- Wedding Hotel of the Year – 2020 Winner
- Cocktail Bar – 2020 Winner
Sister Hotel, Smiths at Gretna Green, Wins 2 Awards
Sister Hotel, Smiths Hotel, is Awarded Wedding Hotel of the Year & Cocktail Bar National Winner 2020
Last night, our sister hotel, Smiths at Gretna Green, took home two incredible wins from the Scottish Hotel Awards 2020 for Cocktail Bar and Wedding Hotel of the Year.
Congratulations to all of the team at Smiths Hotel! Your dedication and hard work is well-deserving of this fantastic achievement.
THE AWARDS CEREMONY
This year’s Scottish Hotel Awards ceremony was a bit different due to the current circumstances, however organisers were keen to celebrate Scotland’s hard-working hotel and wedding teams and, instead, the awards were announced on the Scottish Hotel Awards official Facebook page, throughout the evening of Sunday 23rd April (what would have been the 17th Annual SHA Gala). All nominees were invited to join in raising a glass of wine or a dram of whisky at home and even host their own Zoom video party!
SMITHS AT GRETNA GREEN AWARDS
This year, Smiths Hotel had the privilege of accepting TWO fantastic awards! These were:
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Congratulations to our passionate and hard-working hospitality, bar and wedding teams at Smiths. A monumental achievement that has been very well-deserved.
WINTER WEDDING OPEN DAY 2019
PRE-REGISTER TODAY FOR OUR WINTER WEDDING OPEN DAY 2019
JOIN US ON SUNDAY 17TH NOVEMBER 2019
Start planning your big day with plenty of wedding inspiration at Gretna Green, Scotland.
Join us on Sunday 17 November 2019 for our Winter Wedding Open Day across our official venues; including The Famous Blacksmiths Shop, Smiths at Gretna Green Hotel, Gretna Hall Hotel and Historic Marriage House and Greens at Gretna Hotel.
Chat with our award-winning wedding planners, take a look around our venues, view our suites and be inspired by local suppliers.
Open from 10 am to 4 pm.
Note: registration closes at 23.59 on Saturday 16 November 2019. You can still register at any of our venues on the day.
Last Chance to Book your Solway Connections Adventure with Gretna Green!
Discover the Solway Firth with Gretna Green and Solway Connections
Discover the beautiful Solway Coast with Gretna Green and Solway Connections this 23rd September, our last available date for 2019! Book now to reserve your place!
Customer Reviews
Solway Connections are already coming up to their sixth trip! This amazing experience starts with a fantastic stay at Greens at Gretna, and brings you all the way to the Solway Coast and back to Gretna Green. Discover the magic of the firth and explore the unique charm of Victorian Seaside Resort, Silloth.
Lots of customers had a brilliant time on their Solway Adventure. Check out what they had to say:
“I think we all came away with a feeling for the lifestyle of Solway residents, the history and geography of a rather hidden area, which should so rightly be treasured.” – D. Hasted, Lancashire, UK
“Monday’s tour was brilliant. I didn’t think you could fill a day along the coast with so much interest.” – Millie, Carlisle, UK
“I totally enjoyed the tour, as someone from Canada who knew nothing about the Solway coast. I liked the excellent diversity of cultural and natural heritage stops that we made during the day. Fiona is well-versed in knowledge of the area. It was a fascinating day!” – Paula, Ontario, Canada
“The landscape, history and nature of the Solway coast is amazing. We learned about the Romans, early Christianity, the Reivers, the death of King Edward I, all the way through to the world wars and the Cold War. It was a wonderful day. Fiona’s passion and knowledge made this a really special and memorable day out.” – Ted, Penrith, UK
What’s Included with a Gretna Green Solway Coast Break?
With just one more Solway Connections trip still to go on the 23rd September 2019, you still have one last chance to book!
On your Solway adventure, you will discover fascinating history about the Border Reivers and World War II, as well as experience a new world of nature encompassing the Solway, and spend some free time exploring the popular, Victorian holiday resort of Silloth on Solway.
Your journey begins on Monday with a delicious dinner (included each night!), a cosy night’s sleep and a full Scottish breakfast before being collected on Tuesday morning by coach to begin your Solway trip.
Then, spend your Wednesday at the Original Home of Romance, learning all about our amazing history of elopement and scandal in the Famous Blacksmiths Shop Museum. Afterwards, make use of your 10% OFF voucher in any of our shops within our 5-Star Visitor Attraction; from big-brand fashion and jewellery to unique Scottish gifts and souvenirs, you’re sure to find something just perfect to remember your adventure.
