Craig y Nos Castle | Pen-y-cae, Wales, United Kingdom

The Lowdown

Type: Banquet Hall / Event Facility Bar / Club / Lounge Historic Building Hotel / Resort / Spa Restaurant / Private Dining

Views: Forest Garden Meadow/Field Mountains Park River Rolling Hills

Style: British
Country
Romantic
Rustic
Victorian

Best type of Celebrations

Rehearsal Dinner / Welcome Reception

Venue Setting

The castle started life as a Victorian-Gothic country house, built between 1841 and 1843 by Captain Rice Davies Powell. It was converted into a 'Castle' by Adelina Patti who added numerous extensions including several turrets (to make it more castle-like), the clock tower, and her own mini opera house to practice singing in.

Craig-y-Nos Castle and grounds were once the estate of the celebrated opera diva Adelina Patti who during her lifetime (1843-1919) became one of the world's most famous and highly rewarded entertainers. Patti was the 'Madonna' of her day, earning £11 million a year in today's money - the highest paid opera star of her time and the most famous (yet she is little known today).

In between tours Craig-y-Nos Castle was where she would re-charge her energies and entertain her many friends, including European Royalty and a huge selecton of guests from European and British High Society. For this purpose, she built a Theatre at the Castle.

The Opera House also features a one hundred and twenty five year old theatre curtain, decorated with Madame Patti on a chariot from Rossini’s last Italian opera, Semiramide. Perfectly portraying the character of the room, the curtain provides a unique backdrop to your wedding.

The floor can be laid flat or more commonly is tilted to slope down towards the stage with the stage raised.

The ceiling has a glass atrium roof which lets in lots of light. This is generally covered with a blackout cloth to prevent sun-damage to the Grade One theatre's wall paintings and gold leaf paintwork. It can be removed for your wedding on request.

The Theatre is one of only 8 Grade One listed Opera Houses in the UK, one of only two in private ownership.

When translated into English ‘Craig Y Nos’ becomes ‘Rock of the Night’.

Capacity

Seated: 150

Buffet: 200

Standing: 200

Fees

(Prices listed here are estimates only & are subject to change)

Price range: Join the party and sign in to view pricing

Does this include catering fees?: Yes

Estimated price per head: from $103 to $107

Additional charges

The price iincludes:
Three or two Course Wedding Breakfast,
Welcome Drinks,
2 glasses wine on table,
sparkling wine for toasts,
Evening Finger Buffet,
White chair covers & bows in either ceremony room or banqueting room,
Cake stand, napkins,
table cloths,
Gold or silver candelabra,
marquee style banqueting room with ceiling fairy lights, all above at £93.50/ guest.

Castle Hire Exclusive Use all ground floor on regular tariff normally £3,500, reduced under Saturday Wedding Package to:

(2022) - £750 (2023) - £1,000
(2024) - £1,250 (2025) - £1,500

Insurance: Additional Insurance Is Not Required To Host An Event Here

Connect

Request a Venue Tour

Call: 01639731167, 07804516351

Event Logistics and Amenities

(Essential event logistics and amenities to ensure a seamless and memorable experience for you gathering)

Celebrations hosted here since: 2000
Curfew: No Curfew
Venue spaces: Indoor & Outdoor Venue Spaces Available
Catering: Client Must Use The Catering Provided By The Venue
Alcohol: Provided By Venue For Fee – You Must Use The Venue For All Alcohol Services; Corkage/Bottle Fee – You Can Bring Your Own Alcohol For A Fee
Music: Indoors Only
Smoking: Non-smoking Venue
Accommodations: 25 ensuite family and double rooms.
11 rooms non-ensuite, budget, rooms.
Eco/Green Events: Yes
Pet-Friendly Events: Yes
Kid Friendly Events: Yes
Handicap Accessible: Yes

Amenities

Bridal Suite/Changing Rooms Onsite
Wifi
Ample Parking Onsite
Dining Chairs
Dining Tables
Onsite Restrooms

Venue Features

The scene:: Set on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, Craig Y Nos Castle is the perfect location for those seeking a romantic and rural setting for their accommodation in Wales. The former home of Adelina Patti, the once world famous Opera Singer, Craig y Nos Castle offers interesting historical tours – free for all guests staying at the Castle.
If you wish to explore the great outdoors, you can choose from a number of local walks directly from your room at the Castle. There are also plenty of excellent excursions only a short drive away and the Castle offers accommodation in Wales for those seeking a variety of activities or just a venue to rest and relax.
If you book youur wedding with us you'll be married in our Grade One Listed historic opera house, followed by welcome drinks for all your guests served in the Nicolini Lounge or in the Gardens.
For your evening wedding party, you can use either the Conservatory or a separate evening function room. All your guests can stay overnight to save everyone driving a long way home after your wedding day.
Our experienced wedding planners will always be promptly on hand via email and our chat service throughout the months leading up to your wedding day. The Castle's full Wedding Planning service continues right up to your wedding day. We'll ensure everything at our Castle is arranged in line with your wishes, so your wedding day runs perfectly, just as you dreamed.
You'll enjoy stunning Brecon Beacons mountain scenery, within our Conservatory overlooking Craig y Nos Country Park.
Design:: Overlooking the River Tawe and the picturesque Fforest Fawr, the Castle of today offers panoramic views over the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Built by an opera singer, the theatre features wonderful acoustic qualities. Whether you’ve hired a Welsh Choir, a harpist, or have pre-recorded some DVD's to play your favourite songs on your own music system, you can be sure everyone in the auditorium will clearly hear you say your wedding vows and enjoy your choice of music. All your guests will hear you and the registrar!

