ONE of the region’s grandest stately homes is to open its doors for weddings for the first time.

Previously, Sir John and Lady Ropner have only allowed family weddings to be held at Thorp Perrow, near Bedale, North Yorkshire.

The couple are opening their home to the public for the first time.

They have given he exclusive rights to cater for weddings and other private functions to chef and businessman Clive Wilkinson, who runs Catterick-based CWC Malings Ltd.

As part of the arrangement, Mr Wilkinson, who has cooked for royals and Government ministers, has taken assumed responsibility for organising wedding receptions at Thorp Perrow - which until now has been better known for its 85-acre public Arboretum.

The first wedding reception will take place on Saturday, when Louise Kirby and Oliver Carter, from North Yorkshire, will bring up to 80 guests to Thorp Perrow to celebrate their wedding.

Mr Wilkinson said: "Thorp Perrow is a unique venue and to be granted the exclusive rights to stage wedding receptions and other private events here is both a privilege, and a fantastic opportunity for CWC.

"Until now, Thorp Perrow has been a private home and this makes it one of the best kept secrets in Yorkshire.

“People visiting the Arboretum are only able to view the house from a distance across the lake, so when word gets out about how special the home is we hope demand will be high.”