Legendary Experiences at Amazing Venues
Wedding s ∏ C o r p o r at e ∏ C e l e b r at i o n s ∏ T h e m e d E v e nts
Amazing Venues Create Memorable Experiences
Ackergill Tower Nr. John O’ Groats (page 5) A 15th Century castle on the coast.
Kinnettles Castle Nr. Dundee (page 6) A fairy-tale castle with a modern Scottish twist.
INVERNESS
DUNDEE
EDINBURGH
Plas Rhianfa
Carberry Tower
Anglesey (page 7) A picturesque Chateau on the Menai Strait.
Nr. Edinburgh (page 4) A royal residence with great history & facilities.
MANCHESTER
BIRMINGHAM
BATH
Stanbrook Abbey Nr Malvern (page 8) A Victorian Monestary with tower and chapel.
LONDON PORTSMOUTH
No Mans Land Fort
Spitbank Fort Nr Portsmouth (page 9) A luxury private island for private parties, weddings & events.
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Nr Portsmouth A huge sea fortress, ideal for conferences, team building & corporate events.
Plas Rhianfa, Anglesey
Why settle for ordinary when you can have something Amazing?
Our collection of Amazing venues include a Castle and two 15th century Towers in Scotland, A Chateau in Anglesey, An Abbey in The Cotswolds, and two Victorian Sea Forts.
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ome occasions, whether a corporate retreat, a family get together, a romantic break or a wedding, absolutely cry out for the grand stage and the theatrical gesture. They are once in a lifetime opportunities to do something truly spectacular and dramatic, magical and breath-taking - you simply cannot afford to let these moments pass without a celebration that does them justice. Each of our seven amazing Venues provides a personal escape from the humdrum existence of the everyday into a captivating world of history and luxury, indulgence and adventure. Complete with their own Amazing Team you’ll enjoy a unique experience that’s truly designed around your own interests, tastes and preferences - one that you and your guests will treasure for many a year to come.
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Carberry Tower
Nr. Edinburgh
A royal welcome awaits just outside Scotland’s capital
Just seven miles from the vibrant heart of Edinburgh this grand baronial mansion, sitting majestically in 35 acres of manicured lawns and landscaped grounds, provides the perfect get-away-from-it-all destination or a grand setting for a big occasion or celebration.
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hese imposing walls and magnificent grounds are steeped in 450 years of history, tradition and romance - Mary Queen of Scots surrendered to rebel nobles on the estate while the Jacobites, commanded by Bonnie Prince Charlie himself, won the 1745 battle of Prestonpans nearby. More recently it was home to Lady Elphinstone, sister of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The lovingly restored interiors boast imposing staircases and fireplaces, gorgeous wood panelling, beautiful stained glass windows and ornate architectural features. 30 opulent bedroom suites, ceilidh hall, whisky bar, snooker room and newly installed marquee make this an ideal venue for those occasions that demand a setting which is suitably imposing yet warmly inviting.
Carberry Tower, Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, EH21 8PY
0131 665 3135
[email protected]
www.carberrytower.com
Bedrooms: 30
Nearest Airport: Edinburgh Airport (18 miles)
Nearest City: Edinburgh (7 miles)
Weddings: Yes
Corporate: Yes
Max Event Capacity: 150
Activities: Historic City Tours, Distilleries, Cycling, Shooting, Archery, Billiards
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Famous For: Former Royal Home, Exquisite Formal Rose Garden, Extensive Grounds, Whisky Bar
At the tip of Scotland and beyond your wildest dreams If stones could talk what tales would those at Ackergill Tower tell of dastardly Dugald Keith and beautiful Helen Gunn, bloody battles and savage sieges, reckless gambling and notorious ghosts?
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n 32 acres of splendid isolation near Scotland’s northernmost tip, standing defiantly above the beach on Sinclair’s Bay, Ackergill Tower is surprisingly accessible - the airport of Wick is just three miles down the road where our Land Rovers will be waiting to collect you. In the 1800’s it was transformed into a comfortable country seat for lavish hunting and fishing parties - still rugged on the outside it’s now delightfully comfortable on the inside. Absolutely everything is organised before you arrive, from the finest cuisine and wines to the golf and shooting, the bedroom arrangements and cream teas to the riding, fishing and distillery tours we’ll have the Barbour jackets and wellies lined up in the right sizes for each guest! We’ve also recently completed Sinclair Palace, a huge function and event space for up to 250 guests, making Ackergill Tower an ideal destination for large weddings and corporate events. At Ackergill Tower the experience is really your own. With over 50 activities to choose from, you can make your dreams a reality.
