From Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire to Clearwell Castle in the Forest of Dean, these beautiful wedding venues also offer group booking accommodation.
Think photogenic, manicured grounds and resplendent interiors at these group booking wedding venues in Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire and County Antrim.
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Galgorm Resort & Spa, Northern Ireland
First to the rolling hills of Northern Ireland, and set among 163 acres of parkland, Galgorm Resort & Spa, where a picture-perfect babbling brook passes through.
There are multiple wedding packages available (from ‘Whirlwind Weddings’, for engaged couples in a hurry, to Bells & Whistles, for those looking to go all out) covering everything from welcome drinks to photographers. Wedding suites include the grand Great Hall, which can seat up to 300 guests, and the Art Deco-inspired Renaissance Suite, which can accommodate up to 152.
In terms of overnight stays, this is a great option for a group booking: there are 122 rooms and suites, plus two log cabins (sleeping two and four adults, respectively), and two log cabins (sleeping five and eight adults, respectively). On-site activities for guests to enjoy include fishing, a golf course, horseback riding, plus a truly spectacular health club.
The resort is a short walk from the town of Ballymena, a 40-minute drive to Northern Ireland’s capital city, Belfast, and 20 minutes from Belfast International Airport.
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Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire
A gorgeous almost-200-year-old building set among 300 acres of stately grounds, Stoke Park has been used as the glamorous setting for scenes in iconic British films such as Bridget Jones’s Diary and no less than three James Bonds. Unsurprising, given how good it looks on camera, it’s also provided the perfect backdrop for countless wedding ceremonies.
Wedding packages can cover everything, from a five-tier wedding cake, a pre-wedding dinner or post-wedding brunch to eight licensed rooms for civil ceremonies. Why not stay on with your beloved after the nuptials for a mini-moon: here, you can enjoy the health club, the indoor and outdoor pools and the tennis courts at your newlywed leisure.
Also a luxury hotel with a 5 AA Red Star rating that’s ideal for a group booking, there are 49 bedrooms and suites for wedding guests staying overnight.
Stoke Park is just a 51-minute drive from central London, a 24-minute drive from Heathrow Airport and a 57-minute drive from Gatwick Airport.
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Clearwell Castle, The Forest of Dean
This stunning, fairytale-like castle (complete with portcullis and turrets) dates back to 1728; it can accommodate up to 150 guests during the day and 250 in the evening.
Although tucked away in a quiet corner among the gorgeous natural beauty of the Forest of Dean, it is only a 45-minute drive to the cities of Bristol, Cheltenham and Gloucester. Fun fact: the castle has doubled up as a recording studio for the likes of Queen, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin.
A more intimate group booking option than Stoke Park or Galgorm Resort & Spa, Clearwell Castle can accommodate up to 70 guests overnight. It boasts 15 bedrooms in the castle itself, plus three estate cottages and 24 recently-refurbished guest rooms at Crosswell House, a short walk from the main Castle. Surplus guests could perhaps stay at the Tudor Farmhouse, also found in the village of Clearwell.
Stay tuned! In our next post due next week we will talk to you about some of the best hotels around the world that are great for a group booking for a stag party. Are you planning group travel sometime in the near future? Then let’s make the booking!
