2024 Editor's Choice Hotels for Weddings
Editor’s Choice: Wedding Hotel Venues
Middlethorpe Hall & Spa - 'Tailor-Made Break' Special Offer
York
With the New Forest on the doorstep and ponies ambling by, this Victorian inn by the Beaulieu River caters for weddings of all sizes. You might choose the panelled Oakwood Room, the intimate Paris room, or dine in sight of a garden inspired by Gertrude Jekyll.
Montagu Arms
Beaulieu
Best pub with rooms. In a beautiful setting overlooking the River Hodder in the Forest of Bowland, this old manor house run by third-generation members of the Bowman family comes with flagged floors, open fires and a warm welcome. You can expect beams or a four-poster in the traditional bedrooms, along with views of the surrounding countryside. Chef Jamie Cadman has worked here for 20 years and his food continues to impress. There’s plenty of wine while you dine; the inn has an on-site wine shop.
Shieldaig Lodge - 'Food Lovers Package' Special Offer
Gairloch
Whether you want a small, private ceremony or a marquee and a ceilidh, this loch-side hotel on a private estate provides a suitably photogenic backdrop. You can book just the four-poster wedding suite or take the whole place over. Say your vows on the lawn, in one of the reception rooms or at a local church.
Jesmond Dene House
Newcastle upon Tyne
Plight your troth in the Secret Garden to the sound of a waterfall, or in one of four private rooms at this hotel in a bucolic wooded valley minutes from the city centre. The oak-panelled, double-height Great Hall with minstrels’ gallery is a perfect party space for up to 114 guests.
The Holcombe
After 30 years running London catering and events companies, trained chefs Caroline Gardiner and Alan Lucas are pros when it comes to organising wedding breakfasts and parties. Their stylish country inn 20 minutes from Bath, is an ideal venue, too, and is available for exclusive hire.
2023 Editor's Choice Hotels for Weddings
Editor’s Choice: Wedding Hotel Venues
Montagu Arms
Beaulieu
You might opt for an alfresco wedding breakfast in Gertrude Jekyll-inspired gardens at this New Forest hotel. Everything from a package for just four people to exclusive use and a wedding breakfast for 90 guests, complete with MC, or an evening reception for 150 can be arranged.
Forss House - Dinner B&B Special Offer
Thurso
The scenic backdrops are a photographer’s dream at this Georgian country house in wooded grounds, looped around by the River Forss. Whether you want a religious or civil ceremony, the hotel is an ideal venue for intimate gatherings, with dining-room seating for 26 and characterful interiors.
Lords of the Manor - 'Taste of the Cotswolds' Special Offer
Upper Slaughter
Parties can have exclusive use of this fully staffed Cotswold stone manor house in parkland and landscaped gardens on the River Eye. Or just take over the dining room or 14-cover atrium for lunch after a civil ceremony. Pick a set menu for eight or more guests and you’ll be invited to a complimentary tasting for two.
Llangoed Hall
Brecon
Romance lies at the heart of this 17th-century manor house within 17 landscaped acres. Restored by the late Sir Bernard Ashley in memory of his fashion designer wife, Laura, it is still adorned with his art collection. Ceremonies can be conducted in gracious public rooms or in the open air, with a feast in the orangery.
Lewtrenchard Manor
Okehampton
Ornate interiors created by the astonishingly prolific Victorian priest the Revd Sabine Baring-Gould (15 children, innumerable written works) provide the mise-en-scène for a theatrical wedding. Five spectacular public rooms are licensed for a civil ceremony, with a foodie feast, or opt for a champagne reception and a marquee on the lawn.
New House Farm
Cockermouth
Say your vows in the cart shed, raise a glass in the milking parlour and have a banquet or barn dance in the hayloft. Hazel Thompson has transformed rustic outbuildings at her farmhouse B&B into a glamorous wedding venue with spectacular views over Lorton Vale.
The Inn at Whitewell
Clitheroe
Say ‘I do’ at this characterful inn on the banks of the River Hodder, in the Forest of Bowland, or plight your troth in the 200-year-old St Michael’s Church next door. A wedding team will organise everything, whether you want exclusive use of the inn or a marquee in the riverside garden and firepits.
