Your Somerset, Glos & Wilts Wedding - October/November 2024 (Issue 103)

NEWS Nearlywed Catch up on the latest from around the region ALL WRAPPED UP Amid the joyful chaos of peak wedding season, wedding guests seek to find the perfect gift for you, the happy couple. The ideal wedding gift idea should reflect your unique style, personal preferences, and shared joyful experiences. Finding the perfect present is no easy feat! With this in mind, wedding gift-giving experts at Graham and Green have surveyed 1,500 engaged and married couples to uncover the most desired wedding gifts from their home and interiors. Perhaps it will inspire you when putting your own gift list together. Bedding is the top choice. The survey revealed that bedding is the most desired wedding gift among newlyweds, with one in six of those surveyed agreeing bedspreads and quilts were their ideal gift. Meanwhile, the kitchen is the heart of a happy couple’s home. The research found that kitchenware was the second most desired wedding gift, with one in seven couples agreeing it’s what they most hoped to open on their wedding day. Kitchenware was most favoured among 25-34 year olds who seem to prefer practicality over style when it comes to their wedding gifts. Crockery, such as plates and bowls are the third most desired wedding gift. The data also showed that men would prefer to receive this gift more than women, which is something that reigned true for most practical gifts. Prints and wall art were the preferred choice for seven per cent of the couples surveyed, ranking as the fourth most sought-after gift. These items hold a personal touch, as they should align with the recipient’s home décor or hold sentimental value. Check out www.grahamandgreen.co.uk for more inspiration. LAZY AFTERNOONS The garden at The Queens Hotel in Cheltenham has now reopened with a delicious new al fresco dining menu and an exciting programme of events including live music, prosecco on tap and bottomless afternoon tea. The garden provides an outdoor sanctuary in the heart of historic Cheltenham, it’s the perfect place for friends to meet over delicious food in the sunshine. The new al fresco menu serves a mix of nibbles, small plates, fresh salads, and burgers, with highlight dishes such as the Royal Burger or smoked salmon bao buns. The menu also includes a range of delectable small plates such as tomato arancini, mussel linguini, chicken skewers or baked feta filo, perfect for sharing. The quirky horsebox bar is stocked full of drinks from local Cotswolds and British suppliers. With wines from Woodchester Valley and Nyetimber sparkling English wine alongside beers from Hawkstone brewery, gin from Cotswolds Distillery and the hotel’s very own Delilah’s gin. The horsebox bar is also home to prosecco on tap, and guests can enjoy limitless prosecco from 4.30pm to 6.30pm every Monday to Friday at just £25 per person. Every Saturday, the garden will also welcome a local live music act from 3.30pm to 7pm. With a variety of genres, including classic, toe-tapping hits and favourite tunes enjoy the sounds from local artists while dining on new tapas dishes. Week round, guests can also enjoy a bottomless afternoon tea in the garden, with 90 minutes of unlimited top ups of chilled Drusian prosecco, freshly made sandwiches and sweet treats every day from 12pm to 4pm at just £45 per person. Find out more at https://queenshotelcheltenham.co.uk/dining/queens-garden 8 ANYONE FOR TEA? At The Manor House, set in the heart of Castle Coombe, guests can indulge in a decadent, homemade afternoon tea for two (or more), served on a tiered cake stand with a glamorous sense of tradition and occasion. Your afternoon tea is enjoyed in the Bybrook restaurant or one of the stunning lounges. This quintessentially English pastime, which dates back to the 19th century, features an essential selection of Shibui blends, single-estate teas, and infusions from India, China, and England to suit every taste. Savouries, typically in the form of sandwiches, are taken first, followed by warm scones accompanied by clotted cream and strawberry jam. The crowning glory of the experience is the array of divine pastries and cakes. Available all year round, afternoon tea is served here from 1pm to 4pm, for £45 per person. Find out more at www.exclusive.co.uk/the-manor-house

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