Smedmore House
Dorset
Smedmore House, Kimmeridge Bay, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5PG
Smedmore House is a unique exclusive-use venue for your ceremony and reception, tailored to your most exacting expectations and able to exceed your wildest dreams.
The main house sleeps 16 people.
17 reviews
Direct contact, with a safety net
Enquiries go straight to the owner. If anything goes wrong, we’ll step in. And because owners pay us a flat listing fee, you pay nothing extra.
Landed Houses guests have exchanged over 100 messages with Smedmore House in the last 12 months.
Special last minute offer for New Year due to cancellation. £7000 for main house only. (Add on Wing & Penthouse by arrangement)
Smedmore House is a beautiful Georgian country house, wonderfully situated on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. Surrounded by rolling countryside and spectacular sea views, privately owned Smedmore House offers a level of tranquillity and privacy hard to find elsewhere. Its available to rent for weekends, holidays and all kinds of family celebrations as well as weddings and civil ceremonies. It also makes a wonderful exclusive use venue for corporate events, dinners, meetings, presentations and as a film location.
The main house sleeps 16 in 8 double bedrooms (3 doubles & 3 twins) with a good ratio of bathrooms. It has the marvellously warm and relaxed atmosphere of a well-loved family home. For extra guests, there is the option of the adjoining Garden Wing with another 3 double rooms and/or the newly refurbished Penthouse Suite, a loft style bedroom and bathroom at the top of the house with amazing views over the surrounding countryside. Overall 24 people can now be accommodated in this comfortable Dorset seaside manor.
Two acres of walled flower gardens, orchards, and a Mediterranean garden surround the house. There is an extensive lawn to the front of the house, with a pretty pond bordered by a wild flower meadow. Two avenues lined with stone urns and more wild flowers lead off from here through the woods with extensive views to Kimmeridge Bay and to Weymouth and Portland beyond. At the bottom of the avenues surrounding this Dorset seaside manor is a path through fields, past sphinxes, urns and obelisks, down to Kimmeridge Bay.
The Dining Room can seat 20 on the main rectangular table, while the round table in the bay window will take another 12. The house is let on a self-catering basis but there is a list of recommended cooks and caterers if you would like to arrange a special dinner.
Location and Things to Do
Located on the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Smedmore House is within walking distance of Kimmeridge Bay. Renowned for its fossils and excellent wind surfing, this is a great bay for snorkelling as the absence of sand means that the water is very clear. Smedmore House has a Boathouse/Beach hut on the shore of the Bay which can be rented as a base for beach activities, changing or even a BBQ.
The South West Coastal Path runs past the Kimmeridge Bay, which is the location for iconic Clavell Tower and also the Sea Life Centre, a small museum of marine life. In the village of Kimmeridge is the Etches Collection, an unique, modern museum of amazing fossils which illustrate the marine life of Jurassic Dorset. Here you can learn about Life and Death in the Kimmeridgian Seas 157 million years ago. Nearby there are famous Dorset bays such as Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove and it’s not far to Corfe Castle or Studland Bay.
Weddings
Smedmore House has a civil wedding licence for the garden and three indoor rooms. With a trusted list of suppliers and a boathouse available on Kimmeridge Bay for extra charm, the venue offers a picturesque setting for weddings, perfect for intimate ceremonies and large celebrations.
Sleeping Arrangements
Bedroom 1
1 King Bed
Bedroom 2
2 Single Beds
Bedroom 3
2 Single Beds
Bedroom 4
1 King Bed
Bedroom 5
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 6
1 Super King Bed
Bedroom 7
2 Single Beds
Bedroom 8
1 Super King Bed
Bedroom 9
1 Super King Bed
Bedroom 10
2 Single Beds
Bedroom 11
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 12
1 Super King Bed
Wedding Features
Dance Floor
Gardens
Self-Catered Weddings
Wedding Catering
Wedding Licence
Amenities
Catering Available
Countryside Walks
EV Charger
Pet Friendly
Really Rural
Self Catering
WiFi
Working Fireplace
Sorry. Stag and hen parties not allowed
Accessibility Features
Step-free entrance
Toilet grab bars
House Fact
Smedmore was built in 1610, and its distinctive Georgian bays added in 1762. The owners, the Mansel family are descended from the original Clavells.
