Review – Glebe Gardens Cork

Outdoor Dining Area

This is by far the most unique wedding venue that i have come across in Ireland this year.

Glebe Gardens is as organic as you could possibly find. It is family run with Mum Jean and Father Peter transforming the landscape to this incredible special place. Tessa their daughter is the driving force behind sharing it with the public. The family are so endearing and you will fall in love with their honesty and integrity. They just put you at ease. At the end of the day, when you walk in to Glebe Gardens, you are in their family back garden so you are treated like a friend more so than a general visitor.

I enjoyed a spot of lunch and couldn’t get over the freshness. I remarked to my husband that the lettuce tasted like it just came from the garden. I was later informed that it had in fact just come from the garden. Anything that can be grown in the garden is and all other ingredients are sourced locally. Oh and did i mention that they have their own bakery!

There is an indoor restaurant which can take apx 40 guests which is ideal for a small intimate wedding. If you have more guests heading towards the 120/140 mark, the restaurant can extend outdoors which is covered by a ships sail and your guests are fully protected against the rain. This probably isn’t a good option in the depths of winter.

As much food as possible is sourced from the garden and what i loved was that Tessa hand picks flowers from the garden on the morning of your wedding and uses them for the centrepieces on each table. You could also get your bouquets sourced from the garden too. Now that’s service.

You are spoilt for choice for photos for your wedding. I don’t even know where to start with this. There is a herb garden, flower garden, lake with a little boat, wooden bridge over the lake, and then an outdoor amphi-theatre.

The amphi-theatre is an amazing ceremony location (weather permitting). They host events regularly and some amazing talents have performed there including Lisa Hannigan and Tommy Tiernan. Gemma Hayes actually had her wedding there as well as Tessa and she had the very cool Hot House Flowers perform for her wedding. We got to enjoy a performance of the Lion King while we were there. The rain stayed off and they put on an amazing BBQ which went down a treat.

No matter how much i rave about this place, it will not do it justice, you really need to see it for your self. Trust me, you will not be disappointed with what you see.

Take a look at my pics from my visit: