Your Hampshire and Dorset Wedding - Page number 26 - September/October 2021 (Issue 88)

THE ROYAL MARITIME CLUB & HOTEL, PORTSMOUTH 02392 824 231 | www.royalmaritimeclub.co.uk Steeped in maritime history, this city hotel is in a prime location, just a stone’s throw away from Portsmouth Historical Dockyard and Gunwharf Quays. With naval and maritime artefacts and memorabilia around every corner, it’s a fascinating venue. There are two great wedding spaces to choose from, both fully licensed for weddings and individually decorated to reflect the historical background of the club. The Trafalgar Ballroom is the largest, with a galleried balcony, dancefloor, stage and capacity for up to 300 guests. The traditional Nelson Lounge is ideal for intimate weddings with up to 100 loved ones while the more contemporary Below Decks function room provides the perfect place to party and enjoy a chilled evening buffet. We love… that there’s a swimming pool with sauna, spa pool and other l isure facilities as well as 90 comfy en-suite bedrooms so your guests can stay over and explore the city the following day. EXPLOSION MUSEUM OF NAVAL FIREPOWER, GOSPORT 02392 505 600 | www.nmrn.org.uk/venue-hire For a one-of-a-kind wedding venue this 18 th -century gunpowder store is hard to beat. Celebrating its 250-year anniversary this year the Grand Magazine is a traditional brick-built building with a fascinating history. Originally used to store barrels of gunpowder, it supplied HMS Victory for the Battle of Trafalgar. Now a unique and atmospheric space for weddings, it boasts a magnificent vaulted ceiling and Georgian wood floors. Licensed for ceremonies, it can seat up to 150 people for the wedding breakfast and host 180 for the reception. Set on the edge of a camber basin on the western shore of Portsmouth Harbour, there’s plenty of scope for great photos. Within the inner sanctum, there’s a grassed area which can be used for the drinks reception or chilling out in the evening and the large green at the front is ideal for group photos or lawn games. We love… the beautiful views across the waterfront towards Portsmouth’s historic dockyard. 26