Like all venues Escot has been unable to host weddings, conferences and other events since lockdown began. We’re keeping up to date with the latest guidelines, as Covid-19 restrictions are changing fairly quickly.
Cinemas and museums now look set to reopen from July 4th and today the PM is likely to rule on the reduction of the 2m rule to 1m, which may well allow pubs, restaurants, hotels and B&Bs to reopen.
In the wedding sector, you may have seen in the news recently that couples in Northern Ireland can now have small, outdoor weddings of up to 10 people. Yesterday it was announced that small weddings are now acceptable in Wales, although the detail was a little lacking.
Non-essential retailers including bridal shops and boutiques, florists and department stores are all now able to be open. Let alone wedding hairstyles, gor anyone struggling with Lockdown Hair in general, the good news is that hairdressers should be opening from 4th July, along with beauty salons. All such services and suppliers have new measures in place to ensure customers and clients are as safe as possible.
While meetings and conferences have been held online using Zoom or Teams, these can’t beat face to face, and we’re confident there will be a return to using venues like Escot. Our activity partners Devon Country Pursuits are already able to offer corporate activities now, all held outdoors. For team get togethers we have the option of our Gathering Point with catering, highlighted in our previous blog. Potentially we can organise outdoor meetings using Escot’s private garden.
The likelihood is that for the foreseeable future, weddings will be smaller events, as we’ve seen with the rulings in Northern Ireland and Wales. Perhaps at some point in the not too distant future, larger weddings will be allowed for outdoor ceremonies, again we have our private garden and various areas on the Estate – how about a woodland wedding? NB for a legal marriage the registrar must be inside, but you can stand on the steps outside the Library or White Room with the registrar just inside. If you’re using a celebrant, you can have the entire ceremony outdoors.
Escot has always shown flexibility so we know we can rise to the continuing challenges ahead and deliver the weddings, conferences and other events that meet government guidelines, keeping you safe but able to enjoy your event.
We’re always happy to talk so if you do have an idea for a corporate get together, are happy with the idea of a smaller wedding or want to look at booking your wedding for 2021 or beyond, please do get in touch.
For further Covid-19 updates, watch this space!
