From Wedgwood Family Home to Staffordshire Favourite: The Upper House Celebrates 30 Years

The Upper House Hotel in Barlaston is celebrating 30 years as one of Staffordshire's most loved country house hotels, restored from a derelict council home into the elegant venue it is today. Built for the Wedgwood family in the 1840s, the grounds even hide a Celtic grave. Here's the full story...

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This year, The Upper House Hotel is proud to celebrate 30 years as one of Staffordshire's most loved independent country house hotels. While the hotel itself has a rich history dating back to 1845, when it was built for Francis Wedgwood, grandson of Josiah Wedgwood, it has spent the last three decades welcoming generations of guests to celebrate life's most special moments. Lovingly restored while retaining its original character and charm, The Upper House has become renowned for its warm hospitality, beautiful surroundings and timeless elegance.

A House With Some Serious History

Built in the early 1840s for Francis (Frank) Wedgwood, grandson of Josiah Wedgwood, the house was originally called "The New Hall", later becoming known as The Upper House once Josiah's second son, Clement, bought The Lower House down the drive, making the two easier to tell apart.

One of the more surprising finds came around 1850, when workers planting woodland to the east of the house uncovered a Celtic grave cut into the red sandstone rock, seven feet by two feet wide. No skeletal remains survived, but a two-edged sword and an Anglo-Saxon era iron knife were recovered and are now held in the British Museum, a hidden piece of local history the current owners are still trying to pinpoint.

The house passed to the Johnson family, of Johnson Tiles fame, in 1913, later became a home for the blind and then a County Council residential home, before standing empty for several years. In 1994, it was bought and gradually restored as a country house hotel, with the Woodlands Suite added in 1998 and the Novello Room in 2010, bringing it to where it stands today.

What Makes The Upper House Hotel Special?

Set within 10 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland in the picturesque village of Barlaston, The Upper House offers the perfect blend of historic character and modern comfort. Every stay is personal, with 24 individually styled bedrooms, a welcoming restaurant serving seasonal British cuisine, and a team dedicated to making every guest feel at home.

The hotel has built an outstanding reputation as one of Staffordshire's premier wedding venues, hosting just one wedding each day to ensure every couple enjoys an exclusive and truly personal experience. Beyond weddings, The Upper House is a much-loved venue for overnight stays, Sunday lunches, afternoon teas and private celebrations, including birthday parties, christenings, baby showers, wakes and celebrations of life. It also provides a welcoming setting for corporate events, meetings and conferences, offering flexible spaces that combine character with modern facilities.

Throughout the year, the varied events programme brings the local community together with murder mystery evenings, live music nights, comedy shows, pottery workshops and festive wreath-making workshops, working alongside talented local artists and craftspeople to create memorable experiences for guests of all ages.

What truly sets it apart is a commitment to genuine hospitality. Many guests return year after year to celebrate life's biggest milestones, enjoy time with loved ones, or simply relax in the beautiful surroundings, becoming part of The Upper House story themselves.

Stay: Rooms For Every Occasion

All 24 bedrooms are individually decorated, en suite, and set within those 10 acres of woodland and gardens, giving the hotel the feel of a restful countryside haven rather than a chain hotel with a country view. Guests can choose from Classic Double and Twin rooms, Family Rooms, Executive Rooms, or the Luxury Suite for something a little more indulgent. Booking direct with the hotel guarantees the best available rates, along with other perks not available through third-party booking sites.

Dine: Seasonal British Food, Done Properly

The hotel's restaurant makes the most of local produce wherever possible, working alongside the Regency bar, a cosy lounge with a log fire, and a terrace overlooking the gardens. It is a menu built for lingering over rather than rushing through. The Upper House is particularly well known locally for its Sunday lunch, a proper home-cooked, locally sourced roast, and for its afternoon teas. Coffee, cake and drinks from the bar are available all day, every day, whether that is by the fire in the lounge or out on the terrace when the weather plays along.

Breaks and Offers

The Upper House also puts together a rotating programme of themed breaks, including a Summer Staycation Break, an Autumn Break, a Sunday Night Special, and packages built around walking, mountain biking and road cycling in the surrounding countryside. Being just five minutes from the World of Wedgwood and within easy reach of The Potteries, there are dedicated breaks for guests keen to explore Stoke on Trent's ceramics heritage, along with a Trentham Hotel Break and options for golfers. The hotel sits ten minutes from Junction 15 of the M6, making it a genuinely easy base for exploring the wider area.

The Little Extras

Well behaved dogs are welcome in the hotel's grounds and public areas (though not the restaurant), there is electric vehicle charging on site, and the surrounding gardens and woodland walks are worth exploring in their own right, history, hidden Celtic grave and all. Gift vouchers are available for afternoon tea or as monetary amounts to spend anywhere across the hotel, handy for anyone who still hasn't worked out what to get a Wedgwood enthusiast for Christmas.

Join The Celebration

As The Upper House celebrates its 30th anniversary, it would love to welcome both new and returning guests to experience everything the hotel has to offer.

Whether you're planning your dream wedding, searching for a relaxing countryside escape, looking for somewhere special to enjoy lunch, dinner or the renowned Sunday roast, or celebrating a milestone with family and friends, there's always something happening at The Upper House.

The hotel also hosts a fantastic programme of events throughout the year, from live music and comedy nights to creative workshops, murder mystery evenings and seasonal celebrations, making every visit a little different. As part of the anniversary year, the team is especially looking forward to the 30th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday 29th August, running from 5.00pm until late. Everyone is invited to join in for an evening of live music, a traditional ceilidh band, a bouncy castle and family-friendly entertainment, celebrating 30 wonderful years of The Upper House Hotel. Tickets are just £5 per person, and the hotel would love to celebrate this milestone with the local community and guests old and new.

Join us as we celebrate 30 wonderful years of The Upper House Hotel.

To book a stay, reserve a table, enquire about weddings or events, or discover what's coming up over the coming months, visit The Upper House Hotel or call 01782 373790.

Thirty years of unforgettable memories, and we're only just getting started.

The Upper House Hotel

Website: www.theupperhouse.com Email: enquiries@theupperhouse.com Telephone: 01782 373790 Facebook: facebook.com/upperhousehotel Instagram: @upperhousehotel

This is a paid advertorial feature, produced in partnership with The Upper House Hotel.