Sir Max Aitken Museum

(9)

£350 - £950 for Venue Hire

Up to 60

Bedrooms

Exclusive Use

Wedding Licence

Description

This famous pink building on Cowes High Street provides a historic backdrop for your special day. Originally the home of the renowned press baron and yachting entrepreneur Sir Max Aitken, the Museum was created to house his extraordinary personal collection of paintings and sailing memorabilia. In addition to this wonderful dining/reception room, a large balcony offers guests the chance to enjoy the panorama of the Solent scene with views across to the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. Should you wish to be dropped off or collected from your wedding by boat, we have steps giving access to the sea (depending on the tide!). The Museum offers an intimate space for up to 60 people for both your ceremony and reception. A choice of four nominated caterers enables you to create the perfect menu - from a simple afternoon tea to a full seated dinner. We are located in the heart of Cowes, a short walk from the Red Jet ferry service and also within 5 minutes walk of local churches and other amenities. We are here to help with your planning and will be there on the day to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Personal Message from the Manager

Name of Wedding Contact: Ruth

We offer a venue that is completely different from any other. As a small charitable organisation we provide an entirely personal service, intended to make your day perfect.

Experience

Year Business Was Established

1979

No. of Weddings Hosted

Between 10 and 30

Public Liability Insurance

Yes

No. of People In Team

Overview of Sir Max Aitken Museum

Wedding Venue Type

Museum / Attraction

Wedding Venue Capacity

Dining Capacity

Reception Capacity

120

Wedding Ceremony & Reception

Church Within Walking Distance

Wedding Licence

Wedding Venue Details

Water View

Grade I/II Listed Building

Exclusive Use

Bridal Changing Facilities

Outdoor Reception Space

Pet Friendly

Wedding Catering

Alcohol Licence

No Corkage Charge for Own Alcohol

Mediterranean

Western / European

In-house Catering

We use 4 nominated caterers who offer a range of options

Pricing for Sir Max Aitken Museum

Venue Hire Only

Prices Start At

£350

Maximum Price

£950

You can hire the Museum for your reception only from £350 and we charge £950 to hold a wedding ceremony. We specialise in offering a unique venue for your special day.

What is included in this pricing:

Exclusive use

Day before set up available

Furniture included

Choice of preferred caterers

Reviews for Sir Max Aitken Museum
(9)

Molly and Rupert

Happy couple married in May

November 2022

Special day

Thank you so much for making Rupert and my wedding celebrations so special - all our guests commented on what a wonder venue the Museum was for our day. From my perspective of organising from afar, it was so easy and straightforward to get the arrangements in place.

Carl

Happy couple married in December

November 2022

Jewel in The Isle of Wight Crown

An amazing Wedding Venue. Many of our guests had never been to the Museum before and were quite amazed what an impressive place it is. I genuinely can't think of anything else we would have changed or done differently on the day. The staff are lovely, lovely people, so helpful, as well as being incredibly patient. We cannot sing their praises enough.

Just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU for making Jeremy and Matt's wedding on Saturday such a great success. Everyone loved the Museum and it looked gorgeous with all the flowers in place.

Response from the venue

Thank you - it was a lovely day.

Venue responded

Emily and Bertrand

Happy couple married in May

November 2022

Perfect setting

Thank you so much for letting us have our wedding at the Museum, It was such a special day and the the Museum was a perfect setting.

Carrie and Sean

Happy couple married in August

November 2022

Best day of our lives

Thank you for all your help with making our wedding day so perfect. We had the best day of our lives and are so thankful to have had it in such a stunning and unique venue. Your hard work made it a very stress-free and enjoyable for us.

Lauren and Tom Ripard

Happy couple married in September

October 2022

Thank you!

I am just coming back down to earth a week after our wedding and just wanted to send a quick note to say thank you to everyone at the Sir Max Aitken Museum for your help in making our wedding day incredibly special. We particularly appreciate how flexible you all were as we quickly changed the date and rearranged the timings of the day. We would recommend the museum to anyone who is looking to get married in Cowes and we can't wait to come back and visit next summer when we are next home.

Helen and Gavin

Happy couple married in June

June 2017

We couldn't have wished for a better venue and all the guests absolutely loved the museum.

I just wanted to send you the biggest 'Thankyou' for making Gavin and my day so special. We couldn't have wished for a better venue and all the guests absolutely loved the museum.

Anon

Wedding: June

January 2017

'What an incredible place! ’

We visited here for dinner on a Saturday evening and what an incredible place. We had the pleasure of dining surrounded by a rare and fascinating collection of nauticalia.

Annabel and Carl

Happy couple married in January

January 2017

The Max Aitken Museum truly is a jewel in the Isle of Wight crown.

“Sandie and Ruth are lovely, lovely people and a real credit the Museum. They were both so helpful, as well as being incredibly patient while Annabel and myself were taking our time deciding on seating arrangements etc. All both Annabel and myself have done since the wedding, is sing the praises of the Museum - it was a fantastic day, in an amazing location - The Max Aitken Museum truly is a Jewel in the Isle of Wight Crown, and a place that shouldn't be missed on a visit to the Island."

Location & Contact Details for Sir Max Aitken Museum

Website

Phone

Wedding Venue Address

83 High Street, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7AJ, England, United Kingdom

Travel Notes

High speed ferries run from Southampton to Cowes and from Portsmouth to Ryde- journey time 25 minutes. There is also a car ferry service from both Southampton, Portsmouth and Lymington

Nearest Town

Cowes

Nearest Motorway & Junction

M3 Southampton

Nearest Train Station

Southampton

Nearest Airport

Southampton

Gallery

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FAQs

Find out a bit more from our FAQs

Describe the best wedding that happened at Sir Max Aitken Museum?

A small wedding with 50 people at Christmas time. It was organised at very short notice for two very busy people ( the bride bought her dress the week before the wedding, the groom works abroad!) They were thrilled and delighted with everything.

What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?

Plan, but also enjoy!

What’s your favourite personal touch you’ve seen at a wedding?

An artist who did 5 minute profile portraits of the guests, cut from paper.

Describe Sir Max Aitken Museum in 5 adjectives

Unique, fascinating, historic and friendly

Where’s the best photo spot at Sir Max Aitken Museum?

Sat at the table from the Royal Yacht, Victoria & Albert

Have you had any celebrity guest or wedding at Sir Max Aitken Museum?

Dame Ellen MacArthur - round the world yachtswoman and founder of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

What’s your favourite canapé?

Minature roast beef & yorkshire pudding

What’s your favourite midnight treat?

Buttered toast

What is Sir Max Aitken Museum most unique feature?

The wonderful selection of paintings and exhibits

What part of your business are you most proud of?

The variety of events held here

Bridebook Benefits

Bridebook Giftx

Bridebook Special Offerx

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Sir Max Aitken Museum