Arley Hall & Gardens — Attraction in Aston by Budworth

Good bits:

The venue itself is incredible for a wedding. All the indoor and outdoor spaces are beautiful with plenty of space and the evening venue is spot on. Barretts, the fixed caterer for the venue, were amazing with really nice food and our catering coordinator Grant was a star all day. Their recommended evening food supplier Paul at I Knead Pizza was super helpful and the pizzas went down a treat. Bev and Ian, two of our coordinators were lovely and very helpful on the day. Ashley, the coordinator who did our first visit and our final wedding meeting, was very friendly, reassuring and helpful.

Unfortunate bits:

4 weeks before the wedding we had an uncomfortable back and forth over email with two of the events team. We had it in writing from them in August 2024 that our lighting supplier would need to collect by latest 11am the following day. The venue were now telling us 4 weeks before the wedding that the supplier would need to collect at 1am the night of the wedding, which only came about because we emailed them to confirm morning access times. When sent the evidence of what was agreed already, they just said that it's subject to change, that was agreed last year and since then it's changed. No sorry, no interest in sorting it. After challenging it further, there were no further replies to us, but when I contacted the supplier it turned out Arley had now sorted morning collection direct with the supplier. So it got sorted without us knowing, but only after it was really challenged and obviously left things a bit sour. 2 weeks later Ashley rescued how we were feeling at our final wedding meeting. Due to a last minute holiday, one of the team from the email exchange was now running our wedding day instead of Ashley, which we only discovered when we arrived the evening before the wedding. This first time in person meeting was very strained and 50% of the pre-wedding day chat led by the coordinator was telling us how bad the weather was going to be and trying to persuade us to commit now to the wedding being indoors.

The wedding day then went smoothly, the weather held off and the ceremony was held outdoors as we had hoped for.

Would I recommend having a wedding at Arley, absolutely, I just hope that this maybe highlights some areas to improve. It is a substantial amount of money to get married at Arley, so we just weren't expecting these...

My son got married here in July 2023. We rented 4 of the cottages for Friday and Saturday night. The venue provided wedding breakfast, bars for much of the day and venue for an evening of music and dance. We had a fantastic emotional day and I was so proud of my son and his new wife. However I would not recommend this venue. The main reason would be the attitude of the staff. I have worked as a barman myself in the past. I know sometimes it’s hard when people are enjoying themselves and you have to work. But you have to ‘put on a brave face’ and remember the customer is paying for you. We paid this venue many thousands of pounds but sadly the staff were miserable and on occasion just plain rude. We had immense difficulties with wanting just 7 bottles of our own wine on the top table whilst buying many dozens of bottles of their wine for all other tables. In the end this was a disaster as most of the wine was simply returned to our cottage and we took it back home. Mountains and molehills here. There was a rush to clear the tables from the wedding breakfast so there really was not enough time for this part of the day. My son and I were chatting on the top table with the best men and we were asked to clear the table! Coffee was served in a different room not at the tables and this was a very bad idea. The coffee was very bad too. So I am sorry to leave negative feedback but this really is a venue that needs to reevaluate its priorities and focus on giving the best experience to the customers I would not go back there for the weddings of my...

I visited the Peaky Blinders exhibition at Arley Hall and Gardens, and it was an extraordinary experience that I highly recommend to both fans of the series and history enthusiasts alike.

The moment you step into the hall, you're transported back to the gritty, atmospheric world of the Peaky Blinders. The attention to detail in the exhibition was remarkable, with meticulously recreated sets, costumes, and props that bring the show's iconic scenes to life. Walking through Tommy Shelby’s office and the various other locations featured in the series felt incredibly immersive.

What sets this exhibition apart is its setting within the beautiful Arley Hall and Gardens. The hall itself is a stunning piece of architecture, and its historical ambiance perfectly complements the exhibition. The gardens are equally impressive, offering a tranquil retreat with beautifully landscaped grounds, ideal for a leisurely stroll after exploring the exhibition.

The staff at Arley Hall were knowledgeable and friendly, adding to the overall positive experience. They were enthusiastic about the show and provided interesting insights and anecdotes about the production of Peaky Blinders and its connection to the hall.

In summary, the Peaky Blinders exhibition at Arley Hall and Gardens is a must-visit. It successfully combines the allure of a beloved TV series with the charm of a historic location, making for an unforgettable visit. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the show or just looking for a unique day out, this exhibition is...