Edmund's Choice of Extraordinary Feature
“An outstanding aspect to Smedmore has to be its atmosphere of timelessness. It’s a true family house, full of family history, and that gives it something really special; as a guest, you really do feel part of it all. Incidentally, the current owner is Dr Philip Mansel, writer and historian, who presents lectures all over the world.”
Special Offers
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Reviews(17)
Mary Baxter
We came to Smedmore House to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary with our family consisting of 22 people ranging from 1.5 years to 81. We used the entire house and the boathouse and had a holiday to remember for the rest of our lives.
The house and gardens provided a background for family games and conversation with the space to retreat if one needed to. The boat house was an amazing base for boating and swimming and bbqs. It is without doubt the best large holiday home we have ever stayed in and are very grateful for having been lucky enough to live here for 3 nights. Thank you so much.
Kate Perry
We had an absolutely amazing experience at Smedmore House for our wedding weekend! From the moment we arrived, we felt at home in this beautiful venue. The house itself was incredibly comfortable, providing the perfect backdrop for our celebration and a relaxing stay for our guests.
Eilish and the team were incredibly helpful throughout the planning process, offering great suggestions and recommending excellent suppliers that made our wedding even more special. Her responsiveness to our queries was fantastic, and she was a true asset over the weekend, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
We can’t thank Smedmore House enough for their warmth and support. Our wedding day was everything we dreamed of, and the venue played a huge role in that. If you’re looking for a stunning place to host your wedding, we highly recommend Smedmore House!
Shaw’s,White’s and Huber’s
We had a pre Christmas family gathering for 19 of us, varying in age from 1 to 82 years. It was a wonderful place for us all to meet up. The house is beautiful , with very spacious and comfortable accommodation . It was very clean and had lovely Christmas decorations, plus log fires. The outside scenery was spectacular at dusk as we had an amazing sunset. Thank you Laura, Ellish and Jack. You were all so very helpful. We would love to return.
Nathan Eames | Libra Photographic
Weddings on the Purbeck don’t get much better than this. Great vista’s of the Jurassic Coast, a manor house to use as your own for the weekend and space for outdoor speeches. Make sure you make time for the evening sun, it’s magical
Mary Baxter
We came to Smedmore House to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary with our family consisting of 22 people ranging from 1.5 years to 81. We used the entire house and the boathouse and had a holiday to remember for the rest of our lives.
The house and gardens provided a background for family games and conversation with the space to retreat if one needed to. The boat house was an amazing base for boating and swimming and bbqs. It is without doubt the best large holiday home we have ever stayed in and are very grateful for having been lucky enough to live here for 3 nights. Thank you so much.
Kate Perry
We had an absolutely amazing experience at Smedmore House for our wedding weekend! From the moment we arrived, we felt at home in this beautiful venue. The house itself was incredibly comfortable, providing the perfect backdrop for our celebration and a relaxing stay for our guests.
Eilish and the team were incredibly helpful throughout the planning process, offering great suggestions and recommending excellent suppliers that made our wedding even more special. Her responsiveness to our queries was fantastic, and she was a true asset over the weekend, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
We can’t thank Smedmore House enough for their warmth and support. Our wedding day was everything we dreamed of, and the venue played a huge role in that. If you’re looking for a stunning place to host your wedding, we highly recommend Smedmore House!
Shaw’s,White’s and Huber’s
We had a pre Christmas family gathering for 19 of us, varying in age from 1 to 82 years. It was a wonderful place for us all to meet up. The house is beautiful , with very spacious and comfortable accommodation . It was very clean and had lovely Christmas decorations, plus log fires. The outside scenery was spectacular at dusk as we had an amazing sunset. Thank you Laura, Ellish and Jack. You were all so very helpful. We would love to return.
