Wedding venue undergoes refurbishment following funding deal

A Staffordshire weddings and events venue is undergoing refurbishment to improve facilities.

The work at the Hawkesyard Estate, near Rugeley, follows a funding deal arranged by Royal Bank of Scotland.

The work has already seen improvements to The Orangery, which is part of Hawkesyard Hall and popular for post ceremonial drinks and other events, alongside the upgrading of the Hall’s heating system.

The next phase of improvements will be focussed on the Parklands venue, which is scheduled for completion in mid-2018.

Changes here will include a makeover of the entrance hall to enable it to blend more sympathetically with the design of the rest of the building, with the inside of the suite also being fully redecorated and furnished to give the venue a more comfortable feel.

Plans are also underway for Hawkesyard to develop the lake view area, designated for its outdoor marquee weddings, which will complement the existing Armitage and Parklands Suites that are already in use.

Proving a popular addition for wedding parties is the bridal prep room, which has been created within the Hall. Located inside one of the building’s historic turrets, the room has windows overlooking the gardens, enabling brides to watch their guests arriving.

Following Hawkesyard Estate’s move to the Royal Bank of Scotland, the bank has supported the refurbishment work with an undisclosed funding deal.

Ruth Whorton, owner of Hawkesyard Estate, said: “We are thrilled with the changes and improvements that have been made to the Hall. In order to maintain our position as one of the region’s leading wedding venues we know that it is crucial that the estate meets expectations of our client’s and can cater for their every need.

“Working with the Royal Bank of Scotland is yet another phase in the long history of this site, stretching through the centuries from the time when Hawkesyard held the mantle as the first Catholic Conference Centre in the country to the present day where the venue is now one of Staffordshire’s leading wedding and events venues.”

Michele Fynan, Relationship Manager at Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “Ruth has developed an excellent business which has a very good reputation and her passion and ideas for the future of Hawkesyard Estate are impressive. We have enjoyed supporting the refurbishment plans and the changes that have been made are fantastic. We are looking forward to continuing to support the business and to help implement future developments to further improve the facilities on offer.”