HEDINGHAM CASTLE RATED MOST POPULAR CASTLE VENUE Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Essex, Hedingham Castle has secured its position as the highest rated castle for weddings across the UK. Following extensive research conducted by online business, StoryBoards, Hedingham Castle emerged as the nation’s top-rated wedding venue. The comprehensive study, drawing data from a popular wedding planning website, meticulously evaluated over 70 castle venues on the site. With an impressive tally of 370 five-star reviews, Hedingham Castle topped the list, securing a perfect score of ‘10’. Demetra Lindsay, who owns the Hedingham estate with her husband Jason, expressed profound delight at this recognition, attributing the achievement to the unwavering dedication of the castle’s exceptional team. Built in the 12th century, the 900-year-old iconic Norman keep not only serves as an impressive wedding location but also welcomes visitors with exciting events such as jousting and archery, outdoor theatre and cinema, alongside educational school visits. Last year, Jason and Demetra completed a two-year project to install a bedroom, the Royal Chamber, at the very top of the castle - the only modern bedroom in the Norman Keep in the country. The Royal Chamber is available to hire on a Bed & Breakfast or Dinner Bed & Breakfast basis and is also available for couples to spend their wedding night. For more information about Hedingham Castle, visit the website: www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk ESSEX ACCENT NAMED AS MOST ‘DESIRABLE’ IN THE BRITISH ISLES Accents contribute to our sense of identity and can be perceived and heard in many ways, with some being deemed more ‘attractive’ than others. Recently, the Hearing Care Partnership analysed trend platform Glimpse to reveal what accents Brits find most desirable. Ashish Shah, audiologist at The Hearing Care Partnership, comments on the findings, “Coined for being one of the most recognisable accents in the UK, the Essex accent takes the top spot for being the most desired accent, with a one-month search increase of 59 per cent. This could be attributed to the fact that the accent has been hugely popularised by reality TV shows like The Only Way Is Essex, known for its witty oneliners and charming Essex slang. This is shortly followed by the Geordie accent, which had a one month increase of 46 per cent, and the West Country accent by 28 per cent. This data also highlights that accents in the South of England are the most loved, with two out of the three top accents on the list being in the south region.” So, what accents were found to be the least desirable? “Scottish and Yorkshire accents were deemed the least desirable out of the accents listed, both decreasing in searches month on month. Both of these accents are known for being quite strong, which in turn can interfere with their line of communication. The Scottish accent can be even more challenging, as the country has different dialects within it, making it quite difficult to follow and pick up.” Ashish goes on to say, “No matter how subtle or strong, an accent is something that everyone has. It plays a significant role in the way we articulate ourselves, communicate, and connect to those around us. The tonality, pitch, and pace of speech can change how we feel. So no wonder we’re drawn to different accents!” Visit www.thcp.co.uk for more information about their expert care hearing services. Broadhouse Media ABIGAIL’S COLLECTION & THE GROOM’S ROOM WIN BRIDAL RETAIL INDUSTRY OSCAR! Colchester based wedding business ‘Abigail’s Collection & The Groom’s Room’ has been celebrating after a winning a prestigious national award in Harrogate. The team has scooped their 30th business award ‘Longstanding Established Retailer of the Year’ at an important industry event where the elite of bridal retail gathered for an evening of recognition and celebration of the bridal sector. The awards celebrate the achievements of the very best bridal retailers from across UK and Ireland. This prestigious event is the most admired and highly respected in the industry. Business founder Abigail Neill, said, “We’re very blessed to have built an awesome bridal and menswear business, it’s a small but very personal and private retail space and we strive to ensure our customers feel really special. Together my Husband Rob and I employ a dedicated, passionate and hard-working team. Our customers are our absolute focus and we all genuinely love what we do! Helping our customers plan for the biggest day of their lives is a massive privilege and despite the long hours it’s an amazing and rewarding business to be in - we all feel this way.” The business serves several hundred wedding customers every year and has a looked after many celebrity customers over the years including Olly Murs and Rylan Clarke. Rob Neill, business owner and Head of the Groomsmen’s department says, “We have a very special wedding retail concept, we offer exclusive VIP appointments for every customer at every appointment, complimentary refreshments in an unbeatable retail and Instagrammable environment.” For VIP complimentary bridal or menswear wedding attire appointments contact the team on Instagram: @abigailscollection and at @thegroomsroom 10
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