Garden Room 1
The Stable Courtyard
Features manicured lawns centered by three iconic bronze donkey sculptures crafted by Swiss sculptor Édouard-Marcel Sandoz, the great-grandfather of hotel proprietor Christian de Coulon.
12 Acres • 26 Themed Gardens
Heritage, Biodiversity & Regenerative Stewardship
From 1920s Arts & Crafts garden architecture to artisanal Somerset beehives and EarthCheck Gold decarbonisation.
Centuries of English Provenance
The Provenance of Whatley Manor
From an 18th-century Cotswold farmstead to an Arts & Crafts architectural gem and world-class sustainable retreat.
18th Century • Twatley Manor Origins
Originally established as Twatley Farm (derived from the Old English "To the wet lea"). A quintessential Wiltshire agricultural homestead centered around fertile river meadows.
1857–1924 • Victorian Expansion & WWI Red Cross Depot
Acquired in 1857 by T. G. Smith, Lord of Easton Grey Manor, who expanded the manor house. During the First World War, resident Rear Admiral Reginald Neeld and wife Beatrix transformed the manor hall into an active voluntary Red Cross depot, packing relief parcels and protective leggings for the Western Front.
1925 • The Arts & Crafts Vision of Septimus Warwick
Canadian Beaufort Hunt Master H. C. Cox acquired the estate and commissioned architect Septimus Warwick to construct the Tudor Wing, coach house, and 12 acres of Arts and Crafts garden rooms influenced by Gertrude Jekyll.
2000–Present • The Landolt & de Coulon Restoration
After falling in love with the manor during the Badminton Horse Trials, the Landolt and Christian de Coulon family acquired the Grade II listed estate, faithfully restoring the buildings and 1920s gardens, officially reopening Whatley Manor on July 1, 2003.
Grade II
Listed Historic Architecture
Septimus Warwick's Living Masterpiece
The 26 Distinct Garden Rooms
Divided by yew hedging, Cotswold stone dry walls, and gravel promenades, the 12-acre grounds feature 26 distinctly themed garden rooms.
Garden Room 2
The Herbaceous Garden
Symmetrical perennial flower borders framing smooth stone pathways, a central tranquil fountain pool, and an authentic Cotswold stone gazebo overlooking the south lawn.
Garden Room 3
The Walled Rose Garden
An intimate walled enclosure sheltering two corner arbours, a central water rill, and classic English climbing and bush roses perfumed throughout summer months.
Garden Room 4
The Loggia Garden
Features a contemporary water sculpture by artist Simon Allison looking out across open Wiltshire countryside. Fully licensed for outdoor civil wedding ceremonies.
Garden Room 5
The Hot Garden
A saturated planting palette bursting with warm tropical hues, vibrant fiery oranges, deep reds, and dark chocolate blooms creating a dramatic sensory contrast.
Garden Room 6
Kitchen Gardens & Glasshouses
Chemical-free no-dig beds protecting soil mycorrhizal networks, Victorian Alitex glasshouses for heirloom tomatoes and chilies, and 8-month aerated composting bays.
Biodiversity & Artisan Beekeeping
Somerset Handcrafted French Oak Beehives
Custom built for Whatley Manor by Buscott Woodworking in Somerset, our on-site apiary bolsters local pollinator corridors across the Wiltshire countryside.
Integrated into our wildflower meadows, thousands of honeybees forage across lavender, borage, and clover. During cold Cotswold winters, the bees survive through the extraordinary "winter cluster" mechanism—shivering flight muscles to maintain an internal hive temperature of 85–95°F.
The raw estate honey harvested each season is utilized directly by Executive Chef Ricki Weston in dishes like the signature SN16 dessert in One-Michelin-Starred The Dining Room.
SN16
Estate Pure Honey
Independent Environmental Audit
EarthCheck Gold Certified Leadership
Whatley Manor is the first independent UK hotel to reach EarthCheck Gold status, verified independently by Control Union across 5 consecutive years of continuous benchmarking.
