This morning’s post will be of great interest to those of you that have recently had a ring put on it as we’re sharing the details of another of our wonderful dream venues.
Today it’s the turn of the rather stunning and rather splendid Chester Grosvenor that offers history, elegance and style, plus excellent customer service and exceptional food and drink.
To tell us more about the 5 star Cheshire hotel’s wedding offering we’ll hand over the blog to those behind the luxurious venue…
Where is The Chester Grosvenor located?
The Chester Grosvenor team say: Steeped in history and dating back to the 18th century, The Chester Grosvenor sits elegantly next to the landmark Eastgate Clock in the heart of Chester, where the pillared entrance and black and white timbered exterior provide the perfect backdrop for a fairy-tale wedding. The award-winning hotel combines breath-taking architecture with contemporary yet traditional interiors.
Tell us a little about the venue, what is its history?
The Grade II listed building was built between 1863 and 1865 and is owned by the Duke of Westminster. The upper façade of the building is distinctive half-timbered black-and-white, in the Tudor revival style that is typical of Chester architecture. The hotel celebrated its landmark 150th anniversary in 2015 and its Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor restaurant has held a Michelin Star since 1990 – a phenomenal feat.
What facilities does it have?
The Chester Grosvenor offers 68 beautiful bedrooms and 12 sumptuous suites, each full of character and charm. Guests and visitors have the choice of two restaurants, the elegant Simon Radley at The Chester Grosvenor and the buzzy La Brasserie, as well as the luxuriously comfortable Arkle Bar and Lounge, a wonderfully tranquil spa centre offering a range of treatments, as well as a variety of function rooms for meetings and private events.
Tell us about weddings at The Chester Grosvenor?
The Chester Grosvenor is a wonderful venue for a wedding reception, with an experienced and dedicated team who will look after you before, during and long after your big day – the team love to welcome back couples who have celebrated their wedding at the hotel!
The luxurious 5-star hotel offers everything from a civil ceremony to a wedding breakfast or evening banquet, ranging from just two to 250 guests. The hotel has a variety of suites that can be adapted to suit your requirements, whether that is a formal sit-down dinner or buffet. Your wedding day menu will be exclusively created by Michelin star chef Simon Radley – something that no other hotels in the North West offer. His food world renowned – delicious, beautifully presented and can be designed to your specific taste. Simon and his team use fresh, local and seasonal ingredients to create gastronomical delights. To complement your menu our cellar, one of the most extensive in England with more than 1,000 bins, offers a selection of wines suitable for all palates.
What function rooms within the hotel are available to wedding couples?
The Westminster Suite – this area comprises the Belgrave and the Aldford Suites. Being uniquely flexible in design means that the suite can be adapted to suit your requirements and changed throughout your day. The Westminster Suite can be exclusively yours with its own entrance, cloakroom and bar. It can cater for between 60 and 250 guests for a wedding ceremony and between 50 and 220 guests for a wedding breakfast.
The Belgrave Suite – with sophisticated neutral tones and rich furnishings, the Belgrave Suite benefits from superb natural daylight. This suite boasts the very latest technology, sound and lighting systems making it possible to set the ambience and colour scheme to your preference. The Belgrave Suite can be divided into two smaller suites creating an intimate setting for a smaller wedding. The room can cater for between 60 and 250 guests for a wedding ceremony and between 50 and 220 guests for a wedding breakfast.
The Aldford Suite – this stylish space is flexible in nature. It offers a contemporary feel and has the advantage of plasma screens hidden behind elegant mirrors. The suite can be sub divided into a variety of different size rooms making it ideal for more intimate weddings and civil ceremonies. The Aldford Suite can cater for between 20 and 100 guests for a wedding ceremony and between two and 20 guests for a wedding breakfast.
The Drawing Room – situated just off our magnificent galleried landing, the Drawing Room is a cosy ceremony room for smaller intimate weddings. It is a beautifully appointed room with historic art and luxurious soft furnishings. This room can accommodate up to 20 guests for a wedding ceremony.
Riedel Cellar – one of the most impressive wine cellars in the UK, the Riedel Cellar offers a unique setting for an intimate wedding breakfast.
What sets The Chester Grosvenor apart from other wedding venues and makes it so special?
The elegance, history and grandeur of the setting makes The Chester Grosvenor a truly unique and special place to hold a wedding celebration. Combined with exceptional facilities, from accommodation through to dining and the spa, the hotel offers everything to make the day remarkable from start to finish. Setting itself apart from the rest, The Chester Grosvenor is the only hotel or wedding venue in the North West to offer Michelin starred level cuisine for weddings of up to 240 guests. The Chester Grosvenor’s wedding team also set it apart, going above and beyond every step of the way, from the very first appointment with the bride’s dedicated wedding coordinator, to the minute they say “I do”.
