Blog: Updates on Events, Hotel & Restaurant

A Summer of Engagements

September is the season to celebrate all of the exciting summer engagements!

Whether you’re recently engaged yourself, or you know of someone who is, we have lots of exciting opportunities to get married at The Old Hall Ely.

Weddings at The Old Hall Ely

If you envision your wedding day to be nestled in acres of countryside, held in a historic manor house with a look of luxury, The Old Hall Ely could be the perfect venue for you.

At The Old Hall Ely, we offer both Classic and Intimate Wedding packages so you can curate the day of your dreams to celebrate alongside your nearest and dearest.

Classic Wedding Packages

Some stand-out features of our Classic Wedding Packages include:

• A minimum of 60 or 80 adult guests, depending on the time of year you choose

• One or two day wedding packages available
• One indoor ceremony space: The Orangery
• One outdoor ceremony space: The Garden Pavilion

Intimate Wedding Package

Some stand-out features of our Intimate Wedding Package include:

• A minimum of 20 adult guests, with pricing options up to 80
• Two indoor ceremony spaces: The Main Hall or The Sitting Room
• One outdoor ceremony space: The Garden Pavilion

Picking Your Perfect Date

We love absolutely love hearing about the dates that couples desire to choose, whether they have a sentimental story behind their date, or just love that particular time of year.

We never want couples to assume their date isn’t available if they’re planning their wedding in a shorter time frame as we often release dates across the year. This means that as of September 2024, we still have a selection of availability in 2025 for you.

If you would like to find out more about getting married at The Old Hall Ely, you can call us on 01353 663 275 or fill in our online form to book your private show round with us.

August Open Day - How It Went

On Bank Holiday Monday, 26th August we opened our doors to the public for our Summer Open Day. We welcomed lots of wonderful faces for a day of wedding inspiration, beautiful weather and celebrating this stage in all of the lovely couple’s engagements.

As ever, we had some of Cambridgeshire’s top wedding suppliers showcasing an array of products and services such as photography and videography, decor and styling, wedding dresses, floristry and wedding cakes.

We’d like to thank those who attended, as it was great to see some familiar faces of couples who have already booked with us, as well as so many new ones we can’t wait to welcome to the family.

Our Next Open Evening - Tuesday, 10th December

Our next Open Evening takes a winter twist and is on Tuesday, 10th December.

We’re incredibly excited to open our doors from 5pm – 7:30pm as the day draws in and we show off The Old Hall Ely in all its festive glory.

Whether you dream to get married during winter or would like to experience our beautiful Jacobean Manor House at the most magical time of year, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Our Open Days and Evenings are free entry, so gather your friends and family and come down for some festive fun.

The Biggest Wedding Trend of 2024

Micro Weddings - The Biggest Trend of 2024

Micro Weddings have been the trend taking the wedding scene by storm in 2024, with an increasing amount of couples opting for a smaller ceremony.

Micro Weddings have always been around and their popularity somewhat recircled around Covid restrictions limiting attendance to many events and gatherings.

Since then, however, their appeal has only continued to grow with couples carefully curating their guest lists and tailoring a very intimate experience for their special day.

What is a Micro Wedding?

A Micro Wedding tends to carry most, if not all, of the same features as a Classic Wedding – just on a smaller scale. This means typical suppliers from florists, photographers and entertainers are still present for the special day, but in a way that compliments a smaller affair.

Micro Weddings can vary from a maximum of 20 to 80 guests, depending on the venue and their specific requirements or packages. These numbers provide an intimate setting regardless of whether you opt for an indoor or outdoor ceremony.

Why Choose a Micro Wedding?

A Micro Wedding is perfect for those only wishing to marry with their nearest and dearest. With a wedding party of figures mentioned above, this means only the people closest to you get to share your special day in a unique way.

Often couples can struggle with where to draw the line when inviting distant connections and offering plus ones to their primary guests. Micro Weddings eliminate this stress and expectation for couples, making the planning process feel lighter from the get go.

Micro Weddings can naturally also be suitable for couples with a smaller budget, but this isn’t the leading reason couples are choosing to go mini.

Micro Weddings are specially curated to cater to a smaller audience. This means no big empty rooms at a venue, no lack of atmosphere and no underwhelming wedding photos. Every supplier from the venue to the content creators know exactly how to execute your day in a way that will leave you looking back on nothing but the finer details and memorable touches.

