Weddings at Anthology Farm
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
A traditional stone barn with a contemporary wing clad in siberian larch, Anthology Farm is a hinterland cattle byre turned luxury elopement wedding destination in the Cotswold countryside. Rooted on 500 acres of whimsical farmland and not far from Cheltenham — the Regency town where artists and equestrians flock in their droves — the wedding barn is a place for the wild and free to be wed against a backdrop of billowing hills and wispy skies.
Introduction
At the head of a Cotswolds valley, Anthology Farm is an 18th century barn designed with love-filled celebrations and grand gatherings in mind. While the ceremony is not licenced, you can opt for a celebrant-led ceremony in the garden or barn in the presence of up to 60 guests, while traditionalists can have a church ceremony in one of the nearby parishes, returning in a tin-trailing getaway car for an enchanting outdoor after party. From marquee weddings on the lawn for up to 100 (from April 1 to September 30), to barn gatherings for up to 60, the estate offers a blank canvas for creative couples to devise the most extravagant of celebrations or share the simplest of days.
Inside
Anthology Farm can accommodate up to 18 guests between The Cotswold Barn and The Meal Barn. With its scallop-beaded chandeliers and preserved arrowslit windows, this is a place that flawlessly juxtaposes old and new. Consider hiring the farmhouse for a full week to kick-start your honeymoon in-house, so that you can gather in the cinema room with your closest kin, your beau, and your day before butterflies to watch a wedding-eve screening of Father of the Bride. Then, in the days that follow, come together around the long table for lingering suppers before dipping in the heated pool with views over the valley and sipping custom G&Ts by the fire pit.
Outside
In the ancient rural parish of Whittington on the edge of the Cotswolds, and built at the head of an expansive valley, Anthology Farm is a tenderly renovated trinket of Gloucestershire history. Built 300 years ago using local limestone, this is a home with Jurassic bones, yet contemporary spirit abounds. Given a new lease of life as a family home before throwing open its barn doors to give free-spirited lovers a romantic place to tie the knot against a photographers’ dream backdrop of fairy trails, woods, and streams. Take to the private tennis court for a couples’ game with your in-laws, then pull on wellington boots for the first rural hand-in-hand stroll as a married couple.
The Facts
- CapacityUp to 100 guests (60 in the barn,100 in a marquee)
- SleepsUp to 18
- Alternative group optionsUp to 30 or up to 60 guests
- Bedrooms and bathroomsWith roll-top tubs and exposed brickwork galore, there are plenty of options for the bridal suite. The Cotswold Barn has five bedrooms; two on the first floor (with king-size beds and en suite shower rooms), two on the second floor (with king-size beds, freestanding baths in-room, and an en suite WC and sink), and one on the top floor (with a king-size bed, as well as a separate WC on the first floor). The Meal Barn has four bedrooms; a ground floor king-size room and a ground floor twin bedroom with shared family bathroom access, and on the first floor there are two bedrooms (with king-size beds and en suite bathrooms with standalone baths and showers), and one of these bedrooms has two single beds tucked into the eaves.
View bedrooms - FeaturesWedding barn, heated indoor swimming pool, tennis court and electric car charging point
- PetsPets are considered on prior agreement
Each pet is charged at £60 per week or part thereof - Arrivals and departuresArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
- PracticalitiesWhilst the house does not hold a licence, there are some beautiful churches in the area - the local church is Saint Bartholomew´s Church, Whittington, alternatively, couples can have a humanist ceremony onsite in the garden or in the barn. The Barn at Anthology Farm can accommodate up to 60 day guests and a total of 80 evening guests, with up to 100 guests accommodated in a marquee from 1 April to 30 September, with tables and chairs provided. The venue is booked on a dry-hire basis with a full list of recommended suppliers available including details of a wedding planner should you wish to enlist expert assistance for your day. Catering options are flexible; you are welcome to bring in caterers for a formal wedding breakfast or hire food trucks - there is plenty of space for this onsite. Music must be turned down at 11pm and off by 11:30pm. The wedding barn has two WCs and a catering kitchen with separate access. Helicopters are welcome to land on the grounds. There is space for 10 cars, with additional parking on request.
