Middleton Park House, Castletown Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath
reviewed by Mark White - Brides Online

On one of the rare days in mid-August when the sun - briefly - broke through the clouds, I visited Middleton Park House with Siobhan to take the bridal tour and give an additional insight (above and beyond what can be read in the literature and on the MPH website) to brides and grooms interested in booking the venue for their reception.

The entrance to the grounds is via the quiet village of Castletown Geoghegan - a few miles outside Mullingar and leads the visitor up a
Middleton Park House: Front View
winding drive (past the requisite groundsmen - busy mowing the verges) through mature woodland into a spacious, gravelled area at the front of the house. We were immediately drawn to the excellence of the exterior renovation work which has only recently been completed. The Middleton Park House website will tell you that the house was built in 1850. I'm no expert in the field but George Boyd and architect George Papworth seem to have known what they were doing 150 years ago. This house is, at once, impressive. For some strange reason the crunch of gravel beneath the tyres slows us down - I think I have been humbled - but maybe not quite...
The entrance hall is breathtaking. A magnificent staircase leads the eye upward to a panoramic landing above - which was the focal point for a bride's grand staircase entrance recently. Think Greta Garbo in a flowing satin gown - her hand gently resting on the bannister as she descends to the waiting guests below, with a smile that says, "This is my moment!" We move to the drawing room...

Almost subconsciously I begin to think like a wedding guest and admire the fact that although the proportions of the room are Georgian (high ceilings etc), the decor has been chosen well. I feel relaxed and imagine myself engaging in some intense conversation while sipping a 50 year old cognac and puffing on an aromatic cigar (the no smoking ban has put paid to the latter but for a moment or two Micheal Martin is forgotten). Off the drawing room is the conservatory with glassed roof, floor to ceiling windows and judicious planting. The afternoon sun warms the room. From the conservatory we move to the first of 2 ground floor bars. My cognac has been forgotten, replaced by a pint...a seemless transformation - 1850 to 2007...
Middleton Park House: Hall
From the bar we move to the ground floor banqueting room. Each guest is seated within view of the top table which is always a feature worth mentioning. The color scheme is neutral which lends itself to creativity when decorating according to the couples' taste.The alternative banqueting area is the vaulted ceiling basement hall but I prefer upstairs with its views of the rear gardens. Downstairs feels more medievil, probably as a result of the reduced light entering the space. Middleton Park House will accommodate 140 guests depending on your choice of banqueting hall and seating arrangements. Kitchens are below stairs (away from both banqueting areas) so there should never be an issue with kitchen noise which seems to detract from the ambience of the room in other venues. Unusually, dancing takes place in the entrance hall - not the banqueting rooms but when you think of the unavoidable delay this always causes setting up the room - it begins to make sense. The band is ready to go when dining is complete.

I briefly met the Executive Chef and am assured that she has a wealth of worldwide experience and has assembled a team to guarantee a top class menu is always available - and with the new restaurant opening on 2nd September next - I have no doubt that this is the case...she has already established a solid reputation with MPH guests...
We climb the stairs to the 360 degree landing - off of which are situated the 4 suites. Each has its own distinct character and there is a choice of 2 as the bridal suite - both having memorable views over the rear gardens of the house. With king beds, sofas and free-standing baths and mirrors in the en-suites, these bedrooms are luxurious. My eye is drawn to a black waste paper basket under the writing table in one of the suites. The Middleton Park House logo is on the basket. Another room features a ceiling light with a gold/bronze leaf-effect. The 12 guest bedrooms in the Bell Tower Wing are modern hotel rooms with a subtle theme running throughout all the accommodation. The attention to detail in the finishing does not escape my notice and scores highly...
Middleton Park House: Lounge
Speaking of attention to detail, the GRO (General Registry Office) recently changed the rules regarding registry marriages. You may now have your ceremony in the hotel where your reception takes place. There is a chapel at Middleton Park House. The website doesn't mention this but it should be noted for those couples preparing for a civil ceremony...

From a groom's point of view there is a room upstairs which will convince you that this is without a doubt the venue for your wedding. A snooker table graces the centre of the room and in the corner there is a large LCD TV with Wii connected up and ready to go. I was recently at a wedding when all the ladies disappeared to wherever ladies disappear to at 3 in the morning. The men were sitting around discussing what to do next until someone remembered that the hotel had a games room. We played 'til breakfast...

Middleton Park House seems to constantly move across the ages. The senses are constantly being bombarded with references to Georgian, Victorian and the present day with a touch of art deco thrown in for good measure. The walls are adorned with reproduction art. Original features seamlessly mingle with the contemporary. The overall effect is somewhat unsettling but ultimately satiates!

Leaving, I recalled a classic scene from Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings where the trees speak for themselves. Middleton Park House whispers a Dickensian invitation to relive the revelry of the 1800's in a house which has been utterly transformed into a contemporary venue for an unforgettable wedding...well worth a visit some Sunday afternoon...

Website: www.mph.ie
Directions: From Mullingar - Take the Ballymore road - turn left at the crossroads in Loughnavally - enter grounds via village of Castletown Geoghegan - from Athlone: turn right at the crossroads in Loughnavally
Date Visited: Thursday 16th August 2007
Rating: 9/10 - Given a wedding party of 100 - most of your guests will have to find overnight accommodation locally. While there are plenty of beds to be found in the area and the Middleton Park House can arrange transport, I would always prefer to be accommodated at the venue.