What sort of bride would be a Chester Grosvenor bride?
A bride who embodies elegance, poise, charm and is looking for a truly magical fairy-tale celebration.
How can your staff help to make the planning process easier and do you work with trusted suppliers?
Our team are long established and very experienced and can offer as much or as little guidance as required. From your initial enquiry, through to your show round and eventually your menu tasting each team member will guide you through and offer suggestions and of course be there on the day to see your plans all come together for a most wonderful start to married life.
We have a great number of suppliers who over the years we have come to rely on as we know they can be trusted, and more importantly, deliver. That’s not to say we won’t welcome new ones, especially those that are original and offer that something a little bit different. We’re always looking for different creative ideas and unique concepts.
Tell us a little about the accommodation available for wedding guests at The Chester Grosvenor…
The hotel offers 68 beautiful bedrooms and 12 sumptuous suites, each individually designed and beautifully furnished with the finest fabrics to offer a deeply sumptuous stay. Guests can choose from:
Presidential Suite – an exclusive apartment suite on the third floor, with stunning views of the black and white timbered architecture of Chester and the Eastgate Clock.
Master Suites – with both contemporary and classical stylings, these luxorious spacious rooms offer king size beds and bespoke linens, alongside expansive sitting rooms, dining areas, and decadent bathrooms.
Deluxe Suites – open-plan designs, featuring a king size bed, expansive lounge area, formal dining space, as well as marble bathrooms.
Junior Suites – perfect for an indulgent night away, boasting a uniquely designed open-plan space, king size bed, seating area and desk, as well as a luxurious marble bathroom and walk-in shower.
Tell us about your catering services and what makes them special?
Dining at The Chester Grosvenor is exceptional – wedding menus are exclusively curated by Michelin Star chef Simon Radley – his cuisine is beautiful, delicious and designed to the bride and groom’s specific tastes and preferences. Simon and his team use fresh, local and seasonal ingredients to create gastronomical delights. Wines are expertly paired to the menu and are selected from a cellar of more than 1,000 bins. Dining experiences can range from a rehearsal dinner to a wedding breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Do you offer any special wedding packages?
We have recently introduced simplified wedding packages as we’ve found that on occasion brides and grooms can feel a little overwhelmed with everything involved in organising their special day. These packages have been created to include everything a guest could need at a price per person. Of course we more than happy to discuss with every bride and groom individual requirements and look at bespoke ideas just for them. This is where our experts and suppliers can lend a hand and help with every special request.
Can you recall any really memorable weddings that have taken place at the venue?
Each and every wedding that we host is memorable for different reasons. We build such strong relationships with our brides and grooms and many return year after year for anniversaries and christenings. The Grosvenor holds such a special place in people’s hearts. We have a wedding taking place later this year that chose the venue as the bride’s mother and father got married here more than 40 years ago and she wishes to recreate some of their wedding photos – one on the roof top overlooking the city, which hasn’t been done for a while! Another couple whose wedding we are hosting over the festivities are having photographs at Chester Cathedral with all the Christmas trees and decorations and then a carriage pulled by reindeer to the hotel to add that truly Christmas feel.
What would you say is the most unique feature of The Chester Grosvenor?
For food and wine lovers The Chester Grosvenor is the perfect place to host their special day. Food is an essential part of any occasion and this is where Executive Chef Simon Radley and his brigade feel most at ease. They can create unique dishes that have significant importance to the bride and groom, family and friends.
Something else that people don’t always know – even though the hotel does not have its own grounds we do have very good relationships with Chester Cathedral and can host drinks receptions in The Garth and wedding photographs in the grounds. And if it’s more fun memories that couples want to create, The Grosvenor Gardens, just a short walk for the hotel, offers pedalo rides, ice cream treats and all throughout the year, perfectly manicured borders and grounds proving perfect backdrops for family photographs.
Do you have any special bridal events or open days coming up shortly that our readers should know about?
The next Wedding Open Day is taking place on Sunday 16th October 2016, between 11am and 4pm. Join us for a glass of champagne with canapés, view our stunning event suites and meet our dedicated weddings team and speciality experts to begin planning your special day. To register your interest, contact 01244 324 024, or email Weddings@ChesterGrosvenor.com
How can our readers get more information/contact The Chester Grosvenor?
For more information, please take a look at our wedding brochure here, e-mail Weddings@ChesterGrosvenor.com, call 01244 895 665, or visit our website.
Is there anything else that we should know?
We’re happy to listen, make suggestions and, more importantly, be flexible to give brides and grooms the day they imagine.
