The Manor House

The Manor House - A quintessential Cotswolds corporate retreat in Castle Combe

The Manor House is an ivy-clad 14th-century country house set within 365 acres in the heart of Castle Combe, one of the Cotswolds' best-preserved villages. It is an impressive place to arrive at, with the main house, gardens, and surrounding Cotswold stone buildings creating a setting that feels quintessentially English. For corporate groups, there is substance behind the appearance too, with 62 available bedrooms, six meeting rooms, Michelin-starred dining, extensive grounds and a championship golf course.

Castle Combe is only a few minutes' walk from the hotel through the estate and has been used as a location for films including War Horse, Stardust and Doctor Dolittle. Despite being so close to the village, the estate can be fully gated for exclusive-use events, providing groups with considerable privacy. It is a combination that makes The Manor House particularly appealing for residential retreats and for international groups looking for a recognisably English countryside setting.

Accommodation

The Manor House has 50 individually designed bedrooms and suites. Accommodation is split between the historic main house and converted stone cottages around the estate, all within a few minutes of one another. Electric buggies can transport guests around the property, which is particularly useful when a group is using several parts of the estate.

The bedrooms have plenty of individual character, with four-poster beds in many rooms and views across the gardens, estate or village. A further 12 bedrooms are available at The Castle Inn, around a five-minute walk from the main house, providing useful additional capacity for larger residential groups.

Indoor spaces

The six meeting rooms give groups considerable flexibility, from smaller leadership sessions and breakouts to events for up to 150 guests. The principal meeting spaces sit within the historic estate and retain much of its character rather than feeling like conventional conference rooms. The two main meeting rooms are being refurbished and are expected to be ready for events from the beginning of 2027.

Dunstanville is one of the largest spaces and opens directly onto a private terrace overlooking the valley. Smaller rooms such as Bingham, Saxam and Gorges work well for board meetings and breakouts. There are also two meeting rooms at the golf club, creating a useful alternative setting away from the main house, alongside an attractive outdoor terrace.

Outdoor spaces

The grounds are one of The Manor House's biggest assets for corporate events. Large, flat lawns in front of and alongside the house provide ample space for team activities, outdoor meetings, receptions, and informal events, while the gardens and wider estate give guests room to walk and spend time away from the meeting room.

The 365-acre estate also incorporates its own par-72, 18-hole championship golf course. Guests can be transferred there by electric buggy, making it easy to combine a meeting programme at the house with golf, activities or a change of setting during a residential retreat. Guests can also make use of the tennis court and gym.

Dining and catering

Food is another distinguishing feature. Bybrook, The Manor House's Michelin-starred restaurant, provides a particularly high standard of dining for a corporate retreat, while private dining can be arranged for up to 150 guests. Groups can also use the lounges, terraces and lawns for more informal meals, drinks receptions and barbecues.

The Castle Inn provides another option within a few minutes' walk of the house. Its relaxed pub setting works well for a change of scenery during a multi-day retreat, while its beautiful conservatory and terrace make for a great setting for a private evening dinner.

Corporate and group events

The Manor House works particularly well when a company wants to bring people together somewhere that feels genuinely removed from the everyday office environment. The combination of bedrooms, formal and informal meeting spaces, extensive lawns, golf, dining and several different areas of the estate makes it possible to create a varied programme without repeatedly using the same room.

For exclusive-use events, the main estate can be gated and closed to outside visitors, giving a group private use of the 50 Manor House bedrooms, function spaces, lounges, Bybrook and the grounds. This makes it particularly suitable for leadership retreats, company offsites, senior meetings, incentive stays and residential events where privacy matters.

Facilities and amenities

• Six meeting rooms
• Additional spaces at the golf club and Castle Inn
• Advanced integrated AV
• Video conferencing facilities
• High-speed Wi-Fi connectivity
• 18-hole championship golf course
• USGA driving range
• Large event lawns
• Electric estate buggies
• 60 parking spaces
• Six EV charging points
• On-site helipad
• Exclusive use available
• Gym and tennis court

What's nearby

Castle Combe is one of the great advantages of the location. Guests can walk from the hotel into the tiny historic village in around five minutes, passing the traditional Cotswold stone buildings that have made it a popular film and television location. It offers an easy walk between sessions and is particularly memorable for guests visiting the Cotswolds for the first time.

The wider area includes Castle Combe Circuit and Westonbirt Arboretum, while Bath is around 30 minutes away. On the estate itself, groups can make use of the golf course and arrange activities including golf tuition, fishing and archery.

Getting there

Although the setting feels very rural, The Manor House is straightforward to reach from London and the South West. Direct trains from London Paddington to Chippenham take around 75 minutes, with onward transport to the estate able to be arranged. Bath is around 30 minutes away by road, Bristol Airport around 60 minutes and Heathrow around 90 minutes.