About Caer Llan

About us, our lovely home and it’s history

INTRODUCTION

Caer Llan has been at the heart of the Carpenter family since 1969. The house was built around the turn of the 18th/19th century, with significant extensions in later years. Peter Carpenter first opened Caer Llan’s doors in 1970 as a field studies centre, and soon after began welcoming guests for parties and celebrations.

Caer Llan remains in the Carpenter family today and for the last 20 years has been run and lovingly maintained by Peter’s son, Jake, and his wife Vicky. Together they have extensively refurbished and extended the property into an elegant country house venue. Their drive to develop and improve continues for both the property and the business which has evolved over the years to Caer Llan’s current status as a highly regarded weddings and events venue.

The Caer Llan philosophy is simple: to make every guest feel at home whilst setting the highest standards of service and accommodation.

LOCALITY

Situated in Monmouthshire and the beautiful Wye Valley, Caer Llan is nestled on a hilltop with breathtaking views of the Welsh hills and mountains. Caer Llan offers peace and tranquility in its 25 acres of secluded woodland and a chance to get away from it all. Although guests feel a long way from their everyday lives when they come to Caer Llan, the venue is within easy access of major motorways, just under an hour’s drive from Bristol and Cardiff and 2 hours from London.

The countryside around Caer Llan is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is located a few miles from Monmouth, a pretty market town right on the border between Wales and England. The beautiful Wye Valley and historic Royal Forest of Dean are also on the doorstep for guests to explore and enjoy.

OUR FACILITIES AND ACCOMMODATION..

ACCOMMODATION

There are 16 en-suite bedrooms in total, split between the Main House (9 rooms) and the immediately adjacent eco extension known as the Berm House (7 ground floor rooms). 11 of these 16 guest rooms are highly adaptable featuring zip and link beds which can be configured prior to your arrival as twin or superking beds. Additional day beds and trundles ensure these rooms are suitable for groups of friends or families. The other 5 rooms are of fixed layout with 4 doubles (which includes our stunning bridal suite) and 1 single room.

Rooms in the main house are highly individual with a stylish, elegant feel and those in the Berm House are light and modern. We are always updating, refurbishing or adding to some part of the accommodation at Caer Llan, to try to keep them as traditional and yet up to date as possible. The berm house features 7 spacious ground floor en suite bedrooms arranged alongside each other off a long corridor. All these rooms have stunning views and are easily accessible. One of these rooms features an ensuite wetroom which has been adapted for wheel chair access.

All rooms have free WiFi and are provided with towels and bed linen (other than for cots). Although we are unable to offer room service at Caer Llan, all rooms are equipped with tea and coffee making facilities.

ENTRANCE HALL & FUNCTION ROOM

The grand entrance hall and function room combine into one large open plan area which forms the hub for events at Caer Llan. The room features solid oak floors and fireplaces, high ceilings and chandeliers, period arch details and a large bay window which showcases the stunning views over the rolling Welsh countryside. It provides a hugely versatile space for your event, which we adapt to suit your requirements.

For wedding guests, the area is licensed for civil wedding ceremonies and the layout is such that as a couple, you can exchange your vows under the arch, in front of your friends and family, whilst the large bay window provides an idyllic scenic backdrop.

The area can be quickly transformed into a formal dining room for your wedding banquet or celebration meal, with variations of long or round table plans to suit. It is also equipped with disco lighting which illuminates a funky dance floor to keep your celebrations going strong into the evening. A high quality PA system, with input for MP3 players is provided such that you can create your own DIY disco.

BAR & PIANO LOUNGE

Next to the Entrance Hall and Function Room is the spacious Bar and Piano Lounge, with french doors opening onto the terrace and gardens. A place for guests to mingle and get to know one another, it has a stylish, contemporary feel with chic furniture, slate flooring, LED mood lighting, a wall mounted LCD TV and a baby grand piano. Our well stocked, fully licensed bar can stay open until 1am for non-residents, longer for those staying at Caer Llan.

