WHERE PAST MEETS FUTURE

WHERE PAST meets future Our roundup of Sussex’s historical venues

ROYAL PAVILION, BRIGHTON

03000 290 905 | www.brightonmuseums.org.uk

This breathtaking former royal Regency palace offers a unique venue in the heart of Brighton and Hove’s cultural quarter. Today it can be enjoyed in its original 1823 splendour, with Indian architecture contrasting with exotic interiors inspired by China. One of the most exotically beautiful buildings in Britain it was designed to entice, enrapture and enchant the great, good and grand of George IV’s court.

The Royal Pavilion’s garden is one of the few fully-restored Regency examples in the country. Flowers emulate jewels against the flourishing evergreens that frame striking views of the palace, creating a pictureperfect backdrop for your wedding photography. The Red Drawing Room can host up to 44 for the ceremony. Retaining much of George IV’s 1820s decorative scheme including dragon wallpaper and palm tree pillars, it’s located on the ground floor and not open to the general public. The Music Room, available for evening hire only, can host 90 for the “I dos” and is one of the most spectacular rooms in the palace.

The King William IV Room is home to receptions here. Situated on the first floor above the Red Drawing Room, it offers an elegant setting for both day and evening receptions. With exquisite hand-painted Chinesestyle wallpaper and hanging lanterns, it also benefits from a private entrance, its own lobby and a caterers kitchen. The space can host 80 for a drinks reception, 70 for a standing buffet and 60 for a seated wedding breakfast.

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BURY MANOR BARN

01798 831 791 | www.burymanorbarn.co.uk

Set in the in picturesque village of Bury, near Pulborough in the heart of the South Downs National Park, Bury Manor Barn is a Tudor structure with idyllic surroundings. It is located in the grounds of Dorset House School, one of the oldest prep schools in the country. Steeped in history, records of the Manor date back to the Domesday Book. In 1066 it was owned by Countess Goda, sister of Edward the Confessor. In 1085, the Normans handed it over to the monks of Fécamp, who farmed the land for centuries. From there it was turned into a traditional manor house, which later became a popular Edwardian house-party retreat.

Ceremonies are held in the Inner Barn, which can accommodate 120 guests. It offers views across the Wildbrooks and River Arun to Amberley Castle and the South Downs beyond. Once the “I dos” have been exchanged, the room can be transformed into the perfect party space with room for a band and dancefloor.

Wedding breakfasts are hosted in the Outer Barn, where 140 can sit at trestle tables, or 120 at banquet rounds. The 16th-century barn is divided into two distinct areas by a glazed wall. There’s freedom to decorate as you wish and there’s a superb state-of-the-art LED lighting system in place for you to use too. The Inner Barn can also host receptions for 108 seated at banquet rounds if it’s not being used for the ceremony. The Inner and Outer Barns combined can accommodate 228 diners and evening guests.

As one of the venue’s couples you’d also be offered a complimentary wine-tasting with Digby Fine English at their wine-tasting room in Arundel.

THE OLD SHIP HOTEL

01273 329 001 | www.oldshipbrighton.co.uk/weddings

The Old Ship Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in the vibrant city of Brighton, with Grade II function rooms and parts of the building dating back to 1559. Standing proudly on the seafront with panoramic sea views from many of its 154 bedrooms, the hotel is perfectly placed to put its guests in the heart of the action being just a five-minute walk from Brighton Palace Pier and The Lanes historical shopping district.

Ceremonies take place in either the Fecamp Lounge (70 guests), the Gresham Suite (80 guests) or the Regency Suite (120 guests). These elegant spaces, part of Brighton’s original Assembly Rooms, are also available for the reception seating 35 to 60 of your nearest and dearest. The hotel also boasts the restored 400-year-old wine cellars, which can host an intimate dining experience like no other for 30 loved ones; and the grand Paganini Ballroom, capable of accommodating 150 guests (200 for the evening).

The venue offers a choice of set-price packages to suit 50 guests, menu tastings, accommodation for you both on your wedding night, discounted accommodation for your guests and a 20 per cent discount in the restaurant for dinner the night before the big day.

PEELINGS MANOR BARNS

07933 092 102 | https://peelingsmanorbarns.co.uk

Peelings Manor Barns offers a charming, rustic, spacious DIY venue. The manor of Peelings is mentioned in the Domesday Book, but there has been a settlement on the site since Anglo-Saxon times and probably long before that. Peelings Manor and its farm buildings are Grade II listed, with the earliest surviving part of the manor house dating from the late 15th century and the farm buildings from the 1850s.

Offering the ideal blank canvas for you to dress and set up as you please the space includes the Grade II listed, traditional Sussex Flint Barn, and enclosed outdoor spaces to the front and back. You hire the venue only and aren’t tied to any suppliers or services, this way you’re able to organise your big day as you wish with the freedom and choice to make it personal.

The Flint Barn can accommodate 100 loved ones, and the venue as a whole has space for 200 in total.

AMBERLEY CASTLE

01798 831 992 | www.amberleycastle.co.uk

Amberley Hotel is a luxury hotel located in the picturesque village of Amberley at the foot of the South Downs. This magnificent 900-yearold castle is enclosed by a 60-foot-high curtain wall and portcullis that remains open, behind which you’ll find the enchanting hotel offering the highest standards of food and service, and all the luxurious facilities you’d expect.

Every part of the building and grounds is steeped in history. Enjoy discovering the tennis courts, 18-hole putting green and croquet lawn, and even the resident peacock roaming the grounds. For those seeking tranquillity and relaxation, there are many quiet corners under the shade of a tree of by the fireside.

There are several licensed spaces here to enjoy for your ceremony and reception. The King Charles Room can hold up to 12 guests and boasts views of the church yard. Nestled away on the second floor, behind the Queens Room restaurant it’s bursting with character thanks to its full-length oak-panelled walls and original furnishings. The Green Room, which can host 14 loved ones, offers a Medieval backdrop with views of the castle grounds and rolling Sussex countryside. The Great Room is the largest private dining area in the castle and can accommodate 40 of your nearest and dearest. Located on the ground floor with access to the main courtyard, the room is complete with a large fireplace, oil paintings and antique weapons.

The grounds include multiple beauty spots suitable for a wide variety of wedding sizes, whether it be the intimate isle inside the castle wall or in front of the castle overlooking the lake. When taken as an exclusive venue, Amberley Castle can accommodate a marquee in the idyllic gardens. Maximum capacities at the venue are 170 for the ceremony and wedding breakfast and 250 for the evening do. You’ll also be offered a complimentary anniversary dinner.