OCKENDEN MANOR HOTEL & SPA 01444 416 111 | www.hshotels.co.uk/ockenden-manor This 15th-century Hotel is set in the pretty village of Cuckfield, only 20 minutes from Gatwick Airport. Nestled among eight acres of peaceful gardens and parkland, it boasts views across the West Sussex countryside to the South Downs. The Spa was purpose-built inside a 19th-century walled garden and offers a host of luxury facilities including an indoor pool with swimthrough to an outdoor heated pool, outdoor hot tub and eight treatment rooms. Ockenden Manor is a charming and tranquil Elizabethan manor house. It’s full of history and character with an elegant sitting room warmed by a roaring log fire, cosy, wood-panelled bar, and oak-panelled private dining room with painted ceiling and stained-glass windows. The Hotel has 28 distinctive bedrooms and suites, some with four-poster beds, all individually furnished and each named after a member of one of the two families who’ve owned the building since 1520. Ceremonies can take place in either one of the venue’s two licensed spaces. The Drawing Room is a bright and sunny spot featuring antique furniture, open fire and views of the garden. It can host up to 50 loved ones for the “I dos.” The Ockenden Suite has the wow factor in spades with spectacular views over the terrace, gardens and South Downs beyond. It can host 96. Or for those looking to marry in the open-air, the delightful Burrell Garden, shaded by tall leafy trees and colourful flowerbeds, is licensed for ceremonies, hosting up to 50 guests. The Ockenden Suite can also be used for wedding receptions, again for up to 96 guests. For more intimate celebrations, the Burrell Suite is a beautiful oak-panelled room with a door leading out to the garden. It can host up to 40 nearest and dearest for an intimate wedding breakfast. The venue can accommodate 100 guests for the evening do. Ockendon Manor can be hired exclusively (an additional marquee can be used when booking on these terms) and the restaurant serves some of the finest food in Sussex using only the best locally-sourced ingredients. BLUEBELL RAILWAY 01825 720 800 | www.bluebell-railway.com The Bluebell Railway is the perfect place if you’re looking for vintage in the truest sense of the word. It’s a hugely atmospheric setting, allowing you and your guests to step back in time amid the magic of steam. Favoured by film companies for the detail of decoration and character, it’s a photographer’s dream. The line’s Horsted Keynes Station gained fame when it featured in the beloved TV series, Downtown Abbey. You can even enhance your wedding day with a steam journey through the beautiful Sussex countryside, and the stations are surrounded by tranquil meadows fringed by woodland, offering flexible outdoor spaces for your reception as well as those all-important photos. Horsted Keynes Wedding Room has been restored to the 1930s’ Southern Railway period and is decorated in the style and elegance of this bygone era, with dark floors and cream wood panelling adorned with period railway advertising. It makes for an impressive and charming backdrop for your ceremony holding 40 people including the two of you and two registrars. Alternatively, the Birch Grove Suite at Sheffield Park Station is ideal for a larger ceremony with a capacity of 60 people. The room is located above the platform restaurant. If you’re looking to bring a touch of nostalgia to your celebrations why not board your own chartered steam train, or enjoy a warm and friendly evening in the restaurant? The venue’s wedding coordinator will work closely with you to ensure you find your perfect spot. Add more to your day with the chance for you and your guests to explore the accredited museum and SteamWorks! Interactive exhibition. If there’s still time, there’s also a couple of areas for the children to play. www.jackboskett.co.uk LOCAL VENUES 23
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