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Early 20th-century media tycoon Lord Beaverbrook was known for throwing legendary parties at his country house in Surrey, which hosted everyone from Hollywood royalty like Elizabeth Taylor to historical figures such
as Winston Churchill.
So it’s fitting that Tom Holland and Zendaya, currently one of Hollywood’s most famous couples, reportedly chose the 160-year-old neo-classical mansion to celebrate their own starry nuptials. The duo, who appear in not one but two blockbuster movies this summer (“The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”), are believed to have had a three-day post-nuptial party at Beaverbrook this week, with a guest list said to include Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner and Robert Downey Jr. (The couple are thought to have officially tied the knot earlier this year).
After falling into disrepair, the chateau-style “wedding cake” house was acquired in 2010 by hoteliers Joel Cadbury (a descendant of the chocolate dynasty) and Ollie Vigors, who spent years redeveloping it into a five-star hotel and spa, where rooms — named after Beaverbrook’s illustrious former guests including Taylor and James Bond creator Ian Fleming — start at £755 ($1,015) a night this week. (Other rooms are named for actor Charlie Chaplin, “The Jungle Book” writer Rudyard Kipling and “The War of the Worlds” author H.G. Wells.)
Set across 400 acres in Surrey, just outside London, Beaverbrook is steeped in history. As well as boasting a spa, gym, two pools, a deli and a Japanese restaurant, it also has an art-deco theater – which its proprietors claim was the U.K.’s first home cinema – where Beaverbrook is said to have watched Westerns, the Marx Brothers and Pathé war reports alongside Churchill. Today, it boasts wood panelling and plush couches, with legendary directors Alan Parker (“Fame”) and Hugh Hudson (“Chariots of Fire”) apparently responsible for curating its programs.
Movie magic extends outside the house too. Christmas classic “The Holiday” was set in the nearby village of Holmbury St. Mary, and for the past few years Beaverbrook has offered a “Surrey on Film: The Holiday” package which includes a private tour in a Mini Cooper like the one Cameron Diaz drives in the movie.
Curiously, it’s also not far from Brookwood Cemetery, where Holland and Zendaya were spotted shooting scenes from “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” exactly a year ago (in the movie, it’s where Peter Parker lays flowers on Aunt May’s grave).
Despite being one of the starriest weddings to take place this summer, no photos have leaked of the event and the couple’s reps have yet to confirm whether reports are even accurate. Given that during World War II Beaverbrook hosted high-level government meetings while London was being bombed, it’s a sure bet that the couple’s secrets will stay safe.
