Wonderful weddings at Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa

With history, considerable charm and simply glorious gardens – plus the welcome recent news that outdoor civil weddings and partnerships are now legal in England and Wales (from this month) – Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa in Suffolk is the perfect place to say “I do…”

Surrounded by three acres of secluded rose gardens, Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa is a 17^th century Georgian house nestled in the heart of the Suffolk countryside. Originally built as a hunting lodge for the sixth Duke of Bedford, the historic hotel is close to the Newmarket racecourses and next to some of the most famous paddocks and horse training stables in the world.

The white stucco property, with its grand entrance and flower-filled pathways, provides an elegant backdrop for just-wed photos, while the grounds provide a wealth of further photography opportunities including manicured formal lawns, established rose gardens, wisteria-clad ivory-pillared walkway and a range of terraces complete with the gardener’s speciality creations – simply superb hanging baskets.

Weddings at Bedford Lodge

The hotel is licensed for civil ceremonies and has a variety of options for “I do” occasions. Three self-contained banqueting suites can host weddings of between 10 and 150 guests. Smaller ceremonies are held in the Derby or Oaks Rooms (seating a maximum of 80 guests). For larger affairs, the grand Classics Suite, complete with chandeliers, cornicing and a private bar area, can comfortably host 150 guests for a ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception. The Classics Suite is available for exclusive hire for the whole day; the versatile space can be partitioned to provide two smaller rooms to suit the style and scale of the celebration. The beautiful private garden provides a pretty backdrop for a drinks reception and for guests to mingle post-vows.

Fabulous Food & Drink

Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa is home to a superb two-AA rosette restaurant, meaning brides and grooms-to-be alike can be assured that exceptional dishes will be served on their big day. Traditional three-course Wedding Breakfast menus have been created by the hotel’s Executive Head Chef, Lee Cooper, who is committed to sustainability and serves the finest locally-sourced seasonal ingredients. Delicious main courses for the Wedding Breakfast include Suffolk Lamb Rump, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Fine Beans & Shallots, Thyme Jus, or East Coast Bass Fillet, Basil Mash, Wilted Kale, Riesling Wine Chive Sauce. Vegetarian options include Cepe & Parsnip Pithivie, Wilted Cabbage, Tomato & Basil Sauce or Wild Mushroom & Truffle Risotto, Artichoke and Broad Bean Ragout.

Traditional Wedding Breakfast menus start from £52 pp. If a twist on the traditional, or more relaxed fare is sought, the hotel offers tasty alternatives, including Afternoon Tea (a speciality, priced from £26 pp) or a Mediterranean barbeque (priced from £45 pp). In the evening, couples can choose from finger buffets, barbeques, hog roasts and cheese boards, all of which are sure to delight.

The hotel is adept at catering for special dietary requirements and, of course, expect exquisite meat, fish and vegetarian canapés to complement the reception drinks. Whether the tipple of choice is Champagne, Prosecco or Pimm’s, drinks packages cover all eventualities and cost from £40.50 pp.

Personalised Wedding Packages

As each wedding is unique, Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa offers a completely bespoke service and the flexibility to create a personalised wedding package. The well-organised, attentive and friendly wedding team loves planning these special days; whether the style is vintage chic, classic elegance or rustic romance, they have a wealth of experience to impart, including decoration and floral recommendations. Couples will be assigned a dedicated Wedding Co-ordinator who will be on hand throughout to guide the planning process seamlessly and to create the day that each couple has dreamt of and hoped for.

Stylish accommodation

Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa features 80 luxuriously appointed bedrooms, including 21 super-king-sized rooms. The individually designed Luxury Suites are located in the original hunting lodge, dating back hundreds of years; one even has an idyllic private balcony, perfect for a relaxing pre-wedding brunch with the bridesmaids and for bridal photos. There is also a luxury Mews – a separate property sitting adjacent to the main hotel, enjoying views over the neighbouring famous trainer’s yard, with three bedrooms (an executive suite, and two superior rooms) plus a private dining area in which guests can enjoy private dining arranged by the hotel’s kitchens, offering supreme privacy and comfort for a small group of family and friends pre or post-wedding.

Outdoor Weddings

With the welcome recent news that outdoor civil weddings and partnerships will be legalised permanently in England and Wales from this month (April), the picture-perfect grounds at Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa beckon. Until last summer, non-religious ceremonies had to be held inside or in a permanent outdoor structure. While coronavirus social distancing measures were in place, the rules were relaxed last summer to allow outdoor civil weddings. The temporary measures are being made permanent this month (April), so why not consider saying “I do” alfresco? Few things can be more romantic than tying the knot in the pretty private garden of the Classics Suite, your very own lush-green haven.

Wedding packages include a complimentary suite for the wedding night as well as a special rate for wedding guests. Ceremony room hire includes a King Bedroom for two guests the night before the wedding (upgrade to a Luxury Suite for an additional charge). The hotel’s 5-Bubble rated spa, with hydrotherapy pool, 10 treatment rooms and roof-top hot tub, offers the ultimate pre-wedding indulgence, and every wedding package includes a Rasul Spa Day for two and a manicure and pedicure for two prior to the big day.

Venue hire: the Classics Suite is available for exclusive hire from £1,500 (Sunday to Friday) and £2,000 (Saturday). Rates are based on a minimum of 60 guests. For smaller weddings, an additional room hire charge may apply. Three-course Wedding Breakfasts are from £52 pp. Full details, menus, testimonials and prices can be viewed in the Wedding Brochure.

For more information, to book a wedding show-round, a restaurant table and/or overnight stay, visit www.bedfordlodgehotel.co.uk or call 01638 663175.

Press: For media enquiries, restaurant reviews, press visits, photography, or interviews, please contact

Lizzie Cooper, Jane Collyer or Sue Ockwell at Travel PR on  l.cooper@travelpr.co.uk;  j.collyer@travelpr.co.uk or s.ockwell@travelpr.co.uk, or call 020 8891 4440, 07342 258570 (Lizzie), or 07831 126 356 (Sue).

Notes to editors:

Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa, Newmarket’s only 4-star hotel – with 80 comfortable, well-designed guest rooms and suites – sits amidst the world-famous town’s horseracing paddocks/training stables. Boasting a superb two-AA rosette restaurant, stylish bar, seating indoors/out, plus a 15m indoor swimming pool/Jacuzzi/gym, it’s perfect for weddings and conferences (with superb facilities within a private garden), as well as for special treats; Bedford Lodge simply oozes friendly, personal service. A separate luxury 5-Bubble spa* (with hydrotherapy pool, 10 treatment rooms and roof-top hot tub) sits a short garden stroll away (advance booking essential).

Bedford Lodge Hotel was originally a Georgian hunting lodge, built for the 6^th Duke of Bedford. The much-loved concept of Afternoon Tea was created, in 1845, by the wife of the 7^th Duke of Bedford. The famous tradition continues today, and is, naturally, a speciality at Bedford Lodge Hotel. Nestled in three secluded acres of rose gardens, close to both world-class Newmarket racecourses, the hotel also offers easy access to charming Suffolk countryside, Tudor-era Lavenham, Cambridge, Bury St Edmunds & Ely’s stunning mediaeval cathedral.

*Located adjacent to the hotel, The Spa is open from Wednesday to Sunday; there is an additional charge to enjoy its excellent facilities. The spa can be prebooked by contacting spareservations@bedfordlodgehotel.co.uk or by calling 01638 676 130.