Love al fresco

Marry in a tipi, yurt, stretch tent or at an outdoor wedding venue this summer

The

RIDGEWAY BARNS, WILTSHIRE

This award-winning, farm-based wedding and events venue is situated in the heart of the North Wessex Downs. Whether it’s an intimate celebration in the farmhouse for up to 24 guests; a small wedding in the stretch tent for up to 50 loved ones or a larger gathering in the 19th-century threshing barn that seats up to 100 people with 120 standing for an evening reception, it offers something for every type of wedding. There’s even the opportunity to have a marquee on the lawn hosting up to 150 guests and there’s also the option for outdoor ceremonies.

Weekend weddings with three-day exclusive hire are also an option with accommodation included for up to 15 guests allowing couples to gather their loved ones together the night before. They can then extend the celebrations into the Sunday if they wish. Alternatively, one-night options are available mid-week.

Couples are free to choose their caterers and other suppliers, but the expert team at the venue are always on hand to provide recommendations. Throughout the wedding planning journey, they will provide wedding planning support and on-the-day coordination.

Ceremony licence? Yes

Contact: 01793 791 746, https://theridgewaybarns.co.uk

Turn to page 55 to see the styled shoot that took place at this stunning wedding venue.

What’s new?

THE QUEENS HOTEL IN CHELTENHAM REVEALS

ROYAL CORONATION PACKAGE AVAILABLE

UNTIL 2024

First opening its doors on the 21st of July 1838, and named in honour of Queen Victoria whose coronation fell in the same year, The Queens Hotel in Cheltenham has royal roots running throughout. One of the first purpose-built hotels in Europe, this quintessential British retreat is situated at the south end of the popular Promenade in this Regency town.

The hotel’s impressive Palladian facade exudes elegance and grandeur from the moment guests walk in.

The hotel has launched the ‘Royal Coronation Package’ which is available to book now and is valid for stays until 29th February 2024, excluding weekends, during the Bath markets and the festive season in December. This package is based on two guests sharing a classic bedroom for a minimum of two nights, including breakfast.

As part of the royal Coronation Package, guests can enjoy a day out at the Slimbridge Wetlands Centre, where King Charles III is the Royal patron of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, the perfect treat for wedding guests. To find out more, visit https://suttonhotelcollection.com/experiences

The hotel hosts grand weddings for up to 120 people with a dedicated wedding coordinator, the best chefs and many areas for photographs which includes the Queens Summer Garden.

Following a hugely successful launch last year, the outdoor garden has now reopened with a delicious new menu and an exciting new programme of events including live music, prosecco on tap and bottomless afternoon tea. It provides an outdoor sanctuary in the heart of historic Cheltenham. The theme for this year’s garden menu and events is centred around getting together and sharing. It’s the perfect place for friends and family to meet to enjoy delicious food in the sunshine.

The new seasonal menu focuses on local provenance and features dishes such as Thai-style mussels served with crusty bread designed for two to share; succulent lemon-fried tiger prawns and a delicious rosemary and garlic-baked camembert, perfect for sharing as the evenings become warmer. The pièce de résistance is the Chinese-style barbecue pork bao bun, served alongside pickled red cabbage and garlic fried pak choi.

The quirky and popular horsebox bar makes a return and the team will be serving cocktails and vodka spritzes from new UK-based partner Edwards alongside the best of British, with English wines such as Folc Rosé and local beers like Hawkstone Lager from the Cotswold Brewery, as well as other summer classics.

The Horsebox bar is home to ‘Prosecco on tap’ and, new for this year, guests can enjoy limitless prosecco with nibbles from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm every Monday to Friday, perfect for those who enjoy a post-work pick-me-up. At just £20 each for two hours, guests will have the option of pouring prosecco for themselves from the tap or having the team serve it to them.

Guests can also enjoy a bottomless afternoon tea in the garden, with 90 minutes of unlimited top-ups of chilled prosecco, freshly made sandwiches and sweet treats every day from 12 noon to 4:00 pm.

To find out more about weddings at the property, visit https://queenshotelcheltenham.co.uk

Tewkesbury Park In Gloucestershire

UNVEILS DOG-FRIENDLY ROOMS

Why settle for a regular getaway when your four-legged friend can go too? The eagerly awaited dog-friendly rooms are now ready to book at Tewkesbury Park hotel and spa. Not only are they luxurious in their design, but every attention to detail has been carefully considered to ensure a dog owner’s needs for their stay are taken care of. The team at Tewkesbury Park will always ensure both guests and their pet pooches have the most pawfect time!

Each room has a fully enclosed, private terrace with stunning scenery across the Malvern Hills. The dog-friendly rooms include memory foam beds for humans and pooches alike! There are also Nespresso machines, biscuits and delicious snacks, a mini fridge for drinks and luxurious bathrooms with power showers and tempting toiletries. There’s even a ‘doggy wash’ private area and organic pampering sets of locally sourced products for pooches available as part of an upgrade.

Four-legged friends are welcome in the piano lounge, meaning they can accompany their owner for a drink or bite to eat. Guests might bump into our friendly hotel dog Waffle!