Bingham Riverhouse
Richmond-upon-Thames
Ruth and Samantha Trinder host all-singing, all-dancing wedding parties at their Georgian house with an offbeat literary history and a garden right on the Thames. Everything from drinks and nibbles to barbecues and seated wedding breakfasts can be arranged, so near to – yet a world away from – central London.
Newforge House
Magheralin
Sixth-generation owners Louise and John Mathers have achieved the perfect marriage of professionalism and friendly informality at their classic Georgian mansion in mature gardens. Interiors are filled with heirloom antiques. John’s creativity shines in his cooking and the bedroom with a four-poster makes the perfect bridal suite.
The Dial House
Norwich
For a more larky Big Day, this Grand Tour-themed hotel can lay on anything from a harpist or band to balloon art and a magician. Packages are available for up to 32 day guests or 100 evening revellers. Have a civil ceremony here or pop over the road to be married in church by one of the denim-clad husband-and-wife vicars.
2022 Editor's Choice Hotels for Weddings
Editor’s Choice: Wedding Hotel Venues
Montagu Arms
Beaulieu
New Forest ponies and Gertrude Jekyll-inspired gardens along with atmospheric wood-panelled rooms make this the perfect venue for a quintessentially English wedding. There are two duplex suites among the 24 bedrooms.
New House Country Hotel
Cardiff
Whether you tie the knot in the Hayloft, Cart Shed or Milking Parlour, you can be sure of some great wedding pics, with beams and stone walls inside, and a mesmerising landscape of dramatic fells outdoors. There are five rooms on site but they can cater for 130 guests.
Locanda on the Weir
Porlock Weir
If you don’t mind sharing the limelight with the food on your big day, this stylish restaurant with rooms where Exmoor meets the sea is just the ticket. It’s both boutique and bespoke, with just five rooms among acres of flowers and eclectic interiors.
Lewtrenchard Manor
Okehampton
With its ornate plasterwork on the ceiling, wood-panelled rooms and deep mullioned windows, Lewtrenchard is romantic with a capital R. Take your pick of five public rooms with a wedding licence – there’s a wedding co-ordinator to help with the details – as well as 14 rooms to fill with your guests.
Jesmond Dene House
Newcastle upon Tyne
Whether you want an outdoor wedding in the Secret Garden or a grand affair for 100 in the double-height dining room with oak panelling and minstrel’s gallery, they have it covered at this charismatic hotel with 40 rooms. Its woodland valley with waterfalls and rustic bridges is perfect for pictures, too.
Star Castle
St Mary's
What can be more romantic than saying ‘I do’ in a 16th-century fortress built in star formation to defend the Isles of Scilly. Raise a glass on the ramparts before sitting down in the old officer’s mess with its stone walls and large Elizabethan fireplace.
Prestonfield
Edinburgh
Spend your first night as a married couple in an indulgent suite with a silver chariot bath, gilded leather wall coverings, a four-poster with ostrich plumes and a private turret staircase. The lavish 23-room hotel can accommodate everything from an intimate soirée to a full-on reception in its gilt and red velvet stables.
The Assembly House
Norwich
Add some Georgian elegance to your big day in these ornate assembly rooms, with a choice of several venues, including the Grand Hall with its high ceilings and balconies and the Ballroom, dripping with chandeliers. Or book the whole place, with 15 bedrooms and a bridal suite with its own garden.
Twr y Felin Hotel
St Davids
The three-storey Windmill Tower Suite with its 360-degree views of the St Davids peninsula and the islands of Skomer, Grassholm and Ramsey are the perfect place for an intimate wedding at this boutique hotel. Or, if you prefer a bigger bash, book it as the honeymoon suite after a daytime wedding in the restaurant.
2021 Editor's Choice Hotels for Weddings
Editor’s Choice: Wedding Hotel Venues
The Horn of Plenty
Tavistock
Fine weather permitting, couples can tie the knot outdoors with a magnificent view across the Tamar valley from this four-star, creeper-clad Georgian country house. Large suites in the main house or coach houses have balconies and terraces.
