Your Kent Wedding - Sep/Oct 2019 (Issue 76)

REVIEW 25 AND RENEWED Relaxed Editor Kelly Andrews enjoyed a relaxing night’s stay at Bridgewood Manor Hotel & Spa, Chatham I arrived at Bridgewood Manor Hotel & Spa, with my mum in tow, on the hottest day of the year. The spa was calling me, and I couldn’t wait to get through the doors into the air-conditioned haven of the lobby. Set in Walderslade Woods on the outskirts of both Chatham and Maidstone, the hotel is in a convenient location. My most recent visit was a couple of years previous for a wedding fair, and what a transformation! Having been taken over in the past 18 months, the hotel is in the process of a stunning refurb, and the changes are most welcome. The reception and lounge areas have been refreshed and now boast a modern duck egg blue and neutral palette with two feature fireplaces and a cosy atmosphere. I went into full nosy parker mode after checking in, as I discovered that there were two weddings taking place at the venue that weekend… YOUR WEDDING, YOUR WAY The lovely sales manager, Wendy Hannam, kindly showed us around the function rooms, which were dressed and ready to welcome wedding guests. The spacious Hythe Suite, beautifully adorned with ceiling drapes, is the largest and can accommodate 180 people. It boasts high ceilings and opens out on to the pretty central courtyard – a charming spot for post-ceremony mingling. There’s space for 120 for your wedding breakfast here, with a further 60 able to join you for the evening. We were then treated to a sneak peek of the Hogarth Suite, the second-largest of the spaces, all set up for a ceremony later that day. Wendy explained that some couples are now opting for late-afternoon ceremonies, transitioning straight into an evening reception, which is the option that this particular couple had chosen. The Hogarth can accommodate 110 of your loved ones for the “I dos”, 80 to share your first meal together and 150 to dance the night away. It also has its own entrance and private bar. There’s also a choice of two, more intimate, spaces: The Maidstone and The Stratford Suites, with capacities of 60 and 40, respectively. All four provide blank canvases, allowing you to shape the wedding day of your dreams. I was lucky enough to see the two largest spaces in action, and the styles couldn’t have been more contrasting, but both worked equally well against the existing understated decor. SO SPA, SO GOOD After my curiosity was satisfied, we settled down for a spot of lunch in the lounge area. There’s a spa menu should you choose to head in that direction or a bar menu if you prefer to bask in the comfort of the armchairs for a while longer. I thoroughly enjoyed a light bite of pitta and dips, served with chickpea and red pepper houmous, nut-free pesto and tapenade before making my way through to the spa. I enjoyed a dip in the pool and reclined on the heated lounger, and before I knew it, it was time for our treatments. The GELeration Foot Spa Ritual is one I would TO BOOK… bridgewoodmanorhotel.com events@bridgewoodmanorhotel.com 01634 201 333 highly recommend for feet in need of some TLC. Enjoy 50 minutes of bliss as legs and feet are massaged and moisturised. Hard skin is removed, cuticles and nails are shaped and the biggest worry you’ll face is which of the long-lasting Jessica gel polishes to go for. Many a tempting spa treatment is on offer here, and the Signature Rituals are a great place to start if you’re looking for some premium pampering. One thing’s for sure, when you emerge from one of the four luxurious treatment rooms, you’ll be feeling relaxed and invigorated. WINE AND DINE The menu in Squires Restaurant contains something for everyone. Without being over- the-top fancy, the food is delicious. I tucked into a beautifully cooked bavette steak with garlic portabello mushrooms, a roast plum tomato, watercress and chips with a side order of Béarnaise sauce, of course! Other hearty fare included roast rump of lamb, pan-fried fillet of sea bass and a vegetarian option of goat’s cheese and red pepper ravioli. If the standard of dining at Squires, and indeed the Lounge, is a good indication, your wedding breakfast is bound to be a real treat. GOODNIGHT Bridgewood Manor has 100 bedrooms, making it ideal for weddings with guests who’ve travelled far and wide to be there. What’s more, any of the hotel’s four suites would make a perfect bridal suite. In fact, you’ll be offered a complimentary room as part of your wedding package, along with a menu tasting and a dedicated wedding coordinator. We ended the day in a comfortable standard room, where we slept soundly until morning, when the generous breakfast buffet brought a new smile to my face.