Weddings take place in the state-of-the-art meetings and events space – The Cotswolds Suite with exclusive use of the Berkeley Bar and Terrace. Situated in the grounds are a Deer park and an 18-hole golf course.

To find out more about weddings at this hotel, visit www.tewkesburypark.co.uk

HILLES HOUSE IS THE STUNNING LOCATION FOR YOUR ROMANTIC WEDDING IN THE COTSWOLDS

An exquisite Grade II* listed wedding venue, nestled on the Edge, near Painswick and Stroud, featuring extraordinary Arts & Cra s architecture, the house provides a dramatic backdrop with glorious panoramic views across ve counties: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Monmouthshire, and Shropshire. With a relaxed and bohemian atmosphere combined with its creative history, this is an ideal setting for your most intimate day. Available from May to September, guests will bene t from exclusive use of the landscaped gardens and the Big Hall.

To nd out more, please visit www.hilleshouse.co.uk/weddings or contact our Wedding Planner, Emma Taylor Roach, at emma@hilleshouse.co.uk

@HillesHouse #cotswoldweddingvibes

WILTSHIRE-BASED WHATLEY MANOR PROUDLY PRESENTS ITS GREEN MICHELIN STAR

Following the recent Michelin guide announcement, eight members within the PoB Hotels’ collection have successfully retained their Michelin stars including Whatley Manor hotel and spa located in Malmesbury.

Be it a classically British dish, street-style feasts, or award-winning cuisine served with tasting menu finesse, PoB Hotels offer a fantastic selection of delicious foodie experiences at each of their hotels, located across the British Isles.

A truly exceptional dining experience is on offer at Whatley Manor with 1 Michelin star and 1 Green Michelin star, a recognition of their sustainable gastronomy efforts.

Enjoy a dramatic dining experience in The Dining Room where the seasonally changing menu displays an inspiring use of flavours, accomplished cooking and very creative dishes.

Weddings take place at this Cotswold manor house set in 12 acres of pretty gardens. Outdoor ceremonies can be enjoyed in the garden loggia or under the gazebo and magical mid-summer weddings aren’t to be missed.

For more information, visit www.whatleymanor.com/weddingsandcelebrations

Images of Sudeley Castle and Gardens courtesy of https://cristinailao.com; wedding planner, https://jenniferlouiseweddings.co.uk; florist, www.clementinemoon.co.uk; tableware and décor, https://theluxecollectionuk.co.uk, stationery, www.knockknockpennystudio.com and linen, www.just4linen.co.uk

SUDELEY CASTLE & GARDENS IN WINCHCOMBE UNVEILS ITS NEW LOOK

This idyllic wedding venue located in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire provides a wonderful historic backdrop for weddings set in more than 1,200 acres of grounds. Newly opened is the breathtakingly beautiful Orangery which, combined with the historic Old Coach House provides spacious dining and celebration areas to seat up to 150 people, with many more guests able to enjoy the large terrace and outdoor bar.

The Orangery is a bright and timeless setting located in the unique surroundings of the 15th-century Sudeley Castle and Gardens, with views of the castle exterior and across the rolling Cotswold Hills. It’s the perfect space to bring the outside in while the Old Coach House boasts tall ceilings, stone floors and art-filled walls to transport guests back in time at this castle that has royal connections spanning back one thousand years.

The award-winning gardens sweep around the castle and grounds and are known as being some of the most romantic in the Cotswolds. With ruins, and roses aplenty, there are awe-inspiring views and when the sun begins to set, the Cotswold stone of the castle and ruins magically glows.

Blessings take place in the private on-site chapel which seats up to 130

Old Gore Barn By Yard Space Events

Old Gore Barn is comprised of three barns, The Main Barn, The Long Barn and The Dutch Barn. Nestled into the heart of the Cotswold hills, overlooking the Calmsden valley, the festoon-lit courtyard at the venue offers an outdoor cooking space equipped with a firepit and barbecue area situated under the Dutch Barn. Fields of wildflowers surround the area offering perfect photo opportunities.

The Main Barn – the centrepiece of Old Gore Barn – is home to exposed beams, Cotswold stone walls and Crittall-style doors that create a light and airy space. It's licensed for up to 120 guests for a ceremony which takes place in front of the wood burner.

The Long Barn, licensed for up to 160 guests, benefits from bi-folding doors providing views across the courtyard and fields during the ceremony.

Ceremony licence? Yes

Contact: 01285 708 200, www.yardspace.co.uk guests. Queen Kathrine Parr lies entombed in the 15th-century chapel and is the only English Queen to be buried on private land.

•We love... the feast nights and pop-up events that regularly take place at the venue – check the website for details.

They can also take place inside the Tithe Barn ruins looking across the carp pond to the famous view of the castle itself for up to 100 people. Outdoor blessings can enjoy views of the Queen’s Garden, castle, ruins and chapel, for up to 150 guests.

Ceremonies can enjoy the historic library as a backdrop for up to 50 loved ones, or they can also take place outside the Old Coach House.

A drinks reception can take place in the Queen’s Garden that’s overflowing with roses in the summer. There are other gardens to choose from to ensure each wedding is bespoke.