Book Now
Situated just minutes away from the Famous Blacksmiths Shop, Greens at Gretna provides fantastic staying and dining experiences, making your Solway adventure extra memorable. As the First and Last Hotel in Scotland, Greens at Gretna is just seconds across the border and has undergone a complete contemporary refurbishment.
Call to book on 01461 337621 or book online to secure your place with our exclusive code:
SOLWAY
Father’s Day at Greens at Gretna Hotel, Gretna Green
Treat him to something unforgettable this Father’s Day with a delicious Sunday Carvery and receive a 10% off voucher for your next dining visit!
Sunday 16th June 2019
To book your Father’s Day Sunday Carvery & 10% off your next dining visit, call: 0146 337621
Make “Dad” smile with a gift you can experience together. We all know how important that father figure in our life is so, to celebrate him, Greens at Gretna hotel is hosting a tasty Sunday Carvery this 16th June with a 10% off voucher for your next dining visit. Take a seat in our modern, relaxed restaurant and indulge in succulent slow-cooked roast carvery with tasty vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and more.
Reserve your place now before we’re all booked up! Call now: 0146 337621
Visiting the Famous Blacksmiths Shop Attractions
Discover Gretna Green’s unbelievable runaway history at the Famous Blacksmiths Shop Museum, just a stones-throw away from Smiths hotel! Or perhaps take a stroll around our range of shops, stocking everything from unique and personal gifts to big-name brands and speciality Scottish products. From Harris Tweed hip flasks to English Pewter Company tumblers, Barbour jackets to Joules polo shirts, traditional shortbread to Scottish whisky; Gretna Green has it all!
Experiences Something Unique
Maybe you’d like to experience something new during your visit. How about an exclusive Whisky Tasting Experience at the Famous Blacksmiths Shop? Sample a fantastic collection of traditional Scottish whiskies and discover their incredible origins, plus receive 10% off purchases made in Whisky & Gifts, the Foodhall or Gretna Green Since 1754 when you book our “The Blacksmith’s Dram” tasting package for 2*!
Click here to view all our Tasting Experiences
Whichever way you choose to celebrate, we wish all the “Dad”s a very happy Father’s Day!
*Terms and conditions apply. Ask for details.
Valentine’s Day 2019 at Greens at Gretna Hotel
Romantic Valentine’s Meal for 2 at Greens Hotel
Spoil your loved one this Valentine’s Day 2019, with a three-course dinner at Greens at Gretna Hotel, just £22.50 per person!
When is it available:
Monday 11th to Saturday 16th February.
How much does it cost:
£22.50 per person
How can you book:
Call us on 01461 337621 to book a table. Alternatively you can just turn up at the restaurant on any of these dates, however, we won’t be able to guarantee a table.
Here’s what’s on the menu:
Valentines Menu
Starters
Roasted Butternut Squash soup served with homemade bread roll
Prawn Cocktail served with buttered brown bread
Ardennes pate & toasted brioche red onion marmalade
Melon medley with berry compote
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Mains
Braised brisket to share, roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables & a rich red wine gravy
Lemon & thyme roast chicken, roast potatoes & seasonal vegetables with a rich gravy
Wild mushroom & walnut risotto with a leaf salad
Pan fried sea bream, crushed new potatoes & green vegetables with a salsa Verde sauce
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Deserts
Strawberry cheesecake & Chantilly cream
Warm Chocolate fudge brownie with a salted caramel sauce & vanilla ice cream
Apple tart Tatin & vanilla ice cream
Selection of cheese, chutneys & biscuits
St George’s Themed Weddings
Add an English twist to your big day
Planning on marrying in Scotland but want to add an English twist to your big day? The team here at Gretna Green have come up with a few ideas to help you plan a St George’s themed wedding.
St George’s Day celebrates the life of St George (patron saint of England) who by all accounts was quite the romantic. According to legend, St George bravely fought and slayed a dragon to save a princess.
If you’re a groom, don’t worry, we don’t suggest tackling a mythical beast to impress your bride to be. We suggest choosing a special gift and luckily, here at Gretna Green, we have loads to choose from. As well as our range of Scottish products, we stock a great range of ‘made in England’ gifts at our Gretna Green Visitor Centre from clothing and accessories to beautifully handcrafted jewellery. Keeping with the English twist, treat your new bride to a chic Grafea bag which are lovingly created in Manchester.
