Saint Gabriel’sOrthodox Youth Ceilidh Ball
Blessed by His Grace Bishop Irenei of Western Europe and London.
You are warmly invited to an evening of dinner, music and dancing at Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight, with a five-piece ceilidh band and a caller to see you through the steps. Dress is formal, with layers to take on or off at your discretion, and kilts are encouraged.
The list closes on Friday 30 October, or sooner if the room is full.
A dinner, a band, and a ceilidh
This evening follows the Ascension Spring Ball, hosted at Strawberry Hill in London, which filled its room and sent people home asking when the next one would be. This is the next one, held in the north.
It is also an evening about what it means to be Orthodox in Britain. British tradition, as we have inherited it, has been separated from Orthodoxy for more than a thousand years, since the Norman invasion, and the faith is only now returning to these isles.
So the question the evening puts, without labouring it: how do we merge the traditions already present in this land with the re-emerging Orthodox faith? A ceilidh is a reasonable place to begin asking.
Three courses, seated
A set menu, pre-ordered, served at table, no fuss made of it.
A five-piece ceilidh band, and a caller
Every dance talked through first. You need not know the steps.
Formal, and kilts encouraged
Ties optional. Kilts are always welcome.
The evening, hour by hour
Dinner is served promptly at seven. If you are coming from the office, the reception runs the full hour before it.
Reception
Guests received as they arrive. Something to drink, and the band tuning up.
Grace and dinner
Grace said, followed by a relaxed three-course set menu at table, pre-ordered.
A short address
A few words from Father Paul. Ten minutes, no longer.
The ceilidh
A five-piece band and a caller. Every dance talked through before it starts.
Carriages
The band plays out, and we find our coats.
Formal
Dress as you would for a formal dinner, with layers to take on or off at your discretion. Kilts are encouraged.
For men
- Suit trousers or smart trousers, worn with a shirt.
- Ties are optional, and not expected.
- Shoes you can dance a ceilidh in; the floor gets used.
- Clergy: cassock or clerical dress is entirely welcome.
For women
- Midi dresses are generally the easiest thing to wear.
- Flats or low heels are worth it: there is a great deal of movement in the dancing.
- Bring a wrap; the hall is cool before dinner.
Kilts are always encouraged and always welcome.
The venue, and how to reach it
Hulme Hall
23 Bolton Rd, Bebington, Wirral CH62 5DH
A Grade II listed hall in Port Sunlight village, with a separate lounge for dinner and ball room for the ceilidh, so there is no turnaround between the two.
Open in mapsBy train
Port Sunlight has its own railway station, a short walk from the hall, on the Wirral Line from Liverpool.
Parking
Ample car parking on site; the hall opens at 10am, with plenty of time to arrive and settle in.
Staying over
Hulme Hall does not have rooms of its own, but there is plenty nearby. Accommodation is set out below.
Accommodation
Accommodation is not included in the ticket. It can be booked independently, or arranged through the church if that is easier. If the cost of staying over is a concern, do get in touch and we will look at the alternatives with you.
Recommended hotels
Hulme Hall does not have rooms of its own. The two closest and most straightforward options are Village Hotel Wirral and Travelodge Bromborough, both a short drive or taxi from the hall.
Staying in Liverpool
Liverpool has the widest choice of hotels and the most availability. Stay somewhere close to a Liverpool train station: there are direct trains from Liverpool to Port Sunlight, and direct buses to St Elisabeth’s.
Coming by car
There is ample car parking on site at Hulme Hall, if you would rather drive.
Get in touch
Tell us a little about your situation and we will suggest cheaper alternatives, help a group share a room, or look at what the church can arrange.
Or write to us directly at fatherpaul@newmartyr.info.
Taking a place
Every price includes dinner and the ceilidh band. Take a single place, a pair, or a table for your parish or youth group.
Single ticket
£60
per guest, dinner included
- Reception and a three-course set menu at table
- A choice of dishes per course, pre-ordered ahead of the evening
- The ceilidh band and dancing, and the order of the evening
Double ticket
£110
for two guests, £10 less than two single tickets
- Everything above, for two, at a discounted rate
- Seated together, on a table of your choosing where possible
- Both guests’ menu choices taken together
Parish ticket
£300
for six guests, dinner included
- A table of six, named as you wish
- Your parish or group named in the programme
- Menu choices and dietary requirements collected for the whole table
Payment is handled by Stripe; we never see your card details. If the price is the thing standing in your way, do write to us; a number of places are held back each year for exactly that reason.