Willington Hall is looking ahead to a busy autumn and Christmas season after a summer of weddings, community events, classic cars and even a visit from the BBC.
Set in the Cheshire countryside near Tarporley, the historic hotel has welcomed both returning guests and new visitors over recent months, with a programme ranging from weddings and family celebrations to food, wine and motoring events.
Among the additions has been Willington Hall’s Classic Car Club, bringing classic car owners and enthusiasts together for informal gatherings in the hotel grounds.
The events combine drives through the Cheshire countryside with an opportunity to view the cars and meet fellow enthusiasts over coffee at the hotel.
Food has also played a part in the hotel’s summer programme through its Pudding Club, a relaxed gathering centred around food, wine and meeting other guests.
Both initiatives form part of a wider programme of events aimed at encouraging more local people to visit Willington Hall, including those who are not staying overnight or attending a private function.
The hotel also received some national attention this summer when the team from BBC’s Escape to the Country visited Willington Hall for filming.
Weddings continue to be a major part of the historic country house hotel, with a small number of dates unexpectedly becoming available between September 2026 and April 2027.
Willington Hall is offering a special wedding package for selected dates during the period, designed for celebrations of around 50 guests.
The package is intended to make a country house wedding more accessible while giving couples the opportunity to enjoy Willington Hall’s historic setting, grounds and wedding services.
Attention is now turning towards autumn and the festive season, with the hotel preparing to reveal its Christmas 2026 programme.
Plans include a series of festive celebrations as well as a house party experience designed to give guests the feeling of having Willington Hall as their own country house for Christmas.
The hotel is also preparing to announce a new association with one of the world’s most prestigious Champagne houses.
Full details have yet to be revealed, but the forthcoming collaboration is expected to become part of weddings, events and other special occasions hosted at Willington Hall.
For the hotel team, however, one of the most encouraging developments of the summer has been the return of familiar faces.
Guests who may not have visited for several years have returned for birthdays, anniversaries, christenings, weddings and family gatherings, while new visitors have also been discovering the hotel for the first time.
A spokesperson for Willington Hall Hotel said:
“It’s been wonderful to see Willington Hall so full of life this summer. We’ve had classic cars on the drive, fantastic food and wine, weddings and celebrations, television cameras and so many familiar faces coming back through the doors.
“Willington Hall has an incredible history, but we want it to feel very much alive and part of the community today. You don’t need to be staying at the hotel or attending a wedding to enjoy it. Come for coffee, join one of our events, have lunch, walk around the grounds or simply find an excuse to celebrate something.
“And there is lots more to come. We have some really exciting plans for autumn and Christmas, as well as a very special new partnership that we’re looking forward to sharing soon.”
With its historic country house setting and growing calendar of events, Willington Hall is now looking towards the next chapter of the year while retaining the character that has made the hotel part of Cheshire life for generations.
