Reviews
Quite simply one of England's most romantically beautiful and enchanting houses
The Country & Town House Little Black Book of Wedding Venues
The perfect hidden gem
The English Wedding Blog
Hamswell House made all our wedding dreams (and more!) come true.
Hamswell House made all our wedding dreams (and more!) come true. We got married in July 2023 at Hamswell House. I am from Hawai'i and my husband is from Chepstow, so it was important to us to have a venue near his hometown. We also had guests traveling from Hawai'i and Australia, and we were keen to give them a feel for the beautiful English countryside, while also staying in the vicinity of a city where our guests could overnight. Hamswell House is perfectly located, roughly 15mins from the center of Bath, with Taxis serving the venue.
We both knew from the moment we drove down the beautiful lane into the driveway of Hamswell House that we had to have this venue, and it was easily one of the best decisions we have ever made! Rupert limits the number of weddings at the venue, so couples are given a lot of flexibility to plan their wedding and make it unique to them. It really felt like we had a blank canvas to begin with, and we appreciated this SO MUCH, having visited numerous other venues (both in Hawai'i and in the UK) that felt more like wedding factories with no space for couples to personalize. The limited number of events also allows the lawns and gardens to really flourish, which completely enhanced their charm and character.
We had our ceremony in front of the historic and gorgeous lime tree with the stunning house as the backdrop when Kiran and I pulled up in our car. Our guests enjoyed strolling around the grounds, checking out the herb gardens, walking along the fountain, and posing for photos under the breathtaking wisteria pergola walkways. We really wanted to give our guests a variety of settings to enjoy. Of course, Kiran and I (and our photographer 😉) loved all the different and stunning backgrounds for our photos as well. We had roughly 110 guests, and we received endless compliments from them throughout the evening on the venue!
Lastly, and most importantly, Rupert was an absolute dream to work with. He was quick to respond to inquiries, and his hospitality and kindness is truly out of this world. Rupert came to the rescue of one of our elderly guests even though he had no obligation to, and he treated them with so much respect and compassion. He also put us in touch with our fantastic wedding planner, Olivia Riddiford.
We are so grateful that we were able to book Hamswell House - If you are looking to get married in South West England, please trust us when we say you do not need to look any further than this perfect venue.
Eleanore Stiller
An absolutely perfect venue
Hamswell House was an absolutely perfect venue for us to get married, and I couldn't recommend it enough to anyone considering it! We knew as soon as we drove down the drive that it was special, but then we completely fell in love with it when Rupert pointed out the beautiful 400-year-old lime tree (under which we ended up having the ceremony), the gardens that hosts the oldest wisteria in England (!) and we saw the unreal views over the countryside. The house itself is also absolutely stunning, creating a beautiful backdrop for the day.
As it is a home and not solely a wedding venue, there are a limited number of weddings hosted there a year which makes it feel all the more special, and means you have the days before to set up and you aren't rushed out of there afterwards. We even had the option to host a lunch there the day after the wedding to debrief with our guests and extend the celebrations, which was such a highlight.
Rupert was incredibly helpful throughout the whole process, answering all of our questions and sharing his experience to help us with logistics, it made the whole process of planning the wedding SO much smoother, particularly as we were doing so from abroad!
We couldn't have hoped for a happier day and we are so thankful we trusted our instincts and booked this amazing venue. If you are thinking about it definitely do it you won't regret it!
Sarah Calascione
Incredible Day - So much laughter and fun
We had such an incredible day and it was full of so much laughter and fun. Hamswell House is a very special place indeed, we couldn't have asked for a better venue
Miki Caves
There is no better wedding venue than Hamswell
There is no better wedding venue than Hamswell - the gardens are absolutely stunning, getting married under the lime tree was the most special setting, Rupert is completely reliable and happy to help with absolutely everything, but unlike so many corporate wedding venues allows you to run your day as you would wish. The marquee went up on Thursday and we were able to calmly set everything up from Friday and had the place until Monday should we have needed it - honestly it was so beautiful and so easy. I couldnt recommend Hamswell and Rupert more highly.
Emma Thomas
Such a special, unique and intimate place to get married - the most magical and perfect day ever!
We got married at Hamswell in August and it was the most magical and perfect day ever! Both Rupert and Henry from Bath Marquees were so helpful and always responsive with our questions, and our day ran so smoothly. All of our guests said it was the most beautiful wedding location - the views are truly stunning and it's such a special, unique and intimate place to get married. I would highly recommend getting married here!!
Talia Lapidus
To picture our wedding day without Hamswell House is to not picture it at all
To picture our wedding day without Hamswell House is to not picture it at all. Hamswell was the first and last venue we viewed. It is large, versatile, and picture-perfect. Rupert is a helpful, honest, and very knowledgeable ally as you plan and hurtle towards your wedding day. We hope many more will have the pleasure of holding their wedding at Hamswell.
