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Saying ‘I do’ this spring?

The Old Hall

March means one thing for us here at The Old Hall, it’s the start of spring and we’re excited to see this seasons couples embrace all that it has to offer! From pastel pallets to seasonal flowers and budding blooms. Spring brings with it longer days, warmer weather and glorious sunsets and we love watching all of our couples fully embrace it all.

Weather in spring can still be somewhat unpredictable, so we advise all of our couples to plan for the worst but embrace the best. If wet weather (which is lucky on your wedding day apparently) comes along, it’s really easy to make the most of all the spaces here, with loads of options to adorn the venue with flowers bringing the outside in, or enjoy roaring fires if the weather requires. Our Main Hall is a stunning mixture of oak beams and warm colours and always looks at its best with the spring sunshine creeping through the wide windows at the front.

One of the best features of The Old Hall is its ability to be beautiful regardless of the weather, with cosy nooks and open spaces giving loads of opportunities for great photos, all framed by mullioned windows or oak beams. Rain or sunshine venturing out for photos is a must, so grab that umbrella and make the most of all the spaces, colours and spring sunshine. The beautiful exterior colours of the Old Hall are always highlighted by a spot of rain.

Spring brings with it the opportunity for outdoor ceremonies to recommence, if you’re lucky enough to get a clear sky and say your vows in our pavilion, you’ll have the benefit of fresh green colours adorned with snowdrops and daffodils. The warmer days mean many of our couples opt for garden games to entertain their guests (if the forecast doesn’t hold out we can usually bring these inside, space permitting) making the most of every space available.

One of the ways our couples opt to put that spring stamp on their wedding is tailoring their reception drinks to suit their theme, from fresh G&T’s to floral cocktails it’s always something to get guests talking. Our bar team are always happy to work together with our couples to make something special.

Our marquee is an amazingly versatile area, and watching each couple turn their blank canvas into a unique space all of their own is always interesting to us. Tall centrepieces with floral displays or candlelit foliage are always springtime favourites, taking the place of the dried flowers of autumn. With night’s drawing out our couples and their guests can enjoy their drinks on the terrace and enjoy the cathedral views that little while longer before returning inside to dance the night away.

If you’re planning a spring wedding or would like some more information, call our team on 01353 663275.

Make time for Mum

Mums are amazing. Mrs Morbey will tell you that! 

However they come, be it your Mother, Granny or any other mother figure in your life, if you’re looking for something special to treat them we’ve got a selection of Afternoon Tea dates to help her rest and recharge and give you a little bit of exclusive time together. 

If you’re looking for something a little bit different we’re also offering a floristry workshop on Saturday 2nd April with Carrie from Rose and Thorns, including prosecco and canapes. 

We’ve teamed up with Carrie from Rose and Thorns to offer a beautiful floristry workshop. Rather than just sending flowers this year, take time to make your own hand-tied bouquet together. The workshop is suitable for beginners, or those who already have some experience and Carrie will support you throughout the two hour session, creating your own bouquet which you will then take away with you at the end. You’ll also get prosecco and canapes to enjoy. 

  • Saturday 2nd April at 3pm
  • £60pp, including workshop and half bottle of prosecco and canapes

Looking to make it extra special? Why not add on afternoon tea or evening dinner? Call 01353 663275 to make your reservations. 

Whilst spaces are sold individually we recommend booking in twos or groups. Spaces are limited so we advise booking early. Please book your spaces online via our online shop or call 01353 663275 to make your reservation. Soft drink alternative available, please advise of any dietary requirements on booking.

The Old Hall

Our afternoon teas are all handmade in house, starring our delicious Morbey family recipe carrot cake, macarons, sweet treats and sandwich selection, all topped off with a fresh scone, clotted cream and jam. We can cater for dietary requirements but, as everything is made fresh, the more notice you can give us, the better!

One of the best parts of an Old Hall afternoon tea (apart from the taste!) is the use of the house. After tea, you may wish to enjoy a walk around the grounds, with picturesque lakes and cathedral views, or simply take rest in front of our roaring fires. We’re reservation only so we’re never crowded and we don’t rush you, meaning you have the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time together.

