Northwood House in Cowes has been enjoying a popular resurgence in recent years and now finds itself high up on the list of the most popular wedding venues on the Isle of Wight. Built in 1838, the grade II* star-listed Georgian manor now hosts over 30 wedding ceremonies and receptions across the year, as well as having a full diary of private functions, conferences, events and parties. The venue has been looked after since 2010 by Northwood House Charitable Trust, which has been painstakingly renovating and redecorating it year after year, gradually restoring its mojo and bringing it carefully back to full use as a venue.
The House now certainly boasts a stately yet romantic charm, with a range of ornately-decorated rooms to suit varying sizes of wedding ceremonies and accompanying celebrations. From the recently-refurbished grand rotunda entrance with its domed roof, to the spacious main ballroom, Northwood House makes a great venue choice for everything from the most lavish banquet for 160 seated guests, to an intimate gathering for close friends and family. Importantly though, the venue offers a friendly and accommodating approach to all couples with a dedicated team of staff who can help with every detail in the planning of a bespoke wedding.
The venue also boasts beautifully manicured lawns, perfect for photographs and socialising during the wedding day – and these are also available to hire for marquee weddings, with structures supplied by the venue’s in-house event team. This offers a simple, one-stop solution for couples seeking the luxury of an outdoor celebration but without all the hassle.
The iconic House Bar is another popular feature of the venue, with its cool colonial vibe and impressive range of gins that help many weddings go off with a swing. From a food perspective, the venue offers a comprehensive list of quality event caterers from whom couples choose their wedding cuisine. The list includes popular local choices such as All About Catering, Oasis, and Kevin Hendy Private Chef. Well known dining establishments like the Garlic Farm and the Harbour Kitchen in Cowes are also licensed to cater at the venue, allowing for a wide variety of food options to suit every taste and budget.
A great opportunity for couples to get an informal look around the venue comes on the weekend of January 18-19, when Northwood House hosts its annual Wedding Open Weekend, and has a number of quality wedding suppliers exhibiting there too. The friendly event team are also happy to arrange a personalised viewing at any time throughout the year at times to suit even the busiest people.