WEDDING NEWS

From County Weddings

All the latest wedding news for couples getting married in England and Wales, along with bridal fashion and beauty inspiration and honeymoon ideas.

2024 food and drink trends predicted by the experts

chef plating up food

From flexitarianism and the rise of sharing plates, to higher demand for whiskies and the rise in under-loved species of fish; here, renowned chefs and drink experts predict what will be the food and drink trends to take 2024 by storm - inspiration for your big-day catering too! 

chef vivek

Vivek Singh, Executive Chef at The Cinnamon Club
2024 is going to be about flexitarianism, with people making more conscious choices on what they eat to better their health, as well the planet. Diners will be limiting their meat intake, and we will see more restaurants offering alternative dishes to support this lifestyle choice. I've introduced my new 'Flexi-Saag' dish - a hearty spinach and mixed green Saag dish, with veggie and meat options; giving people the flexibility to make their own mindful choices. thecinnamoncollection.com

chef marco

Marco Corsica, Head Chef at Bocconcino Mayfair
Sharing plates' popularity will continue to grow next year with more and more menus featuring tapas, cicchetti and mezze. As people look for more cost-effective ways to dine in 2024, smaller sharing options are great for varied budgets, as well as appealing to younger audiences who yearn for more social dining experiences and visually pleasing tablescapes for their feeds. Our new Soho restaurant serves a selection of Italian cicchetti offering our signature Italian dishes in smaller forms so diners can experience as many flavours as possible.
bocconcinorestaurant.co.uk

Jack Stein, Chef Director at Rick Stein Restaurants
There is a big population of crayfish (spiny lobsters) in our seas at the moment, which we haven't seen for a long time, so I'm excited to see more on UK menus. I also think there will be a rise in under-loved species of fish being eaten, such as pouting, dab and whiting as they are lower in price. No-dig agriculture will be a topic of conversation in 2024 – which is agriculture without tilling the soil – as more people are looking to this for environmental benefits and a minimum cultivation approach.
rickstein.com/restaurants

Kerth Gumbs, Head Chef at Fenchurch, Sky Garden
As we embrace a new year, Fenchurch's mission is clear: to redefine the fine-dining experience. Next year will be about personalised and memorable dining experiences with the return of joy and playfulness to our plates. With a priority on vibrant colours and creative flavours characteristic of Caribbean culture, we look towards a fresher, more exciting 2024 where every plate tells a story. We will also be focussing on health and well-being - our menus will continue to strike a harmonious balance between indulgence and wellness, embracing diverse dietary needs, whether that be plant-based options or dishes crafted with the locally sourced, fresh ingredients. skygarden.london/restaurants/fenchurch

man in suit behind bar

Hubert Beatson-Hird, Owner Director of Lunar Pub Co (The Apollo Arms, Ganymede, The Hunter's Moon)
Expect to see a focus on quality over quantity in 2024. Consumers will go out to restaurants less but when they do they will spend more desiring top quality food and good, vibey venues. Foie gras has been declining for years and I expect we'll see it vanish off menus next year to be replaced by mushroom parfait, an ingredient that's been on the rise and are already showing up on menus.

Drink: There will be a much higher demand for whiskies and bourbon in all its forms. We've already started to see an increase in the number of people asking for off-menu whiskey-based cocktails such as Manhattans and Sours, and I don't see this slowing down in 2024!
apolloarms.co.uk | ganymedelondon.co.uk | 
huntersmoonlondon.co.uk

woman with cocktail shaker at bar

Drink continued...

Ely Guilloux, Bar Manager at 100 Wardour Street

Mezcal will continue to boom in 2024, both in terms of retail sales and with bar-goers requesting to include it in cocktails, such as margaritas and twists on the classic Old-Fashioned. We're also seeing a rise in spice-based drinks, so I predict this will trend in 2024 with guests opting for Spicy Tommy Margaritas and Spicy Margaritas instead of the classics.
100wardourst.com

Still looking for Wedding Catering?

Cottesmore Hotel Golf & Country Club

Cottesmore Hotel Golf & Country Club

FAS Perfectly positioned between Brighton and London, Cottesmore Hotel Golf & Country Club offers an idyllic setting for a destination wedding in the heart of the Sussex countryside.

Licensed for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies for up to 150 guests, the venue allows you to create a day that truly reflects your vision. The Barn Room provides a beautifully romantic setting, with its vaulted ceiling, exposed English oak beams, arched mirrors and elegant ring chandeliers—ideal for a refined rustic ceremony. Alternatively, our outdoor lawn offers a picturesque, open-air option. Set within a secluded, tree-lined glade, the charming white gazebo creates a truly magical space to exchange your vows.

Following your ceremony, The Challis Suite welcomes up to 150 guests for your wedding breakfast, with space for a further 50 evening guests. With its light wood flooring, contemporary styling and striking antler chandeliers, the space feels both elegant and inviting. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room with natural light and offer views across the French-style courtyard, while the marble-topped bar provides a stylish focal point for your celebration.

Begin your day in the comfort of our dedicated getting ready room, a calm and beautifully designed space for you and your wedding party to relax and prepare. With plenty of natural light, ample mirrors and a spacious layout, it’s the perfect setting for those special pre-ceremony moments, from hair and makeup to a celebratory toast with your closest friends.

For those wishing to extend their stay, we offer 26 hotel rooms and 7 self-catering lodges, with complimentary access to our health club, spa and luxury beauty salon—ensuring a truly relaxing and memorable experience for you and your guests.

View
Hardings Bar and Catering Services Ltd

Hardings Bar and Catering Services Ltd

FAS Weddings are a point of transition from the past to the future. They're gone in a moment, but remembered forever. Hardings Bar and Catering make that moment even more special.

As you would expect from a business with our experience and track record, Hardings has catered for Hundreds of weddings over the years, with each one being absolutely unique and just as important to us as they were to the bride, the groom and all their family and guests.

We all need a little help, support and advice at times, and Hardings can assist in almost every facet of the catering planning, menu development and service, helping create the perfect ambience for fine food at your wedding. Our chefs like nothing more than working with clients on developing new mouth-watering menus, whatever the style, from modern cuisine to traditional dishes, they can accommodate the widest possible range of tastes. We can also help develop bespoke menus, service delivery options and even organise special tasting sessions. In short, we can assist in every aspect of the event planning to make the demanding task of event management and organization just a little bit easier by knowing that Hardings are involved and supporting you. We'll also help you select the wines and we've got some great table decoration ideas to make just the right impression.

Whatever the size or style of your event, Hardings can enhance it with exquisite food, creative menus and outstanding service all delivered to our high standards. With over thirty years experience in Event catering, we've catered for some of the most prestigious events in the Southeast, at almost every kind of venue imaginable. Whether entertaining 20 or 2,000 guests, you can be confident that by choosing Hardings, each guest will enjoy an excellent fine food experience and superlative quality of service that will enhance any corporate event or function.

We are a bright, dynamic company, bringing a fresh, vibrant approach to catering and event management. We view every event with all the passion and enthusiasm we feel each client deserves. Take a look at our menus, and we guarantee they'll have your mouth watering. From Canapés to banquets, there's something to please all palates. We specialise in offering a bespoke service, whatever you want, we will do our utmost to ensure you can have it?
Create a truly memorable event with the help of our experienced team.

We specialise in:
* Corporate Hospitality
* Sports Events
* Conference & Banqueting
* Special Occasions
* Venue Hire
* Seminars
* Contract Catering
* Weddings

View