The Ragley Estate offers a variety of exclusive venues rich in heritage, historical landscapes and breathtaking architectural features.
The panamas may have been put away and the trade stands dismantled after a wonderfully successful Game Fair, but that doesn’t mean life winds down on the Ragley Estate in Warwickshire. The opposite is true. The ancestral home of the Marquess is always buzzing with activity, from corporate activities to private parties, and photoshoots and film work.
With the Estate’s 5,500 rolling acres, Capability Brown parkland and the cornucopia of stunning architectural features found in the grounds and the Hall, it is little wonder that this exclusive private venue is a magnet for those behind a huge range of creative projects. Ragley Estate is home to a wide range of events, from high-profile concerts and festivals in the park to automotive and countryside experiences and intimate weddings. It also hosts private hires for corporate functions and charity events, fashion shoots and advertising campaigns, as well as filming movies and TV series.
Ragley’s celebrations are bespoke
Ragley prides itself on being a place that everyone can feel like they are a very special person. This exclusive venue is capable of making you feel very at home, and it hosts weddings and events with all kinds of themes and sizes. As the team is flexible and friendly, no event is the same. They work tirelessly to create a unique experience for every celebration. The Hall is a beautiful Georgian mansion, but it’s also the family home of the Hertfords, so the atmosphere there is very warm.
The sky’s not the limit on the Ragley Estate – the grounds provide a stunning backdrop for visitors to this very special venue
Ragley does not offer a public experience because of its level of privacy. But this doesn’t mean the gates are closed: each year over 200,000 visitors are able to experience this distinctive atmosphere and breathtaking surroundings attending events such as The Game Fair, Camper Calling, Classic Ibiza and Adventure Bike Rider. As a concert venue, the Estate has seen many household names take to the stage, plus regular events which have become part of Ragley’s annual calendar, drawing visitors back year after year.
A historic location in demand
The 17th century state rooms can be transformed into any type of event. They are blank canvasses that can be dressed in a variety of ways to maximize their historical and aesthetic grandeur. In the past, the Great Hall ballroom – with its spectacular 40ft windows – has doubled for the Palace of Versailles and has witnessed actor David Tennant jump through a mirror on horseback.
But Ragley’s allure is so much more than glamorous film sets, A-list celebrities and large-scale events. There are many options for intimate dinners and launches as well as thrilling off-roading, top-class activities in the country, equestrian sports and more. It isn’t just visitors that are enriched by their time there but also the community around the Estate. In addition to providing housing and employment, the Estate also involves local residents, businesses and schools in its everyday life.
The countryside and the estate are intertwined
Traditional country pursuits are part of Ragley’s DNA. It has the longest-running syndicated shoot in England and Lord Hertford’s ancestors were closely involved with the introduction of the red-legged partridge to the UK during the 1770s. It’s also a popular place for gundog training. Beekeeping is supported, as are a range of environmental initiatives such as moth survey, habitat preservation and creation.
Ragley is steeped with history and rural heritage but it also promotes innovation when it comes to farming and food production. It is a LEAF-marque certified farm and is committed to nurturing natural habitats and the environment for future generations – from the historic trees populating the Estate’s ancient woodlands to the deer that roam the parkland.
Ragley Farm is not just a venue. It operates under the LEAF marque programme, and provides employment for the local community. They also promote innovation and locally produced foods.
Tread carefully
Ragley also produces niche products. This includes echium which is used for cosmetics, linseeds, poppies and Wildfarmed, which are all grown organically. This method uses no pesticides. By using bi-croppings, diverse crops and multi-species, it brings back biodiversity to the fields and improves soil quality.
A ‘field-to-fork’ philosophy guides the approach to deer and game management, and lamb production. Ragley Estate Butchers is based at Hillers Farm Shop. Its highly-trained butchery staff offer advice and a variety of products from the estate as well as trusted local suppliers. Ragley Estate Butchers provide the best quality lamb and game, including partridges, pheasants, and venison. They are also known for their award winning sausages.
Visit the Ragley Estate to see it for yourself
It is now possible to experience Ragley not simply as a day visitor but to stay in one of the holiday homes on the estate – ideal for those hosting an event at Ragley or attending one of the many festivals, or simply as the perfect base from which to explore the attractions of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire and further afield. Choose between the historic gatehouse which sleeps 2, the Hunting Lodge with its beams, flagstone floors and rafts of timbers, or the Ridgeway Farmhouse with its stunning views over the estate to the Hall.
The Ragley Estate provides a wide variety of locations – from its rolling parkland to the grandeur of the Hall – in which to host a dazzling array of different events, large and small
See the Ragley website for more information about the many experiences Ragley offers. www.ragley.co.uk Follow them on Instagram and Facebook, too (@ragleyestate & @ragleyhall).
