A medieval venue in Newcastle upon Tyne is celebrating a rise in mid-week and autumn wedding bookings as it prepares for its latest wedding showcase this February.
Blackfriars Restaurant and Banquet Hall, based at Friars Street in the heart of the city centre, is seeing an increased amount of couples opting to tie the knot on a weekday instead of a traditionally popular Saturday – and autumn is proving to be the most popular time of year for marrying at the venue.
To celebrate the continued growth of wedding bookings, Blackfriars is hosting its third annual Wedding Fayre on Sunday, February 21 from 12-3pm. Admission is free, and visitors will be treated to complimentary refreshments while they view the medieval Banquet Hall, meet top local florists, cake designers, photographers and make-up artists, and check availability for their big day.
Blackfriars dates back to 1239 and is one of the oldest restaurants in the UK. Its ornate 50-seat Banquet Hall was built to entertain guests and nobles to Newcastle, and it was the celebrated venue used by King Edward III to receive royal Scot, Edward Balliol, in 1334.
The venue has the added benefit of a picturesque Cloister Garden which couples can use for photos and drinks receptions, and guests also have the option of dining at Blackfriars Restaurant, which received the Taste of England accolade at the North East Tourism Awards and was voted Best North East Restaurant in the Licensed Trade Awards.
Andy Hook, owner of Blackfriars, said: “We’ve watched with interest as more and more wedding bookings have come flooding in for the autumn period – in direct contrast to the national trend for hugely popular summer weddings.
“We believe there are several reasons for this increase. Firstly, our Banquet Hall looks particularly inviting in autumn with its rustic, burnt orange decorations, authentic banners, chandeliers, candle-lit oak dining tables and stained glass windows. It offers a very dramatic backdrop for cosy, intimate wedding ceremonies or receptions – yet it’s right in the heart of the city centre so it’s very easily accessible.
“Outside, our Cloister Garden is awash with autumnal colours from the changing leaves on the trees, making for a very beautiful background to wedding photos.
“Undoubtedly, the fact that we don’t charge a premium rate for Half Term holidays is also contributing to the popularity of autumn dates. We’re conscious that couples are looking for more cost-effective ways to get married and this is reflected by the continued increase in our mid-week bookings too.
“Our Wedding Fayre grows more popular every year, as visitors appreciate the chance to look around our stunning surroundings, sample Blackfriars’ food, and meet a range of exhibitors all under one roof – and with no entry fee. We look forward to meeting more couples this year and showing them why our venue is the perfect choice for a city centre wedding.”
To register interest in attending the Wedding Fayre, contact Lee McKinnell, wedding coordinator at Blackfriars, atinfo@blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk or call 0191 261 5945.
Couples can book a ceremony and reception at Blackfriars from £2,500.
To find out more about weddings at Blackfriars, visit www.blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk/use-blackfriars-for/weddings
Like Blackfriars Restaurant on Facebook and follow @blackfriarsrest on Twitter.
Blackfriars Restaurant, Friars Street, Newcastle, NE1 4XN.