Cowdray

About the venue

A 16,000-acre estate at Midhurst in the South Downs, home of Cowdray Park Polo Club. Cowdray House is hired exclusively with 22 bedrooms and Buck Hall for 150, the Walled Garden takes 10 to 100, and the golf clubhouse seats 80.

The fire that wrecked Cowdray's Tudor mansion in September 1793 broke out while the house was being refurbished for the 8th Viscount Montague's wedding. Henry VIII and Elizabeth I had both stayed there. Only the Kitchen Tower survived intact, and the ruins still stand beside the polo lawns.

Competitive polo has been played at Cowdray since 1910. Around 400 matches are played in each April-to-September season, and the highlight is the British Open for the Cowdray Gold Cup. In 1953 the first Coronation Cup drew more than 10,000 spectators, the Queen among them.

The estate covers 16,000 acres of the South Downs National Park at Midhurst, more than a third of it woodland. Besides polo there is an 18-hole, par-70 course of 6,331 yards with a short par-3 course alongside. Hownhall shooting school, fly fishing on the River Rother, riding and cycling are all on the estate too.

Events happen in three places. Cowdray House, a former hunting lodge in 110 acres of Capability Brown parkland, is hired exclusively with 22 bedrooms. The Walled Garden, built around 1550, sits next to the ruins. The golf clubhouse looks across the par-3 course towards the ruins and the Downs.

Estate lamb, beef, venison, eggs and honey turn up on the menus. They are cooked by The Yellow Kitchen, Cowdray's in-house caterers. The Farm Shop & Café has a butchery and deli. Guests can also stay in holiday cottages or at The Lodge, a bed and breakfast for up to 16 opposite the golf club.

16,000-acre estate in the South Downs

Polo club, playing since 1910

Cowdray House for 150, exclusive hire

22 bedrooms at Cowdray House

Walled Garden for 10 to 100

Golf clubhouse dining for 80

18-hole course and par-3 course

Holiday cottages and B&B on the estate