Northwood House stands in its own park in the middle of Cowes, which is a strange and rather wonderful thing: a grand listed country house, complete with a domed rotunda entrance, a few minutes’ walk from a high street full of chandlers and sailing shops. George Ward, a London merchant, bought the estate in 1793, and it was his son who rebuilt and decorated the house into the confection it is today. The Wards threw famously lavish parties here, with Queen Victoria’s children among the guests, so you would be continuing a tradition rather than starting one.
The house has been in the hands of a charitable trust since 2010, and it shows in the best possible way. Rooms have been steadily restored rather than corporatised, and the money your wedding spends goes straight back into the building and the park. Inside there is a run of elegant reception rooms that can be taken individually or strung together — a light-filled ceremony room, a drawing room that does beautifully for drinks, and the Ballroom, which is the main event and seats up to 150. Outside, Northwood Park gives you broad sunny lawns for photographs and for guests to spread out on, with room for a marquee or a stretch tent if you want to extend the day outdoors.
Catering is pleasingly open-handed. More than 10 local companies sit on the approved list, covering everything from proper fine dining to an unashamed finger buffet, and the house looks after the bar itself, with corkage if you would rather bring your own wine and champagne. There is parking on site, the house is licensed for civil ceremonies, and the church is a short walk away if you would like a religious service first.
Where the band plays
The Ballroom is the obvious home for a band, and it is a proper Victorian party room: high ceilings, hard surfaces and plenty of natural reverberation. That is flattering for brass and for vocals, though it does mean a good band will pull the volume back a little rather than try to fill every corner of it. There is a dancefloor, and the scale of the room suits anything from a four-piece upwards. With around 200 able to fill the house standing, a busy evening gives the sound somewhere to go instead of bouncing off empty walls.
How the evening runs
A day here flows easily from ceremony room or lawn to drawing room to Ballroom, with the park available throughout for anyone who wants air. Live music, discos and even fireworks are all permitted, which leaves you plenty of options for the close of the night. Evenings run to around midnight, so a band playing two sets from mid-evening lands its last number while the room is still full rather than into the backs of departing coats. The house does sit in a residential part of Cowes, so it is worth confirming the exact music finish with the team when you book.
Parking, load-in and staying nearby
The park has its own car parking and suppliers can get close to the house, which makes a band’s life considerably easier than a long carry across gravel. There is no accommodation in the house itself, but you are in the centre of Cowes: hotels, guest houses and the Red Jet across to Southampton are all within walking distance.
Bands available on the Isle of Wight and perfectly at home in a venue like this.
More live music on the Isle of Wight.
- Wedding Bands on the Isle of Wight
- Events Bands on the Isle of Wight
- Tribute Acts on the Isle of Wight
- Wedding DJs on the Isle of Wight
- Corporate Entertainment on the Isle of Wight
Worth reading before you book: Sound Limiters at Venues: What You Need to Know. More questions answered on our England & Wales FAQs.