Tatler's 2026 Country House Awards Celebrate Britain's Grand Estates
An invitation to a British country house, whether through aristocratic birth or fortunate connection, remains one of the most coveted social accolades. According to the society bible Tatler, which has just unveiled its annual Country House Awards, those lucky enough to receive a weekend summons from hosts like Sir David Beckham, Susannah Constantine, or Guy and Jacqui Ritchie are in for a particularly special treat.
The awards, detailed in the April issue on sale March 12th, honour the grandest estates and the charismatic individuals who are keeping the cherished country house tradition vibrantly alive across Britain. While past editions included more playful, tongue-in-cheek categories such as 'peatiest water'—previously claimed by Balmoral—the 2026 lineup focuses on serious status symbols, including Best Maze and Best Pool House.
Sir David Beckham: From Football Star to Beekeeping Baron
Sir David Beckham, the 50-year-old former professional footballer, has been awarded the title of Best Beekeeper for his efforts at his Great Tew estate in Oxfordshire. After purchasing a Cotswolds property for £6 million in December 2016, Beckham set his sights on embracing the life of a true country gentleman.
During the 2020 lockdown, he developed a profound interest in beekeeping, even launching his own honey-based snack business. Beckham has previously admitted that harvesting honey at his estate makes him feel 'quite emotional.' He credits his friend, Hollywood director Guy Ritchie, 57, who also features on the awards list, as a key influence on his country lifestyle.
Guy and Jacqui Ritchie: Masters of the Shoot Lunch
Guy Ritchie, 54, and his wife Jacqui have been hailed for serving 'next level' shoot lunches at their Ashcombe Estate in Wiltshire, earning them the Best Shoot Lunch award. The estate, bought for £9 million in 2001, now boasts a premier pheasant, partridge, and clay pigeon shoot, fishing lakes, and even a microbrewery with bar and dining facilities.
Known for their lavish spreads, the couple treats guests to a teppanyaki feast of meat and fish cooked on a lakeside fire table. Glamorous attendees often include Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Martha Stewart, and the Beckhams.
Other Notable Winners Across the Categories
The awards recognise a diverse array of country house excellence:
- Best Pool House: The Lower House in Rutland, presided over by Sir Alan Duncan and James Dunseath.
- Best Guinness on Tap: Clodagh McKenna, the Irish-born chef who lives in Hampshire's Broadspear House. She and her partner, Harry Herbert, have converted an old pheasant shed into a private pub named The Cork Arms.
- Best Downstairs Loo: Tom Helme, founder of Farrow & Ball, for his striking muted red toilet room at Carskiey House in Argyll.
- Best Roast Lamb: Susannah Constantine, the What Not to Wear star, whose secret involves liberally piercing the lamb with anchovy fillets.
- Best Swimming Pool: Lady Bianca Eliot for the outdoor pool with a classic pavilion and fountain at Port Eliot in Cornwall.
- Best Lake: King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain, who owns Glympton Park in Oxfordshire, featuring an 18th-century house and extensive parkland.
- Best Martini Trolley: Imogen Hervey-Bathurst at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire, known for serving martinis from an Italian mid-century trolley.
- Best for Sustainability: Mandy Lieu, a former Dior supermodel, who has transformed Ewhurst Park in Hampshire into a glamping paradise and biodiversity project.
- Best for Long Weekends: Peregrine Pearson, known for hosting glamorous weekends at Cowdray Park in West Sussex, home to the Cowdray Park Polo Club.
These awards highlight not only the opulence and tradition of British country houses but also the innovative and personal touches that today's hosts bring to these historic settings. For the full feature, see the April issue of Tatler, available via digital download and on newsstands from Thursday, March 12th.
