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Our roundup of the region’s hotel venues

THORNBURY CASTLE

01454 281 182 | www.thornburycastle.co.uk

Thornbury Castle, the honeymoon destination of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, is steeped in history inside and out. From the original walls and mounting steps where the former King would have once stood, to the feature oriel windows and 500-year-old chimneys, there’s always something to revel in for the history fan. Every room allows you to step back in time and each of the hotel’s bedchambers includes individual Tudor features such as four-poster beds and stone walls. The grounds too are beautifully historical and thanks to the hard-working gardening team, they’re some of the best-preserved Tudor gardens in England.

THE “I DOS” There’s an impressive choice of locations when it comes to your ceremony. The most intimate of which is The Library suitable for 14 guests. It features wood-panelled walls and an oriel window. The Lounge is slightly larger and can host 24, and the largest of the indoor spaces is The Tudor Hall, which can accommodate 75 loved ones. It features stone walls, an original fireplace, an oriel window plus additional adjacent rooms.

If you prefer to tie the knot al fresco, The Summerhouse can hold 14 nearest and dearest and is a charming feature of the rose garden. The Goodly Gardens are suitable for guest lists of up to 75 people and includes some of the oldest Tudor gardens in England all surrounded by stone walls.

THE CELEBRATIONS The Barons Sitting Room is suitable for receptions for up to 20 loved ones, with original beams, an ornamental fireplace and one long feature table. The Chancellors Lounge is a private space for guests to enjoy throughout the day with views of the front lawn and inside courtyard. Adjacent rooms, The Tudor Hall and Boyling House can together host 75 day and 120 evening guests. The former acts as the wedding breakfast area, following which you’ll adjourn into the Boyling House with reception room and private bar.

THERE’S MORE The hotel offers a complimentary tasting with the Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour packages, as well as a complimentary bed and breakfast stay in one of the deluxe bedchambers for your anniversary. In fact, the Catherine of Aragon Tower Suite, located at the top of the original stone tower boasts the largest four-posted bed in an English hotel!

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BEST WESTERN PLUS CENTURION HOTEL

01761 417 711 | www.centurionhotel.co.uk

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The Centurion Hotel is located in Midsomer Norton, between Bath and Wells among 52 acres of grounds with gardens and a nine-hole golf course. It boasts 45 bedrooms with function rooms overlooking the scenic landscape. The professional team here are always on hand to help you out every step of the way, ensuring your day runs smoothly and you’re able to enjoy every second.

THE “I DOS” The Hotel Lounge is home to civil ceremonies and drinks receptions, and leads straight out into the hotel garden. There’s ample space here for 100 of your nearest and dearest. THE CELEBRATIONS Receptions are hosted in the hotel’s main function space, the Catherine Room, which boasts glorious views of the golf course. It has its own bar and can comfortably seat up to 120 loved ones for the wedding breakfast and 240 for the evening do.

THERE’S MORE Built into the venue’s wedding packages in a menu tasting, bridal suite for the night of the wedding and a meal in the restaurant for your first anniversary. Rooms and a meal for the night before the big day are also available.

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THE CROSSWAYS

01749 899 000 | www.thecrossways.co.uk

The Crossways is an AA 5-Star rated inn located close to the city of Wells. The hotel offers 26 deluxe bedrooms, an AA Rosette-awarded restaurant and a range of function rooms with outside terraces. It’s surrounded by beautiful Somerset countryside with rooftop terraces providing unrivalled views towards the world-famous Glastonbury Tor.

THE “I DOS” You have three options for your ceremony here. The King Arthur Suite is an intimate space with easy access to other areas and can host 80 of your nearest and dearest. The Tor View Suite can accommodate the same number and opens out onto the outside terrace from which you can enjoy stunning views across to Glastonbury Tor. The largest area is the combined Tor View Suite with extension, allowing it to increase its capacity to 110.

THE CELEBRATIONS The same suites can also host your big-day bash. The King Arthur Suite can host 200 loved ones, as can the Tor View. When the latter is combined with its extension, it can accommodate 280.

THERE’S MORE As the newlyweds, you’ll be offered one night’s free accommodation in the fabulous Avalon honeymoon suite complete with private terrace and Jacuzzi hot tub (subject to a minimum spend). The hotel also has it’s own on-site hair and beauty salon offering a full range of hairdressing services and beauty treatments for your big day.

THE OAKHOUSE HOTEL & COURTHOUSE GARDENS

01934 732 444 (option 1) | www.theoakhousesomerset.com

Somerset’s hidden Medieval gem, The Oakhouse Hotel is nestled in the historical town of Axbridge, Somerset at the foot of the Mendip Hills. Located just 45 minutes from Bristol and Taunton to the South and 15 minutes from Weston-Super-Mare it’s easily accessible for guests wherever they’re travelling from. A delightfully charming, classic English inn, The Oakhouse bursts with rustic elegance, ideal for any style of celebration. It can offer exclusive use, whereby the entire hotel with 10 en-suite bedrooms become private for your use for 24 hours – you and your guests can feel right at home as you access access to all areas.

The Courthouse Gardens offer an endless spectrum of possibility allowing you to incorporate and enjoy this delightful outside space into your big day drinks reception, photographs and daytime marquee reception.

THE “I DOS” Ceremonies witnessed by 90 loved ones are held in The Oak Room. Complete with exposed 11th-century stonework, beams and a well it provides a popular magical option in the autumn and winter to marry by candlelight. While the spring and summer months offer the addition of trailing ivy.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for al fresco “I dos,” the Courthouse Gardens are available for celebrant-led blessings. The venue sits next doors to St. John the Baptist Church, so if you’d rather a church ceremony, that’s also an option.

THE CELEBRATIONS The Oak Room as well as the rest of the hotel is well suited to a formal, sitdown wedding breakfast for up to 60 guests, with further informal dining options available for up to 120 across the hotel’s other spaces. The Town Hall sits directly opposite providing a further alternative if you wish to host a formal meal for a larger guest list during the autumn or winter.

For spring and summer nuptials, the picturesque Courthouse Gardens provide extensive options for marquee receptions. Whether you’re after something formal or a festival-style tipi arrangement the team can make your vision a reality.

THERE’S MORE The Hotel can provide an in-house DJ entertainment services and photo booth. It also has a sister hotel at Gatwick airport (The Maple Manor Hotel), which is available for an overnight stay prior to honeymoon flights. You can also book a complimentary menu tasting ahead of the big day.

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THE ROYAL HOTEL

01934 423 100 | www.royalhotelweston.com BAILBROOK HOUSE HOTEL

01225 855 100 | www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/bailbrookhouse

This charismatic Georgian hotel is centrally located in the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare and has been a familiar sight there since 1810. Set within its own private grounds it boasts superb views of the promenade, pier and Welsh coast, making it ideal for those all-important photographs. Set on a hillside, the Hotel overlooks the glorious landscapes of Bath and the Avon Valley. Dating back to the 1790s, Bailbrook House retains the characterful glory of its bygone years and boasts 94 stylish bedrooms and suites featuring four-poster beds and roll-top baths.