There are few places that capture the romance of an English summer quite like Coworth Park. Set across 240 acres of Berkshire parkland – and the only hotel in the UK with its own polo field – the Georgian house was built in 1776 and has spent the two and a half centuries since in remarkable company. The future Edward VII and Queen Alexandra stayed here in 1883, in town for the races, and the 17th Earl of Derby bought the house in 1899 and lived in it for fifty years. Restored and reopened in 2010, Coworth is now among the most sought-after country houses in England: handsome Georgian proportions, long parkland views, and a meadow that shows off the best of a British summer. Where better for Lydia Millen to throw a summer hosting masterclass?
For one July afternoon, The Wedding Edition took over that meadow for a summer hosting masterclass with the author and lifestyle creator Lydia Millen, dedicated to the particular pleasures of an English garden party. Over the past decade Millen has built one of the longest-running platforms in the British luxury space, spanning fashion, interiors, beauty and – since a move to the English countryside seven years ago – seasonal living.
The day began in the Rose Garden, where guests arrived at noon to Gabriella of The Harp Agency playing across the open lawn, and to a wild meadow cocktail: a recipe from Millen’s The Evergreen Journal, built on Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs 2020.
The florals, all British-grown, came from Mill Rich Flowers: English garden roses and sweet peas, the white lace of Ammi majus, Cosmos ‘Purity’, clematis vines, alchemilla mollis, Creme Brulee phlox and scabious. A white, cream and botanical green palette was masterminded by the stylists at Svn Stories, who dressed the full-height meadow as a British garden party in the traditional sense, in printed linens and wicker urns.
The styling took its brief from the book: antique blue-and-white china, embroidered monogrammed linens over Alba linens, vintage silverware. The menus were illustrated in botanical green by The Millustrator on soft white laid card, butters were stamped with the crest from the book itself; bread was tied at each setting with lace ribbon; place cards were hand-painted seed packets, with each guest’s full name written in white calligraphy. Photographer Colin Dack documented the afternoon throughout.
The Wedding Edition co-founder and editor Kendra Leaver-Rylah introduced Millen, who spoke on setting a table with intention, on hosting rituals, and on the details – florals, menus, linens – before beginning her demonstration.
Lunch was served at one, Millen seated among the guests. The Coworth Park kitchen opened with cured and smoked salmon, sunflowers, almond and dill, followed by BBQ Devon White chicken with New Forest asparagus, pickled baby gem, morels and tarragon, and Kentish strawberries with yuzu posset and shortbread to close.
The pairing came from Gusbourne, the English wine producer whose vineyards lie in Kent and West Sussex, and whose chalk-grown, Chardonnay-led style has done as much as any house to make the case for English sparkling on its own terms. The Brut Reserve 2022 was poured with the salmon, a still Chardonnay 2024 with the chicken, Rosé 2020 with the strawberries.
Guests left at three with a copy of The Evergreen Journal, a Cheek Gelée from Chantecaille, and a wicker basket filled with the best produce of the season from Svn Stories.
With thanks to:
Host – @theweddingedition_ x @lydia
Location – @coworthpark
Stylist – @svnstories @georgia_noyce
Florist – @mill.rich.flowers
Menu Design – @the.millustrator
Tableware – @alba.tableware
Printing – @mountstreetprinters
Wines – @gusbourne_wine
Harpist – @harpagency
Photographer – @colin_dack
Gifting – @chantecille, @svnstories
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