How to find Osborne House and Gardens
Quick and frequent crossings from the mainland
make Osborne easy to reach
A34
THE SOLENT
M3
Osborne House and Gardens
Exclusive events in unique
historic surroundings
LONDON
A31
FERRY CROSSING
FROM SOUTHAMPTON
9
WINCHESTER
A272
11
WEST
COWES
A36
EAST COWES
A32
14
2
A3
4
3
1
1
M27
O
SOUTHAMPTON
RN
O Y
SBBA
A3(M)
12
20
E
A3
0
A3
P
OSBORNE
HOUSE AND
GARDENS
PORTSMOUTH
LYMINGTON
COWES
02 1
YO
OSBORNE
HOUSE AND
GARDENS
RK
AV
YARMOUTH
EN
UE
For further information
please contact the Hospitality Manager
Telephone 01983 203055
Facsimile 01983 281380
Email [email protected]
Osborne House
York Avenue
East Cowes
Isle of Wight PO32 6JY
www.english-heritage.org.uk/hospitality
FISHBOURNE
RYDE
NEWPORT
ISLE OF WIGHT
5
A27
Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s Isle of Wight
home, provides a sumptuous setting for corporate
events or private parties.
Celebrate in style
Few other venues with the cachet of Osborne
House can offer both the location and the
facilities for those who want to entertain on
a grand scale in style.
The lavish interiors and glorious grounds provide
a spectacular setting for every occasion. From
a special gathering of family and friends to a
corporate dinner, grand reception, concert or
glittering ball, choosing this island palace-by-thesea will ensure your event is truly memorable.
Osborne House was built in 1845 for
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as a
country retreat where they could be
free from much of the formality of
state ceremony.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert so loved the
Isle of Wight that they built themselves a seaside
villa at East Cowes. However, Osborne House is
no ordinary holiday home. A palace-beside-thesea is a more appropriate description of this
exquisite Italianate house and extensive estate.
The Royal couple escaped to Osborne regularly,
ensuring they were there on 24 May each year
to celebrate the Queen’s birthday and almost
always for the Prince’s birthday on 26 August.
After Prince Albert’s untimely death in 1861,
the distraught Queen retreated to Osborne
for several months, but thereafter avoided being
there on these poignant dates. Nonetheless, the
Queen spent much of other parts of each year
at Osborne up to her death in 1901.
The Royal Archives © 2004
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Guests can arrive in style by horse-drawn
carriage and so relive the splendour and
elegance of the Victorian age.
The Durbar Room reflects Queen Victoria’s role
as Empress of India, and was constructed in 1890
to provide Osborne with a state banqueting hall.
Remarkably ornate, the room was designed by
Lockwood Kipling (father of author Rudyard
Kipling) and Bhai Ram Singh, an Indian master
craftsman, who supervised the construction of
the fine plaster mouldings.
Dinners take place amid an exquisite collection
of priceless treasures given to Queen Victoria.
Musicians can add to the unique atmosphere
from a ‘minstrels’ gallery above.
Osborne House
Durbar Room
Capacity
Dining
40
Painstakingly intricate, the decoration
includes a representation of Ganesha, the
Hindu elephant god of good fortune and
a life-sized plaster peacock, Indian symbol
of good luck.
The Victoria Hall at Osborne House occupies
what was once Queen Victoria’s private Chapel.
With beautiful arched doors opening onto the
Garden Terraces, sophisticated dinners and
receptions can spill out onto the landscape beyond.
The adjoining Orangery, which once protected
tender potted plants from the winter weather,
now also hosts stylish occasions. Its double doors
leading to the terraces make it an especially
lovely location for drinks before dinner on balmy
summer evenings.
Osborne House
Victoria Hall and
Orangery
Victoria Hall capacity
Drinks reception
Dining
Dinner dance
Theatre style
Board room
Orangery capacity
Drinks reception
100
80
80
90
50
40
After Queen Victoria’s death, the Chapel
was renamed the Victoria Hall. It was
used to host parties and dances, including
one in 1922 to celebrate the marriage
of Princess Mary, the Princess Royal.
The Duchess of Kent Suite was named after
Queen Victoria’s mother, who used these rooms
during her regular visits to Osborne.
