Wedding Venues, West Sussex

The wedding season is upon us and now is the time to plan! There are a number of beautiful wedding locations in and around Pulborough and whether you be the bride or groom, family or friends and need somewhere to stay,  Chequers Hotel is ideally situated being one of the closest to each of the venues. The Hotel also provides more than just somewhere to stay for the wedding but being a Grade II listed building built in 1548 - herself set in an area of outstanding natural beauty overlooking Pulborough Brooks, Chequers provides a great base to enjoy a weekend in the West Sussex Countryside!

Wedding in a Barn!

So in order to be able to provide our guests with knowledge and expertise, I have recently been visiting some of the venues, something I had been meaning to do for some time!

Beautiful wedding flowers, West Sussex

FITZLEROI BARN

I found the function and wedding barn situated on a beautiful West Sussex Farm in the stunning countryside, which also benefits from a private courtyard - distance from hotel 3.2 miles

on to

BARTHOLOMEW BARN

Another day another venue!  This time Bartholomew Barn - a stunning rustic barn wedding venue situated a short distance from the attractive villages of Wisborough Green and Kirdford - easily accessible to Chequers Hotel.  A captivating idyllic setting, with Frances the wedding venue owner there to cater for your every need!

On next I visited

UPWALTHAM BARNS

Upwaltham Barn

Another pretty venue.   A collection of traditional Sussex flint long barns set around a stunningly pretty courtyard, surrounded by the Goodwood Estate and South Downs.  Again privately owned - Tim and Nicola on hand to assist

So leaving Upwaltham, I then ventured on to

DORSET HOUSE

Again a gorgeous wedding venue near Chequers Hotel Pulborough! The Great Barn built in the Tudor Period is in the pretty village of Bury on the South Downs and in 40 acres of beautiful medieval gardens with views of the River Arun!

Next stop was

GRITTENHAM BARN IN TILLINGTON
A magical venue - rustic surroundings with stunning views of the South Downs and the freedom to wander through the orchard, languish by the lake or ponder the flower gardens.
The barn has a warm and relaxing feel and beautiful lighting - a great place for a chilled out garden party type wedding!

Wedding in a Barn West Sussex 

Last but not least I travelled over to

BIGNOR PARK

The 12000 acre privately owned Estate, again at the foot of the South Downs National Park - majestic but with an understated style and quirky rugged charm - Louise is the contact.

South Downs National Park

To book your accommodation at Chequers Hotel near to the above venues - please call 01798 872486

A warm welcome awaits!
Lissette x

Bluebell walks in West Sussex

The bluebell or “Hyacinthoides non-scripta” is a bulbous perennial plant, found in Atlantic areas from north-western Spain to the British Isles. It is known in English as the common bluebell or simply bluebell. In spring, the Bluebell produces a nodding, one-sided inflorescence of 5–12 tubular, sweet-scented violet–blue flowers, with strongly recurved tepals, and 3–6 long, linear, basal leaves. The flower is particularly associated with ancient woodland where it may dominate the understory to produce carpets of violet–blue flowers in "bluebell woods". It is protected under UK law and it is said that half the world’s bluebells flower in the British Isles.

Bluebell Walks 

April is a great month for a woodland or river bank walk to view these spectacular plants - good for both the soul and mind!

We have been scouting to find the best bluebell walks in the local area for our guests to enjoy and discovered there are many beautiful “Bluebell” walks in West Sussex close to Chequers. Whether it is along the River Arun or through our local woods, you can enjoy the annual spectacle turning our woodlands into a beautiful blue landscape with trees bursting back into life and the beautiful background music of bird song once again. Here are a few examples of nearby places to enjoy the scene:

1) The Low Weald nature reserve of Ebernoe Common near Petworth encompasses ponds, streams and meadows as well as ancient woodland which are renowned for their beautifully scented bluebells. You can even hear the nightingales singing from April to June whilst enjoying the spectacular scene of bluebells. We advise you to park next to the church off Steel's Lane (sat nav gu28 9jy). If you are enjoying a stay at Chequers ask John or Lissette for maps or go to sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk for a map of paths.

