Mayor Opens New Hampshire Outdoor Wedding Venue. Historic country house hotel, Audleys Wood Hotel in Basingstoke, launched its new outdoor wedding venue this weekend, Sunday 25th February, with the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Cllr Paul Frankum, marking the official opening.

The official ceremony took place at 1.30pm with Cllr Frankum joining the hotel’s Deputy General Manager William Robertson (pictured) and his team to cut the ribbon on Audleys Wood’s brand new Gazebo.  The beautifully-finished, hand-built wooden Gazebo is located within the hotel’s picturesque estate just a few steps from the classic Victorian mansion house and the contemporary Garden Pavilion and is now one of only a handful of luxury wedding venues in Hampshire to be fully-licenced for outdoor civil ceremonies and partnerships.

The new Gazebo complements the hotel’s existing mix of diverse wedding spaces, including the Conservatory with its impressive high vaulted ceiling for up to 100 guests, the extensive self-contained Garden Pavilion which can accommodate up to 200 guests and the traditional wood-panelled Simonds Room for more intimate weddings and celebrations.

General Manager Paul Morgan commented, “I am thrilled to launch our brand new Gazebo and honoured to have Cllr Frankum joining us to mark the official opening.  Our historic hotel and wonderful grounds have long provided an impressive backdrop for fairy-tale weddings with our gardens playing a leading role during the summer months.   With a growing demand from our couples to have an outside venue where they can both hold their official ceremony and kick off their celebrations with a drinks reception, I have no doubt our new Gazebo will be a welcome addition to our wedding offering at Audleys Wood and add considerable value to our couples.”

Dating back to the 1880s, Audleys Wood has a wealth of original features including elaborate woodwork carvings, ornate stonework, huge fireplaces and beautiful stained glass windows which provide a romantic setting for weddings and special occasions.   The hotel has 72 bedrooms including feature rooms and suites, a 2 AA Rosette restaurant, The Conservatory, complimentary Wi-Fi and ample onsite parking.  Located within a few minutes from Basingstoke yet set within acres of grounds, the hotel has a secluded and exclusive feel and oozes characterful charm.

For media information, please contact:

Julia Gosling
Hand Picked Hotels
01732 471036
[email protected] 

Notes to editors 

Hand Picked Hotels, created by former lawyer turned hotelier Julia Hands, is the leading collection of architecturally stunning country house hotels - built for pleasure and continuing a centuries-old tradition of offering guests an indulgent yet attainable country house experience, with a contemporary twist. 

The award-winning collection is renowned for exquisite food, fine wines and bespoke service by Hand Picked people in stylish, relaxing surroundings. There are a total of 17 classically British hotels in beautiful settings across England and Scotland and 3 Channel Island resorts, with locations ranging from the New Forest and Jersey to Yorkshire and Edinburgh. 

Hand Picked Hotels has won an impressive number of awards, with 15 hotels awarded two AA rosette status and Grand Jersey holding three rosettes. Ten hotels have achieved red star status which means they stand out as the very best in the British Isles. There are also ten hotels with spas offering the latest therapies and treatments to promote wellbeing and relaxation.