The Speech House is a hotel and wedding venue in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. It was originally built as a hunting lodge for King Charles in 1669 and used to host Verderers court, for the protection of vert and venison. The Verderers were appointed to deal with any misdemeanours in the forest. From 1858, the lodge was let by the Crown as an inn, but a courtroom was still reserved for the Verderers when needed. Extensive building work in 1881 to 1883 resulted in the building that still stands today, while the local Magistrates Court was given the power to deal with offences in the forest related to venison from 1914 onwards.
Such historic and tranquil settings mean The Speech House is the ideal country wedding venue. The surrounding gardens and forest provide the perfect backdrop both to the big day and the all-important wedding photos.
The hotel is also licensed to conduct civil ceremonies, perfect for those who want the whole day to happen under one roof. These can take place in either The Edwin Tauber Suite or The Verderers’ Court. The former seats up to 150 guests and is a purpose-built function space. Large bi-fold doors open out onto a covered terrace, providing views over the Speech House field and beyond. The historic courtroom provides a more traditional setting for 50-70 guests. It features the original hand carved Verderers chairs, a huge open fireplace, and a beamed ceiling. The Carolean Room, named after Charles II, is perfect for smaller ceremonies, seating up to 25 guests.
Any of these can be swiftly converted to host the wedding breakfast and evening reception. The decor for this phase of the day is completely in the couple’s hands, with a member of the hotel’s dedicated team on offer to help plan and execute their exact vision. Guests and the couple can then stay over in one of the hotel’s rooms.