Gardener’s WORLD

We explore some of the region’s most verdant venues

Swettenham Arms

01477 571 284 | www.swettenhamarms.co.uk

The Swettenham Arms is a characterful venue nestled in the heart of the Cheshire countryside. The stylish Lovell Suite is surrounded by beautiful gardens, idyllic woodlands and open landscape, and during the summer months the lavender is in full bloom. This beautifully refurbished inn in the heart of the Dane Valley, offers superb food, stunning settings, impeccable service and unrivalled attention to every detail. From the decorations to catering, the team will tailor its services to meet your needs and create a wedding that’s unforgettable just for you. Licensed for civil weddings and partnership ceremonies it’s the ultimate venue if you want to celebrate among picturesque surroundings.

The elegant Lovell Suite can hold up to 120 guests for ceremonies, 120 for the wedding breakfast and 150 for the evening celebration. Featuring a spacious dancefloor and plenty of room for seating and mingling, the Suite allows you to the dance the night away, enjoy delicious food and drinks, as well as simply catching up with loved ones – the ambience is perfect.

You can also make the most of the stunning grounds and exchange your vows surrounded by their natural beauty, as you overlook the lavender fields. Then, if you’re looking for something extra special for the ensuing celebrations, there’s plenty of space to accommodate a marquee or tipi allowing you to further revel in the great outdoors.

PEAR TREE FARM 01565 631838 | www.pear-tree-farm.org

Pear Tree Farm is a charming country cottage standing in around nine acres of gardens and fields, just five minutes from the pretty town of Knutsford. It’s a small, private retreat for intimate and bespoke weddings for two and a few. There are two exquisite guest bedrooms, with four-poster and canopied beds, bespoke hand-painted walls and ceilings, luxurious silks, voiles and velvet soft furnishings. The all-white bridal suite includes a balcony overlooking the garden and a double bath surrounded by candles for the perfect romantic soak.

Among the incredible photo opportunities in the gardens are the rose garden, parterre, and clematis-covered tunnel leading down to a duck pond complete with decking and a trickling waterfall. In addition to the garden, there are the grassy fields to explore along with a small paddock with seating area and firepit under the trees.

Ceremonies can take place in one of three beautiful locations each with a maximum capacity of 16 nearest and dearest. The Summer House set in the landscaped gardens and in the lee of an old weeping willow, located next to a small orchard with a variety of fruit trees including, of course, several pear trees. The Paddock Ceremony Area is set in a dip at the bottom of the small secluded paddock, where you’ll find a hidden seating area under the trees with twinkling lights. Finally, The Gold Room boasts beautiful hand-painted walls and an intricately painted ceiling. The room is furnished with antiques, including several grandfather clocks and a baby grand piano.

Celebrations are hosted in the Diamond Dining Room for 16 people. The décor is a rich, deep burgundy and gold, reminiscent of grand old theatres. The venue works with an excellent chef who’d come to the house to prepare, cook and serve a tailormade menu.

THE BRIDGE 0330 137 3771 | www.flatcaphotels.com/the-bridge

Nestled in the picturesque village of Prestbury, The Bridge is more than a quaint setting for your wedding. The beautiful gardens and enviable location on the banks of the River Bollin provide a charming backdrop for photographs, while its elegant event spaces and collection of luxury bedrooms create the most magical of wedding venues. Created by nature, but enhanced by Flat Cap Hotels, it’s well equipped to frame any big day.

The Bridge is one of the few venues in the Cheshire Triangle that offers an outdoor ceremony license. Overlooking the River Bollin the Garden Room can seat 80 guests for the “I dos,” with the Riverside accommodating 110 loved ones. The venue is also licensed for al-fresco ceremonies accompanied by 60 guests on the Riverside Patio. For more intimate nuptials, the Bollin seats 20 nearest and dearest to witness your vows.

The Bridge boasts three wonderful reception space options. The Garden Room accommodates up to 80 guests, while The Riverside can seat up to 90, naturally illuminated by the sunlight filtering through the large patio doors. Alternatively, go all out and invite 140 guests to your meal with a marquee option within the sunkissed gardens. The Bollin meanwhile provides a quaint setting for 20. A trendy room with plush carpet and exposed brick feature wall, it’s the perfect intimate setting to celebrate.