Jack Sampson
We couldn't have asked for a more enchanting and magical setting
We were married at Hamswell in early June and we couldn't have asked for a more enchanting and magical setting for our day.
We had the official ceremony under the lime tree which worked really well - many cited this as their favourite part of the day, as it felt unique and non-traditional. The gardens and views are absolutely beautiful and the perfect backdrop to every photo.
The whole venue has an excellent flow to keep guests moving to different areas, finishing in the marquee. We would also highly recommend Epic Caterers.
Rupert could not have been more helpful and responsive throughout - it is well worth leaning on his expertise during planning as he knows what works.
We would highly recommend Hamswell House for what one of our guests called "a destination wedding in England".
Evelyn Cribbin
The most beautiful wedding venue imaginable!
The most beautiful wedding venue imaginable! We had an incredible day and Rupert was so helpful throughout - always available to answer questions, etc. Couldn't recommend the place more highly!
Jack Franklin
We couldn't have wished for a more romantic and intimate setting
We got married at Hamswell House in August and enjoyed a dreamy weekend on its stunning grounds. Overlooking the Somerset hills on a sunny summer day, the view was picture-perfect and we couldn't have wished for a more romantic and intimate setting. Rupert and team have been helpful throughout the wedding preparation, recommending local suppliers and supporting us in realising our desired set-up for an alfresco lunch. Highly recommended!
Querine Bulthuis
Incredible and special
We absolutely loved Hamswell house as our venue. It was so gorgeous, the place is so varied with different areas for different elements of the day, and also so flexible so we could customise everything.
Henry and Cordelia Brown
Our guests absolutely loved it.
A stunning venue! We had our wedding over two days at this gorgeous site and our guests absolutely loved it. It's evident how much time and care Rupert invests into the venue and it shows. You won't be disappointed by this venue!
Chalini Linkage
Absolutely perfect.
We had our wedding at Hamswell House this summer and it was absolutely perfect. Rupert was very easily contactable throughout and provided us with an extensive list of recommended suppliers who we used and were brilliant. The house and view were absolutely beautiful and the marquee was great and allowed us to personalise our day. I highly recommend Hamswell House as a wedding venue!
Sophie Foreman
We had guests come from 7 different countries and all commented on how stunning the grounds, house and views were.
We had our wedding at Hamswell House in August. We had guests come from 7 different countries and all commented on how stunning the grounds, house and views were.
Rupert was exceptionally helpful, giving us suggestions and tips as well as connections to local suppliers.
Would definitely recommend as a Wedding venue!
Benjamin and Lorna Zucker
Absolutely perfect
My husband and I recently got married at Hamswell and all I can say is that it was absolutely perfect. The house and its grounds provide the most beautiful backdrop to be able to create your dream wedding and have ultimate creativity and flexibility. We had so many compliments on the venue and it felt very special and intimate.
Lucy and Ross Forster
It was an absolutely magical day in a magical setting - our guests said it was the best wedding venue they had been to.
My husband and I married at Hamswell House in July. It was an absolutely magical day in a magical setting. We couldn't have wished for a more perfect day. Rupert and the whole Hamswell team are great and helped us with making sure the day went smoothly. A truly unique and special place and a day we will never forget. Our guests loved it and said it was the best wedding venue they had been to!
Sarah and Matt Evans
A truly wonderful Wedding Venue!
Hamswell House was the perfect venue for our wedding in August. Rupert was incredibly helpful and accommodating and worked with us to rearrange our day when COVID forced us to postpone. The venue itself is beautiful and the views stunning. All suppliers connected to the venue and recommended by Rupert were fantastic. A truly wonderful wedding venue!
Nick Saunders
Cannot recommend Hamswell House as a venue enough
We got married in August 2021, and we cannot recommend Hamswell House as a venue enough. The stunning grounds are so immaculate and make for perfect photos. We loved how much freedom we had to decorate and choose the vendors we wanted, but also, we were incredibly grateful for the help from Rupert, who knows fantastic suppliers too. Hamswell will always have a special place in our hearts.
Georgie Beer
The Venue of Dreams - We really couldn't have asked for more!
We got married at Hamswell House in July and can honestly say it is the venue of dreams, we really couldn't have asked for more! We had the most incredible day in beautiful sunshine and the views across the valley truly takes your breath away! The house and grounds have beautiful details that provide an amazing backdrop to all your photos, and getting to decorate the marquee and grounds means you can add all those little details that make the day so special. Rupert (the host) is incredibly helpful from start to finish, guiding and recommending throughout, and he was particularly kind and supportive to us through all the changes and challenges covid presented, we can't thank him enough!