- Homestay includesGuests staying in the house will receive a luxury welcome hamper of local produce, Sonos sound system in the main dining room, a projector screen, Smart TVs with Netflix, Amazon and Sky TV including Sky Sports, PlayStations and Bluetooth radios, iPad, gas barbecue, linen, towels, 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.
- Eco-friendlyElectric car charging point, spring-fed filtered water, biomass heating and hot water, solar-supplemented energy
- Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questions
Prices & Availability
Please note, availability for this property is to be confirmed by Unique Homestays on receipt of your enquiry
Whittington, near Cheltenham
Whittington sits on the outskirts of the Regency town of Cheltenham, the Cotswolds´ hub of arts and culture, and just two hours from London. Offering a sweeping backdrop of far-reaching valleys and magical woodlands, this is what wedding album dreams are made of.
Getting there
- On the Map This luxury elopement wedding venue is located in Whittington near Cheltenham in the Cotswolds, ideally located for visiting Bibury and Burford.
- By Car Anthology Farm is around fifteen minutes from Cheltenham, under one hour from Oxford and Bristol, and two hours from London by car.
- By Train Cheltenham Spa is fifteen minutes away by car, or one hour by public transport. There are regular trains from London Paddington with a journey time of two hours with GWR. Kemble, Gloucester, and Moreton in Marsh are all within thirty minutes.
- By Air Gloucestershire Airport is twenty-five minutes away, while Birmingham Airport, Bristol Airport, and London Heathrow Airport are each less than one-and-a-half hours away by car. If you wish to arrive by helicopter, please enquire for further details.
From the owner
“The Barns were originally built in 1740 and built of traditional Cotswold stone from the mines opposite the barns. The dressed stone and straight beams of the Cotswold barn indicate it was built to the highest standards of the time.”
What a dramatic first impression Anthology Farm makes, to us and to our guests. With the majestic backdrop of Doddle´s Hill and a huge arched window set into the end wall, we think it´s a truly stunning setting for a memorable wedding.
Its original use would have been agricultural, built to store the grain harvested on the farm from the surrounding fields, facing East to West with slit openings to let the prevailing wind in to dry and preserve the grains, which would of been used to feed the livestock, to make bread or to be sold at the local markets.
We purchased the farm in 2016 and relocated from Staffordshire, bringing with us over 30 years of hospitality experience. With the help of some funding from the European Agricultural fund for rural development, we lovingly converted the barns into what they are now; a fabulous space for luxury group gatherings in seclusion and comfort.
We worked with interior designers to help us create a modern and stylish feel to the interiors, yet with the feeling of cosiness and comfort you would want from a luxury stay in the Cotswold countryside. A great starting point to explore the beautiful Cotswold countryside yet a stone's throw from Cheltenham and surrounding picturesque villages, with plenty to do for young and old alike.
The Barnes Family
Guest Testimonials
Read reviews on TrustPilot and Google
We just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you for all your help arranging our wedding at Anthology Farm, we had the best week. Everything was perfect and just as we had hoped.
We had an amazing time getting married at Anthology Farm, the venue and the owner were absolutely brilliant! Thank you so much again, we had such a magical wedding day!
The attention to detail at Anthology Farm is exceptional, I´m still in love with the dining area. I want to find another excuse to come back again, all our guests raved about how wonderful it is and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their stay. I´m so pleased we picked this venue to host our intimate wedding, we´ll forever cherish our stay here.
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.
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Snow white
Country Homes & Interiors
December 2024The UK´s cosiest boltholes for Christmas
The Times
December 2024Natural beauty
25 Beautiful Homes
December 202425 of the best autumn getaways
The Times
November 2024Good manors
Condé Nast Traveller
November 2024Ways to improve your life—from our experts
The Times
October 2024The UK´s most relaxing riverside stays
The Times
October 2024At one with nature
25 Beautiful Homes
September 2024
Exclusive-use Wedding Venues > UK > Gloucestershire > Cheltenham > Weddings at Anthology Farm
Related Collections
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.
