The Craiglands Hotel

The Craiglands Hotel is a large Victorian hotel on Cowpasture Road in Ilkley, set in landscaped grounds on the edge of the town with Ilkley Moor rising behind it. It has refurbished its ballroom and reopened under a new team, and it now offers three licensed wedding rooms, a restaurant and bar, and 63 bedrooms, so it can handle anything from a modest wedding to a very large one.

Why it suits LGBTQ+ couples

The range of rooms is the big advantage. A small wedding does not get lost in a huge hall, and a big one has space to spread out, all, with one team running the day. You can choose an all-inclusive package if you want the decisions kept simple, or build your own day from scratch, and a wedding coordinator and duty manager look after you on the day. The hotel also hosts multicultural weddings.

Ceremonies

All of the wedding function rooms are approved for marriages and civil partnerships. The Moorside has high, ornate ceilings and original features and suits roughly 30 to 198 guests. The Conservatory is bright and light-filled, for around 30 to 100. For the largest weddings, the Ballroom and Saxon room together take up to 500, with a built-in stage. You book the registrar through Bradford Register Office, and ceremonies usually run for about half an hour.

Receptions and food

The all-inclusive package covers room hire for the ceremony and reception, a red carpet arrival, a toastmaster, table linen, a three-course wedding breakfast and a menu tasting for two before the day. You choose from set menus with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options marked, and there is a children's menu. In the evening the resident DJ plays and a buffet is served, with upgrades available. The Ballroom has a large dance floor and the Conservatory has its own bar.

Staying

There are 63 en-suite bedrooms, mixing contemporary rooms with more traditional Victorian ones, some facing the moors. Wedding guests get discounted room rates. Check-in is from mid-afternoon, so if you want to get ready on site in the morning, booking the night before is the way to guarantee your room.

Getting there and the area

Ilkley sits in Wharfedale, with direct trains to Leeds and Bradford from the station in the town centre. The Cow and Calf rocks, Ilkley Moor and Bolton Abbey are all close, and the hotel grounds are yours to use for photographs.

Good to know

• All function rooms are licensed for ceremonies.
• Rooms suit from about 30 to 500 guests.
• Discounted bedroom rates for wedding guests.