Railway Weddings

from Your Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wedding - April/May 2023 (Issue 100)

by County Wedding Magazines

WIN A FOUR-NIGHT BREAK IN TUSCANY

www.wallingfordportraits.co.uk

Tel: 07876 293377

Wedding Ceremony Licence

Stunning glass-roofed railway venue

Amazing grounds for your photographs

Exclusive use all day and your own choice of suppliers

Sit down meal for 150, with large separate dance floor

Offer guests a steam train ride!

Large on-site car park

For info and appointments, email Emma: functions@bucksrailcentre.org

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Station Road, Quainton HP22 4BY

A beautiful backdrop to say “I do” in Berkshire

Set in 250 acres of gorgeous countryside, the Mansion House at Wokefield Estate is the perfect setting for your dream day.

Choose to get married inside this stunning Grade II listed building, or take your vows outside under the eaves of our Wedding Pavilion.

With the capacity for up to 300 guests, Wokefield Estate can accommodate both large and intimate weddings alike.

For information about our packages or to arrange a show-round of the venue, please contact us on the details below.

DE VERE BEAUMONT ESTATE COMPLETES MULTIMILLION-POUND REFURBISHMENT

De Vere Beaumont Estate in Old Windsor, part of De Vere’s collection of country estate hotels, has today unveiled the final phase of its grand transformation with the completion of refurbishment works to its bedrooms, the Beaumont Restaurant and indoor swimming pool, which concludes a £25 million investment into the hotel.

The final stage of work has seen the remaining 28 bedrooms and suites at De Vere Beaumont Estate completely updated, meaning that now all 429 rooms offer a new luxurious, relaxed, and contemporary design while retaining the estate’s original features, bringing the mansion house in line with De Vere’s distinctly British aesthetic.

The White House bedrooms are complete with luxurious facilities including walk-in showers, roll-top baths, fluffy robes and slippers, classic Roberts radios, Penhaligon toiletries and smart TVs. Guests dining at the property can also enjoy a refreshed new look in the Beaumont Restaurant which has been updated with new tables, chairs, carpets and buffet serving units. This sits alongside the recently refurbished 1705 Restaurant, with menus that celebrate the best of British cuisine.

Venue director Darren McGhee commented: “We’re thrilled with the results of the final refurbishments at De Vere Beaumont Estate. The feedback from our guests has been extremely positive and the entire team is looking forward to continuing to build on our existing success.”

In 2018, the hotel unveiled the results of the first phase of a £12 million refurbishment which included the creation of new luxury bedrooms and a top-to-toe refurbishment of much of the property, including the hotel’s 45 event spaces. This saw a refresh of the hotel’s Grade II listed, 19th-century chapel, with an ornate painted ceiling and stained-glass windows which was returned to its former glory. The Chapel now provides a striking and unique backdrop to events, from weddings to celebratory dinners for up to 200 guests.

To book, visit www.devere.co.uk/beaumont-estate

Prepare To Be Pampered At A Pob Hotel

PoB Hotels has recently launched as a collection of carefully curated rooms, the finest restaurants and spas and the most authentic regional experiences across the UK. Formerly known as Pride of Britain Hotels, the new PoB Hotels marks a shift towards an entirely new brand, personality and ethos under CEO Kalindi Juneja. Hotels include The Relais Henley in Oxfordshire (www.therelaisretreats.com/henley) and Hartwell House & Spa in Buckinghamshire (www.hartwell-house.com)

New research commissioned by PoB Hotels from market intelligence firm AudienceNet, shows that more British customers intend to not only travel across the UK during 2023 but also stay longer at their chosen luxury hotel. More than one-third (35%) of all UK adults plan to stay at an upmarket, luxury or spa hotel within the British Isles. The importance of experiences, such as good food, better well-being and spa facilities increased by 60%. Kalindi Juneja, CEO of PoB Hotels, comments: “It’s an exciting new era for PoB Hotels as the evolution of our iconic British brand has already brought us new hotel members and is attracting new guests. Britons want to spend more time enjoying the incredible experiences on offer within the British Isles and we will be showcasing the finest privately-owned hotels, restaurants and spas available.”

In line with the new brand, PoB Hotels is launching a new website that is centred around the guest experience. Features include ‘The Handle’PoB Hotels’ new online magazine, an intelligent search bar, and a mystery door for guests who want a surprise element to their next British holiday. PoB Hotels will relaunch all social media channels under the new name and the brand has also launched on TikTok to interest guests through creative content and videos.

The 10 Most Instagrammed Wedding Venues Are Revealed

With more than 278,000 UK weddings expected to take place this year, there’s no doubt that couples across the country are scrolling through Instagram in search of inspiration. With this in mind, Aura Print (https://aura-print.com) has discovered the 10 most Insta-worthy and beautiful wedding venues in the UK by searching Instagram to discover which venue was being talked about the most. Luxury wedding venue Hedsor House in Buckinghamshire was number 2 on the list. To find out more about weddings at this property, visit www.hedsor.com

The rebrand also unveils the PoB hotels gift vouchers that can be personalised and purchased as a luxury gift pack including a reusable travel bag, a copy of The Directory book and a stylish gift wallet. For an instant gift, the voucher can be sent digitally presenting the perfect opportunity for guests to give the gift of luxury to their loved ones. Each gift voucher can be redeemed at any of the hotels across the British Isles. PoB Hotels will also launch The Collection, a beautiful book.

