Broadfield Court Vineyard: An Exclusive-Use Herefordshire Estate with its own Sparkling Wine
Nestled at the end of a long, tree-lined drive on Bowley Lane, just north of the village of Bodenham in Herefordshire, Broadfield Court is a quietly remarkable country estate. With parts of the house dating back to the fourteenth century and a Domesday Book pedigree, the property today operates as an exclusive-use wedding venue, luxury house-rental retreat, corporate escape, Christmas bolthole and, uniquely for a Herefordshire house of this heritage, a working vineyard producing its own Champagne-method sparkling wine, cider and apple juice.
What sets Broadfield apart from the many fine country-house venues dotted across the West Country is the genuine family ethos behind it. The estate is run by John, Helen, Alex and Frances (with, as they put it, occasional help from the two smallest family members, Isaac and Grace). After falling in love with Herefordshire, the family bought Broadfield in August 2017, relocated to the county and spent eighteen months renovating the property before opening in March 2019.
History of the Broadfield Estate
Broadfield has a long and illustrious history in the county. It is first mentioned in the Domesday Book, when it was likely little more than a substantial acreage of land. By the fourteenth century it had grown into a house of significance, complete with its own private chapel, and fragments of that medieval building still survive within the present structure.
By the Tudor period the estate had fallen into disrepair, but it was given a new lease of life as a large farmhouse that incorporated the surviving fourteenth-century portion. In 1825 the house once again needed substantial work, and was extended and remodelled into a Gothic mansion complete with gargoyles, coats of arms, finials and ornate stucco ceilings that remain some of Broadfield's most striking interior features today.
Now, in the twenty-first century, the Shennan and Herman-Squance families have restored Broadfield once more, preserving nearly a thousand years of history while adding the comforts of a boutique hotel. A pamphlet about the property's history is available to guests on request.
The Grounds and Gardens
Broadfield sits in five acres of gardens that back directly onto open Herefordshire fields, ensuring total privacy. Because the house is linear in design, every garden faces south, making breakfast, lunch and dinner outside almost obligatory in good weather. A long stone terrace with seating for the full party runs off the house onto the David Austin rose garden, which flowers from summer into early autumn, filling the air with scent and colour.
Beyond the rose garden lie two sweeping lawns, ideal for croquet, cricket, giant Jenga or simply lounging in the sun, and a substantial kitchen garden stocked with fruit, vegetables and cut flowers in spring and summer. Further down, a traditional summerhouse offers a quiet spot for a coffee, a book or a glass of Broadfield's own sparkling. Adjacent to it sits the small vineyard and the apple orchard, from which the family produces its cider and juice. A firepit, pizza oven beside the bar and an optional hot tub mean the gardens can be enjoyed from sunrise to sunset and well into the evening.
Wider Grounds and the Estate
Beyond the formal gardens the grounds open up into woodland, a traditional Herefordshire orchard and open fields, offering guests endless opportunities for walking, photographs and quiet retreat. The estate is a working one, and you may well be greeted by cows from the neighbouring field on your walk down to the woodland ceremony glade.
Weddings at Broadfield
Broadfield is perhaps best known as one of the most distinctive exclusive-use wedding venues in Herefordshire. The estate is hired entirely for the duration of a couple's stay, with no other weddings held on site and never on consecutive days, allowing the team to give every couple the bespoke attention their day deserves.
Why Couples Choose Broadfield
- Truly exclusive use for two nights or more, with the whole estate yours
- Nine luxurious bedrooms included in the hire price, sleeping up to 24 in the main house
- The three-bedroom Broadfield Coach House available to add, sleeping another six or seven
- Choice of indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception spaces, from woods to barn to marquee
- Complete flexibility of suppliers, with a wealth of trusted recommendations if needed
- Full event planning and support from the family-run team from first viewing to the day itself
- A dog-friendly venue, with canine friends welcome throughout the celebrations
Ceremony Spaces
Broadfield offers an unusually wide choice of ceremony locations, allowing couples to immerse themselves in the surroundings. The David Austin rose garden, the magical woodland glade with its dappled light, the traditional Herefordshire orchard or the sun-drenched lawns can all host ceremonies. For indoor ceremonies the elegant wood-panelled dining room with its huge stone fireplace seats up to 60, while the sun-filled inner hall seats up to 50.
