SPOTLIGHT ON

Spotlight on... EASTBOURNE TO RYE

Tie the knot in a local hotspot

BRICKWALL HOUSE

07864 794 409 | www.brickwallhouse.co.uk

Brickwall House is a stylish exclusive-use wedding venue in Northiam, East Sussex. The Grade I listed Jacobean manor house, rich in charming period features boasts 17th- and 18th-century interiors. Dating back to 1617 it was the family home of the Frewen family for over 300 years. Conveniently located in the beautiful Wealden countryside Brickwall House is close to Hastings, Ashford and Tunbridge Wells as well as the smaller historical towns of Rye, Battle and Tenterden.

The gardens are a real treasure. The site features the oldest walled gardens in Sussex and includes an arboretum and the Lady Frewen bluebell walk. Also to be found is a Jacobean bowling green and topiary chess garden, which backs onto 100 acres of ancient deer park. To the rear of the house are formal gardens where the beds are planted with over a hundred varieties of plant species, providing an array of colour throughout the year. Here, 300-year-old magnolia trees and 400-year-old mulberry trees can be found alongside passion flowers, lavender and roses.

The venue is licensed for ceremonies in three areas. The grand and stylish Drawing Room fills with sunlight and looks out onto the gardens. It can seat 90 of your loved ones. Outdoors, you can tie the knot on the spacious south lawns, which are wrapped in the secret walled garden and lined with lollipop trees. There’s ample space for 150 guests to join you as you say “I do.” The Topiary Chess Garden is the third option, it too can host 150 for the vows.

The Drawing Room with its opulent chandelier and golden-framed historical paintings, is ideal for intimate celebrations and can seat 50 for the wedding breakfast. For a bigger bash, the Garden Marquee is available and can host 150 diners with more evening guests. A modern space, its panoramic windows fill it with light, and it’s located within touching distance of the gorgeous gardens.

www.kelsiescullyphotography.com

LANSDOWNE HOTEL

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

The Landsdowne Hotel is located on Eastbourne’s seafront, oppostie 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 backdrop 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 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 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, its 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.

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.

www.thecurries.co www.thecurries.co

THE GALLIVANT

01797 331 581 | www.thegallivant.co.uk

A beautiful beach house in tune with its location and designed to be a home away from home, The Gallivant boasts 20 gorgeous bedrooms. The beautiful Camber Sands is the venue’s front garden and for many of its couples it offers the dream beach wedding without the need to get on a plane.

Ceremonies take place inside the bright and airy Dining Room, which can accommodate 80 of your nearest and dearest and leads directly onto the private terrace. After the “I dos” take your guests out onto the beautiful five-mile expanse of sandy beach and enjoy a memorable drinks reception with canapés amongst the towering dunes. It’s also the perfect spot to watch the sunset. Connected to the main part of the hotel is the secluded, decked terrace, which is also a wonderful place for reception drinks when the weather is fine – it links directly to the Summer House event space.

While you and 80 loved ones are enjoying your wedding breakfast and speeches in the Summer House, the venue’s team will be busy turning around the hotel ready for your evening celebrations. The 360 bar is positioned perfectly between the Sitting Room, where guests can relax and catch up with each other, and the Dining Room, which by now has been transformed into a spacious dancefloor where all assembled can boogie the night away.

What’s more, as the bride and groom, you’ll be invited for a menu tasting with head chef, Jamie Guy and a wine tasting with onsite wine experts.

THE GRAND HOTEL, EASTBOURNE

01323 412 345 | www.grandeastbourne.com

The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne exudes five-star luxury and historical elegance. This 19th-century hotel’s interior was restored in the late 1990s to reflect its rich legacy as the go-to holiday destination for the upper-middle classes. It’s also welcomed many famous figures including Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Arthur Conan Doyle and Claude Debussy. All of this makes stepping inside The Grand like stepping into a bygone era, where elegance, style and luxury take centre stage.

The White Palace as it’s affectionately known sits proudly opposite the Western Lawns, with its 400-foot frontage standing in prime position facing the English coastline towards Beachy Head. It boasts splendid views out to sea and along the coast with its own beautiful Princes Lawn perfect for an al fresco drinks reception.

There are a variety of rooms available for the “I dos.” The largest is the The Compton Room with space for 330 guests. Part of the Devonshire Suite its elegance harks back to its beginnings as the hotel’s ballroom when it opened in the 1800s. Boasting ornate plasterwork, vast ceilings and a sprung dancefloor, the Devonshire Suite is the ultimate setting for a wow-factor wedding. The most intimate of ceremony spaces is the Arundel Room, which can accommodate 60. It offers wall-to-wall windows, neutral colour scheme and stunning chandeliers.

Again a whole host of spaces are ready to welcome you for your celebrations, capable of hosting anywhere between 16 to 250. We love the Mirabelle Restaurant, which can seat 50 nearest and dearest for the wedding breakfast. It’s the Hotel’s award-winning fine-dining restaurant. It mirrors the charm found throughout and even has access to its own garden, which can be used for drinks during the warmer months. The Arlington on the other hand is a fairytale of a room with its high ceilings and chandeliers. The muted tones of red, gold and cream ensure that whichever colour palette you choose it’ll be in keeping with the décor. The space benefits from wrought iron moulded fireplaces dominating each end and its floor-to-ceiling windows create a bright and airy feel. It can offer seating for up to 55 guests for a private banquet and 70 for the evening bash.

Accommodation is included in all wedding packages, except the Classic and a menu tasting is available too with several of the options. There’s also a discounted overnight-stay rate for your first anniversary.

www.johnscofieldphotography.co.uk

Also check out...

Scan to view video

ALL SAINTS THE OLD CHAPEL

01323 643 181 | www.allsaintschapeleastbourne.org

www.andykerrphotography.com

All Saints Chapel is a beautiful and rather well-hidden venue. Situated close to the sea in the picturesque ancient village of Meads, Eastbourne, this is a majestic English architectural masterpiece designed by Henry Woodyer in 1874. The All Saints Grade II listed Old Gothic chapel is deconsecrated and fully-licensed for civil partnerships, events and functions for up to 200 guests. BANNATYNE SPA HOTEL, HASTINGS

01424 851 222 | www.bannatyne.co.uk

Deep in the heart of 1066 Country between the historic towns of Battle and Hastings you’ll find Bannatyne Spa Hotel. The picturesque Summer House Pavilion located in the enchanting gardens can host up to 200 for the “I dos.” Inside, the Montgomerie Suite is capable of hosting 300 of your nearest and dearest for the reception and boasts its own bar, stage, surround sound and dancefloor.