Pauntley Court offers exclusive use of a privately owned, Grade II listed country house on the edge of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire. Yours entirely, from Friday midday through to Sunday afternoon, for you and up to 22 family and friends across ten beautifully appointed bedrooms. Grand in nature and intimate by design, it is perfectly suited to smaller weddings of up to 40 guests, as well as a limited number of larger celebrations each year.

Set within 20 acres of breathtaking grounds, with sweeping formal gardens, a lake with resident swans, rolling Gloucestershire countryside and only a Norman church and a Dovecote as neighbours — Pauntley Court is a hidden gem of rare character. As you crest the hill, the house comes quietly into view: its distinctive pinkish-red glow nestled amongst the trees, unhurried and entirely beautiful. It is also, as history would have it, the birthplace of the real Dick Whittington.

The Spaces

For your ceremony, the Norman church next door offers a wonderfully romantic setting, just a stone's throw from the house. Alternatively, choose from two licensed indoor spaces; the light-filled Ballroom for up to 40 guests, or the intimate Panelled Room for up to 20 or select from six licensed outdoor garden spaces. A celebrant-led ceremony down by the lake or set amongst the ancient yew hedges, with views across the Leadon Valley, is something truly unforgettable.

Drinks and canapés can be enjoyed overlooking the sunken garden, with its clipped box and yew hedges, medlar trees and ornamental pond — perhaps accompanied by a game of croquet or pétanque, and a leisurely stroll to the lake. For your wedding breakfast, dine beneath the magical hornbeam arches and feel transported to Tuscany or Provence, or gather under the glittering chandeliers of the elegant Ballroom. A Tentickle stretch tent on one of the formal lawns offers a beautiful covered option for drinks, dining or dancing should the weather call for it.

As the evening unfolds, dance and laugh the night away in the Ballroom, and enjoy cocktails at the Wild Duck Bar in the Panelled Room beside an open fire. As newlyweds, you can retire whenever you wish to your private wing of the house, Elinor Fettiplace, while your closest family and friends sleep soundly in individually designed bedrooms in the Main House and Dovecote.

The Weekend Experience

You both can arrive on the Thursday afternoon, relax and chill before the rest of your family and friends arrive on the Friday morning and settle in as though the house were entirely your own. Why not have tea in the gardens, enjoy a relaxed pre-wedding dinner on the terrace or in the Flower Room, and let the weekend begin gently and on your terms. This is not a wedding factory; it is a private country house, made exclusively yours for three days.

Pauntley Court specialises in intimate celebrations and bespoke weekend weddings. The packages span midweek elopements through to 16-person Micro weddings, Petite weddings of up to 24 guests, and Intimate weddings of 30–40. A limited number of larger marquee weddings are also offered each year.

The Team

As a family-owned venue with a carefully restricted number of weddings each year, Melissa and the Pauntley team bring a personal, hands-on approach to every celebration. No two weddings here are alike — nor would they wish them to be. Your dedicated wedding coordinator will support you through supplier selection and planning, and will be with you throughout your wedding day. Rachel, the housekeeper, is on hand across the weekend for everything from Friday supper and breakfast through to bed turn-downs and even babysitting.

All catering is provided by a handpicked selection of preferred caterers, and bar service by an exclusive partner — both chosen for the quality and care that Pauntley Court is passionate about.

Accommodation

Ten individually designed bedrooms with nine modern bathrooms accommodate up to 24 guests in comfort and style. Each room is dressed with sumptuous white Company linen, fluffy towels and slippers, luxurious 100 Acres toiletries, and fresh flowers from the gardens — a quietly considered welcome for every one of your guests.