This private, self-contained suite of rooms can be
used for daytime and evening events throughout
the year.The main room can accommodate
conferences for up to 50 delegates theatre style
and has direct access to the garden terraces.
The three adjoining rooms also overlook the
terraces and are ideal for boardroom meetings
and small intimate dinners.
Osborne House
Duchess of Kent Suite
Capacity
Drinks reception
Dining
Theatre style
Boardroom
70
40
50
16
In 1893, the suite was used by the future
King George V and Queen Mary for their
honeymoon.Today, the bridal party can
use these rooms to prepare and relax
before and during the reception.
The Garden Terraces give a grand sense of
occasion. Guests can sip cocktails amid flowers
and fountains framed by the backdrop of the
house and admire breathtaking views of rolling
parkland and the Solent Bay beyond.
The views are instantly recognisable as scenes
from the widely acclaimed drama Mrs Brown,
filmed on location in 1996 and starring Dame
Judi Dench and Billy Connolly.
The Walled Gardens offer evocative scents and
nostalgic prettiness and a picturesque setting for
smaller drinks receptions.
Osborne House
Garden Terraces and
Walled Gardens
Garden Terrace capacity
Drinks reception
Walled Garden capacity
Drinks reception
250
150
The architectural style of Osborne was
greatly influenced by Prince Albert’s love
of Italy. It is said that the view across the
Solent reminded him of the Bay of Naples.
Until the Durbar Room was built, dining in tents
on the Durbar Lawn was a regular occurrence for
large gatherings at Osborne House - a tradition
which continues today.
The sweeping Durbar Lawn, located adjacent
to the House, is large enough to host several
thousand people. Overlooking the Terraces, the
location is perfect for glittering marquee dinners
for up to 2,500 guests and outdoor classical
concerts for up to 6,500. Events here take on
a special kind on magic as darkness falls on this
unique island setting.
The surrounding grounds can also accommodate
large-scale events such as garden shows and
antique fairs.
Osborne House
Marquees and
Outdoor Events
Marquee capacity
Drinks reception
Dining
Diner dance
Theatre style
Outdoor Events capacity
2500
2500
2500
2500
6500
Much of life at Osborne for Queen
Victoria, Prince Albert and their nine
children was lived outside. Breakfast was
regularly taken outdoors and walking on
the estate was enjoyed by the whole
family. On fine days, the Queen worked
under the shade of trees or in tents on
the Durbar Lawn.
Osborne House
Private Beach
Capacity
Drinks reception
Dining
400
400
Queen Victoria particularly enjoyed
the tranquillity of her island refuge:
“It is impossible to imagine a prettier
spot – we have a charming beach quite
to ourselves – we can walk anywhere
without being followed or mobbed.”
At the edge of the estate, the private beach is
available for informal yet stylish outdoor parties
and barbeques. Available for daytime or evening
events, the beach offers excellent views of the
Solent and yachts as they sail by.Those arriving by
yacht for an occasion at Osborne – on the beach
or elsewhere on the estate – may drop anchor
within the shelter of the secluded bay.
English Heritage offers an expanding portfolio of unique
historic properties to hire for corporate and private
events, shows and concerts. Many of the properties
are also licensed for civil wedding ceremonies.
Choose from grand houses where royalty and
nobility entertained, classic castles where the
course of history was changed, and elegant
London locations for smart city celebrations.
Our Hospitality Managers are on hand to offer
advice, expertise and the personal touch for your
event. Clients can also be assured that carefully
selected top-class suppliers will be dedicated
to providing the finest service.
Wellington Arch London
Eltham Palace London
Chiswick House London
Kenwood House London
English Heritage Lecture Theatre London
Bolsover Castle Derbyshire
Audley End House & Gardens Essex
Dover Castle Kent
Walmer Castle & Gardens Kent
Deal Castle Kent
Osborne House & Gardens Isle of Wight
Pendennis Castle Cornwall
St Mawes Castle Cornwall
Portland Castle Dorset
Old Wardour Castle Wiltshire
For more information on exclusive hire
please email us
[email protected]
or visit our website
www.english-heritage.org.uk/hospitality
If you would like this document in a different format, please
contact our Customer Services department:
Telephone: 0870 333 1181
Fax: 01793 414926
Textphone: 01793 414878
E-mail: [email protected]