The wedding breakfast and evening reception can take place in the Orangery for up to 150 loved ones or inside the Old Coach House for up to 100 people.

For larger weddings with more than 150 guests and for up to 400 people, there’s the exclusive North Lawn located on the private side of the castle for marquee weddings.

For more information and to book, call 01242 602 308 or visit https://sudeleycastle.co.uk/weddings

FIREFLOWER TIPIS, STOW-ON-THE-WOLD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE (NATIONWIDE HIRE)

These magical tipis offer a rustic charm and blank canvas for year-round weddings. Summer celebrations can make the most of the great outdoors with garden games, al fresco drinks, hay bales and firepits. During the colder months, the interior of the tipis looks cosy dressed with fairylights, sheepskin rugs and blankets.

Menu choices to complement a tipi wedding can be anything from fine dining to a grazing table set-up. Outdoor barbecues, wood-fired pizza ovens and street food vans are other great alternatives, as are mobile horsebox bars. On a warm evening, guests can gather around the firepit

Cheltenham Yurt Hire

This family-run business located in the Cotswolds offers the most beautiful hand-crafted yurts for hire that are all made locally. They offer the most stunning venue option and unusual backdrop for weddings, different to marquees and tipis. Often, guests will have not seen them before which adds an element of surprise and excitement.

The Pavilion Yurts are unique in that they have a double-height roof which gives an immense feeling of space. The bright canvas material makes them light and airy inside and photographers love them because they provide the perfect lighting for photos.

The largest yurts can seat up to 150 guests for dining. Some couples prefer to have everything under one roof while others like to book multiple yurts; one for the dining and the other specifically for the evening entertainment, along with other yurts for a bar or chill-out lounge.

There’s a range of sizes available, from the largest ones that are most suited for dining, to the smaller yurts that make great bars, chill-out lounges, and glamping options.

The team at Cheltenham Yurt Hire can provide everything that couples need to create a fantastic outdoor celebration, from pretty things like furniture and fairylights to generators, toilets, stages and PA systems. We offer an event management service where one of the expert team members will be on hand to take care of any operational issues throughout the day.

The yurts can be hired throughout the year and travel across the country but the team try to stick to weddings and celebrations in the South West as much as they can. Winter yurt weddings are a magical experience, it’s a different vibe. They can be filled with flowers and greenery and luxurious throws and sheepskins to create a winter wonderland, while heaters can be added to keep guests warm all night. During the summer months when it’s hot, the side canvas can be removed allowing the breeze to flow through and showcasing panoramic views.

Contact: 01453 705 130, www.cheltenhamyurthire.co.uk

•We love... check out how fabulous these wow-factor wedding yurts look on Instagram, https://instagram.com/cheltenham_yurt_hire to toast marshmallows while enjoying a firework display. A selection of tipis and sizes are available for hire with two giant hat tipis recently added to the offering. A single structure seats up to 60 guests and multiple tipis can be linked together to create more space. There’s the option of adding a snug, catering tent and a separate smaller tipi as a children’s play area. The experienced team also has a large range of furniture for hire including bars, atmospheric lighting and other fun ideas.

Contact: 07814 684 424, http://fireflowertipis.com

•We love... that bespoke quotes are provided based on each event.

HILLES HOUSE, STROUD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Hilles House is a hidden gem, tucked away in the Cotswold landscape providing fantastic photographic opportunities. It stands majestically on the edge of Gloucestershire’s rolling Cotswold hills, surveying five counties from its position. It’s flanked by generous lawns on both sides and bordered by great yew hedges, dry stone walls and carefully tended flower and shrub beds and sits in a private estate comprising 1000 acres.

The interior expresses a sense of romanticism, drama, beauty, creativity and originality. With its eclectic decor and interiors, from tapestries to grand fireplaces also including works by William Morris, the makes a stunning backdrop to any wedding or event.

Ceremonies take place for up to 100 guests inside The Big Hall, with its wooden panelling, tapestries and coat of arms. Humanist ceremonies can also take place on the top lawn for up to 150 loved ones.

Couples have the flexibility to hire any structure for their wedding breakfast and reception, allowing them to create something truly bespoke.

Ceremony licence? Yes

Contact: 07801 844 326, www.hilleshouse.co.uk

•We love... that the venue offers the couple a first wedding anniversary afternoon tea served in the gardens.

The Kings Head hotel is a stunning boutique style wedding venue located in the heart of the historic town of Cirencester, the heart of the Cotswolds.

From an intimate ceremony, lavish wedding reception or simply a meal with close family and friends our celebration spaces offer you the perfect backdrop for any occasion.

• Licenced for civil ceremonies from 2 - 150 people

• Wedding packages from just £70.00 per guest

• Bespoke package options available, tailor-made to match your vision

• Intimate ceremony and dining rooms

• Wedding reception parties for up to 300 guests

• 64 Stylish en-suite Bedrooms and one/two bedroom apartments available

• Discounted accommodation rates

• Exclusive use of hotel available

To arrange a viewing and to discuss how we can create your perfect day call us on: 01285 700900 or email Daisy on weddings@kingshead-hotel.co.uk