Menu Dorset issue 19 *MENU18..dorset pdf issue 19 | Page 26

CHRISTCHURCH
HARBOUR HOTEL & SPA
Named by The Sunday Times as one of the top coastal hotels in the UK, not least because of the
estimable tutelage of Michelin Star Chef Patron Alex Aitken behind the serving hatch…
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ully licensed, the hotel can host ceremonies on
a private outdoor terrace overlooking Mudeford
Quay and Hengistbury Head, or in the indoor
wedding suite with room for up to 120 guests. The
location is stunning, with an 1830s Grade II listed
Georgian building transformed into a modern and
stylish venue.
Packages cover the essential flourishes: red carpet
arrival, Pimms and Bucks Fizz reception, canapés,
three-course wedding breakfast including wine or
a three-course BBQ menu, with a toastmaster and
banqueting manager on hand to keep the wheels
running smoothly.
There's a venue for each part of the day… Limber
up the day before (or the morning after, of course)
at the on-site HarSpa for any last-minute manicures,
pedicures and skin treatments. For the ladies, there’s
the option of massage and a bit of much-needed
pampering in capable hands.
Come the big day, The Waterford Suite can
accommodate 100 guests for both the ceremony
itself and the wedding breakfast. This is where guests
are finally exposed to the full force of Michelin-star
cooking, Aitken unleashed, showcasing fresh, local
Dorset produce. You might even end up tucking
into exquisite fresh catch landed right across the
harbour at Mudeford Quay, visible through the full-
length windows. Otherwise, it’s a beautifully elegant
setting for the most important day of all – chandeliers,
starched linen and more bows than an orchestra.
Vows exchanged and toasts made, guests can
emerge onto the lawns beneath the wedding terrace
for photographs, a full analysis of the Best Man’s
speech, and if necessary restorative support from
the dedicated Champagne beach hut. There’s even
a solid oak swing for the perfect bridal photo, best
accomplished before the bubbly kicks in.
With sundown approaching, the party moves to the
Lower Deck, the hotel’s party venue, with an exclusive
bar, room for a live band or DJ, 120 guests, and even
space for a buffet. Let the dad dancing commence,
closing out a memorable day spread across three
delightful venues just a short walk from each other.
The Harbour Master
We spoke to Chef Marc Carella for a closer look at the
culinary side of weddings at Christchurch Harbour Hotel…
What do you serve for weddings?
We serve an array of menu choices to suit each
individual client ranging from lamb to guinea fowl,
local sea bream to vegetarian risottos. Because of our
location, there is a lot of variety in each season, and
we strive to use local and seasonal produce.
www.menu-dorset.co.uk