For a wedding fit for a knight and his princess, the theme has to be planned to perfection. Think about love and weddings. What colours spring to mind? For us, it has to be red and white. Red is the colour of passion and white symbolises purity and of course wonderful wedding dresses. And these colours aren’t just for brides and grooms wanting to add an English twist to their wedding, but also for those who want to inject colour and make a bold statement on their big day.
Now for the flowers, and the most popular wedding flower of all time – the rose. It’s no surprise that this flower has become a firm favourite amongst brides with it being a symbol of love, as well as the national flower of England. Red roses are a classic bridal accessory and if you really want to run with the rose theme our Rose Suite at Smiths Hotel is the perfect choice, complete with a four poster bed, this luxurious room is fit for a princess.
What to drink on your St Georges’ themed wedding day? It has to be Miami Vice! Don’t be fooled with the tropical sounding name, this cocktail is perfect for your red and white wedding theme and is a fruity combination of Strawberry Daiquiri and Pina Colada. Call Smiths Hotel on 01461 337007 to pre-order your cocktails and toast St George’s Day in style on your wedding day.
If you’re heading to a wedding and want to treat the bride and groom to a special ‘made in England’ wedding gift we have a great range to choose from at our Gretna Green Visitor Centre. Alongside our impressive collection of Scottish gifts, we recommend our Dartington Crystal glasses. We particularly love the stunning prosecco glasses in this range, which can be engraved with a personal message for the bride and groom and are timeless keepsakes.
At Gretna Green our Wedding Team are here to help you personalise your special day, no matter what theme you chose! If you would like to discuss your wedding ideas with a friendly member of our Wedding Team, you can email weddings@gretnagreen.com or call 01461 336001.
Getting married on St George’s Day? We’d love to hear how you celebrated your big day so please leave a comment below. The team at Gretna Green would like to wish our neighbours a very happy St. George’s Day.
Egg-scape to Gretna Green this Easter
JOIN US FOR A WEEKEND OF FAMILY FUN
Easter is one of our favourite times of the year where we spend some quality time with our families, enjoy the first signs of spring and of course overindulge in chocolate, guilt-free! Here at Gretna Green we have a range of fun activities planned to keep the whole family entertained.
1) Find the Easter Bunny
Your little ones will love this free Easter bunny hunt! Find 7 Easter bunnies hidden around our shopping complex to win a lovely goodie bag.
2) Family Fun in the Sun
We have our fingers crossed that the sun will make an appearance this Easter weekend. If you’re heading to Gretna Green, take in some fresh spring air at our Courtship Maze, Sculpture Garden and Outdoor Play Park – free family fun!
3) Stock up on Easter Treats
Easter wouldn’t be the same without… CHOCOLATE! Whether you’re a milk, white or dark chocolate fan – we have an impressive selection to choose from at our shopping complex. Looking for a chocolate-free alternative? We also have a range of handpicked gifts from seasonal tea sets to Peter Rabbit merchandise.
4) Explore Gretna Green and the Solway Coast
Spend some quality time in Gretna Green and the Solway Coast. This short break includes quality accommodation at Greens or Gretna Hall with full Scottish breakfast each morning and an evening meal each night. On the Tuesday explore the Solway Coast across the border and see Gretna Green from the other side of the water. Take advantage of your 10% discount voucher to use within our Famous Blacksmiths Visitor Attraction and shopping complex on the Wednesday. Plus, discover the secrets of Gretna Green at our museum. You might even see a wedding or two! For availability and bookings please call 01461 337621 and quote code ‘SOLWAY.’
5) Meet the Easter Bunny
We are welcoming a very special guest to the Blacksmiths Restaurant on Easter Sunday between 12 noon and 3pm. The Easter Bunny himself will be here and will be giving out free chocolate eggs to the children. Bring the whole family along for a hearty two course carvery, including a main course of gammon or turkey served with a Yorkshire pudding, fresh seasonal vegetable medley and roast or mash potatoes, followed by a delicious dessert of sticky toffee pudding or fruit crumble. All for £8.99! Call 01461 338365 to book a table.
6) Easter with a Difference
Fancy trying something different? Gretna Hall has the answer. Make your Good Friday GREAT with Fizz Friday – sparkling cocktails only £5.00 each! Or start a new family tradition at Gretna Hall’s Easter Sunday Indo-Asian Curry Buffet – £18.00 per person for a three course buffet. Call 01461 338257 to book. Plus, experience some fantastic live music from acoustic singer, Jonny Lopez, on Easter Sunday from 12 noon to 3pm.
