Poundon House is a private family home. The house is situated between Bicester and Buckingham overlooking unspoilt countryside. The house, which was built at the turn of the 19th. Century in the Queen Anne style, was designed by a follower of Lutyens in the Palladian manner. It provides a secluded area to hold events.

We have a civil license for four rooms: The Dining Room can seat up to 70 persons but for smaller gatherings one of the other rooms may be more suitable. The Registrar is also happy to have people seated outside on the terrace, while the couple sit in the Yellow Room and this can seat up to 200 persons, though an extra marquee is required which we can provide.

There is a marquee that is situated in the grounds that can hold up to 250 persons, though this is only available from May through to September. The marquee has proper drainage and heating.

If you are looking for a more intimate Wedding, we can also offer a Ceremony followed by drinks and a Wedding Breakfast for up to 50 persons in the Dining Room. This is available all year round.

Whilst we have tried to describe Poundon House, a visit is really necessary to appreciate the actual beauty and privacy of the house and gardens.

Kind Regards,

NATALIE ROSCOE

Costs

The couple are welcome to arrive at any time in the morning if they wish to prepare and dress at the house. The reception rooms and the marquee may be decorated on the day prior to the Wedding Reception if previously arranged. There are 2 bedrooms and a bathroom available solely for your use to dress, and these two rooms are available for overnight accommodation for the couple and / or their immediate family. A private room downstairs, that only the couple will have access to, is also available for wedding presents and belongings.

The cost for the exclusive use of the three reception rooms including a reception room for the Civil Ceremony (if required), terrace and grounds with a fully equiped marquee, and a pavilion with toilet facilities are as follows.

n.b. there is VAT charged on the initial £ 1500 that is required for confirmation, but not on the remaining amount.

The marquee is 12m x 24m and can seat up to 250 persons, and the above cost also includes white painted chairs, 5 foot 6 tables (seat 10 max), Indian hand blocked printed lining, carpeted hard flooring, dance floor and staging for the band if required.

Poundon House is for your exclusive use and no other wedding will take place during that weekend or on the Friday before.

We can seat up to 70 persons in the Dining Room for the Ceremony. For larger Wedding Ceremonies the Terrace can be used to seat additional guests. For this, a marquee is required (this is an extra cost at £ 800 plus VAT). However the couple must remain within the Yellow room for the duration of the service.

Alternatively, for a more intimate Wedding, we can seat 50 persons in The Dining Room for the Wedding Breakfast. After the Ceremony, held in The Yellow Room, guests can proceed to the Drawing Room for drinks, followed by the Wedding Breakfast in The Dining Room. This is available all year and the cost for this is from £ 1250.

Our preferred caterer is Passion For Food who pride themselves on using fresh local free-range organic produce wherever possible. Philip Baker is happy to meet at the house to discuss menu ideas and will also provide a tasting at the house. However, you are not obliged to use Passion For Food.

Poundon House is a much loved and cherished family home. We hope that you understand that the following points will help us to safeguard the future of Poundon House and its contents, and also respect those who live nearby.

VIEWING OF POUNDON HOUSE
Poundon House remains very much a family home and consequently the viewing of it is only possible by prior arrangement. We are happy to show the house and discuss your plans on weekends, weekdays and evenings, but appointments must be made in advance.

ALCOHOL
Couples are welcome to bring their own alcohol, and caterers will charge corkage, though Poundon House does not. However, after the Wedding Breakfast, Poundon House will supply all drinks from a bar set up in the Marquee, which can either be on account or cash.

SMOKING
Smoking is not permitted in any part of the house or marquee.

CHILDREN
Children are welcome at Poundon House but remain the responsibility of their parents at all times.

CONFETTI
Confetti must be natural, and any other type of confetti is not permitted.

FINISHING TIME
As Poundon House is located in a village, we request that guests respect those who live nearby and therefore the music must finish at 11.00 and guests must depart by midnight.

THE HOUSE
Once guests have proceeded to the marquee, the house will no longer be available.

ACCOMMODATION
We can only offer two bedrooms for any overnight accommodation at Poundon House, and we can also provide a list of local hotels and B & Bs for you and your guests.

Please call if you would like to arrange a time to visit.

Useful numbers,
recommended suppliers,
local places to stay,
and, lots of your
questions answered!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can we come to the house before the day and dress the marquee and prepare the rooms?
Yes, but please make sure we are aware of the days / times you want to come. Poundon House is a family home and we do not employ full time staff - so we must make sure someone is there to help you. We will set up the tables and chairs on the Monday and you are welcome to come any time over the week to dress the house and marquee, as long as you make an appointment.

Can we leave things at the house after the Reception and collect the next day?
Yes, again, we just need to know in advance to make sure someone is there.

