Weddings at Gulliver´s Hall
Bisley, Stroud, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
Modern bohemians, lovestruck eccentrics, and pairs of playful classicists, meet Gulliver’s Hall. Down a mile-long avenue of chestnuts, on 320 private Cotswolds acres, this familial estate happens where wedded bliss meets joie de vivre. With a barn fit for twirling, casement seats big enough to chat in, and ancestral stained glass windows that cast a kaleidoscopic glow over the proceedings, here is a place where frivolity trumps tradition.
Introduction
Only a garden designer and the founder of a forest education enterprise could have infused an estate with this amount of plumage and botany. In the presence of up to 80 guests, couples can have a humanist ceremony in the stone wedding barn, or a blessing in wildflower gardens should the roe deer and red kites make room. Traditionalists can opt for a church ceremony in All Saints Bisley, mere minutes from the country house. At this luxury wedding venue in the Cotswolds, the celebrations are every bit as bespoke as your love story; have a pizzaiolo flown in from Naples, send guests on a woodland scavenger hunt, or take that first sweethearts’ paddle under the midnight moon. Never has a place been so suited to mad hatter banquets and surrealist soirees.
Inside
In an intriguing fusion of family portraits and exotic prints, this residence balances the ever-present beat of lineage with the same free-wheeling pluckiness that would’ve appealed to the philosophers and writers of the Bloomsbury Set. The rejection of bourgeois habits that pierced their works is woven through Gulliver’s Hall. On one hand, things are just as you’d expect of a highfalutin Cotswolds wedding manor: hidden doorways, guests reclining on inherited furniture, and a semi-centennial oak tree-turned-table toppling with bottles of vintage Champagne and truffle gougères. And yet, Adam and Eve four posters, Mongolian murals, and carved Indonesian armchairs bring mischievous clout to what is otherwise an utterly English wedding manor.
Outside
Acres upon acres of forests, pastures, grassy banks, and hay meadows await: at Gulliver’s Hall, it’s always flowering season. Filled with the scent of purple alliums, and peppered with peregrines and the odd otter or two, this is about as wild as the high life gets. Among its backdrops, there are meandering trails, old stone steps leading to wilder pockets, and any number of lucky trees to stroll under; think of it as a videographer’s playground. When the posed portraits are all wrapped up, there’s fun to be had outdoors. Think uninhibited silent discos in front of Giacometti-style bronze statues, barefoot croquet tournaments on the lawn, and ice cream parlours serving up elderflower sorbet while a mariachi band heralds in the sunset. All's to play for.
The Facts
- CapacityUp to 80 wedding guests
- SleepsUp to 21 guests
- Alternative group optionsUp to 21 or up to 40 guests
- Bedrooms and bathroomsThere are ten bedrooms at this luxury wedding venue, seven in the main house (sleeping 15) and three in the pool house (sleeping 6), most of which are en suite or have a dedicated bathroom. There are two WCs in the wedding barn.
View bedrooms - FeaturesOutdoor heated swimming pool (April-October), sunken spa bath, sauna, steam room, outdoor shower, outdoor kitchen with pizza oven, paella burner, games and cinema room, tennis court, croquet lawn
- PetsTwo well-behaved dogs are welcome on prior request
Each pet is charged at £60 per week or part thereof - Arrivals and departuresArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
- PracticalitiesThe estate is not licensed; couples can have a humanist ceremony on-site or an off-site church ceremony followed by a celebration at the venue. The wedding barn can accommodate 80 people. It is possible to have a stretch tent above the outer steading and yard behind the wedding barn, which can be privately sourced via our recommended suppliers (a brochure will be sent to you on enquiry). The venue including the well-equipped catering kitchen is booked on a dry-hire basis. Catering vans are also permitted. Live bands are permitted; music must quieten at 11pm and cease by 11:30pm, with carriages at midnight. The main house and swimming pool facilities must be locked during wedding celebrations. A three-night minimum stay is required.
- Homestay includesGuests staying in the house will receive a luxury welcome hamper of local produce (including sourdough, pastries, cheeses, and chutneys), luxury bed linen and towels, Bramley toiletries, Jaques croquet set, children´s toys, luxury magazines, freshly-cut flowers, and logs and kindling to get you started…House book - your property and destination guideDiscover more
- Private cateringSeeking a celebratory dinner or fully catered escape? Our recommended caterers will work with you to create personalised menus for your stay. Details are shared through our house book on confirming your booking.
- RetreatsFrom foraging weekenders to crash courses in cold-water therapy, our bespoke retreats bridge the gap between luxury and back-to-nature philosophies. Create a hand-crafted stay that puts connectivity at the fore.
