Wild Boar Estate Wedding Pianist | Lake District Pianist

Wild Boar Estate is a characterful Lake District wedding venue near Windermere, set in woodland in the Gilpin Valley and known for its intimate atmosphere, rustic interiors and flexible spaces for smaller celebrations. The venue’s wedding offering centres on the Undermillbeck Room for intimate weddings, while larger celebrations can also use the restaurant, giving couples a choice of spaces depending on guest numbers and style.

Wedding musician Craig Smith has been playing piano at Wild Boar Estate for a number of years, during which time he has been a recommended supplier and has also performed at open events. Live wedding music works particularly well at The Wild Boar, where the feel of the day is often relaxed, personal and focused on keeping guests entertained from the ceremony onwards. Drinks receptions are especially popular, with music providing a lively backdrop while the newlyweds head off for their memorable Jeep ride through the estate.

For most weddings, ceremonies take place in the Undermillbeck Room, where Craig’s portable baby grand piano is a perfect fit in the corner and makes a striking addition to this small, intimate setting. For larger weddings, ceremonies and wedding breakfasts can move into the restaurant, while drinks receptions take place in the inn itself, allowing live music to carry the atmosphere through the key earlier parts of the day, as seen in the video below featuring a ceremony and lively drinks reception.

Experience & Venue Knowledge

Having worked at Wild Boar Estate over a number of years, Craig understands exactly how live wedding music fits this venue best. This is one of his favourite smaller venues, not least because the size and style of the weddings here make it possible to tailor the music closely to the couple and their guests, whether that means a more romantic ceremony or a more interactive feel later in the day.

The Undermillbeck Room is especially well suited to live ceremony music, with Craig’s portable baby grand piano adding both visual impact and a full, warm sound without overwhelming the room. When weddings move into the restaurant with larger numbers, the music complements the day just as easily, while drinks receptions in the inn are a strong opportunity to keep guests entertained during photographs and the couple’s Jeep trip.

Wedding breakfast music is also available in either the Undermillbeck Room or the dining room, depending on the layout of the day. For smaller weddings in particular, Wild Boar Estate is one of the venues where Craig most enjoys personalising the performance through live requests, helping create the kind of relaxed, guest-focused atmosphere that suits this venue so well.

Music Throughout Your Wild Boar Estate Wedding

• Guests’ arrivals
• Wedding ceremony
• Drinks reception
• Wedding breakfast
• Evening entertainment

Although most couples book live piano music for their Wild Boar wedding ceremony and drinks reception, with or without the wedding breakfast, music is also available for guests’ arrivals and the evening. Guests' arrival music takes place in the inn as guests arrive and enjoy a drink in the hour ahead of the ceremony. Evening entertainment with live requests is available in the inn while the room is made ready for the evening, or in the Undermillbeck as an alternative to a DJ / band for couples who want live entertainment but perhaps not the loud big party for their more intimate wedding.