Venue Review: Pennsylvania Castle, Dorset

Why Book?

The Penn is a neo-Gothic estate so epic, it inspired one of the great literary love stories: Thomas Hardy’s The Well Beloved. Set against the rugged UNESCO-heritage Dorset coast, The Penn estate sits dramatically on the cliffs atop crashing waves. The romance of Pennsylvania Castle is of the old world—light, airy, and effortlessly elegant. The Penn has recently expanded to include newly developed luxury modern residences, The Clifftops, that increase the accommodation offering to 40 guests.

Although the estate is steeped in great history, The Penn’s events team makes sure that the personalities of the couple in question remain front and centre of all operations. There is charm, thoughtful accommodation, and champagne top-ups at every step, ensuring the most seamless and joyous of wedding weekends.

Venue Style

There is something to wow everyone at The Penn, from the effortlessly awe-inspiring dignity of the castle— which has hosted royalty— to the more relaxed feel of The Clifftops residences. The entirety of the estate will be yours to play with, leaving you and your loved ones to enjoy the secluded tranquillity of the bucolic surroundings without interruption.

And with an events team committed to excellence by your side, a wedding at The Penn is sure to be a flawlessly executed affair. Here, you have a team at your disposal that can do a lavish spectacle for 100 just as easily as they can do a low-key, intimate gathering for 10. There is a guarantee of end-to-end communication between you and the team, who will look after you with thoughtful consideration right up until your departure. Guests are also uniquely taken into account; they are given a bespoke micro-site with all of the event details in one place, from updates on the weather to travel arrangements. This system ensures that any 11th-hour timetable changes can be communicated to guests with ease and celebrations go off without a hitch.

Set The Scene

From first glance, there is the presence and drama that only a grand estate of yesteryear can offer: from the sweeping driveway to the helipad on the north lawn, accommodating arrivals by air, should you so desire.

The Penn boasts a picture-perfect fusion of a sublime coastal setting and a cinematic, fairytale location. The mesmerizing, panoramic sea views are truly unparalleled— and if you’re lucky, you may even get to see dolphins splashing around in the summer. That said, there is truly no more magical time to visit The Penn than Christmas, when you can absorb the majesty of stormy seas from the comfort and cosiness of The Drawing Room beneath a twinkling tree, hot chocolate in hand.

There are corners of the castle for every moment of the day, from a toast with Dorset sparkling wine on the terrace of the Clifftops, to jolly afternoon garden games on the manicured lawn. If you are looking to occupy your guests outside of the estate (and steal away some alone time), send them off to do any number of activities on the Isle of Portland, from fishing, windsurfing, scuba diving, and sailing, to climbing, walking, and off-road cycling.

Event Spaces

For a spectacular first-night impression, make full use of the Clifftops entertaining space, which— while only mere steps from the castle— feel a world away. The Clifftops have an entirely independent, pared-back atmosphere, ideal for giving guests the space to relax into the festivities, aside from the spectacle and high-octane theatre of the castle on the big day. Guests can wander out onto the patio of Lodge Ope with a welcome drink in hand and take in the easy romance of the coastal scene, or step down to the photo op-ready roof garden deck to enjoy the sea breeze and riviera feel. And for those with a flair for the dramatic, both areas are equipped with their very own secret entrance to ensure any surprises are executed with maximum shock value.

For the ceremony, The Penn offers a range of different indoor and outdoor locations, showcasing the best of what each season has to offer. In the summer, The Orangery transforms from a tranquil space for swimming into an unrecognisable but wholly resplendent location for 100 guests. Perhaps most special, though, are the near-panoramic views of the sea, which peek out through large French windows.

Otherwise, choose from one of several evergreen gardens, such as the secluded Italian Garden, which conjures quiet magnificence and an intimate atmosphere. There is also a verdant tropical option, boasting exotic plants, palm trees, and waterfalls for a true escapist fantasy. Then there is the newly-launched Olive Garden, which offers a more pared-back feel, combining the sensory pleasures of an overlooking olive tree with expansive views over the bay. Or for a quintessentially English summer ceremony, opt for The Pagoda on the lawn, which can be filled with flowers, or kept minimal in your image. And, in the event of any weather-related hiccups, Hannah and the team will be ready at your side with 100 brollies. But, in the event of a truly biblical rainstorm, they will be sure to formulate an inside backup plan.

If you are getting married on a crisp winter’s day, you can enjoy the castle at its most magical: cloaked in snow. For an intimate affair, say your “I dos” basked in the fireside ambience of the Library. Here, you can achieve relaxed romance, particularly if you make full use of the Library’s baby grand piano. You can expect scents of pepper and thyme to waft through the celebrations, as a flickering Autumn candle from the Penn Creative Collection will be the finishing touch to the ultimate hygge set-up.