Lords of the Manor - 'Taste of the Cotswolds' Special Offer
Upper Slaughter
This romantic Cotswold manor house set in eight acres of gardens prides itself on offering bespoke extravagant ceremonies for up to 150 people, as well as discreet, intimate affairs with just a handful of guests.
Llangoed Hall
Brecon
Welsh country house hospitality awaits spouses-to-be at this impressive hall in the Wye valley. Exchange vows with a view of the Black mountains, dine on locally sourced cuisine, and wander arm-in-arm through wild flowers in the grounds.
Burgh Island Hotel
Bigbury-on-Sea
Have the island and this retro-glamorous Art Deco hotel, which has hosted luminaries from Winston Churchill to Noël Coward, entirely to yourself as the tide draws in. With 25 rooms, it can host 50 guests for exclusive use.
New House Farm
Cockermouth
The wedding photos here will win you bragging rights for the rest of your days. Couples have a mesmerising backdrop of dramatic fells, brooks and gardens at this Lake District farmhouse. Marry in a rustic hayloft with exposed stone walls.
The Inn at Whitewell
Clitheroe
Couples can marry in the orangery of this mullion-windowed 18th-century inn overlooking the Forest of Bowland, or in a charming church, built in 1821, which is in the grounds. In addition to 23 rooms, there is a private cottage.
Gilpin Hotel and Lake House
Windermere
The Lake House, which you can hire exclusively with 100 acres of grounds, has six suites, lakeside views, lounge, outdoor hot tubs, sauna and indoor pool. After your vows, there is Michelin-starred dining in the Conservatory or marquee.
Glenapp Castle
Ballantrae
Church of Scotland ceremonies can be held in a Victorian chapel on this splendid Ayrshire estate, or in the turreted castle hotel. In the evening, watch the sun set over Ailsa Craig and the Mull of Kintyre, and retire to a sea-view suite.
2020 Editor's Choice Hotels for Weddings
Editor’s Choice: Wedding Hotel Venues
Bodysgallen Hall and Spa - Midsummer 20% Discount Special Offer Special Offer
Llandudno
A photographer’s dream, this Elizabethan manor house stands in gardens and parkland, with mountain views. A spa, oak-panelled drawing room, romantic four-poster suite, stone cottages with roses round the door. What more could you ask?
Montagu Arms
Beaulieu
From an intimate ceremony in the Paris Room to a large gathering in the Terrace restaurant, with Gertrude Jekyll-inspired gardens outside and four-poster suites above, this New Forest hotel can lay on the full Monty.
Askham Hall
Penrith
The chapel, a French drawing room, medieval hall, gardens and nearby church are at your disposal if you wed at this battlemented ancient pile. Relax in the spa beforehand, party in the Bank Barn, sleep in a four-poster room.
The Colonsay
Colonsay
Whether you elect to hold your wedding in the lovely gardens or indoors (and this is the rainy Hebrides), the remote and beautiful situation of this hotel makes for an unforgettable day. There are self- catering cottages if there’s no room at the inn for all guests.
Morston Hall
Holt
A more intimate venue, this long-time Guide favourite is renowned for Galton Blackiston’s Michelin-starred cooking. Ceremonies are held in the conservatory or gardens. Opt for exclusive use and guests will be welcomed with a cream tea.
Lympstone Manor
Exmouth
It will be a while before guests can raise a flute of Lympstone Manor bubbly from the vineyard, but Michael Caines’s Georgian manor in parkland on the Exe estuary affords a glorious setting and a gourmet experience.
2019 Editor's Choice Hotels for Weddings
Editor’s Choice: Wedding Hotel Venues
The Horn of Plenty
Tavistock
The name doesn’t lie. There’s plenty of good cheer, from falcons to fireworks, for guests at this 19th-century mansion. With four rooms for civil ceremonies, and a host of atmospheric local churches, celebrations can embrace the main house or use a marquee for large parties.
Seaham Hall
Seaham
Lord Byron married Annabella Milbanke at this Georgian mansion turned spa hotel. The union didn’t fare well, but the hotel’s wedding packages, named after their brilliant daughter, Ada Lovelace, include everything from use of the ballroom to champagne.
