There have been 5 weddings in as many days right here at Headlam Corridor in Teesdale, not removed from Durham. One is transferring by the gears as we pull up outdoors this enormous Jacobean former personal residence that was transformed to a resort in 1978.
The dwell band is already enjoying Fantastic Tonight; tailcoats have been discarded, inhibitions deserted; the smoking coterie outdoors the purpose-built hospitality wing is rising by the minute.
It takes some time to get our bearings. This can be a resort set in 4 acres of immaculate gardens, a vacation spot for households, sporty {couples} and OAPs in search of a deal with. There’s a nine-hole golf course, a spa and indoor swimming pool, decorative canal, tennis court docket and croquet garden.
Nice: Headlam Corridor is common for weddings, but in addition provides so much for non-nuptial company
Rooms are both stuffy-traditional in the primary home or safe-contemporary in one of many annexes. We go for the previous, which seems to be despairingly incongruous.
By some means, the big four-poster doesn’t work with the cramped trendy lavatory with low cost fixtures and fittings. Two of the three home windows have been completely sealed by coats of paint and the cover has lengthy outlived its fluffy days.
However there’s nonetheless one thing heart-warming occurring, particularly when sitting within the Nice Corridor earlier than dinner with an excellent large glass of vino, the grand piano being performed within the background. Employees are largely locals who appear to take pleasure of their jobs.
The Inspector wasn’t thrilled together with his crab and avocado starter (file photograph)
Dinner is served within the conservatory — an airless house bereft of ambiance. Our crab and avocado (for me) and smoked salmon mousse (for her) starters style and look simply as they do off the ready-made shelf in Marks & Spencer. However our crusted rack of lamb is scrumptious.
We sleep soundly, however make it in good time for breakfast, the place we’re advised to sit down in an arid aspect room to the airless conservatory. The solar is screaming at us by the window.
‘I don’t suppose I can have breakfast right here,’ I inform my spouse. ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ she says. ‘Simply do one thing about it.’
So I ask a waiter if he can open the closest window to our desk — and he does. Whoosh!
However there’s nothing he can do to revive the decimated breakfast buffet — it’s just about all gone. Higher to clear it away altogether than depart just a few dishes of dregs.
And I simply don’t get why you need to ever need to pay additional for an espresso at breakfast. It’s like asking somebody to pay additional for the mash when ordering sausage and mash.
Our spirits rise as we stroll around the backyard earlier than leaving. One other wedding ceremony group can be right here quickly; or Rotary Membership AGM.
