Hotel Du Vin Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames, South East, England
About
Hotel Du Vin Henley-on-Thames is a converted Georgian building in the heart of the market town, a short stroll from the regatta course on the River Thames. Small ceremonies can take place in the vine-clad courtyard or in candlelit private dining rooms, followed by very good food and the wine cellar every Hotel du Vin is known for. With 43 boutique bedrooms, your guests can stay steps from where you celebrate. It suits small, stylish weddings where quality and character count.
The building tells you a lot about how a wedding works here. Hotel du Vin Henley occupies the old Brakspear brewery, and its private rooms were carved out of the former malt house and fermentation room, so you get exposed brick, beams and industrial details rather than a blank function suite. Oxfordshire County Council lists the hotel as an approved venue for civil ceremonies, so you can marry and celebrate without leaving the building.
For a small wedding, the three private rooms are the ones to look at. Canata, with its beams and mezzanine, seats around 30 to 36 for dinner, Henley Vineyards takes roughly 40 to 48 and has an optional window into the kitchen. Lombard is the largest of the three. The Bistro opens onto a secluded courtyard with heaters and a cigar shack, and it can be booked privately for bigger groups. If you would like the place entirely to yourselves, exclusive use of the whole hotel is possible.
Food is relaxed French bistro cooking rather than anything stiff, with a set wedding menu, a buffet or a bespoke menu worked out with the chef. Wine is the real strength: the cellar holds up to 400 wines, and planning your list with the sommelier is part of the booking, as is a menu tasting with wine by the glass for two. There are dedicated intimate packages, including one designed for couples who do not drink.
There are 43 bedrooms and suites, so most of your guests can stay where you celebrate, and the riverside is around 50 yards from the door. A couple of practical notes: parking is limited and allocated first come, first served, so guests may need the town car parks. The hotel is also cashless. The winter offer sets a minimum of 20 guests, so check whether a minimum applies to your date.
What makes it special
- Iconic vine-covered courtyard licensed for civil ceremonies in the heart of Henley-on-Thames
- Award-winning in-house food and one of England's finest hotel wine collections
- 43 individually designed boutique bedrooms so guests stay where they celebrate