Ackergill Tower
Nr. John O’Groats
Ackergill Tower, Wick, Caithness, Scotland, KW1 4RG
01955 603 556
[email protected]
www.ackergilltower.com
Bedrooms: 28
Nearest Airport: Wick (3 miles)
Nearest City: Inverness (137 miles)
Weddings: Yes
Corporate: Yes
Max Event Capacity: 250
Activities: Golf, Fishing, Falconry, Beach Bonfires, Billiards, RIB Rides, Horse Riding, Treehouse. Highland Games Famous For: Sublime Food, Celebrity Visits, Rich History, Award-Winning Old Pulteney Whisky, Romantic Treehouse
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Kinnettles Castle Nr, Dundee
With its imposing towers and elaborate turrets, sweeping staircases and ornate plasterwork, this is a theatrical baronial mansion created by eminent Victorians eager to impress and entertain on a lavish scale.
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nside, however, the black and white décor and furnishings are unashamedly contemporary, the look chic and sophisticated, with grand dining and living rooms, a funky bar and 11 generously sized bedroom suites and a further two bedrooms in the Gate Lodge. The lower ground floor houses the games rooms, complete with billiard table, large HDTVs, Wii consoles, DVD, Sky, roulette wheel and poker table. We’re also adding a spa, with gym, pool, treatment rooms, sauna and steam room, and our staff can arrange a wide range of sporting and leisure activities. Our most recent addition is the 200 capacity marquee, perfect for weddings and conferences plus we’ve opened a new wine cellar and 11 refurbished bedrooms. Set amidst the lush Angus countryside, and surrounded by 44 acres of stunning parkland and formal gardens, Kinnettles Castle is just 30 minutes from Dundee Airport and about the same from the golf at St Andrews and Carnoustie.
Kinnettles Castle, Kinnettles, Angus, Scotland, DD8 1TR
01307 820 354
[email protected]
www.kinnettlescastle.com
Bedrooms: 13
Nearest Airport: Dundee Airport (14 miles)
Nearest City: Dundee (12 miles)
Weddings: Yes
Corporate: Yes
Max Event Capacity: 200
Activities: Golf, Cycling, Woodland Walks, Fly Fishing, Clay Shooting, Archery, Falconry, Billiards, Segways
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Famous For: Chic and Luxurious Décor, Stunning Grounds and Woodland, Rolling Countryside Views, Games Room
A VictorianChateau to beat them all This delightful Victorian villa, modelled on the sixteenth century French renaissance chateau of Chenonceau, stands amidst spectacular gardens on the island of Anglesey, with commanding views over the Menai Strait and towering peaks of Snowdonia.
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he venue boasts 22 bedrooms including three Cottages with four acres of grounds and is well deserved of its five star status. The grand hall, wood panelled sitting rooms, music room, drawing room and dining room, with their glorious painted ceilings, have been transformed back to their former glory. The splendid 42 ft banqueting hall, proudly showing off its polished wooden floor, gleaming panelled walls and breath taking views, provides a wonderful setting for spectacular entertainment, lavish banquets and extravagant events. You can also enjoy the delights of the wine cellar, tasting rooms, jacuzzi, sauna, gym, games room, tennis courts, sun room and private beach… plus a choice of bars in which to recover from all your exertions!
Plas Rhianfa Anglesey
Plas Rhianfa, Beaumaris, Anglesey, LL59 5NS
01248 713 656
[email protected]
www.plasrhianfa.com
Bedrooms: 22
Nearest Airport: Valley Airport (19 miles)
Nearest City: Bangor (3 miles)
Weddings: Yes
Corporate: Yes
Max Event Capacity: 100
Activities: Sailing, Cycling, Mountain Biking, Snowdonia National Park, Golf, Walking, Rib Rides, Falconry Famous For: Stunning Views over Menai Strait overlooking Snowdonia, Boat Trips, Gothic Architecture, Wine Tasting
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Stanbrook Abbey Nr. Malvern
Stanbrook Abbey is comfortably nestled beneath the gorgeous green ridge of the Malvern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that has inspired generations of writers, artists and musicians that include Elgar, Tolkein, Auden and the medieval poet William Langland.
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t was originally designed in the Gothic Revival style for a community of Benedictine nuns in the mid-1800’s by Edward Welby Pugin, whose father created the sumptuous Gothic wallpapers, carvings, stained glass, floor tiles, metalwork and furnishings that grace the Houses of Parliament. The recent refurbishment has turned this remarkable architectural gem into a stunning venue for corporate events and weddings. With 50 beautifully appointed bedroom suites, a Manor House with five additional bedrooms, several large function rooms and stunning gardens, this is truly a unique and wonderful venue which creates a sense of occasion for memorable weddings and corporate events.