Fischer’s at Baslow Hall
Baslow
Readers who spent their wedding night at this stone manor house on the edge of the Chatsworth estate loved it so much that they returned this year for their 12th anniversary. Ceremonies in drawing room or study.
Gravetye Manor
East Grinstead
Built by ironmaster for his bride, this Elizabethan manor house in lovely gardens laid out by William Robinson is as romantic a venue as you could wish. Exclusive use is available for parties of up to 60, with the wedding breakfast in the glass-walled dining room.
Langar Hall
Langar
Ceremonies are held in the Indian room, garden room or dining room at this apricot-washed mansion in beautiful grounds in the Vale of Belvoir. Small, informal weddings and partnerships are a speciality.
Jesmond Dene House
Newcastle upon Tyne
From the Apartment, hosting ten guests, to the panelled Great Hall for up to 120, from a small supper to a banquet, cakes, flowers, photographers, magicians, all can be arranged at this 19th-century stone mansion in woodland.
Prestonfield
Edinburgh
Throw a party in the circular stables ballroom at this 17th-century mansion, or go for something more intimate in the Stuart Room or Italian room. Then how about a night to remember in a silver- leaf sleigh bed in a room with an antique chaise longue and trompe l’oeil drapery?
Bingham Riverhouse
Richmond-upon-Thames
You can book the garden and garden rooms, and choose anything from canapés to buffet to barbecue at this romantic riverside hotel. Packages include ‘Summer Whirlwind’, ‘Small and Intimate’, and exclusive use.
Temple House
Ballymote
A family home for centuries, this Georgian mansion has witnessed many splendid wedding celebrations. Vast period rooms and a ruined Knights Templar castle by the lake – imagine those photos – are the icing on the cake.
The Assembly House
Norwich
You can hire the Grand Hall, the Ballroom, the Music Room, or a less flamboyant space at this landmark Georgian building replete with chandeliers. Best of all, book exclusive use and bag the bridal suite with tester bed.
2018 Editor's Choice Hotels for Weddings
Editor’s Choice: Wedding Hotel Venues
The Horn of Plenty
Tavistock
Gazing over a glorious sweep of the Tamar Valley, the Horn of Plenty has garnered praise for gastronomic excellence since it opened as a restaurant in 1967.
Llangoed Hall
Brecon
A tree-lined drive leads to this 17th-century Wye Valley mansion, remodelled in 1912, replete with country-house comforts, important artworks, and a well-regarded fine-dining restaurant.
Hipping Hall
Kirkby Lonsdale
Hipping Hall will be closing permanently on the 24th July 2023. Between the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District – and just ten minutes from the M6 – Hipping Hall is a surprising foodie find with understated yet luxurious bedrooms, spacious gardens and a relaxed atmosphere.
Langar Hall
Langar
Everything is peachy at this apricot-hued Georgian country house in the Vale of Belvoir, at the end of a long avenue of lime trees, transformed from a family home into a delightful, idiosyncratic and much-loved hotel.
Budock Vean
Falmouth
With golf, tennis, kayaking and powerboating, indoor pool and outdoor hot tub, this spa hotel in 65 acres of garden and woodland on the Helford river is a holiday resort in its own right.
Bingham Riverhouse
Richmond-upon-Thames
You can paddleboard on the river, stroll to see the deer in Richmond Park, and feel a world away from central London at this smart, multifaceted Thames-side hotel.
Temple House
Ballymote
A private drive loops through native woodland and pastures to this classical mansion overlooking a ruined Knights Templar castle and teeming fishing lake in W B Yeats country.
Penally Abbey
Tenby
A foodie destination and family-run hotel, this enchanting Gothic house stands above gardens tumbling to the sea, with interiors created by the designer hostess, calming bedrooms, marble bathrooms, and lovely views.
Goldstone Hall
Market Drayton
‘In the middle of nowhere down narrow country lanes’, John and Sue Cushing’s Georgian manor house hotel sit among five-acres of brimming gardens, a prolific source of fruit and vegetables, cut flowers and perennial joy.
