Hiring the Picture Room at Blaise Castle - Bristol City Council

&
Weddings
Ceremonies at
Blaise Castle House Museum
Blaise Castle House Museum
Blaise Castle House Museum is a fine Bath stone building set in over
400 acres of rolling parkland on the northern fringes of the city.
Originally built in 1796 for John Scandrett Harford, a prominent Bristol
Quaker, it was designed by the architect, William Paty. At the same time
the grounds were laid out by Humphry Repton, one of the most famous
landscape designers of the time. The House was later altered by
Harford's son, a classical scholar and art connoisseur who commissioned
Charles Cockerell to design a picture gallery with an impressive portico
in 1832 and was largely responsible for the present appearance of the House.
The House has been a museum for well over 50 years and holds the social
history collections belonging to Bristol's Museums, Galleries and Archives.
The displays feature a wide selection of toys and games, intriguing
domestic equipment, and nineteenth century costume.
The Picture Room as been restored to its former glory with walls decorated
with sumptuous red paper, hung with pictures from the City Museum & Art
Gallery's collections and lit by four beautiful chandeliers, creating an
elegant setting.
Telephone: 0117 903 6173
Email: events@bristol.gov.uk
www.bristol.gov.uk/ceremoniesatblaise

&
Weddings
Ceremonies at
Blaise Castle House Museum
The Picture Room
Exclusive Use of the Picture Room
The hiring party has exclusive use of
the Picture Room for one hour before
the start of the ceremony, during the
proceedings, and for half an hour after
the end of the ceremony (two hours in
total). This provides the opportunity to
personalise the ceremony, for example
by decorating the room with flowers, or
by adding readings and music (live or
recorded) to the proceedings.
Flowers & decoration
Freestanding flower arrangements
may be brought into the Picture Room
for the ceremony. Details of which
should be discussed with the Events
Officer prior to the event.
Music
A portable CD/cassette player is
available for your use. The machine
must be operated by a member of the
hiring party and arrangements discussed
with the Events Officer prior to
the event. Please note that the choice
of music should be agreed with the
Registrar in advance.
Parking
Private parking is available outside
the front of the museum but must be
reserved prior to the event, as space is
limited (maximum of 4 spaces).
Other guests may be dropped off at
the front entrance of the Museum, but
cars must then be removed. There is
a large public car park approximately
100 metres along Henbury Road
(turn left onto the road as you leave),
please note however that spaces
cannot be guaranteed in the car park,
especially at busy weekends.
Food, Drink and Smoking
Please note that food and drink
may be offered to guests, such as a
glass of wine and a piece of cake after
the ceremony. It is the hirer's respon
sibility to make such arrangements.
Currently it is not possible to hold
receptions at the Museum, but we
enclose a list of suitable venues
within easy distance.
Smoking is not permitted anywhere
within Blaise Castle House Museum.
Photography
Photography is permitted inside the
house and grounds. It is possible to
have exclusive access to the private
dairy garden at the back of the house
for photographs on request.
Confetti
Please note biodegradable confetti
is allowed, but it is only permitted
outside of the building. Plastic
confetti or similar is not allowed.
Noise Levels
Blaise Estate is a public park, therefore
we cannot control all activities of
visitors, which could affect noise levels
in the house. Similarly, wedding
ceremonies, civil partnership
ceremonies, renewal of marriage
vows and naming ceremonies may take
place during public opening hours for
the Museum. Opening hours for the
House are Saturday to Wednesday
10am to 5pm and in all week in
August 10am to 5pm.
Telephone: 0117 903 6173
Email: events@bristol.gov.uk
www.bristol.gov.uk/ceremoniesatblaise
The Picture Room at Blaise Castle House Museum is available for hire as a venue for
wedding ceremonies, civil partnership ceremonies, naming ceremonies and renewal of
marriage vows. The room seats up to 60 guests and with standing room can
accommodate up to 80 guests.
Bookings
To confirm a booking the booking form
must be returned by the hirer to the
Events Officer, Bristol's City Museum &
Art Gallery, Queen's Road, Bristol, BS8
1RL, accompanied by 20% of the room
hire charge (which is non returnable).
Bookings made over the phone will be
treated as provisional until the Booking
Form has been completed.
Once received the Events Officer will
acknowledge receipt of the booking
fee and confirm the booking. Please
note that bookings must be made
separately with the Registry Office
prior to making a firm booking.
The hirer must inform the Events
Officer if there is any change in the
timing or anticipated number of guests
not less than one month prior to the
date of the ceremony. Payment for the
balance amount must be made in
advance of the ceremony, for which
an invoice will be issued.
Cancellation
Cancellations must be notified in
writing at least 48 hours in advance of
the ceremony date. Once a booking
has been made the 20% deposit is
non-refundable.
Charges
Details of charges for the hire of the
Picture Room are set out in the
accompanying information sheet.
Registrar's fees are to be paid
separately to the Register Office
(details of which are included).

