Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa

We had our wedding here on the 11/9/2021 and it the hotel was just perfect in size for our numbers, had enough outdoor space (away from the golfers) to entertain our guests children and to top it off honestly we couldn't have asked for better staff, the reception staff were very accommodating to the needs of all our guests, and the catering team were near perfection with the food. The highlight however were the team be running our wedding, Niki and Kristan (sorry if I've spelled your names wrong) treated us so well it was like we'd known them our whole lives and like they were extra family members attending the wedding.

Had a lovely time at a wedding, my partner and I were really excellently catered for as vegans, and the staff were incredibly well organised and helpful.

I really really don't know where to start with this, we have had the most beautiful experience with the team at MacDonald Portal, right from booking our wedding in April 2019, all the way through the pandemic, to assisting me in every single way possible. Chloe and Nicky have been the most wonderful wedding planners and we generally couldn't of picked a better team to get us through the hurdle! We had the most amazing time ever over the full weekend, the food was absolutely amazing (thank you so so so much Chefs). A special thank you to Kristen- an absolutely beautiful soul, from arriving on Friday night all the way through until 3am on Sunday morning, she was with us helping with anything she could, it felt like I had known her all my life. Nothing has been too much trouble- even during lockdowns!!! Me and my now husband felt so welcome and like part of the family! There was always enough staff for the bars, noone was ever waiting long for anything at all! Nicky was the best golf caddy driver 😉 and I am so so so sad everything is over now! So grateful to have found this beautiful hidden gem!! Thank you so much 🥰

Despite all the restrictions and rules that were in place at the time, you really helped make our day feel very special for us after what was such a stressful and sometimes very upsetting rollercoaster ride of pandemic wedding planning! When we returned to you after our ceremony at Chester Town Hall, we loved every minute of our ride on the golf buggy over the course which enabled us to get some really wonderful wedding pictures, thank you for facilitating this for us! I will never forget spotting the little vases of flowers you put out for us in the Castle Suite too, despite us not being allowed any decorations in there - those little touches really warmed my heart. And finally, for putting our song on and turning the volume up a little louder than you were allowed so we could do our 'first dance'. You were fantastic and I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to email you to thank you! Thank you so very much and please extend our thanks to all the staff that were on shift that day, who waited on us and were all so kind.

I would like to say a big thank you to all the staff who made our wedding day and evening feel so special! Particularly Alison, whom wherever I looked, seemed to be there dealing with one task or another! I can't fault the venue, particularly as we took full advantage of the grassed roof terrace for the ceremony itself. The wind however, was beyond anyone's control! The only thing I'm disappointed about, was forgetting we had 4 golf buggies set aside for the wedding photos, which we didn't use because of the wind. Although after a few drinks, that was probably for the best! Thanks again.