The North East can boast two of the top wedding venues in the UK after taking some of the top prizes at the British Wedding Awards 2020.
Charlton Hall, near Chathill in Northumberland was named best outdoor wedding venue, while nearby Newton Hall won the prize for best coastal wedding venue.
The awards - which were presented at a virtual event this week - come as the wedding industry and the wider hospitality sector is facing huge challenges due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Both prizes have been described as a boost for the region, with the Northumberland venues beating competitors from around the UK.
Charlton Hall, which is part of the Doxford Group, is a Grade II listed 18th century hall located on a private 150-acre country estate in Northumberland.
The venue offers uninterrupted views across the secluded estate and has been hosting weddings and other events since opening its doors in July 2018.
Richard Shell, director of The Doxford Group, said: “The British Wedding Awards is a prestigious celebration of the UK’s finest wedding companies and it’s a real honour to see Charlton Hall awarded the best outdoor wedding venue in the UK. It’s a huge achievement for us as a venue and a fantastic accolade for the North East.
“Our dedicated team work incredibly hard to ensure all of our couples have their dream day and I couldn’t be prouder to be recognised for our outdoor wedding ceremonies. I would like to thank everyone who took time to kindly vote for Charlton Hall and look forward to making our couples wedding day dreams come true.”
Newton Hall is part of the Apartment Group, which also has other hotels in Northumberland and a string of bars in Newcastle.
Apartment Group chief operating office Debrah Dhugga said: “Newton Hall is a stunning property and it makes for one of the UK’s coolest and quirkiest wedding venues.
“We want to give one of a kind wedding experiences and we can do fabulous events on the beach because we’re only five minutes from the coast. We’ve got 21 rooms but we also have a sister venue in the village, the Joiners Arms, and families can take over that as well.
“It’s great to bring this prestigious award to the North because it normally goes down south. It’s especially great to get this recognition in these challenging times.”
The venues were among the top prize winners at the British Wedding Awards, which celebrate top wedding venues but also florists, wedding dress shops and stationery companies.
