We sent assistant editor Amy Shearer to a venue that has a reputation for being able to do it all. Would she be wowed by the fine food, ritzy function suites and glorious grounds? You bet she would…
Be honest. When was the last time you looked at your surroundings and really appreciated what lies on your doorstep? On my drive to the office every day, I must confess I’m usually so consumed by pretending to sing like Cher at the 1999 Brit Awards that I barely notice the coastal beauty and rolling hills I pass. Funnily enough, on that very route lies Ingliston Estate and Country Club, 90 private acres of peaceful countryside that hosts incredible weddings.
What’s on offer at Ingliston Estate and Country Club?
Complete with its own world-class equestrian facilities, a 32-bedroom hotel, lodges with hot tubs and saunas, an impressive Grand Marquee with room for 500 guests, two unique function suites, a restaurant and cocktail bar, beautiful grounds and a recently opened motorhome and caravan site (phew…), it seems almost ridiculous that I have made it to this big age without fully appreciating what is on offer there. But, reader, fear not: that all changed very shortly into my tour of the venue with sales and events manager Lynne McDermott.
As I wandered the stunning grounds on a rare sunny day towards the end of winter, it was not hard to see why couples are blown away by this place –
it really has something for everyone. Wee ones can play in the park or say hello to the horses. The adults can enjoy the delights of the cocktail bar (the watermelon margarita is a must, trust me). And the extensive menu served at functions will ensure even the fussiest of eaters will go away with a smile on their faces.
It very quickly becomes obvious when chatting to Lynne that if you dream up something wild for your wedding, she and her enthusiastic team will do everything in their power to make it happen. Want to trot up in a horse-drawn carriage? That’s easy. Zooming in by helicopter? Why not – there’s plenty of space in the grounds. How about making your entrance to the drinks reception on horseback just like Bianca Jagger at Studio 54, as your guests sip champers and listen to disco tunes on the lawn? All in a day’s work in this corner of Renfrewshire.
The Grand Marquee at Ingliston
The newest jewel in the Ingliston crown is the Grand Marquee – a six-figure purpose-built structure that holds the title of Scotland’s biggest indoor wedding marquee. There is a programme of constant upgrades going on too; the day I visited, a brand-new audio-visual system and disco balls were being installed to guarantee your space will be looking and sounding incredible.
It’s not often a wedding venue takes me by surprise these days – and if you told me a toilet would be the cause of my shock, my mind would have imagined the worst. But the gold-plated bridal suite loo and gold-finished loos for guests in the luxurious draped venue really made me smile with delight.
If you manage not to take a selfie, well, you’re a better person than me.Lots of couples host their day in the Connemara Suite, a modern space designed by TV stylist John Amabile, or in the Art Deco-inspired Salerno Suite, much of whose 1920s-influenced furnishings came directly from London’s Savoy hotel.
Accommodation at Ingliston Estate and Country Club
At the end of my tour of the resort I was handed the keys to the beautiful Connemara Lodge, a luxurious two-bedroom romantic escape that looks just as impressive inside as it does from the outside. I’d brought my friend Tayloure with me, so it was less about romance and more about relaxing for us. We’d barely been in the lodge half an hour before we headed to the private hot tub and sauna area to catch up over chilled glasses of fizz and soak up the last of the winter sunshine.
What’s the food like at Ingliston Estate and Country Club?
We eventually dragged our soggy selves out of the water and made it to the hotel’s famed restaurant Palomino’s for dinner – and were very glad we did. The cooking was superb, a masterclass in how good food paired with great surroundings (and a view of the impressive indoor horse arena) make for an all-round irresistible experience.
Breakfast the next morning was excellent too. In the hotel, it’d be the perfect place for a post-mortem with your guests, easing the hangover with delicious food as you catch up on all the shenanigans that had unfolded the night before.
Back on the road to work nowadays, do I pay more attention to the glorious countryside as I pass Ingliston? Yes, of course. But to be honest, I’m mainly thinking about Palomino’s patisserie counter. When I’m starving and stuck in traffic on the M8, my mind wanders to the Biscoff meringue tart, and it takes all my willpower not to stop by… If I was getting married here, that would be my special request to the chef.
Summing up Ingliston in just one word would be doing it a disservice, so here are five: where wedding dreams come true.
Need to know
Ingliston has got so much going on, you might be wondering where to start. Let’s begin with the basics…
The numbers
The two function suites and Grand Marquee can be configured to suit your guest list, so pretty much any number of people can be accommodated. The Grand Marquee can hold 500 guests, and the Salerno and Connemara Suites can each host 120 for dinner plus an additional 60 in the evening. Ingliston is also happy to arrange more intimate celebrations too (a minimum of 35 people). And don’t forget your ceremony and canapés can be held outdoors.
The packages
The entry-level Bespoke package (£85pp in 2024; £89pp in 2025) includes a three-course set meal, a glass of wine and a glass of prosecco for speeches. It also gives access to the Italian Gardens gazebo for photographs and a night in the honeymoon suite. The Florence package (£104pp in 2024; £108pp in 2025) includes the same as the Bespoke with a minimum of 75 guests.
Go all out with the Capri package (also a minimum of 75 guests, £114pp in 2024 and £118pp in 2025) where there are more options on drinks for both the reception and wedding breakfast, plus the choice of two dishes for starters, mains and desserts. (We reckon the trio of smoked salmon platter, the chicken with Stornoway black pudding and peppercorn sauce and the Scottish raspberry cranachan would get our vote.) Drinks packages are on offer too as well as a pay-as-you-go bar for guests.
The extras
If you haven’t already gathered, Ingliston certainly does not do things by half. The venue offers ‘enhancements’ to its packages to give you exactly what you want, with everything from a horse-drawn carriage, luxury throne chairs and a fabulous ice-cream cart up for grabs. The team are also happy to help you source a celebrant, DJ, photobooth or even singing waiters.