One Customer Review of “Prestwold Hall, Loughborough”

The reviews on this site are written by customers of Olivia Samuel wedding stationery. Reviews are strictly by invitation only to help maintain their authenticity. If you would like to know more about how the reviews are collected please visit our home page.

1. Alan Elkington says:

   December 20, 2008 at 5:10 pm

   Believe me, as father of the bride, it’s never easy to choose a wedding/reception venue that will satisfy both yourself and your daughter (and daughters can be so picky these days!). But, if our experience is typically then I would whole heartedly recommend Prestwold Hall to anyone looking for a venue in Leicestershire.

   I researched local venues and gave my daughter a short list of those I thought most suitable. She and her husband to be visited each and put Prestwold at the top of their list. Now it was my turn to get more involved and my wife and I visited Prestwold to discuss practicalities and costs. Not something I was looking forward to.

   First impressions were excellent. A gorgeous Georgian period house (think Jane Austen) with well kept formal gardens and surrounded by open parkland. We were met by one of their wedding organisers and given a quick tour of the rooms. Later we had time to explore on our own. My initial positive impressions were confirmed the organiser asked how we would like the day to go. So many other venues had simply stated (or had written into their small print), “this is what we normally do and that is what you will get and pay for whether you want it or not”. I exaggerate, but you get the idea.

   The organiser was very professional and had a wealth of experience to give us good advice on timings, seating plans, menus and wines – and those thousand and one things which you may have overlooked but which can catch you out if you don’t think about them in advance.

   And so to the practicalities.

   There is easy access and plenty of car parking for guests. My daughter got married in our local church and so we only required a reception venue, but I understand the hall is also licensed for civil ceremonies.

   Our wedding party and guests were met in the delightful gardens with welcoming drinks, and the gardens provided a lovely setting for both formal and informal photographs. Guests are free to wander the gardens and they gave an oasis of quiet for both old and young to escape to when needed.

   Inside the hall the entire ground floor is available to guests (and they only cater for a single wedding party on any one day). The rooms are truly memorable with plenty of space and interesting period furnishings. While imposing and grand from the outside, once inside the atmosphere is relaxed and feels comfortable and lived in. The dining room was just right for 85 guests, and there are many open areas and smaller rooms and where guests can wander and relax. I would encourage them to explore. There is also a separate bar room that you can use as you wish.

   The food was excellent with a good choice of menus. Well prepared from local produce and well presented. You can mix and match your selections from across suggested menus – we did. We went for a traditional sit down wedding breakfast and everyone remarked how good the food was. The dining room itself was a picture. Light and airy with views out over the gardens and beautifully set out. The wine was very good and reasonable priced. Before making our selection we took full advantage of tasting bottles provided at cost price. Prestwold were very good in advising on quantities and managed the wine very well so that everyone had sufficient while unused bottles were returned to us at the end of the day.

   At the end of the day after the bride and groom had departed the staff helped us to distribute the table decorations amongst our guests so that they all left with a memento of the day.

   All in all I think Prestwold gave very good value for money and I would recommend it unreservedly.