THE WEDDING WEEKENDER As wedding trends shift towards longer, experience-led celebrations, 2026 is set to see the rise of the wedding weekender, with couples choosing to stretch their celebrations across two days or more. Introducing The Gallivant Weekender, a relaxed 48-hour wedding situated on the East Sussex coast. Located moments from the dunes of Camber Sands and just an hour from central London, The Gallivant offers a distinctly British coastal setting for intimate weddings of 30 to 80 guests. Tucked behind sweeping sand dunes and surrounded by English vineyards, the hotel feels more like a private house than a traditional venue, allowing you to take the space exclusively and celebrate at your own pace. The format encourages shared experiences beyond the ceremony itself, from grazing lunches and gentle beach activities to sunset drinks in the dunes while the wedding feast is led by restaurant Harry’s, headed by Matthew Harris, with seasonal French-inspired menus. Find out more at thegallivant.co.uk HENRY MOORE COMES TO WAKEHURST From 5th June 2026 to 23rd May 2027, Wakehurst Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, will host Henry Moore and More, an outdoor exhibition in which four of Moore’s iconic sculptures are displayed alongside three exciting contemporary commissions from acclaimed artists: Rana Begum, Rafael Perez Evans, and Paloma Varga Weisz. This is the first time Wakehurst has collaborated with sister site, Kew Gardens, on a major arts exhibition. Wakehurst’s topography, within the beautiful and inspiring High Weald National Landscape in Sussex, will provide a colourful seasonal backdrop for the artworks throughout the year. Henry Moore works on display will be Reclining Figure (1982), Mother and Child Block Seat (1983-4), Relief No.1 (1959) and Reclining Connected Forms (1969). The exhibition will celebrate Moore’s profound connection to the natural forms of the English countryside, creating a unique interplay between his sculptures and the surrounding landscape. Find out more at kew.org/wakehurst Relax and reconnect Elite Hotels has recently announced not one, but two new spa partners, ishga and OSKIA, bringing an elevated layer of luxury, nature-led wellbeing and results-driven skincare to the spa experiences across its three distinct properties; Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club, and The Grand Hotel Eastbourne, both in Sussex, and Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens in Hampshire. ishga is a luxury organic skincare brand inspired by the elemental beauty of the Hebrides. Drawing on the restorative power of the sea, ishga uses sustainably hand-harvested seaweed from the waters surrounding the Isle of Lewis, carefully extracted to preserve its naturally powerful vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. The result is deeply calming, skin-restoring treatments that reconnect mind and body through nature. Alongside ishga, OSKIA brings its advanced skincare expertise to Elite Hotels with a combination of bio-nutritional expertise and naturally derived ingredients which deliver visible results. At the heart of every OSKIA treatment is the MSM Regen Complex™, designed to support skin renewal, boost radiance and strengthen the skin barrier, leaving it balanced, healthy and glowing. For more information on the new treatments offered, or to book a spa experience, head over to elitehotels.co.uk Mother and Child Block Seat (1983-84) © Jonty Wilde Image courtesy of The Gallivant LOCAL NEWS 7
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