Haul of fame
THE DRIVE up to the grand entrance of Chillington Hall is rather majestic at any time of year.
Lined with trees with leaves that change colour to match the seasons, the Hall stands proudly at the top of the avenue, its strong Georgian structure a magnificent sight to behold.
Situated just outside Brewood and just four miles northwest from Wolverhampton, the Grade I listed Hall is owned by the Giffard family and is currently home to the former Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police, Sir John Giffard, and his wife Crescent.
The house is stunningly beautiful both inside and out so much so, that it is fast becoming a major wedding venue.
Claire Young, former star of the BBC programme The Apprentice, recently took Chillington Hall under her wing through her new business venture 'Elegant Venues', which offers people the opportunity to wed at various bespoke venues throughout the country.
"I set the business up in October 2008 to fill a gap in the wedding hospitality market," says Claire, who came second to Lee McQueen in the 2008 series of The Apprentice. "Since then the business has gone from strength-to-strength representing some of the country's most prestigious properties including Chillington Hall, and the Ashes, in the Staffordshire Moorlands."
The Hall, is still privately owned and lived in by the Giffard family, and is actually the third such building on the site formerly there was a stone castle in the 12th century, some of which can still be seen in the cellars of the present house.
The house was then replaced in the 1500s by Sir John Giffard who was the High Sheriff of Staffordshire on five occasions. He then began the third building by demolishing and replacing part of Sir John's Tudor house in 1724.
The Hall, with its extensive and lavishly decorated interior and stunning grounds (the garden was designed by Capability Brown), is the perfect place to exchange wedding vows.
"Nowadays, people can choose the type of wedding they want," says Claire, who, before her appearance on Sir Alan Sugar's The Apprentice, worked as a category buying manager for Superdrug.
"Saturday weddings are still very popular but I've found that more and more people are liking the idea of getting married during the week particularly on a Friday.
"We know that every couple have their own individual preferences, ideas and dreams and so, with that in mind, we offer the couple a choice Ñ people can get married in one of our elegant venues and then choose to have a full sit down meal, a BBQ or a pig roast. We really are open to all suggestions."
People who wed at Chillington, for example, can hire the use of the bottom floor of the hall and a marquee from as little as £4,950. Guests can use all of the rooms to relax in before and after the wedding, they can take canapes and champagne on the lawn or in the drawing room and are free to browse both the hall and the garden. Nothing, it seems, is too much trouble.
"Until recently, Chillington Hall, was exclusively a private residence," says Claire, "but now, civil ceremonies can take place in the stunning Long Room, which can cater for 75 people, or in the Saloon which can hold up to 90 people, both rooms are very impressive, but the Saloon is particularly lovely because it has a big, old stone fireplace and a domed ceiling.
"People can also choose to dine in the Saloon, where we can cater for 95 people, or, for small parties the dining room is fabulous and is ideal for those people are are marrying for the second time. The dining room can cater for up to 30 people.
"Alternatively, if we are catering for a larger wedding party we also have a beauitful marquee in the grounds."
The grounds at Chillingtron, are, as one would expect, stunningly pretty. The avenue leading to the house dates from the 17th century, whilst the rest of the park was laid out in the 1760s by Capability Brown. Brown was responsible for the whole park, making an enormous 70 acres by building a dam and flooding three lakes. The lake is actually access from a drive which runs alongside a manmade canal deisgned to give the impression of walking down a river bank.
There are also three bridges, one of which is a sham bridge by Brown. There is also a bridge over the canal where the canal meets the lake which was designed by James Paine.
"I think the grounds here are lovely," says Claire, who, since her departure from The Apprentice, has seen her celebritity status rise with various television appearances and numerous public speaking events. She has also enjoyed working on behalf of the Institute of Small Businesses and the Prince's Trust.
More information on elegant venues is available from www.elegantvenues.co.uk . More information about Chillington Hall is available from www.chillingtonhall.co.uk.
Pictures: MARTIN ELLIOTT www.m-eworld.com
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