The newly renovated Broadfield Long Barn (new for 2026) seats around 140 inside its gorgeous old stone walls, while from May to early October the distinctive fold yard, a hexagonal structure with a flag-topped roof, can seat up to 150, either open-sided or enclosed for cooler weather. Weddings of anywhere from two to 175 guests can be accommodated.
Drinks Reception and Wedding Breakfast
A favourite spot for the drinks reception is the south-facing terrace leading down into the rose garden, with the house's inner and outer halls providing a graceful indoor alternative. For intimate weddings of up to 50, the wood-panelled dining room is the obvious setting for the wedding breakfast. For larger parties, the Long Barn accommodates around 100 on long tables or rounds, with more evening guests able to join. The fold yard creates an indoor-outdoor feel for up to 96, and for the largest parties, a tipi or marquee overlooking the Herefordshire countryside comfortably hosts around 170, and can be heated for cooler months.
Broadfield's own separate bar, which sits between the gardens and the fold yard, is included in the venue hire and is fully stocked, including with Broadfield's own sparkling wine, cider and apple juice. The barn will also have its own bar, and the team can serve from a bar inside a tipi or marquee if preferred.
Food and Suppliers
Couples may choose any caterer they wish, with a fully equipped catering kitchen included in the hire. For those who would rather not source independently, Broadfield's recommended caterers include AtoZest, Your Plate or Mine, The Cider Barn, Pickled Pumpkin and Ceylon and Beyond, covering everything from formal three-course menus to relaxed barbecues, street food, paella, wood-fired outdoor cooking and Herefordshire hog roasts. Different caterers can even be used for day and evening food.
Florists commonly recommended include Issy and Bella, May Rose Floral, Luna Bloom and Bride and Bloom. Tipi and marquee suppliers include Java Tipis, Giantipi and West Country Marquees. Bridal styling comes via Dress to Impress by Julie, and photography from a long list of approved professionals led by David Liebst Photography.
Wedding Offers
Broadfield runs occasional late-availability offers. For summer 2026, the estate is offering over 15% off remaining weekend dates. Included in the weekend hire is exclusive use from Friday lunchtime until Sunday lunchtime, the house with its nine bedrooms, gardens and grounds, the bar and fold yard marquee space, full event planning, choice of ceremony and reception locations, the option to add the three-bedroom Coach House at a discount, the option to add the newly renovated Broadfield Barn at launch price, and full flexibility on catering and suppliers.
Remaining dates for the offer are 6 June, 13 June, 18 July, 1 August, 15 August and 5 September 2026. Quote '15% off' when enquiring.
For couples wanting a more compact celebration, Broadfield has introduced limited edition day-only weddings from £6,000 on a few selected 2026 dates. The package includes use of the newly renovated barn, fold yard marquee, bar, gardens and main-house lounges, indoor or outdoor ceremony, the bridal suite to get ready in, full staffing, furniture, glassware, cake stand and wedding planning. Up to 90 day guests and 120 evening guests can be accommodated. Adding the Coach House for two nights costs £950. Quote 'day only' when enquiring.
House Hire and Luxury Stays
Outside weddings, Broadfield operates as an exclusive-use luxury house-hire retreat, sleeping up to 24 guests in the main house (with cots available), plus another six or seven in the Coach House, taking total capacity to 31 plus infants.
Inside the Main House
The house features wood-panelled walls, stucco ceilings and roaring fires in nearly every room, combined with the comforts of a boutique hotel: huge showers, comfy beds and snuggly sofas. On the ground floor, three sitting areas include the decadent navy blue lounge, the inner hall and a snug for reading or children to play. A wood-panelled dining room, a breakfast room for informal meals and a modern kitchen with its own social table complete the downstairs layout. Four highchairs, children's cutlery and crockery are available for families with babies and toddlers. A ground floor plan is available to download.
Entertainment comes in the form of a library with a full-size pool table, a separate large games room above the bar with a cinema area and table tennis, and a fully equipped Broadfield bar that comes with the hire on a DIY basis and can be stocked and staffed at additional cost. Board games, DVDs, books, children's toys and a Broadfield treasure hunt are also provided. In summer, garden games including croquet, cricket and giant Jenga are set out, and there is a swing and slide for smaller children. A hot tub can either be included or hired in.
