Your Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Wedding- April/May 2021 (Issue 26)

The latest news from around both counties NEWS Nearlywed De Vere collection donates to NHS Charities Together De Vere, a collection of historic mansion house estates and distinctive contemporary hotels across the UK with properties located in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, has donated £202,248 to NHS Charities Together to help NHS staff, volunteers and patients at the centre of the Covid-19 crisis. The money was raised when De Vere pledged a proportion of the value of each direct bedroom booking, including VAT, to NHS Charities Together* after the hotels were allowed to open in August 2020. De Vere’s donation will help support NHS staff, volunteers and patients in key areas including welfare and wellbeing, assistance for patients leaving hospital, and long-term mental health support for NHS workers. Tony Troy, CEO at De Vere said: “We continue to be humbled by the extraordinary efforts from those working on the front line to help us in the fight against Covid-19. We all have a part to play to help defeat the virus and the donation is just another way as a company that we can give back and thank the NHS for all their hard work and sacrifice. We would like to thank all the guests who stayed with us last summer, helping to raise the money.” Ellie Orton, chief executive of NHS Charities Together, said: “We’re so grateful to De Vere for its support of NHS Charities Together. Donations mean NHS charities across the country can continue to be there for NHS staff, volunteers, and patients – helping with immediate needs, and supporting mental health and wellbeing, now and in the future. Thank you to De Vere and its customers for supporting our appeal.” Hotels in the portfolio include De Vere Cotswold Water Park located in South Cerney, Gloucestershire, surrounded by a nature reserve and beautiful lakes, and De Vere Tortworth Court situated in Wotton- under-Edge set within a 30-acre estate home to a Victorian arboretum housing more than 300 plant and tree specimens. To book your minimoon, honeymoon or wedding at a De Vere property, visit www.devere.co.uk an d turn to page 21 to read more. THE MANOR HOUSE IN WILTSHIRE RETAINS MICHELIN STAR The Manor House situated in Castle Combe, Wiltshire, not only enjoys one of the best golf courses in the South West but also an exceptional dining experience as the hotel celebrates its fifth consecutive year of retaining a Michelin star at its Bybrook restaurant under executive chef Robert Potter’s leadership. Robert and his talented team create delicious seasonal dishes crafted from local ingredients expertly paired with wines from around the world. Taking its name from the river that meanders through the hotel grounds and golf course, the Bybrook restaurant offers an outstanding dining destination for golfers. Guests can enjoy the beautiful setting in a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. Understandably over the moon with his team’s achievement, Potter said, “We’re so pleased to have retained our Michelin star status here at Bybrook for the fifth year running. Last year presented an incredibly challenging landscape for the hospitality industry and we feel proud to have been able to showcase the best that Bybrook has to offer when we were allowed to open its doors. My team and I look forward to many more opportunities to welcome guests to the restaurant throughout 2021.” Danny Pecorelli, managing director at the Exclusive Collection, comments, “We are so delighted to learn that the Michelin guide has recognised Rob Potter’s continued success and commitment to Bybrook at The Manor House. It’s of significance to us here at Exclusive Collection that our chefs’ passion for seasonal and sustainable produce has been celebrated, as we drive our sustainability mission forwards for the entirety of our luxury hotel collection. We wish Rob and his brigade the very best for 2021.” Golf packages at The Manor House, between April and September 2021, are priced from £199 per person and include bed and breakfast in a Cosy room, a £30 allocation to use towards dinner at The Castle Inn (per person), use of the driving range and 36 holes of the best golf in Wiltshire. Guests can upgrade to the five-time Michelin starred Bybrook restaurant for just £45 per person. *The above packages are dependent on government restrictions and some facilities may not be able to open straight away following the lockdown. The pricing and packages will be adjusted accordingly and there’s a free cancellation policy in place to allow flexibility. To book, visit www.exclusive.co.uk/the-manor-house an d turn to page 15 to read more. Check out Project Cakery (formerly Claire’s Kitchen) for showstopping wedding cakes. See more of designer Holly Elphick’s work at www.projectcakery.co.uk an d turn to page 55 to read more. YOUR ESSENTIALS 9