Prices
&
Weddings
Ceremonies at
Blaise Castle House Museum
Prices for hire of Picture Room for all ceremonies including:
Wedding and Civil Partnership Ceremonies, Renewal of Marriage Vows
and Naming Ceremonies
Monday to Friday £287.00
Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays £359.00
Registrar's Fees
All fees detailed below are the responsibility of the client and are to be paid
direct to the Registrar.
Wedding and Civil Partnership ceremonies
Monday to Friday £270
Saturday £310
Sunday/Bank Holiday £370
In addition to the above fees, a 'Notice of Marriage' payment of
£33.50 for each of the people being married is required.
Naming Ceremonies and Renewal
of Marriage Vows ceremonies
Monday to Friday £105
Saturday £120
Sunday/Bank Holiday £150
Please note: with all the above ceremonies, when a provisional booking is being
made with the Events Officer, arrangements must be made at the same time with the
Register Office, making a firm booking with the Registrar (0117 922 2800).
It is your responsibility to book the Registrar.
Telephone: 0117 903 6173
Email: events@bristol.gov.uk
www.bristol.gov.uk/ceremoniesatblaise

&
Weddings
Ceremonies at
Blaise Castle House Museum
Additional information
We received our licence to hold civil ceremonies in the
Picture Room at Blaise Castle House Museum in March 2000.
To date over 250 ceremonies have taken place there.
Comments received from couples who have held
their wedding/civil partnership/naming ceremony in
the museum include:
“Wonderful place, wonderful day! I really felt like a queen
that day. Thank you.”
“It was a fantastic day for us both. All our guests commented
on the beauty of the room and its surroundings.”
“…the whole experience from start to finish was extremely
professional and our day was fabulous.”
“I really don't think the service could be any better than it was.
The day went very smoothly and the location was perfect.
The room was the perfect size for an enjoyable and relaxed
atmosphere in a very special setting. Drinks on the
terrace was a perfect end to the ceremony. Thank you.”
Telephone: 0117 903 6173
Email: events@bristol.gov.uk
www.bristol.gov.uk/ceremoniesatblaise