Intimate Weddings at The Old Hall Ely

This summer we launched our Intimate Weddings package – The Old Hall Ely’s very own Micro Wedding experience.

Our Intimate Weddings package has been specially developed to offer couples the opportunity to experience The Old Hall Ely in a unique way. Our Intimate Weddings package starts from a minimum of 20 adult guests, with pricing options for up to a maximum of 80 ceremony guests.

We have two dedicated indoor spaces for Intimate Weddings that aren’t available for our larger Classic Weddings. This allows our couples to utilise some of our cosiest spots that boast lots of Cambridgeshire Country House charm. The other difference when you pick our Intimate Wedding Package is that your wedding breakfast will be held in The Orangery, instead of our Marquee like as part of our Classic Package.

Autumn and Winter

During autumn and winter, The Main Hall and The Sitting Room are two inviting spaces that carry a home-away-from-home feel with personal touches and warm lighting throughout.

Both rooms have grand open fireplaces and comfortable furnishings for all to enjoy.

Autumn brings some vibrant colours to our gardens, offering a pleasant seasonal stroll through through our grounds. During the festive season, our venue is decked out with some of the most impressive decor, and no less than 20 Christmas trees!

Spring and Summer

During spring and summer, our two indoor ceremony spaces are still available for those with a preference to marry indoors, or in case the weather takes a wet or windy approach.

In case of blue skies, our much-loved Garden Pavilion is also available as an outdoor option for our Intimate Wedding package.

If the idea of an Intimate Wedding at The Old Hall Ely is everything you could dream of for your special day, we have some simple steps to follow below:

• Visit our Intimate Weddings web page for more information
• Download our brochure by clicking the button below
• Book a private show round with one of our friendly team

Christmas and NYE Parties

Christmas and New Year's Eve Parties

As the weather gets crisper, the children start a new school year and our work schedules return to some normality, it can only mean that the Festive Season won’t be too far away.

Christmas and New Year’s Eve Parties at The Old Hall Ely only get better year on year and we can’t wait for what we have in store for 2024. So let’s take a look…

Shared Christmas Parties

Our Shared Christmas Parties are the perfect choice for those looking for a venue to book a table for their company Christmas Party.

The evening commences from 6:30pm where you will be greeted with welcome drinks of sparkling punch before heading into our marquee for a delicious three course meal. In addition to our fantastically festive decor, our starlit dancefloor will be revealed at 9pm with a professional DJ to dance the night away. Enjoy our cocktail bar throughout the evening until the party comes to an end at 2am.

Guests can either then take their carriages home, or you can choose to elevate your night by booking one of our luxury bedrooms for an overnight stay.

Exclusive Christmas Parties

If you’re looking for something more private, we have three perfectly polished Exclusive Christmas Party Packages for you to choose from.

Each with their own dedicated Event Managers to hand, you can relax knowing that any stress is taken out of the planning process, leaving you and your colleagues with nothing but a night to remember.

Choose from: The Essential Package, The Classic Package and The Premium Package

View our brochure below to find out more about what is included in each package and then get in touch with our friendly team!

New Year's Eve Party

See 2025 in at our premier event of the year. If there’s one thing we know how to do, it’s throw a fantastic celebration!

Our New Year’s Eve Parties are renowned for their class and great atmosphere. Like no other event locally, these parties are the perfect way to celebrate with your nearest and dearest.

With bottomless Champagne and oysters from the OysterMeister, a 3 course meal, a saxophonist and much, much more, you’re in-store for an unforgettable night.

Whichever style of party you choose to attend, we can’t wait to celebrate the festivities with you this year at The Old Hall Ely!

You aren’t just a part of our family when you get married with us, but also when you celebrate life’s big occasions too.

If you have any questions around any of our parties or packages, please do call us on 01353 663 275.

What’s on this August

What's on this August

Can you believe it’s August already? We can’t either. Here at The Old Hall Ely we’re still very much in our peak wedding season we can’t wait to see more lovely couples say ‘I do’ throughout August.

Aside from our lively wedding calendar, we also have two exciting events that we will be welcoming the public to nearer the end of the month, as well as our classic restaurant sittings for breakfast and grazing boards.