Bedrooms
Upstairs there are nine beautifully styled bedrooms: two with superking beds (which can be split into full-sized singles), six with kingsize beds and one double. Several have seating areas overlooking the gardens. The superking dressing room in the bridal suite can be converted into a ninth bedroom, and up to four z-beds and a double sofa bed can be added for an extra capacity of 24. All bedrooms have either an en-suite, a private bathroom or share with just one other room, with six bathrooms featuring large waterfall showers and one with a deep bath. A first floor plan is available.
House Hire Pricing
- 2-night weekend: from £3,400
- 3-night weekend: £3,700
- Week: £5,950
- 2-night mid-week: POA
- 3-night mid-week: POA
- 4-night mid-week: £3,700
Pricing is dependent on season and availability. Broadfield's seasons are: off-peak (January, February, March excluding Easter, November, December excluding Christmas and New Year); mid-off (April excluding Easter and October); mid-peak (May and September); and peak (Easter, June, July, August and Christmas/New Year). Put-up beds and the sofa bed are at a small additional cost; cots are free. Broadfield also runs late-availability deals and is available to groups attending local events and festivals such as The Cheltenham Festival and The Hay Festival.
Catering and Local Food
Prices are based on self-catering, with the kitchen stocked with essentials such as oils, tea, coffee and dishwasher tablets. Caterers can be arranged for all or part of the stay, from a special dinner to a bottomless brunch or a countryside picnic, and the team is happy to recommend local butchers, grocers, cheesemongers and restaurants. Herefordshire's famed food scene, including England's Gate in Bodenham, the foodie haven of Ludlow and the county's many farmers' markets, sits on the doorstep.
Christmas and New Year at Broadfield
From the start of December, Broadfield is dressed for the festive season: magnificent locally-grown trees grace the long hall and dining room, mantels are laden with greenery and candles, stars and glittering baubles hang from the beams, and stockings appear by the fireplace. The bar takes on its own tree and glitter ball, and the Coach House becomes a picture-postcard Christmas cottage.
Festive hires are fully exclusive use. The main house sleeps up to 24 (plus infants) across nine bedrooms, with the Coach House adding room for another seven. For large groups, both properties can be taken together; for separate groups, each is fully self-contained with its own garden, parking and amenities.
Festive Pricing 2026
- Christmas week (21 - 28 December): £9,400 main house, £1,750 Coach House; both properties £10,950
- New Year week (28 December - 4 January): £9,400 main house, £1,750 Coach House; both properties £10,950
- New Year four-night stay (29 December - 2 January or 30 December - 3 January): £7,750 main house, £1,550 Coach House; both properties £9,000
Direct bookings receive a luxury hot tub and a festive hamper that includes Broadfield's own sparkling wine and apple juice. Please contact the team for shorter-stay prices.
Corporate Retreats
With its exclusive-use feel, super-fast Wi-Fi and easy access to national transport links, Broadfield is well-suited to executive retreats, board vision days and team-planning workshops. Meeting and breakout rooms are supplemented by social and dining spaces, and the secluded five-acre setting gives teams room to think.
On-site activity ideas include yoga, massage, meditation, cocktail making, hot-tub sessions, laser clays and floral workshops, while off-site options include canoeing, clay shooting, quad biking, cider tasting and brewery or distillery tours. Staffing and housekeeping can be arranged as required, dogs are welcome, and from 2026 the new Broadfield Barn will be able to host events of up to 90 to dine or 120 in auditorium/networking layouts. Bespoke packages are available for larger outdoor events such as family fun days, product launches or awards evenings.
Events and Celebrations
Beyond weddings, Broadfield can be hired for a wide range of events, from charity balls and exhibitions to birthday celebrations, exhibitions and product launches. The south-facing lawns accommodate large marquee or tipi events, while smaller gatherings can be hosted in the bar, the upper barn space above it (or both together as a flexible two-room venue) or in the drawing room and inner hall.
The Broadfield Bar can hold around 100 guests and can be opened as a cash bar during events; alternatively, the team can run a bar from inside a marquee or tipi. Drinks are drawn from a considered selection of wines, beers, ciders and spirits, many of which come from producers within a mile or two of the estate.
Broadfield also has a long history of hosting community events. Whether a workshop space, meeting room or celebration venue is needed, the team is keen to continue that tradition and is happy to discuss community rates.
