CHECK IN TO W-DAY

Our roundup of Sussex’s hotel venues

LANSDOWNE HOTEL

01323 745 485 | www.bw-lansdownehotel.co.uk

The Lansdowne Hotel is located on Eastbourne’s seafront, opposite the West Lawns and benefits from far-reaching sea views. The beach is easily accessible from the front of the hotel and offers some great photographic opportunities that your photographer will be able to make the most of. This family-owned hotel has 102 bedrooms, so there’s plenty of space for you and your loved ones to rest your heads at the end of the fun-filled day.

THE “I DOS” The Martello Room is a contemporary space licensed for civil ceremonies witnessed by 70 of your nearest and dearest. It boasts original features and is decorated in elegant muted tones. Its large windows offer wonderful sea views and it has its own staircase allowing for a grand bridal entrance down from the first floor. THE CELEBRATIONS The Lawns Room is ideal for the wedding breakfast and it too can host up to 70. The large bay windows allow daylight to flood in and guests can enjoy the sea views as they dine. Decorated in a similar neutral palette to the Martello Room, it’s easy for you to decorate according to your big day’s theme.

The Jevington Room, located on the lower ground floor, is the place to be for your evening revelries. Featuring a private bar, large dancefloor and buffet area, it has everything you and your 100 guests could need.

THERE’S MORE You’ll be allocated a complimentary sea view Superior or Executive bedroom for your wedding night, and the hotel can hold a number of rooms for your wedding party. You’ll also be offered a menu and wine tasting as part of your wedding package. The venue has some dates remaining for 2022, so get in touch to find out more.

OCKENDON MANOR HOTEL & SPA

01444 416 111 | www.hshotels.co.uk/ockenden-manor

Ockenden Manor is a charming and tranquil 15th-century Elizabethan manor house set in the pretty village of Cuckfield. Surrounded by nine acres of peaceful gardens and parkland it offers views across the West Sussex countryside to the South Downs. Full of history and character, it boasts an elegant sitting room warmed by a roaring log fire, a cosy bar, an oak-panelled private dining room complete with painted ceiling and stained-glass windows, and a beautiful dining room offering sweeping views of the gorgeous gardens. The hotel has 28 distinctive bedrooms and suite (some with four-poster beds), all individually furnished and each named after a member of one of the two families have owned the building since 1520. There are six luxury spa suites, each with a spacious open-plan bedroom and lounge, plus a roof terrace with exceptional views over Cuckfield Park.

THE “I DOS” You can say “I do” either in the Drawing Room or the Ockenden Suite. The former is a bright, sunny room with antique furniture, open fire and views of the glorious garden. It can host up to 50 guests. The latter certainly has the wow factor thanks to its spectacular views of the terraces, gardens and South Downs beyond. It can accommodate 90 of your nearest and dearest.

THE CELEBRATIONS These two spaces can also play host to your wedding breakfast for the same guests numbers, as well as further celebrations for up to 100. Additionally, the Burrell Suite, an oak-panelled room with a door opening out onto the the garden can also host a wedding breakfast for 40 loved ones.

THERE’S MORE The venue can be hired exclusively and offers award-winning cuisine, which utilises locally-sourced ingredients. What’s more, Ockenden Manor Spa was purpose-built inside a 19th-century walled garden. The contemporary spa offers a host of luxury facilities including an indoor pool with swim-through to an outdoor pool, outdoor hot tub and eight treatment rooms.

BRIGHTON HARBOUR HOTEL & SPA

01273 323 221 | www.harbourhotels.co.uk

Located on the seafront, taking pride of place on Brighton’s worldfamous promenade, the hotel features a Victorian exterior and a host of vibrant, contemporary interiors. There are 79 rooms and suites brimming with nautical, seaside charm, all featuring Art Deco-style nods, seaside prints, striped bedding and soft furnishing. What’s more, the front-facing accommodation boasts incredible sea views.

THE “I DOS” You can exchange your vows in The Marine Room as 110 or your nearest and dearest look on. Features include period stained-glass windows and a simple, yet sophisticated white décor palette. The Snug on the other hand is ideal for more intimate “I dos.” Small but perfectly formed, it’s ever so chic and when the temperature drops you can turn up the heat with the open fire.

THE CELEBRATIONS Your celebrations can also be held in The Marine Room or Snug. The former has its own private bar and can host up to 130 for a seated wedding breakfast and 180 for the evening bash.

THERE’S MORE One of Brighton’s best kept secrets, there’s also a subterranean spa hidden beneath the city, in the old smugglers tunnels, complete with Scandinavian hot tubs, a large pool, hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room and treatment rooms – perfect for a pre-wedding pamper.