Open Day

Bank Holiday Monday, 26th August

On Bank Holiday Monday, we are opening our doors to the public again for one of our much-loved Open Days.

This Open Day is the perfect opportunity to see everything the Old Hall Ely can offer for your special day. Whether you’re newly engaged or already have your wedding booked in with us, we would love to invite you along to enjoy our venue with your nearest and dearest.

Throughout the day you will be able to explore our house and grounds, tour our bedrooms, see our essential wedding spaces and walk around our beautiful gardens and ornamental lakes.

We have some of Cambridgeshire’s top suppliers exhibiting, so whether you’re looking for a florist or a cake maker, you can see an array of their finest work. You will also be able to meet lots of our friendly team who will be on hand to welcome you with a smile and answer any queries you may have.

On top of all of this, there will be live entertainment and delicious canapes for you to enjoy, all with a refreshing glass of Organic Cava in hand.

Pasta Evening

Saturday, 31st August

If there’s one thing we love, it’s a Special Dining Experience in The Orangery Restaurant.

For the first time ever, we are hosting a Pasta Evening and since announcing this one-of-a-kind sitting, tables have been being booked up fast!

Our Head Chef has put together a menu full of delectable dishes – from starters, mains, sides and puddings, you really will be spoilt for choice. Aside from great food, delicious wines and beautiful view of Ely Cathedral, The Orangery restaurant boasts a delightful ambiance for any romantic date night or catch up between family and friends.

We are expecting a full restaurant and only the last few tables remain! If you would like to join us, we recommend that you book your table online before it’s too late.

Breakfast

Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Why not start your day in the best way and join us for breakfast.

Usually, breakfast is held in our gorgeous Orangery, however, as we’ve enjoyed some gloriously sunny mornings lately, we can also take breakfast al fresco too.

Our stunning Topiary Courtyard provides a picturesque setting to enjoy some delicious choices. Breakfast is included complimentary when you book a room at The Old Hall Ely, but we also welcome external bookings between 7:30am and 9:30am.

Breakfast sittings are available on a number of Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August but dates do vary monthly. We recommend checking our restaurant and dining calendar for our full schedule of sittings.

Grazing Boards

Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays

In between our Special Dining Experiences and weddings, The Orangery is open for our Grazing Boards in the evenings.

Choose from 3 delightful boards: Cheese, Charcuterie or Seafood, and pair with a glass of wine or one of our popular cocktails.

Our Grazing Boards are available on a number of Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August but like breakfast, dates do vary monthly. Take a look at our restaurant and dining calendar for our full schedule of sittings and then book your table online.

Autumn Dining at The Orangery

Autumn Dining at The Orangery Restaurant

Whilst we don’t want to wish away summer too soon, we have lots of exciting Special Dining Experiences coming up this autumn in The Orangery Restaurant that we just have to share with you!

A La Carte

A La Carte dining is returning to The Orangery for some special sittings in both September and November.

Our autumn A La Carte menu has been crafted with some of the most delectable seasonal ingredients, all sourced locally to Ely, Cambridgeshire. You can expect to find an array of starters, mains, accompaniments and puddings on the menu that also cater for a number of dietary requirements, leaving everyone spoilt for choice.

Our A La Carte evenings are the perfect opportunity to spent some quality time with your loved ones, dress for the occasion and enjoy only the best selection of wines for an incredible fine dining experience.

Sparkling Afternoon Tea

Our Sparkling Afternoon Tea is not only to be enjoyed throughout the summer months! With our Afternoon Tea menus also seeing seasonal switch-up’s, there’s no better time to enjoy 3 tiers of treats than autumn.

We have a number of Sparkling Afternoon Tea sittings available across September, October and November for you to enjoy with friends and family, with a delicious glass of Organic Cava in hand.

Enjoy savoury sandwiches, scones and something sweet with arguably the best view of Ely Cathedral in all of Cambridgeshire.

Sunday Lunch

Traditional but a staple, we love nothing more than welcoming our guests to join us for a Sunday Lunch at The Orangery.

Each season we ensure our Sunday Lunch menu has options available for all dietary requirements, so whether you dine as a table of two or as a large group, there is something for everyone!

Enjoy the relaxing ambience of The Orangery with the best Sunday Lunch Ely has to offer, all whilst looking out onto our beautiful grounds and ornamental lakes.