Our theatre is fully licensed for all weddings and civil ceremonies. Styled on Wagner’s Opera House in Bayreuth, Bavaria with decor fit for elite gatherings, the theatre is licensed for 150 guests.
Standout venue features:: Once a part of Craig y Nos Estate in Adelina Patti's time, Craig y Nos Country Park adjoins the Castle, offering 40 acres of woodland walks and lakes in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The Castle and the Country Park together offer fabulous settings for wedding photographs in both summer sun and winter frosts and snow - and even in the rain.

The Courtyard with castle facade make a fabulous setting for your wedding day photos. Also, the Country Park Woodland and Boating Lake are delightful in all seasons. Located in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Craig y Nos Castle's Courtyard, lower gardens, and River Tawe all offer awesome wedding photo opportunities - with a stunning Castle as the backdrop for your wedding photos.
Extra perks:: A wedding at Craig y Nos Castle is not merely a dream come true, it is also exceptional value for money, with great savings on our wedding packages. Craig y Nos offers guaranteed best value; our tariffs are so reasonable you'll be amazed. Book now to come and view your dream castle wedding venue.

Craig Y Nos Castle holds a variety of annual events throughout the year including Valentine's Day Dinners at the Castle, Mothers Day Dinner, Fathers Day Dinner, and Halloween and Christmas and New Years' Eve Specials. During the year we also hold our events Brides Day Wedding Fayre.
We also hold various once off events and performances in our Theatre.

Awards & Notables

Awards, recognitions, or noteworthy achievements associated with the venue.

The Castle has featured on a few TV programmes before and since - notably 'Most Haunted' in 2004' (shows castle ten years ago before restoration) several History programmes (search 'Craig y Nos' on You Tube for some recordings), the Whites comedy series which sadly lasted only one season, a few episodes of "Doctor Who" as a Torchwood house, a few S4C programmes including some featuring the castle's history as a TB Hospital (1920-1960), some music videos created in the theatre (for a good one, check You Tube - The Storys and also here), on Celebrity Wedding Planner 2013 broadcast between Big Brother and the Big Brother Eviction, Six Minutes To Midnight with Judi Dench

Craig y Nos Castle won the "Best of Welsh 2020" Award.

Food Restaurants, Cafes, Bars, Lounges

This section provides insights into our diverse culinary and social offerings.

Once your guests have had their fill of your Wedding Banquet, it’s time for the soiree.

For your evening wedding party, use the wooden dance floor in the 'Music Room' for your disco.

The 'Billiard Room' links to the Music Room, offering a large function room holding 150.

The main 'Patti Bar', in the centre of Castle, serves both function rooms and is exclusively yours for your wedding in Wales, along with the Nicolini lounge. Guests can circulate freely between all four rooms or gather in the Function Room for the disco.

For your disco, tables are rearranged to create a large dance floor. Bar stays open late. Evening Buffet is served either from a carvery style serving station or from the grand Dining Table.

We’ll set the room out however you’d like. Whether you’re intending on laying an under-lit dance floor for your guests to dance the night away, or if you have a large evening list and need a complex seating plan, we’ll accommodate your personal requests.

Located well away from the main atrium en-suite rooms and the conservatory, our evening function room provides privacy from other areas of the castle and is well sound-proofed.

Should you wish to party into the small hours of the morning, this won’t disturb those of your guests wishing to retire early. When all your guests are staying overnight, the Bar can stay open and the Evening Entertainment can continue late. The bar stays open as long as you and your guests wish to buy drinks at the bar.

The most popular area for serving Welcome Drinks is the Nicolini Lounge. Some wedding couples even hire a small gazebo for the flat lawned walled garden area beside the theatre. If the weather is fine you may serve your welcome drinks outside the theatre or in the courtyard. Welcome drinks are always offered after the Ceremony, so having your welcome drinks in the courtyard or in the lounge means all your guests are centrally located close to where your after-ceremony wedding photographs are taken.

The Nicolini Lounge was originally the Study and Library.

Your guests will enjoy their welcome drinks in Craig y Nos Castle's Nicolini Lounge before moving through to the Wedding Breakfast in the Conservatory.

Your Wedding Breakfast is held in the Conservatory and your Evening Disco in the main function room.

The main Patti Bar is behind the Billiard Room. Any guests who'd prefer a quiet drink or chat away from the Disco can pop into the Nicolini lounge beside reception.The Patti Bar serves both the Conservatory and the main function room - Music Room and Billiard Room.

It is a cosy room, with wood burning stove and an intimate feel. In the evening with lights low, it is a very homely room. Bar prices are reasonable, more in line with a regular pub - and the bar typically stays open till around 01.00 / 01.30 hrs on wedding nights.

At night, the Nicolini Lounge allows your guests to get away from the bar and noise of the disco in the main function room - to enjoy a quiet chat, catching up with friends and relatives.

A door leads to the breakfast room which features an original Edwardian fireplace with illustrations of Sir Walter Scott’s novels.

Celebration Locations

This section outlines the various spaces available within the venue for different types of events.