For evening receptions, whether your party is into throwing shapes on the dancefloor or relaxing on the patio, The Bridge has it all! On warm summer evenings, guests can kick back, cool down and chill out by The Shed, the outdoor bar, which is fully equipped to keep everyone suitably refreshed, al fresco.

"We are so happy we chose Pollards for our wedding reception, Cara and her team did a superb job being attentive to our needs in the planning. On the day she made sure everything ran smoothly throughout and the staff were extremely helpful, we had a great day!

The food was delicious for every course, and the canapés went down extremely well in the outside Barnhouse and gorgeous gardens with our guests. They catered for our guests with dietary requirements superbly, and they were well looked after.

It was the perfect venue for the number of friends and family that we wanted, and it created a lovely intimate wedding which we will never forget!

We particularly loved the private bar area and decoration of the main room which made the whole day feel so special and we couldn't recommend Pollards enough!"

Ness Botanic Gardens

0845 030 4063 | www.liverpool.ac.uk/ness-gardens

Ness was created more than 100 years ago by a man whose intense love of nature inspired a search for rare and beautiful plants, which spanned the globe. His name was AK Bulley and his gift to you is a place unlike any other in which to be married.

There’s a choice of two venues for your wedding ceremony here: al fresco in the Rock Garden or indoors in the Hulme Room Conservatory with its sweeping views across the gardens. If you decide on the former you’ll enter from the VIP car park and cross the sandstone bridge to join your guests, who’ll be assembled in the lovely Rock Garden. The “I dos” will take place in the thatched Summer House next to the lily pond and once you’ve signed the register and the ceremony is wrapped up, drinks and canapés will be served. The area can accommodate up to 100 standing guests for ceremonies, but can provide seating for any guests who may need a rest during proceedings. The gardens provide an idyllic backdrop for romantic photographs, a favourite among past couples is the iconic bridge in the Rock Garden; and if you’re lucky enough to marry on a clear day, you can capture magnificent photographs of views across to Wales.

The Hulme Room Conservatory offers the perfect alternative to an outdoor ceremony and is a particularly popular choice for autumn and winter weddings. This light and airy space overlooks the Gardens and includes use of the impressive Hulme Deck area, offering breakout spaces for guests with spectacular photo opportunities. The space is decorated in a neutral style and features a pretty glazed lobby with double doors opening into it. As well as the “I dos,” the Hulme Room Conservatory and Deck is ideal for a drinks reception, wedding breakfast and evening reception, and can accommodate a maximum of 100 guests.

ROWTON HALL

01244 335 262 | www.rowtonhallhotel.co.uk

This historical Georgina Manor House hotel is set amidst eight acres of tranquil gardens and grounds making for a beautiful wedding location. There are secret gardens and hideaway settings, rolling lawns, manicured gardens and ornamental pergolas.

Named after its ornamental fireplace, The Inglenook is perfect for a winter wedding. Air-conditioned for summer, and with original 18th-century features, it’s an elegant and versatile space. The Ballroom can accommodate up to 130 loved ones for the wedding breakfast and up to 200 for the evening. It can be dressed in almost any way you wish. Large doors open out into the cool, relaxed conservatory, and in the fine weather, your guests can enjoy the picturesque privacy of the walled garden.

Like The Ballroom, the Conservatory can be dressed to suit your vision. The venue’s team of talented and passionate chefs are renowned for using fresh, seasonal produce from their own kitchen gardens, all specially prepared. Later on, the events team will be on hand to create the perfect setting for a memorable night of music and dancing as your celebrations begin. Then, as the dancefloor comes to life, the chefs can prepare your choice of evening buffet or even a summer barbecue.

Here, you have the opportunity to make every inch of Rowton Hall yours. The Ballroom, Conservatory, Terrace Bar and grounds are just the beginning. From 12 noon on the day of the wedding or civil partnership until breakfast on the following day, the house and grounds are yours. Exclusive use means you can assign each of the individually-designed and decorated rooms to your guests and you can personalise your own menu. And when the big day draws to a close, you have your stunning wedding suite to look froward to.