Nathan Eames | Libra Photographic
Weddings on the Purbeck don’t get much better than this. Great vista’s of the Jurassic Coast, a manor house to use as your own for the weekend and space for outdoor speeches. Make sure you make time for the evening sun, it’s magical
Kevin Kay
Stayed here for a week at the beginning of August and it’s simply a beautiful, tranquil place to be. Situated right on the Dorset coast with amazing views in all directions. The property itself is magnificent and upon entering, feels like you’ve stepped back in time. The history of the estate and those that have lived there is displayed throughout, with plenty of memorabilia dating back hundreds of years which all adds to its charm. Would certainly recommend a stay
Anna G
Could I just extend my massive thanks again, to yourself, to Eilish, to the whole Smedmore team who made planning, booking and organising the event as joyful an smooth as could be. Everything went so much better, and we had all of the help we could have hoped for before and during. I am so pleased we picked Smedmore as our venue and it will have many happy memories for us in years to come!
Kevin Burke
Great wedding venue! Although the weather really helped.
Nick Smith
We stayed at Smedmore on the 4th and 5th of September for our daughter’s wedding with family and close friends. It was absolutely wonderful and a perfect location for a happy and memorable occasion. From the Friday evening meal all the way through to late on the Saturday night and Sunday morning we felt this was the most outstanding and beautiful place. Even though our numbers were severely curtailed, the intimacy and comfort of Smedmore meant that the occasion was very special indeed. A big thanks to Julie and Steph who were wonderful in ensuring such a successful wedding, one that everyone present will remember with great fondness.
Louise Thompson
We hired Smedmore House for our wedding September 2019. It was the prefect venue for us in a gorgeous setting. We hired the house for the weekend so that we could make the most of our wedding weekend. The eight bedrooms were filled with family and friends and it felt like a home from home – albeit grander!!
We were very blessed with the weather and were able to have a relaxed outdoor ceremony in the most beautiful of settings in the walled garden. For our wedding breakfast w e hired a marquee for the front lawn. Julie and her team were so welcoming and friendly and were there if we needed them, otherwise they left us alone.
The house and gardens plus views to the sea made a stunning backdrop for our photos by Emma Hurley.
I am saving hard to come back at some point as it really is the perfect house to celebrate in with friends and family!
Erlingur Gretar Einarsson
We just had the perfect wedding there. Our family stayed at the venue, too, and it just added to the magic of the whole thing. Lush garden, beautifully maintained and presented house and the facilities were first class. It was worth every penny.
Oonagh Langrishe
Such a beautiful wedding venue with views out over the sea, one of my favourites to addorne with glorious wedding flowers.
Oonagh Langrishe-Vernon
Such a beautiful wedding venue with views out over the sea, one of my favourites to addorne with glorious wedding flowers.
Elena and Matt
Absolutely stunning setting for our wedding in July – amazing weather, house and beautiful gardens with views down to Kimmeridge. Everyone who stayed at the house loved it and Julie and team were really helpful in the run up to the big day and over the course of the weekend. Can’t wait to return.
Chris Ball
Fantastic venue!
Sharan Laurent
Just an amazing place to visit or rent for a few days for a wedding
Lydia Rowlands
We got married in the grounds of Smedmore Estate on the 9th September and rented the house for a 3-day weekend for all of our wedding party to stay. Julie, Charlotte and the Smedmore team were fantastic from start to finish. They had everything we needed and helped out to bring the day together while also giving us space to use the house as our own. We felt extremely comfortable and relaxed there and can’t recommend the venue enough. The grounds itself has several beautiful spots for the ceremony, there is almost unlimited space for marquees and tents, and hundreds of beautiful backdrops for photos. Even an outdoor wedding in a heavy thunderstorm couldn’t stop us having an amazing time at Smedmore.
Dan Formless
Everybody agrees it is one of the most charming houses they have ever visited. There is no place like it! Untouched countryside as far as the eye can see.
Availability
Available
Enquire now
Weekends From £2,950
Weeks From £6,600
If fully occupied, price per person per night is usually between £39 and £85.
Laura is the owner/manager and usually responds within 4 hours. If you don't hear back, let us know and we'll follow up.
Location
Note: Approximate location of Smedmore House.
Weekends From £2,950
Weeks From £6,600
If fully occupied, price per person per night is usually between £39 and £85.
30% Deposit on booking. The balance one month before arrival.
Laura is the owner/manager and usually responds within 4 hours. If you don't hear back, let us know and we'll follow up.
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