I visited the stunning Northumberland village where more and more couples are choosing to get married

When where to go for this week’s function, I determined to go to an idyllic village in Northumberland, with stunning views that make it the excellent marriage ceremony location. Otterburn is situated in the Cheviot Hills, and has seen its marriage ceremony commerce growth in recent times.

For a village of its dimension, Otterburn uniquely has three totally different marriage ceremony venues Le Petit Chateau, Woodhill Hall and Otterburn Castle, with all of them providing one thing totally different to betrothed couples. However, earlier than I visited considered one of these locations, I wished to communicate to another companies about the marriage ceremony commerce in the village and the affect that it has on them.

My first cease was The Border Reiver Village Store, which is managed by Melissa Cowens, who was lately promoted into the place. Melissa, a lifelong resident of Otterburn and the surrounding space, spoke to me about life in the village.

She stated: “I simply began as supervisor right here after working in the store for a very long time beforehand, and it is onerous work, however I am actually having fun with it. It’s positively loads busier right here than it used to be thanks to the marriage ceremony commerce selecting up, and now we have at all times had lots of people from the military coming in and that hasn’t modified.

“We have relationships with other businesses, such as Otterburn Mill and the different wedding venues in the village. We help each other out which is vitally important as the area gets busier.”

After this, I headed to Otterburn Mill, which had been talked about by Melissa, and I was ready to communicate with Nigel Owen, the Operations Director. Nigel has been concerned in the transformation of the mill right into a retail area for the final 29 years, after being introduced in to oversee the each day goings on at the family-owned enterprise.

Nigel stated: “When we arrived, the mill was an precise manufacturing mill that had closed down in 1976 for well being and security causes. There was a store adjoined but it surely wasn’t very nicely constructed up so we had to construct all the pieces from the floor up.

“We opened the store up more, as we wished to take a look at this in a more business approach to make it profitable and convey it into the 21st century. We labored on the constructing retaining issues like the diesel engine and the water wheel so as to protect the historical past of the mill, and we felt like the space wanted a café, so we introduced this in, with a variety of merchandise that are all do-it-yourself.

“The marriage ceremony commerce has been actually good for us, as if individuals arrive early, they may usually are available for a drink and one thing to eat, in addition to searching the store. People began coming right here for weddings and the reputation of the space has simply grown ever since.

“We also get locals in, and they are always surprised when they come here and see all of the brands we have and I think this helps to legitimise the business. Parking is free and we are constantly looking to diversify the business so we will continue to do this.”

Finally, I headed to Le Petit Chateau, where I was ready to speak to Megan Lowes, who’s the Assistant General Manager at the marriage ceremony venue. She spoke to me about how the marriage ceremony enterprise has taken off in Otterburn.

Megan stated: “We have now been right here for eight years, and it was beforehand a pub and lodge, two sides of the enterprise which now we have nonetheless maintained. We even have the marriage ceremony venue and the lovely outside backyard area outdoors.

“The pub is at all times busy, with a mixture of locals and guests, and it’s the most important social space in the village. Last yr alone, we hosted 290 weddings, and the exclusivity of the venue has helped to put the village on the map to a wider group of individuals.

“We additionally look to work with and accommodate all of the different companies, as we see ourselves as a part of a marriage package deal, fairly than it being completely round the venue. All of our workers are native and everybody is aware of one another which makes it nice, working in a pleasant, social atmosphere.

“We can certainly see ourselves being here long term, as I think there is nothing like what we offer in the area, and I don’t think there will ever be a time when this isn’t desired by couples. It’s an idyllic place and it is so quiet, which is amazing for anyone who is thinking about getting married in Otterburn.”

When I was leaving Otterburn, I thought of simply how a lot of a constructive affect the marriage ceremony commerce has had in the village, and it was nice to see the native companies benefitting from this. I may definitely see myself heading again to Otterburn in the future, possibly to attend what I assume could be a really lovely marriage ceremony.