0.36 kg
Scope 1 & 2 / Guest Night
Reduced from 68.5kg in 2019 to 0.36kg in 2024 (98% reduction, 5 yrs early).
62%
Scope 3 Reduction
Decreased supply chain carbon intensity against 2022 baseline.
100%
Green Energy
100% certified renewable grid electricity and green biomethane gas.
100%
Zero Food Waste Landfill
Kitchen food scraps broken down on-site in composting bays for garden beds.
Empirical Carbon Accounting & Verified Offsetting
Partnered with French carbon accounting platform Greenly, Whatley Manor accounts for every kilogram of carbon emitted across our entire supply chain.
Unavoidable emissions are offset through certified carbon credits supporting the San Jerónimo Coatlán Carbon Sequestration Project in Oaxaca, Mexico, audited under the Climate Action Reserve (CAR) protocol. This initiative supports indigenous community foresters in conserving biodiversity, preserving water springs, and sequestering carbon in cloud forest biomes.
Whatley Manor is a proud signatory of the NOW Force for Good Alliance and active participant in the UN Global Compact Network UK.
Exclusive Occasions
Weddings, Private Dining & Executive Retreats
From exclusive-use Cotswold country manor weddings to executive board meetings in our self-contained Stable Suite and 40-seat private screening cinema.
Exclusive Use & Intimate
Cotswold Weddings
Civil ceremonies in the Loggia Garden by Simon Allison's water sculpture or the formal Garden Room. Exclusive-use weddings privatize all 23 rooms, lounges, and 12 acres of gardens with banquets crafted by Ricki Weston.
The Stable Suite
Corporate Retreats
Self-contained conference pavilion with dedicated courtyard entrance, natural daylight, AV projection, and three adjoining Gallery breakout rooms. High-speed fibre Wi-Fi and 12 acres for team-building.
Screening Theatre
40-Seat Private Cinema
An intimate screening room equipped with 40 luxury leather armchairs, professional digital projection, and Dolby surround sound. Perfect for executive keynote presentations, film suppers, or private celebrations.
Getting Here • Accessibility
Travel Connections & Accessibility
Conveniently situated 20 minutes from the M4 motorway, with on-site EV charging and complete accessible facilities.
Directions & Connections
- From M4 Westbound (London): Exit Junction 17, follow A429 to Malmesbury, take B4040 toward Sherston. Entrance is on the right past Easton Grey.
- From M5 Southbound: Exit Junction 18 onto M4 Eastbound, exit J18, follow A46 then B4040 through Sherston; entrance on the left.
- Mainline Rail: Fast direct trains from London Paddington stop at Chippenham (20 mins taxi) and Kemble (15 mins taxi).
- Airports & Helipad: Bristol Airport (50 mins); Heathrow (90 mins). Private helicopter landings accommodated at nearby Kemble Airfield (15 mins).
- EV Charging: 6 dedicated electric vehicle charging bays on site for guest use.
Accessibility Commitments
- Valet & Level Access: Valet parking at front doors; level threshold into Reception, Bar, The Dining Room, and Grey's Restaurant.
- Elevator Access: 1-metre wide passenger elevator serving all floors.
- Adapted Bedroom (Room 23): Top-floor mobility suite with 80cm wide doors, roll-in shower cubicle with support rails, toilet grab rails, and in-room medication fridge.
- Aquarias Spa: Ground floor fully wheelchair accessible with level treatment suites (service dogs permitted throughout).
- Disability Confident: Certified Disability Confident Committed Employer.
Executive Stewardship
Estate Leadership Team
| Role | Executive Name | Department Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietor | Christian de Coulon | Estate Ownership & Family Vision |
| General Manager | Chris Smith | Hotel Operations & Guest Experience |
| Executive Head Chef | Ricki Weston | Michelin Gastronomy & Culinary Brigade |
| Sustainability Advisor | Sue Williams | EarthCheck Governance & Decarbonisation |
| Head Gardener | Michael Adams | 26 Garden Rooms & No-Dig Kitchen Beds |
| Sales & Marketing Manager | Eloise Gordon | Press & Strategic Partnerships |