Can we hire other linings for the marquee, or additional marquee items?
Yes, we offer what is included in the price (as per booking form) and you can hire anything additional at your own expense. Please make sure we are aware of the items and any deliveries that might have to be supervised. We can recommend companies for this.

Is there a hi-fi we can use to play music on the day in the reception rooms and for the ceremony?
Yes. There is a CD disc man available, but if you require anything more specialised, you will have to arrange it. Poundon House will not be available to co-ordinate music on the day so please ask one of your guests to help.

Can guests get changed at the house?
If they have travelled from far, they may not want to wear their outfit for the drive.
They can use the pavilion to change in, but we really only want the house for the bride and groom and immediate family. The bride and groom can use the 2 bedrooms but we do not want other guests wandering round the house. The other rooms are private.

Can we use the swimming pool?
No. The swimming pool will be securely gated so as to avoid any accidents with children.

Can the florist, band and photographer, caterer come and have a look around the venue prior to the day? Can we also arrange a time to bring our parents?
Yes, but again, we must know in advance. We would prefer it if you could arrange all this on the same day.

After we have decided to go ahead and use Poundon, what happens next?
We need the deposit of £ 1500 (no VAT) to confirm your date. Your weekend is then secure, you have the house from Friday to dress through to the Sunday. We also need a contract and booking form signed, which clarifies what is included in the price and the other boring legal things! Then, all I require is a schedule closer to the event, that states your plan for the day, your suppliers, and any deliveries that will be made e.t.c.

Can we use the 3 Reception Rooms throughout the evening?
The 3 Rooms can only be used until you go to the marquee. Couples like us to rope off the terrace so that guests can be encouraged to stay at the marquee, this creates a better party atmosphere than having guests wandering everywhere.

Is there plenty of room for car parking?
Yes, there is plenty of room.

Can we have fireworks?
Yes, but please use our recommended company, this is non negotiable.

Will there be lighting and signs for the evening guests?
Yes, we will have signs to the car park and also to the marquee, and lighting.

Do you have a top table?
Yes, we have 2 x rectangular tables for use as the top table, (seats 8) and also 20 round 5foot 6 (seats 10 max per table) as well as a cake table.

Is there an easel for us to put our table plan?
There are 2 easels 1' x 3'

Is there a table e.t.c. for the registrar?
The registrar will require 2 tables. One for the person conducting the ceremony, and one for the super intend ant. We will provide these 2 tables and chairs.

Can the photographer get an overhead shot of the guests on the terrace?
Yes, the photographer can have access to a room upstairs to take an overhead shot of the guests, but the photographer must be accompanied my a member of the family for this. The photographer will need to discuss this with a member of the family.

Do you have an easel for the Wedding table plan?
No.

What kind of power is there at the marquee?
It is 3 phase, 240 volts. There is sufficient power for band, caterers, lighting e.t.c. but band e.t.c. must discuss with Poundon House before using any of the power, as it is all distributed according to requirements and must be adequately supervised.

Can we use candles in the marquee and house?
Yes in the marquee, but we will have to approve the candle holders. We are obviously concerned about safety, and there will be fire extinguishers in the marquee, but we ask everyone to be responsible. Candles are not allowed in the house unless we are made aware of them and someone is responsible for them and it has been previously discussed.

If it rains and guests are on the Terrace, do you have umbrellas we can use?
Yes, we have several large umbrellas that we are happy for you to use.

If we do not use a room for the Ceremony, does that reduce the cost?
I am afraid not.

Once we have decided on a menu, can we have a tasting?
Yes, Philip will be more than happy to arrange a tasting at the house. However, if you use another catering company, we do not offer this service.

Does Poundon House remove all the rubbish?
Yes, we tidy and clean the marquee after your wedding, but we do not remove the catering rubbish. If the marquee is exceptionally messy, there is a charge of £ 100. We also charge the caterers £ 15 plus VAT for the use of our bins, or they must remove their rubbish that night.

Directions

From Bicester

From London, take junction 9 off the M40. From Oxford, head towards the M40 on the A34. At the roundabout above the motorway, head towards Bicester on the A41. At the Esso station roundabout, turn right you are on the Bicester bypass. At the next big roundabout, take the second left towards Launton. In Launton, turn left opposite The Bull Inn, this will be marked Poundon. Go straight over the cross roads and we are the first house on the right with black gates and a lime tree avenue.

From Buckingham

On the Buckingham / Brackley ringroad, follow signs to Gawcott. Continue into Gawcott and turn left at the T-junction, signed towards Marsh Gibbon / Twyford. Continue until you past the Seven Stars on your right, where you then take the next right to Twyford. Continue through Twyford. Out of Twyford, turn right towards Poundon, then take the left by the Sow and Pigs. Poundon House is the last house on the left with the black iron gates and limetree avenue.