Location Hire for Film, TV and Editorial
Broadfield's combination of historical architecture, period outbuildings and varied gardens makes it a versatile location for film, television, editorial photo shoots and product launches. The main house offers rooms with panelling, ornate ceilings and open fireplaces that can be used as presented or dressed by crews, while the rustic outbuildings and barns provide period and country backdrops.
The gardens include a rose garden, walled kitchen garden, south-facing lawns, wooded areas and ponds, with open Herefordshire countryside beyond, ideal for unimpeded views. Hire periods range from half a day to weeks. Past projects include a week-long stay by a New Zealand documentary crew, use of the front door and courtyard as a film backdrop for a remake of Wuthering Heights, editorial photo shoots and professional floristry workshops.
The Broadfield Coach House
At the end of the tree-lined drive, tucked away in its own private gardens, sits the Broadfield Coach House, a beautiful stone cottage sleeping six to seven, available either as a standalone holiday let or in addition to the main house. Ample parking for three cars sits to the front; to the rear a south-west facing garden with patio, outdoor dining space and room for a hot tub catches the afternoon and evening sun.
Inside, a large downstairs bedroom with a superking bed (which can split into two full-size singles) sits next to a bathroom with a waterfall shower. Upstairs are two further kingsize bedrooms sharing a second bathroom. All bedrooms are luxuriously dressed with comfortable bed linen, thick towels, hairdryers and individual styling. The open-plan modern kitchen centres around a dining table for social cooking and eating, while the lounge with its squishy sofa, comfy armchairs and log burner is made for relaxing. French doors throw open to the patio in summer, while the stove takes centre stage in winter.
The Coach House is dog-friendly and completely self-contained, with its own garden, parking and amenities. When weddings are taking place at the main house, however, the Coach House is reserved exclusively for wedding guests. For prices and bookings, contact 01568 760471 or enquiries@broadfieldcourt.com.
The Vineyard: Broadfield Sparkling Wine
Among the orchard at the bottom of the gardens sits the Broadfield vineyard, a small but meticulously tended plot of around 100 vines. The estate produces its own Broadfield Sparkling Wine, made predominantly from Seyval Blanc grapes grown on the estate and blended with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The wine is made in the Champagne method: the base wine is fermented in tank before being transferred to bottle for its second fermentation in the traditional way. The first vintage was picked in 2021, spending a year in tank before bottling. Annual production is around 450 bottles, making each release a small, coveted drop.
In the glass, the wine is refreshing and elegant with pleasing depth of flavour, most similar to Champagne or Cava, and ideal as an aperitif, with light summery dishes or for a celebration. The wine is made in collaboration with Halfpenny Green Wine Estate near Stourbridge, a respected West Midlands winery that supports many small producers as the English wine community grows.
Cider and Apple Juice
The estate's orchard also produces Broadfield's own cider and apple juice. Both are available to wedding couples and house guests to buy and can be served over the bar during events.
Buying Broadfield Wine and Visiting the Vineyard
Broadfield does not have a public shop on site and the wines are not sold through a third-party retailer. Bottles are reserved primarily for couples marrying at the estate, served over the bar during weddings and events, and occasionally offered to house guests.
Broadfield is also not open to the general public. Wine tours and tastings are not currently offered, but pre-booked visits can sometimes be arranged when the estate is not in use by guests. Anyone interested in buying Broadfield Sparkling, cider or apple juice can email enquiries@broadfieldcourt.com or call 01568 760471.
Please note that Broadfield Sparkling Wine is produced by Broadfield (the house and vineyard operated by John, Helen, Alex and Frances), and is entirely separate from Broadfield Court Farm Estate, the brown-signed Broadfield Court Vineyard, and Broadfield Wines, which offer a different range of wines and are a completely different entity. Enquiries for that separate vineyard should be directed to them.
Local Area: Food, Festivals and the Great Outdoors
Herefordshire is one of England's best-kept secrets for food, drink and the outdoors, and Broadfield sits in a particularly well-supplied corner of the county.
Food and Drink
Newton Court, Ludlow Distillery and Wye Valley Brewery all offer tasting tours, while small local cider producers such as Butford Organics sit within a few hundred metres of the estate. Herefordshire beef is world-renowned, with excellent butchers in Leominster, Hereford and Ludlow. The county is the UK's premier apple-growing region, with Apple Weeks a county-wide celebration. England's Gate in Bodenham is a popular local for eating out, and Ludlow's thriving food scene, including its famous food festival, is within easy reach.
