The odd new things on my list

[klwilliams]

Since most of Chaz's friends live in the UK, we're going to have a UK wedding reception as well as the US one. His house is way too small for that kind of thing, and we may have sold it by that point, anyway. Thus, a castle. Wouldn't it be cool to have a wedding reception in a castle? Anyone have any suggestions for an affordable one, that rents out its hall for parties?

ETA: Ah. It should be near Newcastle Upon Tyne, which is in the northeast of England, about twenty miles from Edinburgh and near Durham Cathedral.

Comments

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

What's too far away for you? Anything in Britain is good?

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Good point. Should be in the NE of England.

[timill]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Briavels_Castle ??

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Nice one.

[aberwyn.livejournal.com]

How cool can you get??? A castle!

[loup_noir]

Stirling! Glorious great hall. How about a walk along Hadrian's Wall? That isn't that far from Newcastle.

[christymarx.livejournal.com]

You mentioned Edinburgh, so you'd consider Scotland?

I have a very good ex-pat friend who has a cottage she rents in Scotland and probably has a lot of good contacts for the area. Drop me an email if that sounds interesting.

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

http://www.awesomeinflatables.co.uk/

Okay, that was gratuitous. But might be fun anyway.

http://www.castlekeep-newcastle.org.uk/
I of course have no info on pricing or availability, but they do hire out.

[durham-rambler.livejournal.com]

Since Chaz is sleeping upstairs I will have to ask him when he wakes, but we have done this before, in Brancepeth Castle which is only six miles from Durham City. The owner is Margaret Dobson who in an earlier life was a publisher, at one time of Isaac Asimov.

The castle in Newcastle is owned by the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who as it happens are a client. S, who is on their committee, is a friend of ours and Chaz'z. But that castle is a good deal more exposed than Brancepeth.

There is also the Castle in Durham, owned by the University, and they charge mega-bucks. And I can think of half a dozen more.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Yes, he said you'd mentioned Brancepeth, but he didn't know the details. Thanks. We'll have to see what's available (and affordable) for next year.

[rustmon.livejournal.com]

castle! sweet! :) (actually, anywhere that means a lot to you guys)

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

You can hold a wedding at a number of National Trust properties (here's the list for the NE region); I looked up the link because I was thinking of Washington Old Hall, but there are other possibilities (Lindisfarne would be joyous, and totally impractical).

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Well, the obvious one is Lumley: totally bonkers, just outside Durham, and huge fun.
http://www.lumleycastle.com/

[goldenmug.livejournal.com]

Am I missing something? "It should be near Newcastle Upon Tyne, which is in the northeast of England, about twenty miles from *Edinburgh* and near Durham Cathedral."

Edinburgh is certainly not "20 miles from Edinburgh" - I know the UK is small to American eyes, but truly Edinburgh is 120 miles which, on our local roads, takes you about two and half hours. Even we are a little surprised that the A1, which is the main road linking London (UK and English capital) and Edinburgh (Scottish capital) takes on the character of a country lane (single lane in each direction, winding through grass verges, pretty views through parts of Northumberland.

However, by way of compensation for the inadequacies of the road it goes within a mile or so of a bookshop which is on the official list of World's Most Wonderful Bookshops. See Barter Books of Alnwick (pronounced Ann-ick, unlike Anick which is pronounced Ayn-ick). I don't think they hire out for wedding receptions (bookshelves getting in the way and such) which is a shame.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Oops. Thanks for catching that. I meant a hundred and twenty.

[goldenmug.livejournal.com]

A thought - how about using the North York Moors steam train service. They do wedding receptions on the train!

http://www.glendalehouse.co.uk/pages/steamtrains.htm