THE SITTING ROOM

The Sitting Room has a homely living room feel and features views across the garden. It is the perfect place to spend time with family and friends, socialising and relaxing in the luxurious chesterfield sofas. Guests can enjoy a film on our big screen home cinema, or even hook up the Nintendo Wii.

This is a versatile space and can also be set up as a meeting room for corporate events. The room has a digital projector and screen, Ethernet broadband and WiFi access.

THE LIBRARY

Sit back and relax in our cosy Library with its pretty bay window overlooking the gardens. This is a quiet room with cosy seating and a selection of books for your guests to enjoy. WiFi access lets you keep in touch with the outside world whilst getting away from it all. In the evening, if you find the music too loud around the dance floor, then along with the sitting room, it’s a great place to escape for a drink and a chat, but still with the sound of some foot tapping background music, and you’re still in the thick of the party. Everyone is happy!

THE SITTING ROOM

This is a versatile space and can also be set up as a meeting room for corporate events. The room has a digital projector and screen, Ethernet broadband and WiFi access.

THE CONSERVATORY

Caer Llan’s light, airy Conservatory has spectacular views across the Vale of Usk. Bi-fold doors link it to the Function Room, it can be used for extra seating space for formal meals or as a way of linking the Function Room with the Terrace and Gardens.

THE POOL

Our gorgeous unheated outdoor swimming pool is hidden away in Caer Llan’s hillside garden and features a large patio surround and pool deck looking towards the distant Welsh mountains. With its secluded setting and lovely views, the pool has recently (2020) been fully refurbished and is always very popular with guests, despite the sometimes chilly temperatures!

The pool is available only as part of peak season bookings between April 1st and September 30th. Depending on the weather at the time we will always try to stretch its operation into the mid seasons by opening early and closing down later, but this cannot be assumed.

The pool itself is unsupervised and for use by guests only as there are no poolside changing facilities or toilets. Opening hours are 7am to 7pm. Chlorine dosing then takes place over night.

ABOUT CAER LLAN

HOSPITALITY SERVICES (FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD)

CATERING AT CAER LLAN

Caer Llan offers a wide choice of menu options all cooked on site in our own country house kitchen. Such options include a fine dining menu, traditional meals and roasts, sumptuous banquets and buffets, light lunches, informal barbecues, hog roasts and vintage afternoon teas.

Breakfast is a hearty affair at Caer Llan and guests will enjoy a full traditional English Breakfast, a selection of toasts and preserves, fresh fruit juices and a choice of cereals and unlimited tea and coffee.

FRESH, FANCY AND HOME MADE

In all cases, we take pride in offering delicious home cooked meals using fresh locally sourced ingredients. We are fully prepared to cater for food allergies and specialist diets, although we do ask to be notified in advance of such requirements.

Before you come to Caer Llan, we’ll take the time to discuss menu options with you and ask you to confirm your menu choices before arrival. Menus and prices are contained within the individual downloadable brochures

ABOUT CAER LLAN

WOULD YOU LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CAER LLAN CELEBRATIONS?

Please contact us and we will talk you through our availability and prices.

CAER LLAN, THE BUILDING AND ITS HISTORY

CAER LLAN’S HISTORY

Nestled in the beautiful Welsh hills in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Caer Llan dates back to turn of the 18th-19th Century. By the mid-19th Century the Probert-Morgan family owned Caer Llan before selling it to Richard Potter in 1865. By 1866 Caer Llan was bought by William Francis Price who is credited with extending the house and adding domestic draining and a water tank. In 1890 Caer Llan’s next owner, Captain Henry Walters extended the property further, adding much of the Victorian ornamentation we see today including the large ground floor reception room, a large bedroom with balcony (now the Bridal Suite), an additional bedroom and two castellated towers.