Will Zuurbier
The Perfect Venue
So grateful for Hamswell House! It was the perfect venue for our wedding. We are left with endless positives from choosing this venue - Rupert (the host) was extremely responsive, informative, patient, generous and devoted to making everything perfect for us. The venue is stunning and very well maintained, there is no corkage fee, it has everything to host the full day in one location, there are a number of amazing vendors that Rupert has information about which contribute to making it the most perfect day/venue! The layout lends itself well to having different spaces for different sections of the day. On a personal level, Rupert is a very charismatic and generous host! He made an effort to offer storage space prior to the event, early access to the space, parking attendants, communication for bands and caterers. Thank you so much!
Alex and Kirby Crook
"The day could not have been more perfect"
We had our wedding at Hamswell House this summer and the day could not have been more perfect. The venue is stunning and felt truly special. I loved it and knew it was right for us the moment we viewed it! There are plenty of lovely areas for photographs and for guests to explore. We had our ceremony in the orangery and it felt so intimate and personal. It's a really gorgeous building and we had guests watching from the lawn outside. Rupert was so attentive and friendly every time we came to visit and always on hand if we needed anything. Absolutely loved the dogs too! All in all I couldn't recommend Hamswell House more for an elegant, classic, country wedding.
Emma and Jonathan Mizen
"We had THE best day ever!
We had THE best day ever! Couldn't have hoped for a more stunning, perfect venue. All of our guests fell in love with it too.
Christabel and George Adair
"The absolute best day of our lives, in the most perfectly beautiful setting"
The absolute best day of our lives, in the most perfectly beautiful setting. We couldn't have imagined getting married anywhere more picturesque! Thank you to Rupert for making everything run so smoothly xxx
Sarah and Andrew Morrison
"Truly magical experience - the most beautiful venue that they had ever seen"
Really had such a truly magical experience in your lovely garden and would like to say a big thank you again! Our guests thought it was the most beautiful venue they had ever seen.
Chloe and Simon Arnoldi
"The wedding venue of dreams!"
The wedding venue of dreams! I organised a wedding for a gorgeous couple at Hamswell House earlier this month, the weather was perfect and we were able to make use of the incredible grounds. The house provides the most glorious backdrop for a quintessentially English country wedding. The host - Rupert, is a marvellous chap and very helpful, though you are free to organise the wedding that you/your client wants. I cannot recommend this stunning venue more highly. I am looking forward to organising many more at Hamswell House in the future.
Pearl van den Ende, international wedding planner
"Incredible Venue - it could not have been better"
We got married at Hamswell House in June and it could not have been better - the views are incredible and all our family and friends commented on what an incredible venue it was. It is also perfect for couples who want flexibility with complete control over the suppliers you use from food to flowers etc however recommendations are on offer if you want them. Could not recommend more.
Hannah and Jack Bellfield
"I can't imagine a more incredible setting or happier place for the best day of your and your family's lives."
We had our wedding at Hamswell House on 6th May 2018 and I honestly can't imagine a more heavenly place for it. The house, gardens, rolling hills and woods filled with wild garlic are spectacular and our hosts, Rupert and Victoria, were so kind and supportive, it was like organising it with friends. From our first visit to the day, 14 months later, they were incredible.
If you're considering Hamswell, you absolutely should go for it - I can't imagine a more incredible setting or happier place for the best day of your and your family's lives.
Miranda Porter
"The perfect mix of grandeur and relaxed elegance"
We got married at Hamswell house last Bank holiday of May 2018. The weather was perfect and garden was green and thriving! - we loved every minute of it! It is a beautiful venue and we fell in love with it as soon as we saw it. We loved it's perfect mix of grandeur and relaxed elegance in the marquee and and gardens and incredible party space in the Orangery and surrounding gardens. The sunset and view or the gorgeous rolling bath hills and countryside was also really special. The team made the whole process so easy and such good fun! They have so much experience and just thought of every little detail so effortlessly. If you are looking for a magical venue and people that will make planning your wedding a pleasure - Hamswell is the place and we feel so lucky we were able to have our party there! Go have a look for yourself, its magical and feels very cosy and away from the world! Thanks Hamswell!! Sarah and Tom
Sarah Speechly
"No better or more romantic place"
If Jane Austin had married she would have chosen no better or more romantic place than 17th century Hamswell House set, as it is, above a wide valley overlooking the rolling countryside outside Bath, Hamswell is the perfect location for a wedding . Our daughter married here on the first weekend of May, the blessing staged between two ancient lime trees on the lawn in front of the house - after which guests spilled onto the terrace for speeches and music and the first drinks of the day followed by dinner and dancing on the ideally placed marquee to the side of the house.
Throughout Rupert and Victoria could not have been more helpful or welcoming, their suggestions for caterers , marquees , musicians where without exception excellent. Hamswell is the ideal place to have a wedding and to everyone involved we have to thank you for making the wedding a supremely happy memory for us all.
