Seminars and company events
The Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, takes meetings, retreats and private dinners from small groups up to 80 guests, and weddings for up to 100 day guests in its Garden Room. The hotel has 34 bedrooms in a Grade I listed building that, by its own account, has welcomed travelers since 1220, which makes residential board meetings and two-day retreats simple to organise.
The Garden Room is the main space for corporate retreats and larger gatherings, and it opens onto the garden. The Library suits a private working lunch or dinner for up to 16. Event enquiries cover three formats, meeting, dinner and drinks, and the hotel publishes a meeting and events brochure, dated May 2026, on request. The Tyger Bar and the garden give a place for breaks and evening drinks without leaving the building.
Weddings and receptions
The hotel sells weddings at two scales. The Library hosts intimate weddings of up to 16 guests. The Garden Room, built in Cotswold stone, takes up to 100 day guests for larger celebrations, with canapés and drinks served in the landscaped grounds. The Belvedere serves as a quiet retreat for the couple. Exclusive use of the hotel can be arranged for weddings, and the hotel keeps a list of preferred wedding suppliers.
Rooms and capacities
The Garden Room takes up to 100 day guests for a wedding and is the setting for retreats and family gatherings. The Library takes up to 16 for a private lunch or dinner. Three private dining spaces in total cover groups from a few guests up to 80. The garden overlooks the Belvedere and works for drinks receptions in good weather.
Accommodation
The 34 bedrooms are each decorated differently. Categories range from single rooms and Cosy rooms to Classic and Character rooms, Master suites and Townhouse Suites, so a group can mix budgets and needs while staying under one roof.
Catering
Food comes from the hotel's own kitchen. Abbey Row Restaurant serves seasonal, local dishes, the Tyger Bar handles drinks, wines and cocktails, and afternoon tea is served in the hotel. Private dining menus follow the same seasonal approach and are agreed with the events team.
History and setting
The Old Bell is rumored to be England's oldest hotel. The 1220 Bar takes its name from the age of its fireplace. The building is Grade I listed and stands on Abbey Row in Malmesbury, a hilltop market town on the southern edge of the Cotswolds, beside the medieval abbey whose name the restaurant carries.
Getting there
Malmesbury lies a few miles north of junction 17 of the M4 motorway. The nearest railway stations are Kemble, with trains to London Paddington, and Chippenham. Bristol Airport is the closest airport. The hotel's address is Abbey Row, Malmesbury SN16 0BW.
