Over the past five years of scooping with Daisy I’ve been lucky enough to visit some amazing venues and take part in some incredible events.
My favourite venue for weddings, corporate, charity events and the best ever public events is Fawley Hill just outside Henley on Thames. It is a magical, fairy tale place that you never want to leave. This has as much to do with the place itself as the people who have created a wonderful home there.
Fawley Hill is owned by Sir William and Lady McAlpine, their kindness, warmth and inspirational personalities make Fawley Hill as unique as they both are. Fawley Hill is situated in outstanding Oxfordshire countryside, the estate includes an animal sanctuary, a working Steam Train, complete Victorian train station and museum, together with a collection of, well everything really. Sir William and Lady McAlpine have managed to create a place full of wonderment that blends with it’s fields and woodland, everything seems to belong there as though it is its rightful home.
Fawley Hill is a licensed wedding venue with numerous options for your day, you can marry in the Victorian train station and sign the register on board Great Eastern No1 train carriage, party the night away in a marquee up by Ironhenge or even choose a woodland wedding complete with gypsy caravans. Fawley Hill is very much a venue that allows you to create an event tailored to you with as many unforgettable elements as you can think of.
Every time I have taken Daisy to Fawley Hill it has been different, every wedding, charity lunch, corporate shindig had been given the freedom to put their own spin on their time there.
Last year in amongst the weddings I was also lucky enough to be scooping at the Salvo Fair, the first time this event had takien place at Fawley and yet it seemed as though it had always been there, it’s spiritual home in amongst the wonderous items the McAlpines have salvaged themselves. We will be there again this year, 17th – 19th June it’s a wonderful event and definitely worth a visit.
2016 is particularly exciting because the Fawley Vintage Steam Extravaganza is back after a year off last year. This is an event like no other, and is my favourite event, there is an incredible collection of vintage vehicles, everything you can think of and some you didn’t realise were even real! Amazing food, fabulous ice cream, vintage fairground rides, the steam train and so much more all wrapped up in a wonderful atmosphere. The event raises an enormous amount of money for charities who are also invited to set up stalls and devise clever, fun ways for families to interact and have fun whilst raising much needed funds.
This whole event is organised and run by Lady McAlpine who is more hands on than most event organisers and ensures everyone who is part of the event comes away having enjoyed their time and desperate to know when the next one is.
Fawley Hill is not open to the public, all the more reason to come along to one of the events.
Fawley Vintage and Steam Weekend 20-22 May 2016
For more infomation about weddings at Fawley Hill Click Here