Festivals and Culture
Music festivals across the county include Nozstock, The Green Man, How the Light Gets In and Rock the Barn, while literary highlights feature the world-famous Hay Festival in spring and its autumn counterpart, plus Cheltenham's literary festival and jazz festival. The Cheltenham Festival is also a popular reason for groups to hire the house.
Hereford Cathedral hosts the Mappa Mundi, a must for history lovers. Three National Trust properties sit within twenty minutes' drive, and Ludlow Castle is another historical hot spot. Theatres in Hereford, Leominster and Ludlow offer year-round programmes, with the Borderlines Film Festival and Flicks in the Sticks adding to the cultural mix.
The Great Outdoors
Both the Brecon Beacons and the Malvern Hills are within easy reach, with plenty of more local walks on the doorstep. Canoes and kayaks can be hired on the River Wye, and bicycles are available locally. Clay pigeon shooting, archery, golf and a host of other outdoor activities are within a few miles, and many can be brought to Broadfield itself.
Children and Families
Queenswood Country Park, with its natural play area and Gruffalo Trail, is just five minutes away. Oaker Wood Leisure offers raft building, quad biking, paintball and similar activities. Leominster Leisure Centre has a great pool and soft play. Leominster is an antique-lover's paradise (regularly featured on Antiques Roadtrip), while Hereford and Ludlow both have thriving independent shopping scenes. Cheltenham, Bristol and Birmingham are all within 90 minutes for major brands.
Sport
Ludlow, Hereford, Worcester and Cheltenham all have racecourses with regular fixtures, and the county has a thriving point-to-point scene. Premiership rugby sides Gloucester, Worcester and Bristol are within reach, as are Cardiff Blues. Hereford FC plays from Edgar Street, Worcester County Cricket Ground is about 45 minutes away and Docklow Pools fishing lakes are just 15 minutes from the estate. Herefordshire is also home to some of the country's best shoots, and the team is happy to put together shoot-stay packages.
Visiting Broadfield: Practical Information
Location and Travel
Broadfield is on Bowley Lane, just off the A417. The A49 and A44 are major roads into the county, both about five minutes away. The M5 is around 40 minutes' drive with connections to the M6, M50 and other major routes. Birmingham is 1 hour 15 minutes away, London and Manchester around 2 hours 30 minutes. The nearest station is Leominster, 10 minutes by car, with direct services to Manchester and Cardiff; Hereford station is 20 minutes away with direct services to Birmingham and on to London. Birmingham Airport is 1 hour 15 minutes, Bristol and Cardiff around 1 hour 45 minutes; Shobdon private airfield is 20 minutes and Gloucester airport about 40 minutes.
The postcode is HR1 3LG. Look out for the brown Broadfield Vineyard signs: a brown sign opposite the drive on Bowley Lane and a large grey Broadfield sign at the top of the drive. A large car park sits behind an old tithe barn opposite the house.
Tours and Viewings
Personal viewings are offered year-round so prospective guests can experience Broadfield at their own pace. For those wanting a taste before visiting, two Matterport virtual tours (one of the main house and one of the bar, upper barn and grounds) are available, produced with Virtual 360 Tours Gloucestershire.
The Team
- Helen Herman-Squance - 07442 530639 - helen@broadfieldcourt.com
- Frances Shennan - 07886 178875 - frances@broadfieldcourt.com
- Alex Shennan - 07760 375977 - alex@broadfieldcourt.com
- Main office - 01568 760471 - enquiries@broadfieldcourt.com
Garden Care
In June 2025, Hugh joined the team as gardener, bringing a wealth of horticultural knowledge. With his plans for the rose garden, kitchen garden and grounds, the gardens are entering a particularly exciting phase, which guests during weddings and house stays over the coming seasons will be the first to enjoy.
In Summary
Broadfield Court is a rare kind of place: a thousand-year-old estate whose every stone tells a story, yet run as a warm, hands-on family business where every guest (couple, family reunion, corporate team or festival group) is treated as one of their own. With exclusive-use hire, a wedding offering built around genuine flexibility and bespoke planning, a working Champagne-method vineyard, a romantic Herefordshire setting and easy access to the very best of the West Country, Broadfield is both a destination in itself and a gateway to one of England's most quietly beautiful counties.