Our afternoon teas are priced at £32.50pp or £38pp with a glass of prosecco. We are currently offering afternoon tea on the below dates:

  • Thursday 24th March
  • Wednesday 30th March
  • Saturday 2nd April
  • Wednesday 20th April

Don’t worry if you aren’t able to make it on the dates available, we also offer gift vouchers for you to enjoy together in the future. 

Did someone say fourth smallest city?

The Old Hall

Small in size but not character…

Despite its accolade as the UK’s 4th smallest city Ely is not short of activities, offering a variety suitable for every age, weather and lifestyle and we’re perfectly placed for you to enjoy them all! Ely is just 80 miles from London (or just over an hour on the train) making it a perfect escape for those looking to experience the quaint country lifestyle for a truly unique and relaxing break.

The star attraction in Ely is of course the amazing Cathedral – which you’ll be able to see from The Old Hall clearly over the unobstructed countryside views. The Cathedral boasts many impressive features, including the unique Octagon tower and Lady Chapel. You’ll find references to the cathedral subtly throughout the house here, including our pavilion (where our couples can choose to say their I-do’s) which mirrors the octagons amazing shape and of course our Octagon bedroom.

Oliver Cromwell’s house is located on St Mary’s street and also hosts the tourist information centre, Visit Ely where you can find out about all of the current attractions and events happening during your stay. You’ll also be able to tour the 17th century house once occupied by the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland after the defeat of King Charles I.

If history is your thing you can head over to the newly refurbished Ely museum, situated in the historic Bishops Gaol, tells the story of the Fens and the people who live here. From the warm Jurassic seas that once covered this region to the rich farmland we see today. We’re also very lucky to have some amazing antiques shops, one by the waterside and one up on St Mary’s street, so you’ll be able to take home your own little piece of history.

Art lovers will also find plenty to do, The Ely Stained glass museum is a hidden treasure within Ely Cathedral. An independent museum, uniquely dedicated to the art of stained glass. Whilst the Babylon gallery located in the former brewery warehouse on Ely’s Waterside. It’s a contemporary art gallery with regularly changing exhibitions throughout the year.

Shopping in Ely is delightful, with a selection of boutique, independent shops and craft stores down little alleys and dotted throughout the city’s streets. You’ll also find a few bigger brands off the market square and if you’re staying on Thursday, Saturday or Sunday the market is certainly not to be missed. From the farmers market to the traditional Saturday market there’s always a treasure to find.  Cambridge is around 25minutes on the train or half an hour drive and Newmarket around 25minutes drive where you can find everything you’d possibly need.

With this amount of countryside you’re sure to want to take a walk or two and get some fresh fenland air. You don’t need to look further than our grounds to find plenty of opportunities to get your boots dirty, you’ll love walking around our picturesque lakes and enjoying the cathedral and countryside views. Alongside many other fantastic walks, the National Trust site at Wicken Fen, around 10minutes drive away, offers boardwalks, windmills and a variety of wildlife and nature hides to appreciate all the species that have their habitat there.

Another option for those looking for something a little different is a boat trip down the Great Ouse on the Liberty Belle which is operating from the first weekend in March until the end of October. It’s the perfect way to see the city from a different perspective. Whilst you’re down there make the most of Ely’s waterfront. You can enjoy afternoon tea at Peacocks tearooms, stroll along to pocket park or enjoy a drink at one of the lovely bars.

This is just a short summary of our local attractions, if you’d like to find out more or have your heart set on something specific don’t hesitate to talk to our friendly team who can help you with your plans and make your stay one to remember.

About the Old Hall Ely
Ely Cathedral
Stained Glass Museum
Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve
Views of Ely Cathedral
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Around and about Ely
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Dining at The Old Hall

Join us for delicious evening meals, Sunday lunches or afternoon teas served on selected dates throughout 2022. We’ve got seasonal menus to suit all tastes, focussed around fresh and local ingredients. Booking is essential, so make yours by calling 01353 663275.