Liz Elliot, Editor at Large, House and Garden
"Great wedding, Amazing Views, Beautiful gardens"
We had a great wedding here in August 2018. Amazing views, beautiful gardens, and really good recommendations from Rupert and his wife for Bath Marquees and Cherry Picked Catering who were brilliant (highly professional, extremely friendly and accommodating to our needs). Thanks for everything.
Gemma and Raymond Rodgers
"The setting was perfect"
Had an amazing wedding day here. Rupert was very flexible with how we ran the day but still really helpful with suggestions. The setting is perfect for a wedding and all our guests we're in awe of the view
Julia and Matthew Body
"Stunning Setting - Perfect Day"
An absolutely stunning setting for a wedding and Rupert and Victoria make the whole process run very smoothly - with suggestions for marquees, caterers and bands - and by adding those extra touches throughout your wedding day. We had a perfect day here and would not hesitate to recommend Hamswell House.
By Adam and Hermione Wookey
"Fantastic Day"
Thank you for such a fantastic day on Saturday. We could see ourselves celebrating at Hamswell from the first time we visited and our day was nothing less than wonderful.
By Ben and Kate Meynell
"Everything just went so smoothly"
Your venue really made our incredible day that bit more special. It looked absolutely stunning and everything just went so smoothly, so thank you.
By Damian and Liquarice Keeling
"Fantastic setting - Complete privacy"
Hamswell House provided us with a fantastic setting on our wedding day this September: the far-reaching views of peaceful countryside, romantically lit orangery and gardens together with the beautiful house itself all gave the most wonderful back-drop to our special day. We and our guests also had complete privacy to really enjoy the occasion. In addition Rupert and Victoria were experienced and helpful throughout the process, which made the planning stages all the more enjoyable.
By James and Natasha Longman
"All we can say is WOW!"
Myself and my Wife had our wedding reception here in August 2016 and is was perfect! Rupert and Victoria, the owners of Hamswell House, were fantastic people to deal with through out the run up to the big day, always extremely quick to respond and always happy to show you round. The view across the hills is stunning, equaled only by the grounds themselves which are beautiful and immaculately kept. Perfect for marquee events as they have a large flat area that is sheltered away so that it doesn't get too hot and, luckily for us as it was apocalyptic weather on the day, sheltered from wind and rain. It truly was the only venue we could find that would allow us to have the reception of our dreams without the stress or worry of the English weather getting in the way. Rupert has also had a power supply set up for the area so no need to source a noisy/smelly generator to power the day. I could not speak highly enough of this venue. I strongly suggest going to have a look round if you are thinking of a marquee reception as you won't be disappointed. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR MAKING OUR WEDDING RECEPTION PERFECT!
By Peter and Sara Lloyd
Perfect Venue
Our wedding reception at Hamswell House was perfect. Rupert and Victoria were a pleasure and nothing was ever too much trouble On the day, the sun shone, the views were simply magnificent and we felt wonderfully secluded whilst being a stones throw from the town centre We couldn't have had a more perfect venue to celebrate our wedding.
By Guy and Lisa Thornton
Idyllic setting gave the 'wow' factor to our day
We held our September Wedding reception in the grounds of Hamswell House. This idyllic country location was the talking point of our guests with its breath taking views, stunning gardens and beautiful architecture. With a Marquee on the Lawn and a drinks reception in the Orangery, Hamswell House truly was the perfect setting for our country wedding giving the wow factor to our unforgettable day!
By Tom and Ellen Errington
Stunning grounds were a perfect backdrop
The stunning grounds provided us with the most perfect backdrop for our wedding - a day we will never forget.
By Sonia Gapper
Unique location with real 'wow' factor
We had a wonderful day at Hamswell. It is a unique location and has a real 'wow' factor. Our guests loved it too.
By Philippa Glynn
We fell in love with Hamswell moment we saw it
We fell in love with Hamswell the moment we saw it and knew it would be perfect for our wedding and it certainly delivered. All of our guests were commenting on the spectacular view. It truly was the most amazing day; it definitely wouldn't have been the same without such a fantastic venue.
By Kate and Andrew Fisher
The most perfect and idyllic wedding venue
The most perfect and idyllic wedding venue, which played a huge part in making our wedding so perfect. Everyone commented on how beautiful the house, grounds and view were. The day went without a hitch. We will not hesitate to recommend Hamswell House as an ideal wedding venue.
By Naomi and Andrew Todd
Most amazing venue, perfect wedding weekend
Many thanks for the most perfect wedding weekend. So many people said it was the most amazing wedding venue and it felt so incredibly special. You were both wonderful throughout the planning and we cannot thank you enough.
By Claire Ferguson