What do you have planned this Easter? Let us know in the comments below. Happy Easter from all of us at Gretna Green.
Wedding Fayre Extravaganza Highlights 2018
A NICE DAY FOR A WHITE WEDDING FAYRE
On a snowy Sunday morning in March, the team at Gretna Green were busy preparing for the much anticipated Wedding Fayre Extravaganza.
With finishing touches in place, the doors opened to a crowd of very excited (but very cold!) future brides and grooms, all coming to seek out inspiration for their big day. And inspiration was certainly what they got!
Smiths, Gretna Hall and Greens at Gretna were packed full of exhibitors displaying their finest products and services.
All of our soon-to-be-married couples were given the opportunity to browse a series of carefully curated stalls set up by local suppliers, all hand picked by our expert Wedding Team. Couples could build their dream wedding day, with tours of our three hotel venues giving our guests an insight into the luxurious bridal suites available. Our lovely Wedding Team were on hand to answer any questions and chat through all of the options available, taking the stress out of wedding planning.
Visitors were amazed by the wedding décor ideas on show, including beautiful floral decorations from Gretna Flower Basket – the perfect way to put your stamp on the wedding venue.
Next, the important bit – catering! A delicious array of food was available to sample from canapés, prepared by our very own chefs and wedding cakes by Jenny’s Cakes, to delicious sweet treats supplied by Glen Urr Ice Cream and So Sweet Trees. Our sugar levels were kept up during the day so a huge thank you for the free samples – yum!
Soon to be brides were drawn to the display of elegant wedding gowns courtesy of Carol’s Bridal Boutique and the glistening jewellery by Nicolson & Coulthard. Our in-house salon, Spoilt at Smith’s, demonstrated how to create flawless bridal makeup which gave our brides lots of inspiring ideas.
For the grooms, Weddings Silver Lady Wedding Cars and Tartan Carriages showcased a range of lavish transport options to get the couple to their venue.
Visitors enjoyed dancing on a pixel LED dancefloor from Northern Star Events whilst listening to popular hits from Stephen Chatterton’s Jukebox.
The day was enjoyed by all and was a huge success for Gretna Green.
Getting married and missed the Wedding Fayre? Don’t worry our helpful team of Wedding Planners are available to help you plan your day. From choosing the right venue to selecting a photographer to capture those precious moments, contact our Wedding Team today by calling 01461 336001 or emailing weddings@gretnagreen.com.
5 ways to celebrate St Patrick’s Day
GO GREEN FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY
We’d like to join our friends from across the Irish Sea and celebrate St Patrick’s Day on Saturday 17th March. Here are our top 5 ways to commemorate St Paddy’s Day with food, drink and gifts from Gretna Green:
1) Sample some Irish Whisky – Our Whisky and Gifts Shop at Gretna Green is home to a range of both famous and unusual blends of malt whiskies. So whether you prefer Scottish or Irish whisky, raise a glass to St Patrick’s Day!
2) Go green – go all out with green face paint, green hair dye and green clothing or opt for the more subtle green accessory – we have a range of gorgeous green items to choose from including green tartan, coats, scarves, gloves and bags. Getting married? Why not incorporate an Irish theme into your wedding with one of our stunning Celtic rings.
3) Irish food – the only day when green food dye is acceptable is St Patrick’s day! So you can either turn your family meal green or join us at Gretna Hall for a meal that has been given the seal of approval from our Irish friends – traditional leek and potato soup, followed by smoked salmon or steak and finished off with Bailey’s Irish Cream coffee – delicious! To book a table visit https://gretnahallhotel.com/contact/ or call 01461 338257.
4) Throw an Irish themed party – the Irish certainly know how to party so why not join them with an Emerald Isle-style party. Think Irish flags, shamrock confetti and fancy dress!
5) Guinness galore! Guinness has been a St Patrick’s Day staple for centuries. Our bars at Smiths and Greens at Gretna serve Guinness as well as a range of other Irish-inspired beverages. Gaelic Pop (Chambord and sparkling wine) is one of our favourites or why not try our aptly named St. Patrick’s apple martini cocktail?
Happy St Patrick’s Day or “La Fheile Padraig” from the team at Gretna Green!
Mother’s Day at Gretna Green
Treat your mum to mother’s day at greens
With Mother’s Day just around the corner we thought we would give you a helping hand in planning a day to spoil your Mum. Here are some ideas that promise to impress on Mother’s Day.