The Old Hall in the Autumn

The Old Hall Ely is beautiful across every season, but once autumn makes its arrival, our venue is like no other.

Our driveway is lined with beautiful lime trees and the changing of the seasons makes for a stunning welcome from the very first impression.

Enjoy our Grounds

The Orangery Restaurant has floor to ceiling windows, meaning you will dine with a view of the most gorgeous autumn colours and our picture-perfect backdrop of Ely Cathedral.

After your chosen sitting, why not talk a crisp autumn walk around our grounds to see our garden and its wildlife at its best.

Our recommended route is to go out onto our Cathedral Terrace, down our accessible pathway (where you will meet Harry the Hare along the way), through the middle of our stunning swan topiary, around our ornamental lakes and back up to the car park via the ‘wiggly walk’.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Venue Hire for Corporate Events

Having expanded ten fold after opening its doors to the public in 2012, The Old Hall in Ely, Cambridgeshire is more than just an exclusive-use Wedding Venue.

With some incredible indoor and outdoor spaces, paired with our expert events team, we are also one of East Anglia’s most sought-after Corporate Events Venue. However, we’re aware there still may be some businesses that may not know the full scope of our capabilities at The Old Hall Ely.

Our Corporate Spaces

For Corporate Events, we have eight function spaces meaning we can accommodate anywhere between two and 600 guests!

Indoor spaces

Five out of these eight compromise of indoor spaces to choose from, each with their own unique feel and functionality. For smaller arrangements, The Sitting Room, The Terrace and The Lakes are ideal choices, but for more grander affairs, The Orangery and The Marquee are our recommended go-to’s.

Take a look below for a quick overview of our inside spaces and our venue summary, then explore our gardens and grounds underneath.

Outdoor spaces

The Old Hall Ely is set within ten acres of luscious grounds. Our gardens alone boast lots of fantastic open space, three ornamental lakes and nine helicopter landing sites.

Our beautiful Cathedral Terrace has both seating and standing space, a stylish water feature, our ‘rave stage’ – the perfect platform for live music or speeches, as well as magnificent views of Ely Cathedral itself.

Last but not least, our stunning Topiary Courtyard is a gorgeous patio area that has a spacious but private feel, again with an elegant addition of a water feature.

Events We Can Host

From intimate boardroom meetings to lavish awards evenings, we can host an array of Corporate Events. We have a number of delegate packages to choose from, pre-picked for ease, or our fantastic events team can help you put together something perfectly bespoke for your company and staff members.

View our Corporate Events Brochure and Pricing Guide for more information below. If you have any questions or general enquiries, please do pick up the phone or drop us an email and one of our dedicated team members will be delighted to help.

What's Been On Lately At The Old Hall Ely

Just this month alone, we have hosted an array of exciting Corporate Events, all whilst being in the swing of our busiest wedding season yet!

East Campaign Stay

For this event, we welcomed 4 Influencers and a member of LDN Communications for a one night stay to capture content for East Clothing‘s Spring/Summer Collection. During their visit, the Influencers got to stay in a number of our luxurious bedrooms, capture campaign content across our indoor and outdoor spaces, enjoy a Sparkling Afternoon Tea for lunch and our delicious grazing boards in the evening.

Not only this, but we also hosted a special yoga session in The Orangery which all of the ladies loved. During the session, the sky had darkened and rain began to fall, adding an even cosier and relaxing atmosphere for the group.

Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce Summer Drinks Reception

As a larger affair, we were also honoured to host the Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce‘s Annual Summer Drinks Reception for 2024. For this event, we welcomed 200 guests to join us for cocktails and canapés on our beautiful Cathedral Terrace.

The weather really showed up for the occasion as we enjoyed an afternoon of sun, spritz’s and a whole lot of networking. Having their Summer Drinks Reception held on our Cathedral Terrace meant that all of their guests got to enjoy our show-stopping views of our grounds and Ely Cathedral too.

Ready To Create Your Corporate Experience?

Just a stone’s throw away from Ely, Newmarket and Cambridge, The Old Hall Ely offers something completely different from your usual conference facilities.

With the addition of 16 luxury bedrooms and our in-house catering team, we really can pull out all the stops to make your event one-of-a-kind!

Not sure where to start? Get in touch with our friendly team today.

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