BLANCH HOUSE

01273 603 504 | www.blanchhouse.co.uk

Blanch House boutique hotel is housed in a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse on a quiet side street in the quirky, vibrant Kemp Town area of Brighton. A mere stone’s throw from the Regency seafront it’s an ideal spot for an intimate wedding and boasts a stylish champagne and cocktail lounge, and 12 individually-designed guest bedrooms.

THE “I DOS” Ceremonies are held in the elegant and intimate Belle Epoque Suite, which can host 15 to 35 of your loved ones. THE CELEBRATIONS Following the vows, the wedding party are invited to the Champagne and Cocktail Lounge to enjoy a drinks reception or you’re welcome to take a wander down to the nearby seafront for photos. Meanwhile, the Blanch House team will prepare the Belle Epoque Suite to welcome you for your reception. Tables and seating for up to 35 nearest and dearest can be arranged in various ways to comfortably accommodate everyone.

THERE’S MORE Exclusive-use packages are also available, so don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out more. Others include the Chic Boutique and Luxury Boutique Packages, as well as a ceremony only package.

THE GRAND BRIGHTON 01273 224 355 | www.grandbrighton.co.uk/weddings

The Grand Brighton is the original palace by the sea, built as a retreat for the London set. Bursting with Victorian splendour, stunning architecture and sea views, it offers a seamless blend of sumptuous renaissance-style decor with statement furniture and glossy Art Deco-inspired accents. This historical hotel is centred around a magnificent sweeping spiral stairase and sits just a stone’s throw from Brighton beach.

THE “I DOS” The Regent Room is a traditional wood-panelled room ideal for smaller ceremonies of up to 50 nearest and dearest and lies on the ground floor beneath the famous staircase. The Consort Room can accommodate ceremonies of up to 75. Its classic design and neutral tones provide the ideal backdrop for chic “I dos.” The Albert Suite meanwhile, is a beautifully appointed room and can seat between 50 and 100 for the vows. Its striking navy blue decor with white detailing highlighs the architecture of this, the hotel’s original ballroom. Finally, the Empress Suite is extremely flexible and can be used as one open space for 500 or divided into four interflowing suites for 150 plus. It’s also available to dry hire including the kitchen space.

THE CELEBRATIONS All of the aforementioned spaces double up as reception spaces. The Regent Room, Consort Room and Albert Suite can all host 60 loved ones for a wedding breakfast, while The Empress Suite can hold 800 guests who can dine before heading in to the adjoining sea-facing Pavilion Suite.

THERE’S MORE The hotel offers you, the newlyweds, a complimentary stay in a deluxe sea-view bedroom inclusive of breakfast and valet parking as part of your wedding package, as well as a menu tasting for two when booking for 50 plus guests.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Here at County Wedding Magazines and Events HQ we’re looking forward to kickstarting our Spring wedding show season. From must-visit local fairs in some of the region’s best wedding venues, to our larger Signature Wedding Shows home to more than 100 exhibitors each, we can’t wait to welcome back our couples and help plan their wedding days.

Here’s what to expect when attending one of our events...

Whether you’re joyous that restrictions have passed, or are still a little hesitant, couples can rest assured our venues are continuing to maintain some of the government guidelines and measures to ensure everyone can feel comfortable and enjoy the day:

• Attendees will need to pre-register to attend events • There will be allocated time slots for visitors • All venues will also have enhanced cleaning procedures, with hand washing and sanitising facilities still available • Spaces between exhibition booths will be maintained to ease congestion • Optional face masks • Anyone with symptoms must refrain from visiting

Each event will boast a huge range of specialists who will be on hand to talk through your planning ideas and requirements; venues, bridal boutiques, photographers, florists, cake makers and more, there’s everything you could need to plan your wedding under one roof.

On the day refreshments will be available to purchase from each of the venue’s on-site restaurants, bars and cafés, and attending our exhibitions is free!

For more information on any of our exhibitions visit County Wedding Events’ website.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our events. Sarah

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Sarah Ellis, Sales and Events Director County Wedding Events.

Psst! Our pre-registered Signature Wedding Show visitors will have the chance to win a £250 gift voucher courtesy of Spabreaks.com

A date for your diary...

ASCOT RACECOURSE, 18TH SEPTEMBER, 2022 THE BRENTWOOD CENTRE, 2ND OCTOBER, 2022 MERCEDES-BENZ WORLD, 9TH OCTOBER, 2022 WEMBLEY STADIUM, 3TH MARCH, 2023