Bluebell Walks

2) Angmering park estate near littlehampton hosts the annual “Raw Energy Persuits” 10km and 10 mile bluebell trail walk and run on 21^st April. This is a rare opportunity to explore the privately owned 11,000 acre Angmering Park Estate. The woods of which are peppered with picturesque cottages and outbuildings in amongst the stunning bluebells. This year will be the 9^th staging of this spectacular trail event and sees people returning year after year to get involved. Contact Rawenergypursuits.co.uk/events for more info and to enter.  

We advise our guests to park at The Fox pub in Patching (Sat Nav: BN13 3UJ).

3) Woods Mill Sussex wildlifetrust near Henfield where you can enjoy a pleasant walk through the woods scattered with bluebells and round the lake. I actually spent a wonderful 6 month sabbatical 3 years ago working on Woods Mill Nature Reserve so have a lot of information and stories to tell about this great trust. Just ask me about any questions you have!

Enjoy!

Lissette  x

Afternoon Tea in West Sussex!

We have been on our travels again – this time in search of  the perfect afternoon tea!

Tea and porcelain teacups were produced in China as early as 3500 BC.  In Europe, afternoon tea became a fashionable social event in the 1840’s, two hundred years after the first tea was brought from China. As a young women, Anna the 7th Duchess of Bedford lived during a time when it was common to eat only two main meals a day, with breakfast scheduled early in the morning and dinner occurring late in the evening. Weakened and irritated by hunger pangs each day, she decided to schedule time to take tea and snack each afternoon. This private ceremony was firstly done in her bedroom, but over time well-heeled acquaintances joined her and the practice was perpetuated. It became a truly British institution and tradition. Nowadays tea rooms throughout the country offer variations of this centuries-old tradition.


Afternoon tea in the garden!

Now that Spring is officially here, it is the time to start thinking of the beautiful English countryside, flower shows, cricket, tennis and those lovely lazy days spent taking afternoon tea....

  We are now taking bookings for Afternoon Tea at Chequers and for inspiration we have been to The Ritz, London; Reid’s Palace, Madeira; The Mock Turtle, Brighton and Orange Pekoe, Barnes. All of these afternoon tea spots have one aim in mind – to serve the perfect afternoon tea with the usual fair including sandwiches, scones, cakes and freshly brewed teas and coffee (orange Pekoe in particular is famous for its wide range of exotic teas ranging from "Antique Rose Buds White Tea" to "China Rose Congou")! All of these places serve wonderfully indulgent cream teas in a relaxed and ambient atmosphere and Chequers looks to join them on the list of "top spots for this famous English Institution".

Gluten free orange and almond cake

Our menu includes delicious home made sandwiches and cakes and everyone’s favorite – scones with clotted cream and jam.  Our daughter has a gluten allergy so we know how important it is to cater for those that cant enjoy normal cake! In order that everyone can enjoy our Afternoon Tea we source gluten free cakes on request from the famous Treacle & Co in Brighton!

To drink we have freshly brewed coffee and English teas. Taking inspiration from Orange Pekoe we have a range of teas including refreshing Clipper Green Tea with Lemon, Twinings Chai Tea, Earl Grey and English breakfast tea as well as a selection of Twinings and Pukka herbal infusions. Keeping with English tradition you may also like to enjoy a refreshing jug of elder-flower cordial or a glass of champagne!

Chequers Home Made Red Velvet Cake!

Take your Afternoon Tea in our sitting room next to the inglenook fire, the restaurant

or weather permitting our beautiful garden filled with edible flowers and herbs and in summer attracts birds, bees and butterflies – visiting in search of nectar, food and water.  The plants and herbs are grown especially for our kitchen to use in the restaurant.

For afternoon tea bookings at Chequers contact us on 01798 872486 to make your reservation.

John and Lissette x