CONTACT DETAILS
Address:
Ashton Lodge Country House, Street Ashton, Stretton Under Fosse, Rugby CV23 0PJ
Telephone:
01788460112
Email:
info@ashtonlodgecountryhouse.com
When I visited Ashton Lodge Country House I found a beautiful Edwardian building located in rural Stretton-under-Fosse, Warwickshire, that is nestled in 3 acres of beautiful gardens. This makes for a superb Rugby wedding venue in CV23 0PJ, surrounded by picturesque farm land.
Ashton Lodge Country House
Straight away I could see the potential for a beautiful outdoor summer wedding celebration with also a beautiful garden room wedding setting.
One advantage of this venue over other venues, is that it’s an all-weather wedding venue. While there’s ample space outside in the acres of garden space for your guests to explore, should the weather turn nasty, there’s plenty of indoor space for your guests to never have to worry about setting foot outside.
Once you’re inside, the bedrooms, the ceremony rooms, the toilets, the reception area, the bar, the wedding breakfast room and dancefloor, are all totally under cover.
Not many venues can boast that feature.
The fact that it’s an exclusive-use wedding venue adds to the sense of luxury and exclusivity of the whole venue. Even the inside with its many period features with a 20th Century vibe adds to its appeal as a must-have wedding venue.
As a recommended supplier to Ashton Lodge, I’ll explain the special features and answer the frequently asked questions to show you why this is a venue to put on your list of venues to visit, before making your final decision. Then you’ll see why it’s also listed amongst my list of Best Wedding Venues in the West Midlands.
You can even book a virtual tour to help you decide.
Dressing Room
Recently the venue has made a stunning dressing room for couples to get prepared in which is available throughout the whole day, and is included as part of the venue hire.
It’s available to use from 9am until 8pm, and has exclusive-use toilet facilities.
There’s even a snug bridal-rest room next door for the bride to have a little time to herself to gather her thoughts before walking down the aisle to meet the love of her life.
Accommodation
Included in Ashton Lodge Country House is a romantic Honeymoon Suite with a large King-size 4 poster bed and an ensuite bath and shower room.
The whole Suite boasts of gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside.
Within the venue site there are 14 individually designed ensuite double bedrooms and 1 single room, to accommodate up to 36 guests for your family and friends to stay overnight.
You won’t even need to worry about where to go to get a hearty breakfast in the morning, as a full English breakfast is included in the room hire and is served in their newly decorated Coach House breakfast room from 9am until 10am.
Honeymoon Suite
Bedroom Suite
Garden Room Warwickshire for Your Ceremony
The roomy Garden Room is where they host the wedding ceremony, which is perfect as it overlooks the garden lawn area with more beautiful views.
This area can cater for 120 for your wedding ceremony. Or, if you wish, you can have an outdoor ceremony in the garden area, situated just outside the Garden Room.
For your drinks reception after the ceremony, your guests will be invited, either on the lawn area or into the lounge area, to relax and enjoy lively conversation while catching up with family and friends.
At the far end of the lounge area is an excellent space for a sweet table by the adjoining bar.
Marquee Evening Reception
After the drinks reception, your guests will be invited to the wedding breakfast hosted in the adjoining marquee decorated with a rustic, barn feel and with chandeliers and fairy lights throughout the ceiling.
They are licenced to accommodate 150 guests for a sit down meal, and up to 200 in an informal, buffet setting.
You’ll have a dedicated 180 sq.m (10m x 18m) space that is reserved for that purpose.
There is an extra 50 sq.m (10m x 5m) space for the dance floor at the end of the marquee to ensure there’s enough space for everyone to let their hair down at the end of the day, without feeling too cramped.
The excellent sound system which is included in the hire price and starlight ceiling to the dance floor, all adds to the celebratory atmosphere. Just add either a live band or DJ and you’re set for a great party and memorable end to your day.
At night the lights for the marquee and main house can be dimmed and the double doors from the marquee are opened onto the garden area, so you can enjoy the outdoor patio space in the best atmosphere possible. Just imagine the setting with your guests, on a warm summer’s evening as the sun goes down with that backdrop!
Food and Drink
The local in-house catering company, called The Chopping Block, provides a menu of delicious dishes and creative drinks to get your taste buds watering.
The Chopping Block’s policy is all about ‘The Best of British’. The head chef Martin Brown and his team have all been trained in a number of Michelin starred restaurants, guaranteeing a perfect menu by only using local ingredients.
Based on what’s available, you can even tailor-make your own menu.
