DONNINGTON VALLEY, NEWBURY This privately owned and family-run four-star property is perched within picturesque grounds in the beautiful Berkshire countryside. It houses 111 spacious suites and bedrooms where guests can sleep in style, some with outdoor space positioned to admire the manicured grounds. For a home-from-home for the night, the hotel’s best offering for newlyweds is the four wow-factor suites decorated in calming colours and furnished with pops of colour and arty touches. At the heart of this vibrant hotel is the two AA Rosette WinePress Restaurant where guests can experience a hearty breakfast, lunch or dinner in the relaxed dining room. On the extensive menu are British classics created with seasonal, fresh ingredients. A highlight is the Ultimate Sunday Lunch enjoyed with the sounds of jazz music – why not make it a bottomless lunch? An after-dinner tipple from the award-winning wine list can be enjoyed upstairs on the cosy mezzanine level. The best seat in the house during the summer months is at The Hangout, an al fresco dining area, with an outdoor pizza oven, that commands a tranquil spot overlooking the sprawling grounds of this back-to-nature bolthole. The wellness journey starts the moment you enter the award-winning facilities in the four-star spa, gym and health club that take centre stage at this health-focused hotel. Complimentary to resident guests, the spa boasts an 18-metre swimming pool, a steam room, a sauna, an aromatherapy room, a calming relaxation lounge and a spa terrace that enjoys views of the lush green grounds, perfect for al fresco lunches. The healthy bento boxes that can be enjoyed poolside are not to be missed! The 18-hole golf course invites guests to play on one of the toughest courses in the UK! It’s overlooked by a Grade II listed Victorian clubhouse and offers golf breaks and golf days. This versatile venue offers a choice of stylish function rooms licensed for ceremonies. The Cromwell Suite is the main offering for larger weddings with a private bar at one end while the Green Suite is ideal for smaller, intimate celebrations with panoramic windows that flood the room with natural daylight. Doors open to reveal a sunny terrace with access to a small bridge over a carp fish pond where the botanical green surroundings make for wonderful wedding snaps - a red carpet entrance can also be arranged. Donnington Valley provides guest accommodation along with its sister property, The Vineyard at Stockcross just a two-mile drive away. Alternatively, The Post, an oak barn located within the grounds of the estate with its Californian vineyard offers a quintessential countryside wedding ceremony, dining and dancing all under one roof. Turn to page 15 to read more. To find out more and to book, visit www.donningtonvalley.co.uk 29 LOCAL VENUES
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