2017 Editor's Choice Hotels for Weddings
Editor’s Choice: Wedding Hotel Venues
Langar Hall
Langar
Everything is peachy at this apricot-hued Georgian country house in the Vale of Belvoir, at the end of a long avenue of lime trees, transformed from a family home into a delightful, idiosyncratic and much-loved hotel.
Hotel Endsleigh
Tavistock
‘An enchanting destination’ is how readers describe Olga Polizzi’s Regency hunting lodge, which stands by the River Tamar in an Elysian landscape designed by Humphry Repton.
Jesmond Dene House
Newcastle upon Tyne
In a historic rural park, just ten minutes’ drive from the city centre, this Arts and Crafts mansion impresses with its grand interiors, bold design features and first-rate modern British cooking.
Star Castle
St Mary's
You can sit on the ramparts and watch for puffins, seals and invading armadas over a cream tea at this Elizabethan artillery castle and family-run hotel within star-shaped walls.
Gregans Castle Hotel
Ballyvaughan
It may not be a castle but this rambling 18th-century manor house, wrapped in gardens and with views over the otherworldly karst landscape of the Burren, has its own romantic charm.
Roundwood House
Mountrath
Hannah and Paddy Flynn are warm hosts at their Palladian villa in native woodland, filled with heirloom antiques and auction finds, where singing chef Paddy cooks with brio, breakfast brings eggs from the ducks and hens, and a good time is had by all.
The Lord Crewe Arms
Blanchland
Bedrooms (most across the road at The Angel) blend contemporary chic and modern comfort with notes of rusticity at this historic hotel in a conservation village, with the barrel-vaulted Crypt bar, and simple, excellent food in dining areas.
The Middleton Lodge Estate
Richmond
Leave the fuss and fret of the AI(M) at Scotch Corner to reconnect with the land at this idyllic hotel, centred on a Georgian coach house amid gardens, parkland and woodland.
The Assembly House
Norwich
At this Grade I listed Georgian House of Assemblies, where glamorous event spaces drip with chandeliers, you’ll find a restaurant, cookery school, and 15 spacious bedrooms, styled with pizzazz and a sense of fun, several with their own garden or lounge.
2016 Editor's Choice Hotels for Weddings
Editor’s Choice: Wedding Hotel Venues
Knockinaam Lodge - July £100 Discount Special Offer
Portpatrick
Where the road ends and the Irish Sea begins, this former Victorian hunting lodge with a private cove is secluded, unapologetically traditional and rich in comforts and good food.
The Ollerod
Beaminster
Eclectic menus and stellar cooking are a big attraction at this 14th-century clergy house, now a restaurant-led hotel with recently renovated bedrooms that combine pale paint finishes with designer wallpaper.
Ballymaloe House
Shanagarry
Set on a 300-acre working farm, this legendary Irish country-house hotel has grown from being a restaurant with rooms that is passionate about locally sourced food into a thriving business, with cookery school, café and arts venue.
Bingham Riverhouse
Richmond-upon-Thames
You can paddleboard on the river, stroll to see the deer in Richmond Park, and feel a world away from central London at this smart, multifaceted Thames-side hotel.
Watersmeet
Woolacombe
‘The location is stunning, with views of the Devon coast with its sandy beaches and tumbled rocks,’ writes a reader delighted by this family-friendly hotel.
Find your perfect wedding venue
. .
The Good Hotel Guide was built on an ethos of quality and identity, and at no time are those elements more important than when you’re planning a wedding. A time to look after and entertain all the people who are closest to you, the hotels we have found, from boutique hotels to grand country house hotels, city townhouses to the most elegant of rustic country pubs, all include those highly desired qualities in our collection of UK wide hotel wedding venues.
The collection includes a wide variety of UK destinations, not just in terms of counties and cities, but varying from lakeside hotels near Windermere to mountainside locations in Wales, seaside hotels in Devon and Highland hotels in Scotland.
Each has its own approach to weddings, and many have in-house planners who make the whole process that much more carefree for the bride and groom. Food is a high priority in most places, and a tricky one to coordinate outside a hotel venue, adding another tick box in the reasons for choosing a hotel as your wedding venue.
Whether you’re looking for a grand event at the likes of Lewtrenchard Manor or a small and intimate occasion, there’s something for every wedding occasion amongst this collection.