&
Weddings
Ceremonies at
Blaise Castle House Museum
Reception venues nearby
Almondsbury Interchange Hotel
6 Gloucester Road, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4AA
Tel: 01454 613206
mail@almondsburyinterchangehotel.co.uk
www.almondsburyinternchangehotel.com
The Aztec Hotel
Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4TS
Tel: 01454 201090
aztec@shirehotels.co.uk
www.aztechotelbristol.com
BAWA Leisure
589 Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol BS34 7RG
Tel: 0117 987 3244
www.bawa.biz
The Bowl Inn
Church Road, Lower Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4DT
Tel: 01454 612757
reception@thebowlinn.co.uk
www.thebowlinn.co.uk
Clifton Rugby Football Club
Station Rd, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol BS10 7TT
Tel: 0117 950 0445
www.cliftonrugby.com
Coombe Dingle Sports Complex
Coombe Lane, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 2BJ
Tel: 0117 962 6718
www.bristol.ac.uk /sport
The Elmgrove Centre
Elmgrove Road, Cotham, Bristol BS6 6AH
Tel: 0117 924 3377
Henbury Lodge Hotel
Station Road, Henbury, Bristol BS10 7QQ
Tel: 0117 950 2615
enquiries@henburylodge.com
www.henburylodgehotel.com
Telephone: 0117 903 6173
Email: events@bristol.gov.uk
www.bristol.gov.uk/ceremoniesatblaise
The Hilton Bristol
Woodlands Lane, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 4JF
Tel: 01454 201144
www.hilton.co.uk and go to the Bristol Hilton
University of Bristol Halls of Residence
Stoke Bishop (during summer vacations only)
Badock Hall
Tel: 0117 903 2483
www.brisac.uk/Depts/Badock
Churchill Hall
Tel: 0117 903 3365
www.brisac.uk /Depts/Churchill
Hiatt Baker Hall
Tel: 0117 903 2984
www.brisac.uk /Depts/Hiatt Baker
Westbury-on-Trym Village Hall
Eastfield Road, Westbury-on-Trym
Enquiries to: Mrs E Betts, 191 Stoke Lane
Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3RT
Tel: 0117 908 0866
Please note: that the above
venues are listedfor your
information and that we are
unable to make recommendations.

&
Weddings
Ceremonies at
Blaise Castle House Museum
Photography
A1 Wedding Photographer
520 Wellsway, Bath BA2 2UD
Tel: 07968 250475
weddingphotographerbath@yahoo.co.uk
www.a1weddingphotographerbristol.co.uk
Suzi Allen
Oake Bridge Farmhouse, Oake, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 1AY
Tel: 08453703839
info@suziallen.com
www.suziallen.com
Geoff Marchant
55 Ruby Street, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 3DX
Tel: 0117 953 8577/07811 284826
geoffmarchant@blueyonder.co.uk
Malcolm Maxwell Photography
1, Willoughby Close, Alveston, Bristol BS35 3RW
tel: 01454 415562
Mark Simmons Photography
82–84, York Rd, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4AL
Tel: 0117 914 0999
www.marksimmonsphotography.co.uk
Please note that the above suppliers
are listed for your information and that
we are unable to make recommendations.
Telephone: 0117 903 6173
Email: events@bristol.gov.uk
www.bristol.gov.uk/ceremoniesatblaise

Application for the hire of the Picture Room
�Wedding �Civil Partnership �Naming Ceremony �Renewal of Vows
Names of applicants (including first names, please)
Address for correspondence:
Post Code:
Phone: Home Work Fax:
Mobile: E-mail:
Day & date of Ceremony:
Time of Ceremony:
Maximum number of persons attending (this must not exceed 80):
I enclose 20% of the room hire, which also acts as a deposit, of £........ and I undertake to pay
the balance of this charge in the manner described in the attached conditions and regulations.
I also agree that should I cancel the event the deposit will not be refunded.
I personally agree that when written notification of acceptance has been sent to me, this
application and such acceptance, together with said Conditions and Regulations of Hiring,
shall constitute the contract of hiring between the Council and myself. I am over 18 years of age.
Note: this form must be signed by the person, or one of the persons, named above.
Please make your cheque payable to Bristol City Council and send it with this form to:
Events Officer, Bristol's City Museum & Art Gallery, Queen's Rd, BRISTOL BS8 1RL
Signature
Date
&
Weddings
Ceremonies at
Blaise Castle House Museum
Booking Form
Telephone: 0117 903 6173
Email: events@bristol.gov.uk
www.bristol.gov.uk/ceremoniesatblaise
There is seating for only 60 people, plus standing for up to 20 people. NB (1) We recommend that
you take out cancellation insurance (2) It is your responsibility to book the Registrar.