- Eco-friendlyTwo type 2 electric car charging points, water to the house pumped from a spring using hydraulic ram
- Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questionsView floor plan
Prices & Availability
Bisley
A winding market town in the Cotswolds countryside, Bisley is one of a few under-the-radar settlements that remain in a sea of high society spots. Come here for thatched pubs, aimless strolls, and conversations with the villagers about the good old days.
Getting there
- On the Map The luxury elopement wedding venue is tucked under a hill overlooking Toadsmoor Valley just outside of Bisley in the Cotswolds AONB.
- By Car Gulliver's Hall is around fifteen minutes from Stroud, thirty minutes from Cirencester, one hour from Oxford, and two hours from London by car.
- By Train Stroud is fifteen minutes away by car, and half-an-hour by public transport and foot. There are regular trains from London Paddington with a journey time of one-and-a-half hours with GWR. Cheltenham Spa and Kemble are both within thirty minutes.
- By Air Gloucestershire Airport is twenty-five minutes away, Birmingham Airport and Bristol Airport are each around one hour away, and London Heathrow is two hours away by car.
From the owner
“The peace and tranquillity of Gulliver´s Hall is its most enviable asset. After its success as a private estate, we had a vision to create an enchanting wedding venue in the Cotswolds that everyone could enjoy - from Grandma to the children.”
It is the seclusion of the venue, which perches on the shoulder of the wooded Toadsmoor Valley, that makes it so unique. The area has an abundance of wildlife, forests, and wildflowers: all amounting to a surreal wedding backdrop.
An idyllic childhood home turned eccentric wedding venue, the estate offers something for everyone. Whether that's taking portraits on a sheltered bench in my mother´s favourite spot in the garden, or watching the bow-tied children play in front of one of my father´s sculptures in the long grass. The spa (with its heated spring water), sauna, and heated pool all combine to create a place for pre and post-wedding R&R.
Begin the wedding day on the sun deck with a cup of coffee in a comfortable chair, perhaps with the newspaper of the day from the village shop. Finish the day in the same spot with a coupe of fizz as the sun sets on the proceedings. From the pizza oven to the croquet lawn, the home is riddled with exciting finds and spots for entertaining.
We hope that you find as much comfort, joy, and laughter here; that you and your guests feel relaxed and thoroughly at home for the duration of the celebrations. Above all, we hope you weave your memories into the fabric of our home.
Martin and Kate
Owner recommendations
Live like a local, discovering the best hidden gem restaurants, walks and attractions during your holiday in Bisley with an insider’s perspective.
To Eat
The Bell, Sapperton
Old stone walls, beamed ceilings and cosy corner tables; The Bell is the epitome of Cotswolds country charm. After a hearty Sunday roast, taking a gentle stroll around the pretty village is practically mandatory.
To Do
Stroud Farmer´s Market
Renowned as one of the best in the UK, this multi-award-winning farmer´s market has a reputation for a reason: if you can name it, you´ll find it. Ponder over the local market fayre while tucking into some sizzling street food.
To Do
Wellness at Gulliver´s Hall
From a private pizza chef, to bespoke sports therapy and beauty treatments without having to leave the grounds, wellness in all its forms can be accomplished at this Cotswold home. Details provided after booking confirmation.
To Do
Westonbirt Arboretum
For the adrenaline junkies and Gruffalo hunters, the UK´s largest arboretum houses five national tree collections, treetop walkways and, of course, a café with delicious sweet treats.
Guest Testimonials
A really wonderful week of lunches and dinners leading up to the family wedding. The dining table worked so well, the barn was perfect for dancing and the outdoor spaces were really atmospheric. Nothing was too much trouble for the owners, to whom we say thank you for letting us share this very special place. We are exhausted but very happy!
Unique extras
From private chefs to luxury at-home spa therapists and adrenalin-fuelled retreats, once you’ve booked your stay we’ll introduce you to our owner-recommended suppliers to create a truly bespoke, memorable escape.
Press
Below are a selection of features in which Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.
complete an image bank request
How posh is your garden?
The Times
April 2024The idyllic English villages favoured by the A-list
The Telegraph
April 2024Seven of the best Easter days out in the UK
The Times
March 2024The best British breaks for 2024
The Telegraph
March 2024Quiet oasis
Elle Decoration (Germany)
March 2024How to host a Traitors-style weekend
The Independent
February 2024The best renovated historic homes
The Times
February 2024Romantic holidays for honeymoons and babymoons
The Independent
February 2024
Exclusive-use Wedding Venues > UK > Gloucestershire > Stroud > Weddings at Gulliver´s Hall
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Disclaimer: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set as a guideline so should not be relied upon as a statement of fact. The photographs show aspects of the property at the time they were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed. If there are points of particular importance that need clarifying before you book, please contact us.
