The release of Bridgerton’s Season 3 saw many around the world glued to their televisions, eager to witness the next chapter in one of Netflix’s most popular series. Bridgerton’s previous seasons have both featured in Netflix’s Top 10 shows of all time, and this new installment keeps the fervor alive, with a narrative that sweeps viewers across breathtaking historic locations around the UK.
The locales form an integral part of the story – past seasons have showcased Bath’s Royal Crescent, serving as the Featherington home, and Hampton Court Palace, depicted as Queen Charlotte’s residence, among others. During filming, the locations are kept strictly under wraps to avoid being overrun by Bridgerton’s vast fan base.
Equally low-key as the filming locations has been the story of English sparkling wine’s rapid rise to fame. The main reason for its success is not a mystery: England’s vineyards, primarily located in Kent and Sussex, are separated from France by the English Channel, a short distance from the world’s most famous sparkling wine region: Champagne. In fact, most English vineyards feature chalk soils similar to those in Champagne. Their vineyards are also strategically planted to capture sunshine to ensure perfect ripening, an important factor in England’s marginal climate. With the added advantage of modern technology and viticultural research, little wonder that English sparkling wines have been winning international wine competitions, even beating champagne houses in blind tastings.
Therefore, there was even more reason to cheer when the gardens of Squerryes Court were chosen as a location to film Bridgerton. Home to the Warde family, owners of the award-winning Squerryes vintage-only sparkling wines, Squerryes Court features in the opening scene of the season: a lavish garden party held after the introduction of the season’s debutantes to Queen Charlotte, where the audience is reintroduced to many beloved characters from seasons past.
Squerryes Court is not just another backdrop but a significant historic estate spanning 2,500 acres in Westerham, Kent, with a 17th Century estate house. Located on the North Downs, it is officially part of one of the UK’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The estate boasts 20 acres of manicured gardens, a lake, and surrounding woodlands, making it an ideal setting for the grandeur depicted in Bridgerton.
Built in 1681 in the early Georgian style, Squerryes Court has an impressive mellow orange brick façade. The Warde family moved into the property in 1731 and have lived there ever since. The gardens, laid out in 1692, were designed in the formal style of Hampton Court Palace, the royal residence of Henry VIII. In 1987, Henry Warde’s mother restored the gardens to their original design, enhancing their historical integrity.
The filming at Squerryes took place in August 2022, over a period of two and a half weeks. “We had five meetings with the production team before they decided on the venue.
. Squerryes is a private family home, and besides living in the house, we host events here. We finally managed to find a three-week window where no events were scheduled. That was when they came and set up everything in absolute secrecy,” shared Warde. The secrecy meant Warde had to sign a non-disclosure agreement with Netflix, which included ensuring space for 350 cars and accommodating 100 extras, 200 crew members, 50 cast members, and their entourages.
Most of the filming time was dedicated to setting up and later dismantling the sets. “The actual filming took just four days, during which we (Warde, his wife Claire, and their children) were confined to the living area of the house not in use. Most of the house was used by the cast as a giant green room,” revealed Warde. He also noted the politeness and appreciation of the cast, despite his unfamiliarity with the stars. The crew did celebrate with Squerryes wine at the wrap party once the shooting was over.
Warde recounted the chaos when his cocker spaniel, Inca, ran into a crucial shot: “The garden scene, the first scene of the season, featured all the lead actors and a hundred extras. My wife and I were hidden behind a tent when Inca escaped. She went wild seeing 100 people in funny outfits that she couldn’t recognize!” This anecdote might delight trivia buffs on the lookout for a little dog photo-bombing the scene.
Squerryes, though historically rich, only ventured into winemaking in 2006. After a famous champagne house showed interest in the property, recognizing its potential, Warde decided to produce his own sparkling wine instead. Today, Squerryes makes only vintage sparkling wines in the traditional method from its 55 acres of vines, including the well-acclaimed Brut 2020, Blanc de Blancs, and the award-winning Late Disgorged 2013.
Squerryes encourages buying their wines via the membership route, offering many benefits including exclusive invitations to events hosted at the estate. Visitors are welcome by prior appointment and can immerse themselves in the full estate experience, from wine tastings to fine dining at their estate restaurants.
Looking to the future, Squerryes plans to host more summer festivities and a special Bridgerton-style summer party in 2025. As Warde aptly puts it, “Our family motto is Licet esse beatis: Latin for ‘it is permitted to be joyful.’ Indeed, we have been in the business of creating joy for 300 years – now we are bottling it.”
