Standing within twenty acres of gardens and parklands, Middlethorpe Hall is a stunning seventeenth century country house which offers a wealth of history and luxury for any couple's wedding day.
Brides and grooms marrying at this opulent national trust venue have the option to say I do in either the intimate upstairs sitting room or Dovecot, while those looking for a larger ceremony can be wed in the Barlow Room.
Here's what happened when we were invited to stay at Middlethorpe Hall and experience their first-class service and spa for ourselves....
When my guest and I arrived at Middlethorpe Hall we were greeted by nothing but smiles from the friendly reception staff and Anthony, the doorman on duty.

Once we had our room key and had been offered a selection of newspapers for the morning, Anthony the doorman gave us a tour of the seventeenth century home… and boy did he know his stuff! Hearing about how the grand house used to be a nightclub in the 70’s/80’s before becoming the hotel it stands today in 1994 not only added to the culture of the hotel, but also enriched the experience as a whole (although I was disappointed I never managed to see the wild deer the next morning – likely due to the weather).

After the tour, we were shown to our room. Each individually decorated, our room was spacious and decorated with antique furniture and a huge, four poster bed. We nibbled on the complimentary sweets and fruit and fought the urge to collapse into the six pillows on the bed, before heading down to our 8:30pm dinner reservation.

Our extremely conscientious waiters showed us to our candle-lit table and ensured that our glasses were never empty throughout the entire meal.

In between delicate canapes, I had the rabbit to start, while my guest enjoyed perfectly cooked scallops and pork belly.

Although there was an A la Carte, Autumnal and Tasting Menu to choose from, neither of us could resist a main course of beef fillet, accompanied by potato skins and truffle mac and cheese.
The beef was cooked to perfection, with my plus one passing his compliments to the chef as ‘the best meal he’s had in a long time.’


Dessert for me was a beautifully rich tiramisu, and for my guest was a Paris-Brest made using Middlethorpe apples alongside a selection of perfectly paired dessert wines.
When it came to evening drinks, it’s important to note that Middlethorpe Hall doesn’t have a bar, but visitors are invited to sit in one of the multiple reception rooms, where they will be asked what they would like to drink and served while relaxing in one of the plush setees.

A good night’s rest in one of the softest and most spacious beds I’ve ever slept in gave way to a more relaxed breakfast than the evening meal. There was both the option for a table-service cooked breakfast (I recommend the scrambled eggs because they were amazing), as well as continental.

The Spa

One of my favourite features of the spa at Middlethorpe Hall is that it is nestled in a cosy cottage.

I was booked in for the Ultimate Wrinkle Smoothing and Restorative Peel. For this treatment to be most effective it is recommended that clients undergo this treatment twice a week for three weeks and then once a month after that as its main aim is to train the facial muscles to reduce the signs of aging.

My non-surgical facelift was carried out by the wonderful Laura who explained everything she was doing and made sure I was comfortable with all of the products. Laura really went above and beyond, offering me a heated blanket for comfort as well as not skipping a beat when I unfortunately had to answer a phone call halfway through my treatment – a Belle girl's work is never done!

105 minutes and three face masks, electro-treatments and light therapy later and I can honestly say I noticed a difference. Although I am not the optimal age (this experience is recommended for those over the age of 25) I did notice that my laugh lines had all but disappeared by the end. For brides or mother of the brides looking for a radiant and youthful glow for the big day I fully endorse investing in the Ultimate Wrinkle Smoothing and Restorative Peel at Middlethorpe Hall.

Heading into the spa, and as could be expected from one located in a cottage, it was the ideal setting for an intimate gathering of your bridal party which I would highly recommend for a hen party or pamper party before the big day.
For more information on some of the amazing venue's Belle Bridal works with, visit our exclusive Venue Collective, or browse through the glossy pages of our regional magazine and visit the Middlethorpe Hall website to find out more about this stellar gem nestled in Yorkshire.
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