Gothic splendour, majestic cloisters and a heavenly setting Stanbrook Abbey, Callow End, Worcestershire, WR2 4TD
01905 830 195
[email protected]
www.stanbrookabbey.com
5 Bedrooms
Bedrooms: 55 Bedrooms PHASE 2 Nearest Airport: Birmingham Airport (21 miles) Nearest City: Worcester (5 miles, M5) Weddings: Yes
Corporate: Yes
Max Event Capacity: 280
Activities: Horse Riding, Golf, Cycling, Mountain Biking, Historic Tours, Malvern Hills, Segways, Archery Famous For: Afternoon Tea, Sunday Lunch, Breathtaking Architecture, Amazing Weddings, A Private History
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Rule the waves from your own private fortress
Built to protect Portsmouth Harbour from invasion by Napoleon III, this circular fortress, with its 15ft thick iron clad walls, mighty gun emplacements, ammunition store, and 400ft deep artesian well, is not short of character!
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dd a multi-million pound refurbishment and you have one of the most extraordinary and iconic properties anywhere in the world. Working closely with English Heritage, the 7,000 sq ft Spitbank Fort has been transformed into a sumptuously luxurious destination in its own right that sleeps 18 guests and has function space for 60. The original guns and ammunition stores have made way for three private dining rooms, wine cellar, open-air hot pool, three bars including Laurent Perrier champagne bar, sauna, sun deck and games rooms. Fully staffed, and with its own private launches, it also benefits from total seclusion. This is truly an exclusive venue that’s going to make all those who are not invited insanely jealous. But no worries - they will never be able to gate-crash the party!
Bath, England
Spitbank Fort Off Portsmouth
Solent Forts Departure Lounge, Royal Clarence Marina, Gosport, PO12 1AX
02392 513 887
[email protected]
www.spitbankfort.com
Bedrooms: 9
Nearest Airport: Southampton (20 miles)
Nearest City: Portsmouth (1 mile by sea)
Weddings: Yes
Corporate: Yes
Max Event Capacity: 60
Activities: Fishing, RIB Rides, Boat Excursions, Shopping, Relaxation, Wine & Whisky Tasting, Sailing, Games Rooms Famous For: Panoramic Sea Views, Total Privacy, Signature Cocktails, Private Parties, Fresh Sea Food, Outdoor BBQ’s.
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Private Hire YOUR event in our amazing venue Whether you are gathering the family for a special reunion, celebrating a significant birthday or anniversary, getting away from it all with a bunch of best mates or celebrating Christmas, Hogmanay or Easter, you want to pick a location and a property that can lend a suitable sense of grandeur to the occasion. You only live once, and these opportunities don’t come around very often - so half measures are not allowed! What’s more, the whole experience is hugely more enjoyable when you don’t have to share it with strangers - taking over a whole place just for yourselves means you can truly relax, let your hair down and do exactly as you please. Our Amazing Team will take care of everything, from the wine and food to the activities and the entertainment. Whether it’s a garden party with champagne, cream tea or a full-on fishing expedition with a gourmet barbecue in a bothie, a lads weekend with lots of golf, paintballing, mountain biking and banqueting, or a more feminine affair with beauty treatments, relaxing massages, cookery demonstrations and horse riding, it’ll be sorted. At our venues, its YOUR event, and YOUR agenda, but our team are on standby to ensure it’s one that your guests will remember forever.... Birthdays
Anniversaries
Private Parties
Reunions
Graduation Parties
Retirement Parties
Stag & Hen Parties
Christenings
School Reunions
Baby Showers
Weekend House Parties
Bar Mitzvahs
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Themed Events it’s OUR event, and you are cordially invited...
You don’t have to get a big group together, or decide to tie the knot if you want to enjoy an Amazing experience! We regularly host Themed Events at our various properties that you can attend on your own, with a loved one, or with a couple of close friends. Our Themed Events give you the chance to celebrate seasonal events in a setting that gives the full sense of occasion - for instance, Hogmanay or Burns Night really needs to be enjoyed in a proper Scottish Castle with whisky, reels and pipes! Other events are organised around a particular sporting activity or popular pastime, giving you the opportunity to broaden your experience or explore new hobbies. You’ll enjoy meeting people who share your interests and learn from inspiring coaches, instructors and experts. Whether it’s landscape photography or wine tasting, fly fishing or jewellery making, yoga or cookery with a celebrity chef, you’ll make a bunch of new friends and have a stimulating few days. Check our website for details of our Themed Events - we’re regularly adding new dates and experiences to the programme.