Venue Information
Disabled access
On the ground floor there are wide doors, paths and gentle ramps with a disabled toilet facility.
Setting up the venue.
By 9 am the wedding breakfast room will be set up with tables and chairs set out and napkins placed on the tables. From then on, the in-house catering/bar staff, any chosen suppliers, family/friends can come in and start setting up. If anyone chooses to bring anything in the day before, this is permissible and can be stored in the store room for the next morning. As a general rule the venue takes about 2-3 hours to prepare.
Decorations.
They ask you not to use staples, glue, screws, nails, tape etc as these can damage fixtures causing a liability.
Lighted candles are allowed during the ceremony, but must be in an enclosed container. Other areas of the venue will use battery operated candles for safety reasons.
Fireworks
Some wedding guides wrongly state that fireworks are permitted at Ashton Lodge. Fireworks and lanterns are NOT permitted, as this venue is surrounded by working farmland.
Table sizes
30 hand-made, 6ft long tables can be set up to your preference either in a banquet style, or side by side, to accommodate 12 guests at a time to sit together.
Smoking/Vaping
This is only allowed outside the venue, not indoors.
Pets
These are not permitted unless for medical purposes, – but you must seek the permission beforehand, and the pet needs to be looked after in a responsible manner. These are not allowed in the bedrooms at any time.
FAQ
How many weddings are catered for each day? – Ashton Lodge is an exclusive-use venue, so only one wedding is booked per day
At any one given time, how many guests can be accommodated on the day? – For the dining experience: 150 For the unseated buffet evening reception: 200.
Are you licenced for civil ceremonies? For how many? – Yes – The maximum number is 120.
What time is access to the venue from / when does it close? – Access is available from 9am until midnight.
Are all the furnishings included in the price? – Yes – All the rustic chairs, tables, napkins, fairy lights, cake stand and table, glassware, crockery, cutlery, plus disposable plates/napkins for the evening buffet reception are available.
Is it possible to bring in live entertainment and a DJ? – Yes – With the correct documentation being provided, this is acceptable.
Are there any music restrictions? – Music must be finished by midnight with up to 95 decibels permissible.
Can any music be played on the outside of the venue? – Yes – Certain music can be played on the terrace area, during the reception drinks period and while photographs are being taken. This is all controlled by the venue.
Can things be set up the day before? – Items can be stored the day before, but not set up until the day of the hire period starts at 9am.
Can wedding gifts or personal items be stored – If yes, when collected by? – These will be put in safe storage when the venue is cleaned, to be collected the next day. All wedding gifts/cards etc need to be picked up the following morning by 10am, but preferably taken home on the night of departure as the venue will not be responsible for what happens to them.
What about toilet facilities? How many are there? – There are 2 ladies toilets, 1 mans, with 3 urinals. There are baby changing facilities within the disabled toilet.
What is the parking space like? Can coaches be adequately parked? Can cars, tents/camper vans stop at the venue site overnight? – There are adequate spaces for cars around 50 with plenty of lighting, but the entrance is not big enough for coaches. Cars at owners’ risk can be left, but must be removed by 10am the next morning for other wedding parties arrival. There are no provisions for camping on site.
What grounds are within the venue for photographs, and can confetti be used? – There are 3 acres of beautiful gardens with a lovely countryside backdrop. Confetti is permissible as long as its natural flower petals/lavender. Paper confetti is not allowed or rice, as these leave a mess when wet, which is hard to remove from the ground encroaching on the clean state of the grounds for next couples who arrive.
Can suppliers/photographers visit the venue site for a viewing before the wedding date? – Yes – This is possible if they arrange a suitable time.
Does the venue have an onsite dressing room? – Yes, which is included in the hire price. This is available from 9am to 8pm. This also has toilet facilities which are exclusive use for the wedding party, to get prepared before the wedding. The party will need to remove their belongings into the bedroom when the check in time has opened.
Is there accommodation on the venue site? – Yes – There are 14 ensuite double bedrooms, and 1 single room.
How do I book a bedroom? – You need to book 2 weeks before the wedding date with the guest names and addresses, as Ashton Lodge is responsible for all the bedroom hire arrangements.
What time do guests need to check in from and check out by? – They can check in from 2pm on the day of the wedding. Checkout time from the room is 9am, and the venue by 10am.
What is included in the accommodation package? – In the room there is a double bed, dressing table, ensuite bathroom/shower, hair dryer, tea/coffee making facilities. Plus a full English breakfast is included in the room hire.
What time is the breakfast served from? – Breakfast is available from 9am until 10am.
