Birthday Venues - Celebrate in a Castle
Why choose a castle for your birthday celebration?
Do you or someone close to you have a special birthday approaching? Whether it’s a 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th or 80th, we insist there is no better venue than a fabulous castle for any big birthday celebration! It’s a milestone in life so why not honour it by staying somewhere that will create wonderful, lasting memories?
Gone are the days of hiring a basic function room and inviting everyone you know to partake in a stand-up buffet and dance along to the local DJ’s repertoire of songs. There has been a shift in our perception of what it means to celebrate. People are now looking for ‘experiences’, an elongated party that spills into days rather than hours, and they’re happy to travel to have them. We’re also realising it’s okay to limit the number of guests in our celebrations and just invite those who mean the very most to us.
Private stays in a grand setting
The beauty of choosing a castle as your birthday venue knows no bounds. Privacy and freedom of exclusive hire guarantees you access to every room, as well as the grounds, to explore and roam around at your leisure. Among many other things, booking a castle for your birthday could mean everybody in the party being allocated a bedroom enabling them to have the full house-party experience.
Castles are steeped in history which can fascinate guests. How novel to think you are celebrating reaching a special time in your own life in a place that has seen so much life go through it. By booking a castle, you’ve already created excitement among your party – and you’ve not even brought out the food!
A castle has a reputation to live up to; of grandeur, luxury and fairy-tales. From sumptuous sofas set before a huge, roaring fire, to dazzling chandeliers and lavishly-draped windows illuminating magnificent painted ceilings, to elegant bedrooms swathed in tactile fabrics, a castle is just waiting to envelop and captivate you and your guests.
The small things can make a big difference
Castles that are available for hire will have been restored with thoughtfulness and style. Therefore, you can expect interior design with exquisite attention to detail, from practicality to comfort to beauty, whether it be in homage to a decadent past or in the form of contemporary luxury.
It is more than likely that a castle will be run either by the family who has inherited it or a custodian who has chosen to purchase it out of love; be that for its unique history, striking architecture or simply the desire to create a beautiful home. Either way, if you hire a castle exclusively for your birthday celebrations, whether for an intimate staycation or spectacular party, you can expect hospitality that makes you feel instantly at ease. Add to this the option of bringing your pet (which many castles offer) and the welcoming atmosphere goes through the roof!
Things To Consider
There is certainly a lot of choice out there so here’s a list of things to consider to help you make the right decision when choosing castle birthday venues...
Location
When selecting your chosen celebration property it is important to consider the ease and convenience of its location, especially for far-commuting guests. Our fantastically varied castle portfolio features locations both in the countryside and close to the main travel links of capital cities.
Capacity
Once you have decided on guest numbers, you can start to create a shortlist. Remember: all of the guests don't necessarily need to stay over, they could book cheaper accommodation nearby. A castle will state whether it is designed for hosting intimate or large-scale gatherings, so use the information presented to your advantage when planning. Some castles have quite small capacities and are perfect to celebrate with just those closest to you.
Costs
Castles have a wide range of price points, from simple rustic experience to 5-star luxury. If cost is an important consideration when choosing the location for a birthday celebration it’s best to have a budget in mind. Remember to incorporate all the associated costs of the event (food and drink, etc.) so you know what’s left to spend on the castle hire itself.
The ‘look and feel’ of the castle
Another important factor is how the castle appears – everything from the room décor to the views from the window. What feelings would you like to evoke upon first sight? Think about the architecture itself. Do you want guests to be overwhelmed by a spectacular castellated façade or charmed by a quirky exterior or fairy-tale turrets? If your birthday celebration is in warmer, dryer months, would you like a castle with landscaped gardens guests can wander through, or a woodland estate to explore? Castles can be luxurious and cosy, traditional and rustic, Medieval or modern; make sure the interior is decorated in a style befitting your own taste and vision. Remember: this is a special birthday and you’ll likely be taking lots of photos and videos to mark the occasion so choose a setting that appeals from every angle.
What kind of castle experience would you like?
For your birthday venue, you could opt for exclusive use of a fully-staffed castle, to include all the bedrooms. This would impress your friends and invite them to "live like a lord or lady" for the duration of their stay, enabling them free reign of the indoor spaces and grounds. Alternatively, a castle hotel with private room hire for your celebration can sometimes be a more cost-effective, flexible option.
Different castles offer a variety of catering options. A self-catered stay for small groups of guests would give you freedom to make your own plans and could reduce your budget. You may prefer a more luxurious experience with fine dining. Many castles will even give you the opportunity to plan bespoke menus alongside their experienced and often renowned chefs.
How can Celtic Castles help?
If you'd like to begin browsing venues we have extensive listings on our site:
We offer a completely free venue-finding service, from your initial search for a potential location through to the booking process itself. Our castle experts are on-hand to talk through your bespoke celebration requirements 7 days-a-week, and can give independent advice to help narrow down the best options for you.
What truly sets Celtic Castles apart from the rest is our extensive knowledge and passion for staying in castles – speak to our world-leading team of castle experts and we’ll help start you on your journey of a milestone birthday celebration experience to remember.