Our dining occasions are open to both residents and non-residents and we love seeing new faces as well as welcoming back our friendly regular faces. Whilst you don’t need an excuse to enjoy spending time here with us, for those couples getting married with us in the future it’s the perfect opportunity to sample our delicious food and drinks and enjoy getting to know the house before your big day. It’s also a great way to reminisce for those who have celebrated with us before and share your experiences with friends and family.

We look forward to welcoming you soon. 

Helping to tackle food poverty

We’ve supported local people suffering from food poverty by donating our surplus Christmas party food to Cambridge Sustainable Food. Due to the pandemic, in 2020 we were forced to close our doors under the then government lockdown rules, however this year saw the return of the Christmas party celebrations at the Old Hall Ely. Adorned with all the trimmings of the festive season (and no less than 22 Christmas trees!) we offered a selection of exclusive and mixed Christmas parties, traditional Christmas dinners and of course mouth-watering desserts!

Unfortunately, despite our requirement for Covid passes, the unpredicted rise of the Omicron variant of Covid and isolation measures meant that a small number of guests or companies felt unable to continue with their parties. With the food already having had been ordered, Mrs M couldn’t stand the thought of it going to waste and wanted to help those who needed it most. She said:

“We completely understand that some people felt unable to attend their planned parties this year. The Omicron variant wasn’t around when many people initially booked their parties, and of course the stricter guidelines for isolation would’ve been detrimental to many businesses if their staff were unable to work. We implemented stricter measures to protect guests and staff but unfortunately that reassurance wasn’t enough and some parties felt the risk was too high, particularly those in the health care sector.

However as we had already ordered the food for the guests we couldn’t see it go to waste. We were put in contact with Cambridge Sustainable Food, a local community support group helping those in food poverty. They rely on donations to ensure everyone in our community gets the support they need. We emailed their friendly team to let them know what we had and someone got in touch right away to arrange collection.”

"We’d like to say you thank you to the volunteers, we are very conscious about all of our waste, including food and are delighted we have found an outlet to help us work towards eliminating our food waste. We intend to continue to support the group going forward and would encourage all other local hospitality venues to do the same rather than let any food go to waste when people need it now more than ever."
Alison Morbey
Owner

Cambridge Sustainable Food is coordinating the emergency food provision efforts in the city in partnership with Cambridge Food Poverty Alliance. We donated prepared portions of pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon, Chicken breast and of course, Christmas pudding to be reheated and distributed those in need over the festive period.

Wonderful winter weddings

What a dream. We’re still reeling from our array of winter weddings, adorned with all the festive trimmings the house has to offer!

There are definitely advantages to hosting a winter wedding, firstly you can guarantee the weather. No. It’s not going to be warm, but you know exactly what to dress for. Yes, you are more likely to be able to get a better date than the busier spring and summer seasons and, of course, the added bonus of the included decorations! The house looks spectacular in the run up to Christmas, so whilst you might not want as many outdoor photos due to the temperature, the indoor ones will certainly be extra special! Seasonal weddings are also amazing as guests tend to be ready to celebrate, whether it’s a pre-Christmas event where everyone is fuelled by the anticipation of the big day or a January celebration to set the scene for the rest of the New Year and brighten the January blues, the guests certainly come with their own added enthusiasm.

This season, our stunning Brides really did steal the show (even with the competition of all 22 stunning Christmas trees!) and it was wonderful to see all of our Grooms dressed to impress! Every wedding we hosted this last month was incredible in its own way, with a variety of entertainers, colour schemes and décor it’s really hard to choose a favourite but I think it’s safe to say it’s really the amazing atmosphere made each one so memorable! We’re truly privileged to be able to share these amazing days and help make our couples big day as perfect as they deserve. Thank you and congratulations to every one of our couples, we hope to see you all again very soon.

If you’re thinking of planning a winter wedding, give our friendly team a call on 01353 663275 to book in a tour or find out more, we can’t wait to meet you!

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