Is it possible to book a room for more than 1 night? – No – The reservation is for couples/guests on the night of the wedding/event. They only operate a 1 night policy due to not functioning 7 days a week.
Where are the nearby hotels to Ashton Lodge?
Golden Lion Hotel & Restaurant Easenhall – 3 star hotel – 1.8 miles away
Main St, Easenhall, Rugby CV23 0JA – Tel: 01788 833577
Gabled country restaurant/bar with pub-style dining and simple rooms, including free WiFi.
Premier Inn Coventry East (Ansty) Hotel – 3-star hotel – 2.8 miles away
Combe Fields Rd, Ansty, Coventry CV7 9JP – Tel: 0333 777 4631
Modern budget hotel with en suite rooms and a pub/restaurant, plus free parking and WiFi.
Macdonald Ansty Hall Hotel – 4 star hotel – 3.5 miles away
Main Rd, Ansty, Coventry CV7 9HZ – Tel: 0344 879 9031
Rooms and suites, with period features, in an elegant 17th-century manor hotel and grounds.
Coombe Abbey – 4 star hotel – 3.6 miles away
Brinklow Rd, Binley, Coventry CV3 2AB – Tel: 024 7645 0450
Country house hotel with antiques-filled luxe rooms, refined dining, 500-acre grounds and garden.
Best Western Plus Ullesthorpe Court Hotel and Golf Club – 4 star hotel – 5.0 miles away
Frolesworth Rd, Ullesthorpe, Lutterworth LE17 5BZ – Tel: 01455 209023
Traditional manor house hotel with dining & an 18-hole golf course, plus a pool & a spa.
Weston Hall – 3 star hotel – 5.3 miles away
Weston Ln, Bulkington, Coventry CV12 9RU – Tel: 024 7631 2989
Refined hotel in a 16th-century manor offering a bar, a garden & a restaurant, plus free Wi-Fi.
Sketchley Grange Hotel & Spa – 4 star hotel – 6.3 miles away
Sketchley Ln, Burbage, Hinckley LE10 3HU – Tel: 01455 251133
Spa hotel with pool and sauna, offering bold individual design in the lush rooms and suites.
Is there catering in the house? – We are in partnership with the catering company called The Chopping Block, which are a group of very experienced caterers, with flair/passion for good cuisine.
Based in Warwickshire/Herefordshire they are known for their combination of great British produce, with expertise catering, delivering delicious cuisine to a clients personal requirements.
Since 2002, The Chopping Block has gained much experience in providing hospitality to a wide variety of events, from gala dinners to festival dishes.
The team has also hosted bar and event services to a variety of companies including Woburn Abbey and Warwick Castle.
This team of highly skilled chefs have over 20 years of experience, in every kind of wedding and size.
They will produce mouthwatering menus with highest quality ingredients being used. They will tailor to your needs and preferences, so guests receive the best service, with high standards of efficiency undertaken.
The Chopping Block also offers drinks and cocktails which will add to the good mood of the ceremony/occasion. Their bespoke bar package delivers customer service second-to none, whether its table service with a theme, or an open bar event. All to suit your style and personality, at a reasonable price.
Are personal caterers allowed? – No – Ashton Lodge has made The Chopping Block part of the package as they have their own kitchen equipment, bar and staff.
What about flexibility on the choice of menu? – Bespoke menus are available, which will be charged depending on the requirements of the menu chosen.
Will the wedding cake be served by the caterers? – Yes – This is all included in the evening buffet reception. It will be cut up and put on platters and provided with napkins. It will not be put in separate boxes.
Is there a choice of menu for guests to choose from? – There is 1 starter, 1 main, 1 dessert and also vegetarian options. If you want a different choice to what’s available there is an extra charge per person for starters, main courses and desserts.
Can we supply our own food for the menu? – No – Only a wedding cake or cheese wedding cake, which will need storage instructions to be supplied. We cannot compensate for any damages incurred.
Is there a licenced bar within the premises? – Yes – This bar will serve alcohol until midnight 7 days a week.
Is there provision to bring your own alcohol? – No – All alcohol has to be purchased from the bar owned by the venue itself.
What beer/lager does the bar serve? – Mostly bottled ales, but they can also serve draught lager, but not draught beer, as this has a short shelf life.
What time does the bar open/close? – From 12 midday until midnight.
Looking for other venues?
If this venue isn’t what you’re looking for, or you’d like other similar venues to consider, have a look at the list of Best Wedding Venues in the West Midlands. There you’ll find 100+ venues where to get married, to help you decide on your perfect venue.
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Want to chat further?
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