Just a stone’s throw east of Cork is a not-so-well-kept secret that is The Radisson Blu Hotel, Cork.
The picturesque Ditchley house was commissioned in the late 1700s by Arthur Henry Julian, a local solicitor. In 1958, the Ellis family bought the property and made it their home. Sold to O’Flynn Construction in the 1990s, The Radisson Blu Hotel Cork opened its doors in 2005.
The hotel was subsequently acquired by iNUA Hospitality in 2013, which transformed it into the modern hotel it is today. Since its grand opening, back in 2005, the hotel has hosted over 920 couples for their wedding drinks reception at Ditchley House and their wedding banquet in the Great Island Ballroom. As your guests walk the halls of Ditchley House, they will observe rooms named after some of the ancestors who lived there.
The hotel and Ditchley House now occupy nine acres of land, boasting an impressive 126 bedrooms and a range of state-of-the-art facilities, including a leisure centre with a Hydrotherapy Pool, a Spa for pre-wedding preparations, and a function room capable of comfortably accommodating up to 420 guests for larger events. Additionally, there is a private drinks reception area within Ditchley House, which is seamlessly integrated into the hotel.
Despite its proximity to Cork City, the Radisson provides a sense of seclusion and tranquillity, making couples feel like they are in their own private world when hosting their wedding reception here. Ditchley House features its own private Garden, serving as a picturesque backdrop for outdoor civil ceremonies, drinks receptions, and essential family photos.
For couples seeking an intimate celebration, Ditchley House offers a charming space capable of accommodating weddings of up to 40 guests. The hotel’s Wedding Manager, Zoe, takes care of couples right away, from their initial enquiry and ensures everything goes smoothly right up to the wedding day of their dreams.
Wedding parties wishing to prepare for nuptials on the morning of the wedding at the hotel can reserve two of the interconnecting bedrooms. A private breakfast buffet in the room can be enjoyed as you begin your adornment. You can be safe in the knowledge that your friends on the Radisson Team will be seeing to the final touches downstairs ensuring your wishes become reality. Zoe, in particular, acts like a trusted friend, ensuring that every detail, down to the placement of each fork, is precisely as envisioned.
Ceremonies can be held at the Hotel, and the team will be on hand to ensure that everything is in order. They will welcome wedding guests into the ceremony room, and reserve special seating for immediate family and the wedding party. They will keep everything on track ensuring a seamless transition to the next part of your day. Guests are directed to the beautiful Ditchley House for the drinks reception where the newlyweds can greet their guests, and celebrate while enjoying complimentary drinks.
A really nice touch is that the wedding couple get to see the ballroom set up and ready before the dinner bell is rung and your guests assemble. This allows you to get an intimate photograph with your cake, before your grand entrance to cheers and waving napkins.
The kitchen team boasts over 40 years of experience and each dish is meticulously crafted to order, ensuring culinary perfection. Under the guidance of the Banqueting Manager, the team executes a smooth food service, leaving guests with happy, satisfied bellies.
The Radisson Blu Cork takes pride in its dedicated wedding team, which treats all couples like royalty. With the hotel hosting only one wedding a day, couples can rest assured that they are the centre of attention.
“The hotel and its surrounding area are beautiful, the staff is beyond professional and friendly, and the food is always top class. Also, our wedding coordinator was fantastic.”
“Close to the city centre but with lovely gardens, there is an almost country feel to the hotel. Also, the staff are professional yet still warm and welcoming. It is the perfect combination of a city/chain Hotel with a country/boutique atmosphere.”
“Beautiful setting that you can celebrate your whole day from the ceremony to the reception and the pictures. Once you arrive for the ceremony you don’t have to leave as everything you need is in one place. Food is amazing and it’s just a beautiful backdrop for your big day with fabulous packages and decorations to make your day the best and most beautiful day ever.”
At the Radisson Blu Cork, the team understands that planning a wedding can be overwhelming. That’s why couples who book with them receive a wedding guide and a wedding idea booklet. The wedding guide answers every question that has been asked over the years, while the wedding idea booklet provides some fun DIY ideas for the wedding day.
Book a show around by completing the form below. Start envisioning saying “I Do” at Radisson Blu Cork.
