Wotton House Dorking - A great venue

On Saturday I was working at Wotton House in Dorking. What a fabulous venue and ideal for a wedding or any formal occasion. As there website says 'As an atmospheric setting for your conference, event, or leisure break, the magnificent Wotton House is ideal. Set in 20 acres of spectacular grounds, it was once the 17th century family home of botanist, John Evelyn. Now thoughtfully renovated, this first-class venue is within easy reach of Gatwick Airport, London and Guildford.
The function I was officiating at was the Marcellians Lodge Ladies festival and after a drinks reception we sat down to a very good 3 course meal. After dinner we were entertained by The Briefcase Blues Band. The really were a great band and the dance floor was full all evening.
Another successful evening and a venue I can highly recommend

Reading Town Hall Wedding Fair

Today was the Reading Town Hall wedding Fair organised by Dream Wedding Fairs. I have not been to Reading Town Hall before and what an impressive venue. The Town hall is located in the heart of Reading and has a choice of rooms to suit both the size of your wedding and your budget. The Concert Hall can seat up to 250 people and for a large wedding and is an impressive room with a high ceiling and gallery. If you hold your Civil ceremony there there is a very large and unique organ that I am sure would provide an excellent location. The Waterhouse Chamber with its stunning lead glass windoows designed by Alfred Waterhouse provides another perfect setting for the more intimate occasion.

The wedding fair itself had a number of unique exhibitors and there are a couple I would recommend. the 1st is someone I have met before. Robert Bone is a Magician and demonstrator of Extra-Sensory Curiosities. Robert would be a great entertainer to have at a wedding or any formal function and I recommend you visit his website at http://www.robertbone.co.uk/. My 2nd recommendation would be Tailored for You. Run by Lynette Morrison they supply good quality suits for 'Mother's of the Bride'. Really approachable and with a state of the art body scanner which takes hundreds of measurements to ensure the perfect fit. Again visit there website at http://www.tfycollections.co.uk/ for more information.

Dream Wedding fairs have organised a number of fairs across the South East and for further dates visit there website at http://www.dreamweddingfairs.com/

Sindlesham Court as a wedding venue

Sindlesham Court is home to the Berkshire Masons but also is a venue for Weddings and other Formal and Coprporate events. Based In Sindlesham just outside Reading it is easily accessable from the M4. The is no overnight accomodation available but there are a nuimber of good hotels within a short taxi ride.

Being a regular visitor to Sindlesham for Lodge meetings I can see how this would be an ideal wedding venue and I understand that there are some really good prices for those on a tight budget.

The facilities are of a high standard and the food is always good. It might not be your 1st choice but it is certainly worth a visit. Have a look at the website at http://www.sindleshamcourt.com/ and ask for a brochure.

Dinner at Horwood House Milton Keynes

Friday night was Marcellians Lodge meeting and we meet at Horwood House near Milton Keynes. Set in Little Horwood the house is set 38 Acres of Landscaoped grounds. Owner and operated by Principle Hayley we have been meeting here for just over a year. The food was excellent and the menu was


Sweet Potato and Ginger Soup

Smoked Salmon and Prawn Delice with Tomato and Dill Dressing

Pressed Smoked Chicken and Spinach Terrine on Glazed Rocket leaves

Pan Fried Duck Breast with Piquant Sauce and roasted Chateau potatoes

Gilled Fillet of Beef served with Fontant Potato Red Cabbage and Red Wine & Roasted Garlic Rus

Mazarin Service with Cappuccino Cream and Sugared Raspberries

Creamy Brie and Apricot Chutney

Tea or Coffee with Mints

Wine from the Cellars of Horwood House


Wow what a menu and were we full by the end!!

Horwood is a great venue for Weddings and other Formal Functions and is ideal if you have a lot of guest wanting to stay because they have travelled a long distance as there are 182 rooms. There is also an onsite spa and tennis courts. Highly recommended

Black Tie Dinner Ashton Gate Bristol

On Thursday I attended a Black Tie dinner held at Ashton Gate the Bristol City Football venue in Bristol. The Dinner was for 180 people and the venue had plenty of room with good service both at dinner and at the bar. After dinner we were entertained by the The Chip Shop Boys who were excellent. As there logo says they are the UK's Number One Rock and Pop cover band. They played for nearly 2 hours and we then disco'd well into the morning.

Like many Football Club venues it is set within a suberb of Bristol and clearly does not look inviting from the outside. However the service made up for what the appearances lacked and it was a really good eveneng

Ladies Festival at Hilton Stansted

Another Ladies festival on Saturday at the Hilton Hotel Stansted for Pymmes Park Lodge No.6193. I took the job earlier in the week when a fellow member of the Association of the UK School of Professional Toastmasters was not able to make it. That is one of the many benefits of hiring a Toastmaster that belongs to an Association such as mine. We have over 70 members so if unforeseen circumstance mean that your Toastmaster is not available at short notice he has over 70 colleagues he can call on to cover. I got the call on Tuesday when I was on a business trip in Birmingham and was more than willing to help.

The venue is right next to Stansted Airport and so is easily accessable. As always the Lodge was very welcoming and with nearly 70 guests they were all having a great evening. The food was very good with an excellent Shank of Lamb on the menu. The room was able to cater for over 100 so a good size for this type of function. Another very enjoyable Ladies Night. If you have never attended one I would recommend you accept the next time you are asked.

Ladies Festival at Copthorne Slough

On Saturday I was Masonic Toastmaster for Planet Lodge No 8142 at the Copthorne Hotel between Slough and Windsor. There were 80 guests and it was a great evening. The meal was a very high quality and comprised of

Salmon Roll

Beef Wellington Veal Jus, Chateau Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables

Raspberry pavlova

Cheese, Biscuits and Coffee

There was the normal list of speeches for a Ladies Festival and I sang the Ladies Song. After the speeches there was entertainment from Andy Mawbey who sings Sinatra songs.

This was an excellent set and I can highly recommend. I would suggest you visit his website at http://www.andymawbey.com/ where there are details of his act. If you are keen on Sinatra then I would suggest that you try and get to one of his many show - details on the site. the evening finished with a DJ which again was very enjoyable. I always enjoy Masonic Ladies Festivals and this evening was no exception.

Oxfordshire Wedding Fair

I attended the Guides for Brides wedding fair at the Oxfordshire Golf Club in Thame on Sunday. What a glorious location and when the 50 bed hotel and spa opens in May 2010 this will really make this a great wedding location. There where some really great exhibitors there and and it was a very busy day with lots of potential brides attending.

Unusually there was a talk & demonstration by 'Fabulous Flowers' on 'How to make your Wedding Flowers Fabulous'. Some excellent feedback from the Brides so would recommend that you visit there website at http://www.fabulousflowers.biz/.

I would recommend the venue to potential Brides. Set in the Thame countryside overlooking the magnificent golf course. Some great photo opportunities and with 1st class facilities you really should have a look. Suggest you visit the website at http://www.theoxfordshiregolfclub.com/ or contact there wedding co-ordinator Tracey Kingsnorth on 01844 278300