Cowdray Walled Garden

The Walled Garden offers a serene and tranquil setting, featuring picturesque gardens, two charming entertaining rooms, a beautiful dressing room, and both indoor and outdoor licensed ceremony spaces.

Situated just a short distance from Midhurst in West Sussex, The Walled Garden is a historic Grade II listed venue that overlooks the stunning Cowdray Ruins and sits at the heart of the Cowdray Estate. Its rich history and timeless appeal make it a captivating backdrop for both larger celebrations and intimate gatherings.

Before the ceremony, the light and airy on-site Dressing Room offers the perfect space for the wedding party to prepare, surrounded by family and friends. This calm and tranquil room, available from the morning of the big day, overlooks the beautiful gardens, providing ample space to get ready and share those precious moments leading up to the celebrations.

For the ceremony, various options are available to suit different visions for the day. The secluded Walled Garden features a Pagoda licensed for wedding ceremonies, allowing couples to exchange vows outdoors amidst the picturesque surroundings.

The Courtyard Room, also licensed for civil ceremonies, is a versatile space that can accommodate up to 100 guests. With its intimate setting and exposed stone walls, it provides a charming and private space for your ceremony.

The Castle Room offers a characterful option with views of the stunning Cowdray Ruins. This versatile space serves as a blank canvas, allowing couples to personalise their ceremony and create a unique atmosphere reflecting their style and vision.

All spaces and rooms at The Walled Garden are designed to be versatile, adapting seamlessly to each stage of the wedding day. The garden’s natural beauty creates a picturesque backdrop for photographs, outdoor dining, and a delightful setting for the drinks reception. Guests can enjoy champagne and canapés while surrounded by the serene rose and lavender borders, an orchard, and a fragrant herb garden.

Inside, the Castle Room offers an ideal location for the wedding breakfast, seating up to 100 guests. With a choice between round or trestle tables, the room’s neutral tones provide an elegant canvas that can be styled to suit any couple’s vision.

As evening falls, the Courtyard Room transforms into the perfect venue for the reception, accommodating up to 130 guests for live music, dancing, and a bar. This room opens onto the courtyard, offering a relaxed outdoor space where guests can take a break from the party and enjoy a late-night snack from a pizza van or food truck.

The Estate has a wide range of accommodation to suit the wedding couple, family, and friends. Their honeymoon suite, The Bothy, is perfect for the newlyweds to stay in the night of the wedding. Breakfast is available in the morning and there are beautiful views over the Polo Lawns and the renowned Cowdray Ruins. Newly refurbished luxury holiday cottages with hot tubs and far-reaching views are perfect for a mini-moon after the wedding or for guests considering a longer stay.

There are also four self-catered cottages at Benbow Pond, private, secluded luxury treehouses easily accessible from The Walled Garden and nearby bed and breakfast accommodation at the Lodge.

The in-house catering team, The Yellow Kitchen, provides a delightful menu crafted from the finest local and Estate-sourced ingredients, making the most of Cowdray’s rich offerings. A selection of carefully chosen external caterers is also available for couples seeking variety. The events team collaborates closely with each couple to ensure the day unfolds just as envisioned, with every detail thoughtfully planned.

Sustainability means a lot to the team at the Walled Garden and across the wider Cowdray Estate. They’re always looking for ways to improve their impact, from ensuring that all florals are sustainably sourced to their in-house caterers, The Yellow Kitchen, using locally sourced produce from the Estate.

The wider Cowdray Estate, nestled amongst the rolling hills of the beautiful South Downs National Park, has plenty to offer the wedding party and guests. This includes the award-winning Farm Shop, Café and Lifestyle shop, exhilarating polo matches in the summer months on nearby Lawns, rounds of golf at the Cowdray Golf Club, and many enjoyable scenic walks across the Estate.

There is also plenty to do further afield, be this mountain biking in the South Downs, visiting West Wittering Beach, taking a stroll through the lovely village of Petworth, or stopping by one of the neighbouring countryside pubs for a warming dinner.

For guests arriving by car, you should enter the venue’s address into Google Maps. This route will guide you past the renowned Cowdray Ruins and directly to The Walled Garden, with clear signage directing visitors to the car park.

For those travelling by train, the nearest station is Haslemere, which offers a direct service to and from London. It is a quick 20-minute drive from Haslemere to the Cowdray Estate, and there are plenty of taxis at the station.