This Italianate country house on the Montgomeryshire–Shropshire border has grown into one of the most exciting wedding destinations in Wales. Over the past decade, owner Julia and her family have transformed the estate piece by piece: restoring the Hall, opening the Walled Garden for ceremonies, introducing the Cellar Bar, and adding stylish accommodation in the Stables and the romantic Boathouse.
And now comes the next chapter.
After years of dreaming, planning and navigating the realities of heritage buildings and planning permission, Garthmyl Hall is replacing its marquee with a permanent Orangery—a beautiful glass extension designed to elevate the entire wedding experience. And if the early drawings are anything to go by (and they very much are), this is set to be something very special.
The new space will officially open this May, with a showcase weekend on 9th–10th May offering couples and industry friends the first chance to see it in action. But before the doors open, we thought it was the perfect moment to look at how Garthmyl Hall reached this point and why this new addition feels like such a natural next step for the venue.
Set within parkland and rolling Welsh countryside, Garthmyl Hall strikes the most beautiful balance. The architecture carries all the elegance you’d expect from an Italianate country house, while the atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and pretty lively at times; it’s always unmistakably celebratory.
Exclusive hire allows couples to take over the estate for several days, turning the occasion into a joy-filled weekend of celebration. Expect welcome drinks on the terrace, garden ceremonies framed by lavender, delicious dinners that stretch into the evening and late-night dancing downstairs in the Cellar Bar. The following morning usually involves coffee, laughter and a few stories about the night before!
The Walled Garden (inspired by historic gardens such as Aberglasney) has become one of the venue’s most recognisable ceremony settings, capable of hosting up to 200 guests surrounded by seasonal planting. Inside the house, the Ballroom and Cellar Bar handle the revelry side of things perfectly, while accommodation across the Hall, cottages and converted stables allows up to 50 guests to stay on site, with more imaginative places to stay already planned for the years ahead.
It’s a venue purpose-built for hosting, and Julia has spent the last decade refining exactly how that experience should feel – because while this may be a classic country house, there’s nothing stuffy about it and celebrations here are taken very seriously.
Behind the evolution of Garthmyl Hall – and the alter ego Lady Garthmyl – is Julia Pugh, who purchased the estate with her family in 2015 and set about restoring the house from top to bottom.
What began as an ambitious renovation project quickly became something much bigger. Over the years, she has expanded the estate, adding new spaces and experiences that make the venue feel more like a dreamy destination than a one-day event venue. Each new addition has been layered into the estate with the same intention: creating a place where couples and their guests can truly settle in and celebrate in comfort (and style!).
For many years, a bespoke marquee connected the Ballroom to the gardens, allowing Garthmyl Hall to host larger wedding receptions while maintaining a natural flow between the spaces. It worked well at the time, but it was always intended as a temporary solution.
Interestingly, the idea of a glass structure isn’t entirely new for the estate. A Victorian conservatory once stood in a similar position beside the Hall, though it was removed decades ago after storms repeatedly damaged the single-pane glass.
Reintroducing a permanent garden-room style space felt like a natural move. Something elegant, practical in all seasons and fully in-keeping with the architecture of the house.
The new Orangery draws inspiration from beautiful glass garden rooms but with an aesthetic that sits comfortably alongside Garthmyl’s Italianate architecture. The new structure will be defined by tall windows, classical detailing, and French doors opening onto a terrace, with a large glass lantern at its centre, allowing daylight to pour into the room throughout the day.
Inside, the interiors lean towards a French château aesthetic with subtle Mediterranean touches. Limestone flagstone flooring runs throughout the space, softened by pale, creamy tones and decorative cornicing that echoes the detailing in the Ballroom next door.
Olive trees will sit within the room itself, reinforcing the garden-room atmosphere, while the terrace outside will feature relaxed seating and lemon parasols that nod to Julia’s love of Italian outdoor living.
As with every part of the venue, the practical details have also been carefully considered. The Orangery will include air conditioning, an integrated sound system and acoustic drapery elements so it works beautifully for both summer celebrations and winter weddings.
The Orangery will officially be unveiled at a showcase event on 9th–10th May, offering couples, industry friends and existing Garthmyl couples the chance to experience the new space for the first time.
Rather than hosting a traditional wedding fair, the team plans to style the Orangery as it might appear on a wedding day, with beautifully set tables and atmospheric lighting so guests can see the room in its natural element.
Visitors will also be able to wander through the house and gardens, with a few other corners of the estate styled for the occasion. Catering partners will be serving delicious bites and something sparkling to drink, giving guests every excuse to raise a toast as they explore.
If Julia’s previous projects (and her rather legendary industry parties) are anything to go by, this new addition and its launch event will be one for the books. In fact, it’s already marked in our diaries. Maybe we’ll see you there?
Based on a weekday wedding in January. Includes 2-night venue hire.