PoB Hotels is committed to responsible travel and the importance of sustainable practices across its hotels and has partnered with EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking certification, and advisory group for travel and tourism to develop environmental good practices and certification for hotel members, and company-wide regenerative practices. Sue Williams, general manager of Whatley Manor has been elected their sustainability brand ambassador and guide and PoB Hotels is aiming to have more members embark on becoming carbon responsible.

CEO Kalindi Juneja added: “Our existing guests will continue to see the familiar sense of our passion to serve. We have taken time to assess what our guests love about us so we can amplify that whilst also looking at what we can improve. The new PoBHotels look is clean, fresh, and more reflective of what the membership has evolved into.”

To find out more, visit www.pobhotels.com

WADDESDON REVEAL JOANA VASCONCELOS: WEDDING CAKE

Wedding Cake - a 12-metre-high sculptural pavilion in the form of a three-tiered wedding cake, clad entirely in more than 25 thousand ceramic tiles - is a major new work by celebrated Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos opening at Waddesdon in Buckinghamshire on 8 June 2023.

Part sculpture, part architectural garden folly, Wedding Cake is an extraordinary, enormous, fully immersive sculpture which combines pâtisserie and architecture. Gleaming and icing-like outside and in, it offers an intricate and richly sensory experience – glazed in pale pinks, greens, and blues, beset with sculptural ornament and complete with the sounds of trickling water and a site-specific lighting scheme. Wedding Cake is Vasconcelos’ most ambitious commission to date, described by the artist as “a temple to love that celebrates festivity and marriage (artist’s impression, right).

To find out more, visit https://waddesdon.org.uk/whats-on/wedding-cake-tours

The Randolph Hotel Enjoys Recent Renovation

The Randolph Hotel, a 151-room property in Oxford has enjoyed a recent renovation with a redesign of the common spaces, the lobby and guest rooms, as well as the introduction of a new spa. Bold hues, architectural elements and locally inspired art bring to life the narratives of Oxford’s past.

Led by executive chef Chris Emery, The Alice is the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant and bar, serving classic British dishes. Additional spaces include The Snug, The Morse Bar (a local favourite), The Drawing Room and The Lancaster Room, where the signature afternoon tea is served.

The illustrator John Broadley created the menu artwork featured throughout the hotel, taking inspiration from the celebrated British cartoonist Osbert Lancaster, a former resident of the hotel who paid for his keep-in paintings. The illustrations unite Emery’s menu, the city of Oxford and ideas from the story Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Local attractions include gin and whisky tasting at Oxford Gin Distillery, an interactive class led at the hotel by the Oxford Soap Company, and a floral workshop by The Garden of Oxford.

The Randolph Hotel is redefining wellness by partnering with Made For Life Organics to offer an incredible selection of holistic and therapeutic wellness services. Inside the Wellness Centre, guests can relax in our steam, sauna and sensation shower or get pampered in one of our four private treatment rooms.

To book, visit www.graduatehotels.com/oxford-uk

Restaurant Associates Announces Partnership With Unity Place

Restaurant Associates has won the contract to cater for all food and beverage outlets at Unity Place, a visitor attraction and leisure destination due to open in the heart of Milton Keynes in late Spring 2023. Restaurant Associates will be overseeing a variety of bespoke dining offers including a premium restaurant, social enterprise café, a sky lounge, bakery, and food hall and the management of several state-of-the-art conference and event spaces.

Unity Place’s communal facilities will include retail outlets, health facilities, a community hall, and an auditorium for up to 300 guests - all underpinned by a sustainable approach and focus on social mobility. There will also be a fabulous dining facility complete with a sun terrace on level seven.

To find out more, visit https://restaurantassociates.co.uk

Park Fair 2023 Returns To Oxfordshire This Summer

After a hugely successful launch, Park Fair will return to the Oxfordshire countryside for its second year in 2023. A great idea for a stylish hen weekend, the fair will host a collection of stylish modern brands across the weekend festival, including the global cosmetics powerhouse Bobbi Brown, iconic fashion capsule Jigsaw, artisanal womenswear collection Pink City Prints, and British lifestyle label Seraphina London. The fair will welcome visitors to Great Tew Estate on Friday 30th June, Saturday 1st July, and Sunday 2nd July.

Charlie Root, marketing manager at Bobbi Brown said: “We’re thrilled to announce our participation in this year’s Park Fair. Our professional make-up artists will be on hand to offer free 15-Minute Makeovers and Mini Masterclasses, sharing expert tips and tricks for all things beauty.”

Guests will have unprecedented access to the rolling parkland at the Great Tew Estate for the weekend including a curated wellness area offering a range of complimentary treatments. An impressive culinary line-up will see Farang London bring their award-winning Thai flavours to Oxfordshire and Pizza Boys Bicester share their passion for the classic Neapolitan style pizza.

Tickets cost £18 for adults and £12 for children over five years, £4 for under five, two years and below go free, https://parkfair.uk/tickets/

For more information, visit https://parkfair.uk

At H & C Bars we know that every party or function is di erent. We pride ourselves on being able to tailor our bars to suit the needs of you and your guests ensuring that every taste is catered for.