ABOUT US
Put the right ingredients in the right hands and something truly and sublimely different can happen. Take exquisitely restored historic châteaux, a classic rural settling and the very finest wines and cuisine, add individuals with an instinct for hospitality, a flair for organisation and a creative spirit, and the result is Château Living, bringing it all together to provide guests with a European luxury vacations experience like no other.
Your Château Living team will personally handle every aspect of your European luxury vacations
Quality and attention to detail
The co-founders of Château Living, Jonathan and Susi Loy, had been working as part of a team specialising in château weddings when the big idea dawned. Why not offer high-end hospitality in a château setting not just for weddings but longer stays? No one else was doing this. So they joined with Louise Hadland to launch Château Living – fully serviced, European luxury vacations and retreats with a relaxed feel in the beautiful Bordeaux region.
The team brings a wealth of experience of providing bespoke, luxury hospitality at world class venues and locations in the UK, France, Channel Islands and North America for a wealthy and exacting clientele. Their combined knowledge and shared ethos for delivering professional but friendly service is at the heart of Château Living, together with the desire to bring such quality to the incredible Bordeaux area.
Co-founder
Jonathan Loy
Raised in Devon, England I followed the family line in construction, with an emphasis on design and management. That led me into furniture design and manufacture in the early 2000’s. After purchasing land in Virginia, I emigrated with my family in 2004 to develop an award winning English Oak framed house design-and-build company. There, I qualified as a Class A Building Contractor.
As well as the practical hand-on side of my life, I’ve devoted a large portion of it to hospitality: organising events, managing venues, running community events, London exhibitions, catering for weddings and celebrations in the United States. In 2011 we relocated to France to manage a beautiful renovated watermill in Brittany as a gîte and chambres d’hôtes business which we purchased with friends. During this time I also qualified as an artisan, working as a carpenter and joiner. After managing estates in the Loire, Ardeche and France Susi and I found ourselves managing and playing host at a château near St Emilion, and discovered the Bordeaux region.
We love it here. That’s not just because it’s exceptionally rich in châteaux – making it ideal for Château Living European luxury vacations – but also for Bordeaux itself. In many ways this fine city rivals Paris in its architecture and attractions, but without the pressure and crowds. And most of the time the climate’s great.
Co-founder
Susi Loy
Growing up on the edge of Dartmoor, my country background makes me feel at home with Château Living. Having trained as a nurse in Bristol, I returned to Devon to train and practise as a midwife and raise a family of three.
Ever since we got married in 1986, Jonathan and I have organised public events, entertained hundreds of people and hosted celebrations for life’s most significant mile stones. After a period working as a partner in Jon’s furniture making business, we moved with our family to the USA. Here I quickly established a successful catering and events business.
Moving to France in 2011, I first worked as a hostess and housekeeper at our watermill in Brittany and then as a wedding planner in the front of house team at the St. Emilion Château. All in all, it’s the perfect foundation for the growing success of Château Living.
Co-founder
Louise Hadland
It’s been a privilege for me to have had a career in high-end hospitality, providing first class personal service to VIP’s, organising and running high profile events. This experience includes several years at a château owned by very wealthy individuals, managing a team of 30. Leading them to deliver wedding banquets and milestone celebrations was always both a thrill and a challenge.
Ensuring bespoke service with no details over-looked is my top priority. Happy clients with only great memories is the most important thing to me. The decision to move to South West France 12 years ago with my young family was life changing, not always easy, but very rewarding.
Being able to bring together a lifetime of knowledge, skills and passion into developing Château Living with Jonathan and Susi and achieving our goal of providing outstanding hospitality has been a joy. Introducing original and authentic experiences for the clients is important to us. For me the horse and carriage experiences we offer can’t be matched.
WINE TOUR MANAGER
MORGANE MATTES
Born and raised in the wonderful Alsace region of North East France, I moved to settle in Bordeaux in 2012, but my heart is still always stirred by the traditions and celebration times of my roots. This nostalgia and sense of occasion is deep within me and so I am always looking to enjoy and create great moments that will become unforgettable.
This is perfect for my work with Château Living; I share the attention to detail of Jonathan and Susi. Authentic experiences, days out, wine tours and original event ideas all executed with style and grace make for extraordinary Château Living moments. A stunning setting, a fabulous buffet or banquet, a meticulously organised occasion with the very best products are all super important elements to include when we organise anything.
Working as a tourist guide since many years, I have developed insider knowledge of Bordeaux region; alongside the big named venues, I know many off-the-beaten-track activities and places that most visitors would never discover. I am a wine lover myself, but also have an intimate knowledge of the wine making process from vineyard to bottle. I often work as a sommelier for prestigious events in famous estates.
Maître d’hôtel & Chef
ADRIEN STOLL
As a native Frenchman, I love the style of Château Living, the English charm, appreciation and love of beautiful things, Susi’s kindness and culinary & amazing presentation skills; Jonathan for his availability, quick responses and professionalism.
On my first work with them in 2021 as a butler/BBQ chef at Château Élegance, we hit it off immediately, maybe the private whiskey tasting before the service helped!? We have since worked together at other châteaux and I enjoy working together to produce an exceptional experience for guests.
CHEF
Raf Staniszewski
Château Living are very excited to introduce our new team member Chef Raf Staniszewski. Raf brings with him incredible culinary skills and a passion for France and its food. This all means that Raf and the Château Living team are delighted to be able to provide you with a luxury private dining experience. Complete the meal with local Bordeaux wine for you and your group in your very own French château for the prefect Gallic experience!
start your Château Living journey
ENQUIRY
Now you’ve met the Château Living team, we’d love to talk with you about what best fits your wishes, your group and your dates for your own European luxury vacation. We can build a bespoke Château Living stay just for you from our wealth of resources, or if you’ve made up your mind already, we’d be happy to personally finalise your booking with you.
TELL US MORE
Please provide us with your name and email address as well as an outline of what you would like your stay to look like.