hospitality and I had my own catering business after I graduated from university; I then went on to work for the Soho House group at Babington House when it first began over twenty five years ago! This is now my tenth year at Cornwell Manor and I started the wedding business here in 2015 – it’s grown steadily over the years…”
Cornwell Manor is a peaceful haven in the Cotswolds, yet only 90 minutes from London by car or train…”
Charlotte Boston, MD, Cornwell Manor
C&B: “Why do your clients choose Cornwell Manor? What is it that sets your venue apart?”
CB: “Our USP is that we’re a beautiful private home, not in any way like a hotel. We offer a minimum 3-day exclusive hire weekend for weddings or house stays, sleeping up to 24 people. In addition to weddings, we host birthday parties, engagements and anniversaries, family reunions and retreats…”
The setting of Cornwell Manor is second to none – it’s been dubbed ‘the prettiest house in England’, and I challenge you to find another! The bucolic lake views are nothing short of spectacular…”
Charlotte Boston, MD, Cornwell Manor
C&B: “The property itself is just gorgeous, like something out of a movie; when was it built and by whom?”
CB: “Parts of the Manor House are Jacobean, like the wing, for example. The beautiful frontage is a later Georgian addition, circa 1750’s, and the ballroom was added – by Clough Williams-Ellis of Portmeirion fame – in 1939 by an American heiress, Priscilla Gillson, who owned the property from 1937-44, the years that covered the Second World War, when the house was used as a hospital for GI’s…“
We have a huge heated outdoor pool – for use in the summer months, May–September, a fabulous croquet lawn, a hard tennis court, an Italianate fountain which is licensed for wedding ceremonies, a pretty terrace with views over a trio of lakes, an orchard with a kitchen garden, and almost 2000 acres of rolling farmland and woods with a private shoot…”
Charlotte Boston, MD, Cornwell Manor
C&B: “That equals an incredible country estate – congratulations on managing all the different aspects so well! When it comes to indoors, the interior decor is very atmospheric and I’d say ‘quintessentially English’; who was the designer?”
CB: “Yes, most of the décor is classic English country house style; I would say it has a ‘faded grandeur’ and elegance about it. We use Rachel Hamel Cook at Pygmalion Interiors for any new work and she keeps the decor within the traditional Georgian style…”
The most photographed spot on the estate is the area from the fountain looking to the house; the same back drop was used in the film ‘The Holiday’…”
Charlotte Boston, MD, Cornwell Manor
C&B: “Another important aspect of event design is the catering; which company do you generally suggest for that? Is there a local catering company or can you provide everything in-house ?”
CB: “We have six preferred caterers available for our clients to use for weddings and events, offering seasonal, fresh local produce. Within our house, we have a cook offering good home cooking using locally sourced ingredients and, where possible, from the kitchen gardens…”
C&B: “”It’s always important to have a convenient overspill property – or properties – nearby when hosting large events in the depths of the countryside. What do you suggest in that case?”
CB: “We have two other properties on the estate, sometimes they’re available for rent – one sleeping four guests, one sleeping eight – and we’re in a great location for boutique hotels and the very best Cotswold country pubs with rooms…”
C&B: “When overseas visitors think of a location in England, the Cotswolds often spring to mind because the area is incredibly picturesque and frequently featured in films. Besides Cornwell Manor, what are some other popular attractions in the immediate area?”
CB: “There are plenty! We have Daylesford Organic right on our doorstep, with its spa, home store, farm shop, restaurants, and self-catering cottages. Plus, of course, there’s Soho Farmhouse, which is about 20 minutes away. More recently, Estelle Manor opened; it features an exclusive spa and members’ club, also around 20 minutes away…”
C&B: “Finally, Charlotte, although you’ve already hosted so many dream events at Cornwell, what would you consider to be the ultimate project from your personal point of view?”
CB: “We love nothing more than a destination wedding – three days of entertaining in this unique, stunning property and gardens. It offers plenty of different locations within the estate, meaning no two weddings are the same. We aim to attract couples from all over the world who are looking for a little slice of quintessential England! We prefer smaller, more intimate weddings, generally between 50 and 150 guests. We provide a backdrop of immense natural beauty and seek couples who appreciate that and wish to enhance its natural aesthetic without altering it too much…”
CONTACT: http://www.cornwellmanor.com
