Hôtel d'Angleterre

A small five-star hotel on the Geneva quay

Hôtel d'Angleterre is a five-star hotel at Quai du Mont-Blanc 17 in Geneva, part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection. Its wedding page, published in English and French, offers the hotel for the reception and dinner rather than a large banquet: 3 rooms, the largest combination seating 70, with a wedding menu that runs from Champagne aperitif to the toast. For a couple from abroad the English page is a real advantage, and the scale of the offer makes this a venue for an intimate, formal wedding in the center of the city.

The page sets out the hotel's promise in its own words: "an immaculately spellbinding environment and an unsurpassed level of service", and the claim that the team is "hugely experienced at organising the most involved and complex events in ways that appear elegantly effortless."

The 3 rooms

The page names the spaces for the reception and dinner directly. "The Parquet Room seats up to 45 guests and can be extended to 70 when combined with the Louise Room." For smaller weddings, Le 17 Restaurant has a private wing with views over the lake, the mountains and the Jet d'Eau, which the page calls ideal for more intimate receptions of up to 35 guests.

In practice that gives 3 sizes: up to 35 in the private wing of Le 17, up to 45 in the Parquet Room, and up to 70 when the Parquet and Louise rooms are combined. There is no option on the page for a larger party, and no mention of a ceremony room or an outdoor space, so couples should ask where a ceremony could take place, if at all, and plan for the civil ceremony elsewhere if the hotel cannot host it.

The wedding menu

The page describes what a wedding dinner includes, which is more detail than many Swiss hotels publish. In its words: "Savour a choice of aperitifs with Champagne and canapés, followed by a delicious three-course menu, spectacular wedding cake, wine, tea and coffee and a glass of champagne for the toast." Couples also get a choice of fresh flowers and "a romantic array of floating candles". Menus change with the seasons, and every detail can be tailored to personal taste.

Food comes from the hotel's own kitchen; the concierge page names the executive chef of Le 17 as Alexandre Cardiga. The wedding page does not publish prices for the menu or for room hire, and it does not say whether outside suppliers such as a baker for the cake or a florist of the couple's choice are welcome.

Rooms for the couple and guests

The rooms page says the hotel has 39 luxury rooms and six suites, some richly decorated, others with a view over Lake Léman. The categories shown include Classic Queen rooms, Premium King rooms with a city view, and Exclusive Lake View rooms with a marble bathroom. For a small wedding, a large share of the guest list could stay in the house, and the hotel's site also has a honeymoon section, which suits a couple staying on after the wedding. The wedding page gives no group rate or room block terms.

The room descriptions are specific about comfort. All three categories shown have Savoir beds with Swiss-made Elite mattresses; the Classic Queen adds turndown service, fine bedding and a tea and coffee tray, the Premium King a choice of duvets and feather pillows and luxury toiletries, and the Exclusive Lake View a marble bathroom and express checkout. The hotel's site also has pages for families and for guests traveling with pets, which helps when relatives arrive with children or a dog.

For guests with time to spare

The hotel's concierge recommendations are aimed squarely at visitors. They include an early-morning or late-afternoon fishing trip on the lake with a local fisherman, after which the catch can be cooked by the executive chef at Le 17; a tuk-tuk tour of the lakeshore and the old town; a one-day workshop to make a watch or a piece of jewelry; a traditional boat cruise to towns and villages on the French shore; private boat trips; a visit to Carouge; and a guide to Geneva's parks. There are also suggestions for day trips into France and elsewhere in Switzerland. The location section adds pages on the lake, Geneva's attractions, culture and shopping, parks and golf, skiing and vineyards. For guests flying in for a long weekend, that is a ready-made program around the wedding day.

The site also has sections on breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea, private dining, The Leopard Bar and The Cigar Lounge, which cover a rehearsal dinner, a farewell brunch or drinks the night before.

Contact and planning

For weddings the page gives a direct line, +41 (0) 22 906 5532, and an "Enquire now" form. The hotel's main number is +41 022 906 5555. The site also links a brochure and an FAQ page, and it has a location and directions page for guests working out how to arrive. The wedding page itself gives no directions, parking information or airport transfer details, so couples should send guests to that page and ask the hotel about transfers.

What the page does not settle

The page does not publish prices, minimum spend, minimum guest numbers, deposit terms or cancellation rules. It does not say how late a reception can run, whether there is room for dancing in the Parquet and Louise rooms, or whether the private wing of Le 17 is closed to other diners. The page is published in English and French, but it does not state which languages the events team works in, so couples should confirm when they enquire.

Who it suits

Hôtel d'Angleterre suits couples planning a formal wedding dinner for up to 70 guests, or an intimate one for 35 or fewer, in the center of Geneva, with guests staying in the same hotel and a menu that already covers everything from the Champagne aperitif to the toast. The caveats are the size limit, the absence of any ceremony or garden space on the page, and prices that are only available on request.