Where the past and present come together in perfect harmony

Nestled in 27 acres of medieval parkland is the gorgeous 17th-century Manor House OFFLEY PLACE

Located just minutes from all the amenities of London, nestled in 27 acres of medieval parkland is home to the gorgeous 17th-century Manor House, Offley Place, where you will feel a million miles from the noise of the city.

Dating back to the Saxon period, once Offley Palace, the house and grounds of Offley Place are packed with history all situated at the end of a sweeping drive in the quaint village of Great Offley.

Where love stories come to life in stunning natural surroundings, our vision is to curate a personalised experience, with unparalleled service creating memories that last a lifetime.

The Manor House offers a variety of delightful reception rooms and entertaining spaces along with luxurious wedding accommodation for the newlywed couple and select guests. Our 16 newly-refreshed bedrooms overlook the stunning grounds and gardens.

Our Conservatory offers an elegant and bright setting with the rustic brickwork complemented by the sparkling chandeliers, making this the perfect location to host your milestone anniversary celebration, drinks reception or ceremony for more intimate weddings.

Boasting a capacity of 250 people seated, The Hester Ballroom, makes for a stunning grand affair. with every aspect designed to create a unique experience, no detail has been overlooked. The Ballroom is licensed for ceremonies, perfect for your Wedding Breakfast and ideal for celebrating with all your loved ones. There is simply nothing more glamorous than dancing the night away under our exquisite chandeliers.

Embodying elegance and expertise, we share the journey and joys in celebrating every couple and every culture for all manner of events, from elegant birthday dinner parties to elaborate weddings. www.offleyplace.com

It has always been a place to gather with family and friends in celebration, no more so than today.

A brand new recycling centre will shortly be opening in Welwyn Garden City. The new site replaces the previous one at Cole Green which closed on Friday 31 March 2023.

Located on Tewin Road, the centre is due to officially open on Monday 15 May 2023 and will be accessible 7 days a week from 10 am to 6 pm all year round.

The new multi-million pound investment by Hertfordshire County Council will provide a vast improvement on the old Cole Green Recycling Centre and will be a split-level site making it easier for users to dispose of items. The build follows the successful opening of the Ware Recycling Centre back in October 2020, and will provide a number of new features and site enhancements including:

• Reduced queueing – There will be over 30 parking bays plus a lengthy ‘running lane’ ensuring visitors won’t have to queue onto the road

• Fewer service closures – A split level site means that it will be closed less often to allow servicing during opening hours

• A new Reuse Shop – A purpose-built shop, for donations and purchase of good quality unwanted items, which will be the fifth one in the county

• A business waste drop-off service –

Following the successful pilot at the Ware site, this will be the second opportunity for businesses in the county to compliantly dispose and recycle their waste at competitive rates

Keep in touch

Recycling centres are provided for the free disposal of waste or recycling materials for householders. Businesses are only permitted to use the sites offering business waste services.

Residents who use a van or trailer to access the centres can apply online for a free, instant permit to allow them to dispose of waste from their own home at any local recycling centre. Permits are only issued to Hertfordshire residents, so if you live outside the county borders speak to your local authority to check the rules at facilities they provide.

Please also note that a new policy to restrict out-of-county residents from using the network of Hertfordshire sites was approved in March 2023. Residents are requested to bring proof of address when visiting the sites, including driving licence, council tax bill, Hertfordshire bus pass or utility bill. Enforcement of the new policy is expected to be in May to allow time to communicate the change and to explore reciprocal access arrangements with neighbouring local authorities. During this period access for non-residents will not be refused. www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ recyclingcentres

Householders and business owners alike have a duty of care to ensure any waste materials that they create are disposed of responsibility. If you hire someone to dispose of waste for you, they must have a waste carrier’s licence.

You can check on the Environment Agency’s website via the link on our page: Let’s SCRAP fly tipping and find information on how to prevent and report fly-tipping.

If you illegally dump waste, or someone else does on your behalf, you could face a £400 fixed penalty notice or an unlimited fine.

Welwyn Garden City Recycling Centre, Tewin Road, AL7 1BD.

Open Monday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm all year.

Packaging Waste

Following a period of statutory consultation on new legislation, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have recently announced plans to make businesses supplying household packaging responsible for the cost of dealing with packaging waste.

This will support councils and taxpayers by moving the cost away from them. Producers will be required to pay for the collection and disposal costs of household packaging they supply when it becomes waste.

The aim is to encourage producers to reduce the amount of packaging they place on the market, and to improve the recyclability of their packaging – in turn ensuring less waste ends up in the natural environment.

We will provide a further update once DEFRA have confirmed the specifics around this new legislation.

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