They do weddings, we do courses.
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2010-06-04 06:57:09 - Graham Ellis
I've heard it said that the locals are often the worst people to ask about what there is to see and do in their own area - and indeed you'll find a lot of people in Melksham who can't tell you a great deal about The Courts, the Round House, the Church, the taxi services and the hotels. But then ... why should they know about these things which for the most part they don't visit and don't use?We try to keep one "ear to the ground" to be aware of what's around so that we can advise our guests, and our potential guests - but even we are sometimes unaware of hidden gems within a few miles.
We don't "do" weddings. We're not set up for them, and on that basis, stretching or resources to handle the differing needs a across a complete wedding group wouldn't be sensible. But we can (and do) provide accommodation for the more mature wedding guests, for newlyweds, and for others coming to a wedding who are looking for a quiet base a short distance from the main venue. And one of the places that we've known that such weddings take place is Cleeve House, in Seend. It's been quite a regular destination for our guests in the last year or so, based on the number of taxis we have booked to take people there.
Unexpectedly yesterday evening, I got a chance to see the Grand Hall where weddings take place, and the banquet room too, when dropping someone off there after a meeting at Well House Manor. It's only a few minutes each way - yet I had never seen the place before, and only vaguely knew where it was. And it was a pleasure to meet the owner and listen to him and a member of his team talk with enthusiasm about what they do. I've never been to a wedding there, but I know from what I saw (and what I heard) that I'll be saying "Have you looked at Cleeve House" when we get walk-in inquiries for venues in the future.
We don't do weddings ... and they don't do Open Source Training courses. It's part of the diversity that makes the Melksham Area so strong.