After the death of Captain Walters in 1937, the estate was passed to his nephew, Robnett Walters, who lived in the house with his wife and her family. Struggling to keep up with the cost of maintaining the property, the couple opened a small boys boarding school at Caer Llan but by 1969 the Walters decided they could no longer afford to live at the property. Peter Carpenter then bought Caer Llan in August 1969, when his youngest son Jake was just one week old. Peter, a former teacher initially spent two years converting the property into a field studies centre where for many years the venue hosted field trips, and educational visits from schools and universities both in the UK and the US. Strong friendships were forged and guests have been welcomed back from all over the world year after year, some from as far back as 1975. However, with educational visits on the decline, in 2005 Caer Llan diversified and started it’s transition to become a venue for weddings, family reunions, parties and conferences.

THE BERM HOUSE

With considerable foresight in the 1980s, Peter Carpenter designed the single storey award winning eco extension at Caer Llan, which he named the Berm House. Construction was completed in 1988, and whilst it’s primary purpose was to provide additional accommodation for Caer Llan’s guests, it was also designed as a zero energy building which later became recognised as one of the most energy efficient buildings of its era in Europe, winning the prestigious ‘Euro-solar prize’ in 1995. This grand, fortress style building now perfectly complements the main house frontage and it is hard to imagine that the two buildings were built at separate times.

Although you would not know it when you are in it, the 7 bedroom extension is buried deep into the hillside with over a metre of earth on top of the roof. This earth covering provides natural insulation and aids heat regulation. Thanks to its specialist brickwork, a South facing aspect and a 35 metre solar corridor with Heat Recovery Ventilation, the Berm House doesn’t require any central heating. The building has a comfortable living temperature all year round and the 7 bedrooms are light and airy with modern en-suite bathrooms and far reaching views looking over the valley.

THE CURRENT ERA

Caer Llan was purchased by Peter Carpenter in 1969 when Jake, his youngest son, was just a week old. Jake grew up on the property as a child, before moving away to attend university in Brighton in 1988. Having completed his civil engineering degree, he returned to help out his father. They became business partners and set about tackling some of the structural and infrastructure problems which had plagued Caer Llan for so many years. The house was re roofed, and re-wired, and the car park constructed. Whilst, the business ticked along steadily, it became apparent that it was going to take a huge amount of time and money to really tackle the root causes of the issues that were faced with such a large old property.

In 1998, there was a first time visitor at Caer Llan on a normal Friday evening who was later to re-map the path of Jake’s and Caer Llan’s future. This was of course Vicky, who had come to stay at Caer Llan with a group friends whilst attending a local wedding elsewhere. At the time of her visit, she was in her 2nd year of an IT degree at the University of Chester. She had however previously been a stewardess with Gulf air in Bahrain and had also gained huge experience in hospitality through work positions in restaurants in Spain, France and the UK. Jake and Vicky kept in touch for a year, whilst Vicky finished her course for which she graduated with a first class honours. She then moved to live at Caer Llan with Jake, having secured IT work locally for Cogent Defence Systems. The couple were married in 2001, in a local church, and with the reception held at Caer Llan of course.

She continued to work in IT elsewhere, whilst Jake ran the business at Caer Llan. Their first daughter Charlotte was born in 2004, soon followed by Georgia in 2005, at which time Vicky opted to leave her established IT career, such that she could be a full time Mum whilst also perhaps offering a helping hand at Caer Llan. The advantages of a woman’s influence at Caer Llan soon became apparent and Vicky became a full business partner. It was at this stage that Jake and his wife Vicky started the process to transform Caer Llan into the beautiful wedding and events venue that it is today. Peter was able to retire, knowing that the business was in safe hands. Vicky and Jake have since taken the business from strength to strength, and the property has flourished as a result. Although very hands on throughout, Jake was able to employ some help in setting about the refurbishment of the house and grounds, whilst Vicky has completely regenerated the hospitality aspect of the business. Together they have raised the bar considerably in terms of the excellence that Caer Llan has always prided itself upon. The goal at Caer Llan is simply to continue to improve.

Jake & Vicky Carpenter continue to be very much hands on owners. They don’t have other jobs, they are dedicated entirely to the day to day running of Caer Llan and it’s guests, whilst always striving to enjoy a healthy work life balance with their wonderful children.