Just some of our events this year ... LIVE MUSIC
PARTY EVENTS
OUTDOOR EVENTS
Tribute Bands Poker / Casino Nights Local Pop Bands 50’s / 60’s / 70’s Discos Classical Music Fancy Dress Jazz Bands Folk Singers DINNER DANCES & BALLS
Concerts Medieval Fayres Mini Country Shows Steam Rally’s Craft Shows
Barber Shop Quartets
Masquerade Balls
Food & Beer Festivals
Charity Black-Tie Dinners
Jazz BBQ Evenings
DRAMA / PLAYS Voluntary Service Group Annual Dinners Fishing / Shooting / Golf / Walking Parties Local Amateur Dramatics Themed Evenings Boot Camps / Health & Fitness Shakespearian Plays School / College Performances COMEDY & ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATE EVENTS Seasonal Pantomimes Comedy Club Business Networking Events Themed Weekends Variety Shows Award Dinners Collector / Enthusiast Events Magic Nights Charity Events Casino Nights Christmas Lunches & Dinners
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Let your fairy tale begin... Your wedding is not only incredibly romantic, but personal - it’s surrounded by tradition, and yet you want it to be uniquely individual. Each of our venues are truly a one-off - perfect for staging the biggest event of your life. But there’s more than bags of architectural character, fascinating history and splendid facilities to recommend them. The fact you can book our iconic venues exclusively opens up a wealth of inviting possibilities. Arrive a couple of days early for a private party, or a more intimate celebration, with family and close friends. Then, on the big day itself, invite hundreds of guests - have the ceremony at the time of your choosing, then party late into the night with a formal banquet or a more relaxed barbeque, hog roast or buffet. You can then stay on for a few more days to ease yourselves into your honeymoon. Just tell us what you’d like and we’ll arrange it all.
Amazing Weddings 12
Corporate Experiences Thinking outside the box Fresh ideas, great relationships and good communications are the lifeblood of any business - and in today’s busy environment, where situations move so fast and there are so many demands on everyone’s time, it’s essential to make space for reflection, discussion, planning…and a bit of fun for good measure! Our unique properties and magnificent settings are an inspiration in themselves - much more refreshing and stimulating than holding your board meeting or directors retreat in a traditional hotel. We’ll tailor a schedule around you - eat whatever and whenever you like, start early or work late, keep it strictly business or bring partners, include leisure and sporting activities or just focus on good food and wine. Our expert staff will plan everything in advance and are always on hand to ensure the programme runs like clockwork. Whether you’re conducting a brain-storming session or holding a team building event, organising a product launch or entertaining important clients, rewarding hard working employees or sharing your vision with partners and associates, we can offer the flexibility, the imagination and the magic to ensure the occasion exceeds your every expectation.
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95
95
90
Largest Space
Classroom
110
U-shape
Theatre
110
Dinner Dance
Reception
Carberry Tower
Banquet
Bedrooms
Maximum Capacities
90 111 sqm
Edinburgh, Scotland
Ackergill Tower
28
50
250
220
170
50
70
93 sqm
Wick, Highlands, Scotland
Kinnettles Castle
11
200
300
300
150
150
200
88 sqm
Dundee, Scotland
Plas Rhianfa
21
80
140
100
80
40
80
82 sqm
Anglesey, Wales
Stanbrook Abbey Worcestershire, England
Spitbank Fort
PHASE 2
5 120 190 190 120 48 80 125 sqm 55 9 50 60 60 60 18 20 95 sqm
Portsmouth, England
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Let your adventure begin... W
e can only give you a taste of all the things we can offer so whatever kind of occasion you have in mind we’d love to discuss it with you. Whether you are thinking of just one day, or a whole week, our teams are full of brilliant ideas to add extra magic to every moment of the experience. You can expect outstanding service and value at all of our venues. Nothing is too much trouble for them - all you have to do is ask.
Get in touch with us today 01494 682 682
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[email protected] www.clarenco.com
Coming Soon...
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Spitbank Fort - The Solent, Portsmouth.
Lege n d a ry E x p e r ie n c e s at A m a z i n g V e n u e s
Clarenco House, Ibstone Road, Stokenchurch, Bucks, HP14 3FE 01494 682 682 |
[email protected] | www.clarenco.com