Whichever space you choose, all floristry and styling requests can be taken care of in-house by The Penn Creative Collection, removing any unnecessary logistical stress from the equation. Styling & Events Manager Tessa is the brains behind the collection, combining dependable ease with expertise to look after all floral arrangements, from large-scale installations to more intimate tablescapes. With a wealth of knowledge working on the estate, Tessa and the team uniquely understand how to fuse your unique vision with the character and styling needs of the estate. Be it abundant green in The Orangery or bold brights in the English Rose Garden, the team will hand-select blooms to create a truly immersive experience for all. Couples will enjoy creative freedom at every corner, as the venue will be exclusively used for the festivities.

Food & Drink

For your wedding feast, look to local supplier Ginger Catering Company. Armed with a team of food obsessives, they artfully create memorable dining experiences on a bedrock of simple, elegant, locally-sourced ingredients. The team endeavours to provoke joy in all they do, creating entirely bespoke experiences that will delight, entertain, and satisfy all. Ginger Catering are also known for their exacting standards, checking each plate for the holy trifecta of taste, flavour, and presentation before it goes out to hungry guests.

For all snacks, coffees, and cakes in between, make sure to call on The Penn’s on-site Hayloft Coffee Shop & Bar. All produce is delicious and healthy, supplied by local producers such as Brace of Butchers (part of HRH King Charles III’s idealised vision for an English town), the family-run Peppina Bakery, which brings savoury Sicilian fare to Dorset, and Rolly’s Brownies, where free-range eggs and organic flour are used for the heartiest, gooiest brownies.

The wedding party will be well-oiled with the curated delights of The Penn Estate Cellar. The Penn work closely to design wine lists with Jonathan Charles at The Dorset Wine Company, and can source vintage bottlings for bespoke storytelling. Look out in particular for special mentions from the Southern Hemisphere (a nod to the owner’s Australian roots) or excellent wines closer to home; of particular note is the late great Steven Spurrier’s 2019 Chardonnay and 2018 Pinot Noir from the Bride Valley.

Drinks can be independently supplied if you would prefer, or a fully licensed bar will be at your disposal. And if any bottles capture your imagination, pop to the Hayloft Coffee Shop and Bar to buy a memento bottle (or two) to take home.

Accommodation

Half the party will stay in one of the nine airy en-suite rooms inside the castle— with the Orpheus bedroom, sitting in an actual turret— as a wise choice for a wedding suite. Featuring an epic emperor bed, an opulent chandelier overhead, and a freestanding claw bathtub, this is a lavish choice, befitting the happy couple.

Guests will enjoy rooms with expansive views over the estate. From Raffles, which boasts a gorgeous marble bathroom and showcases the upper gardens, to Botanical, an ideal option for a family as it sleeps four and has views over the Italian Garden. Wherever your guests end up, they can expect a bottle of locally brewed Fordington Gin as a welcome treat on arrival.

Twenty lucky guests will be housed at five residences at the Clifftops (each with two bedrooms): Blue, Stone, Copper, Silva, and Ope, a more recent addition to The Penn. Designed by Morrow + Lorraine Architects to fuse modernity and continuity (and built in the island’s famed Portland stone), The Clifftops have been respectfully integrated into the wider estate. The purpose-built luxury lodges are nestled just above the sea and just below the castle, showcasing a show-stopping view without interrupting the view from the castle’s perch.

While building the history of the estate into the walls (literally, with fossils embedded into the stone), these stylish modern residences have been kitted out with Samsung Smart TVs and a Bose sound system. Luxurious cosiness is also ever-present, with bespoke fires and underfloor heating throughout. The Clifftops would make the perfect location for a bride to seclude herself, and make an all-the-more magnificent first impression as she enters the castle grounds on the big day.

The Story

The Penn estate has an illustrious history; Pennsylvania Castle was first commissioned in 1797 by John Penn, the then-governor of the Isle of Portland and grandson of the founder of the US state of Pennsylvania. Penn instructed famed neo-Gothic architect John Wyatt to design the castle, using the island’s famed limestone to build it. The castle was opened in 1800 by the then-Princess Elizabeth, whose father, King George III, celebrated many happy wedding anniversaries as an esteemed guest.

Rumour has it that Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, and General Eisenhower even plotted the D-Day invasion inside the walls of the castle.

Such rich history is respected with intention by the team, who work with the local museum and Dorset Garden Trust on all matters of historical protection and preservation.

Eco-Friendly

The Penn estate is deliberate and conscious about maintaining an environmental strategy throughout its operations. There is a sustainable through-line from the cellar, which has carbon-neutral and organic wines in its selection, to The Event’s Team’s paper and plastic-free communication, and The Creative Collection’s commitment to repurpose materials where possible. No detail is too small, down to the herbs used in the collection’s ‘sage’ styling palette, which can be gifted, planted, or re-used.

Moreover, the estate consults with Dorset County Council to develop a bespoke ecology strategy that protects trees and flora wherever possible. The recent Clifftops development saw this strategy in action, with clifftop flora recreated above the five cliffside residences to attract local butterflies.