PRESS RELEASE

JAN 2023

GRETNA GREEN HOSTS BBC SONGS OF PRAISE FOR SPECIAL EPISODE ON LOVE 

 Gretna Green, the original home of romance, is set to host an episode of one of Britain’s longest running television programmes, Songs of Praise. The episode - ‘God is Love’, will air on BBC One, on 12th February 2023.  Gretna Green was chosen as the anchor venue for the show thanks to its rich romantic heritage, which dates back many generations. 

The episode will explore many different aspects of love, and how it ties together with Christianity. The show will begin and end at Gretna Green at the gateway to Scotland and will explore the destination’s unique connection with love and marriage.  Susan Houston from Gretna Green, the family-owned business, talks with presenter Claire McCollum about the resort’s incredible history and heritage including how it has been passed down over five generations of the family since 1885.  The show also explores some real life love stories as the presenter chats with a minister and a couple who were married at the famous wedding destination. 

Historically, Gretna Green was a popular hotspot for eloping couples due to its location on the Scottish border and the strict Marriage Act in place in England. Couples would travel across into the neighbouring country to tie the knot, after former Blacksmiths discovered that working as ‘anvil priests’, and marrying star crossed lovers in the process, was a more profitable endeavour. Now Gretna Green is an award-winning wedding, hospitality, retail and experience destination drawing in customers from all over the world to share in the ‘world’s greatest love story’. 

Songs of Praise, is centred around faith and spirituality that presents Christian hymns sung in churches and a variety of other inspiring locations of varying denominations from around the UK. It attracts millions of viewers and Gretna Green’s appearance on the show will tie in with the annual ‘St Valentine’ episode. 

The Songs of Praise episode ‘God is Love’ will air on BBC One, on 12th February 2023.

PRESS RELEASE

21st December 2022

Gretna Green Supports Gretna Day Centre Christmas Lunch

• Gretna Green continues long-running support of Gretna Day Centre
• Christmas lunch ingredients for 160 people donated
• 160 boxes of Gretna Green fudge also donated to spark some festive cheer

Gretna Green, the award-winning wedding, hospitality, retail and experience destination, located in Dumfries & Galloway, donated Christmas lunch ingredients for 160 people to Gretna Day Centre.

The donation was made last week to support people at the most wonderful time of year. The donation also included 160 boxes of Gretna Green fudge to bring a further smile to the faces of those who use the community centre.

On Wednesday the 14th of December, Gretna Day Centre visitors enjoyed a Festive Lunch using the donated ingredients as the Gretna Green team stopped by to wish them Merry Christmas, while 50 of 160 lunches went out as a “Meal on Wheels” for those ones who couldn’t be present.

Isabel Rhodes, Chief Executive at Gretna Green, said:

"As a local, family-owned business, we recognise the importance of the service Gretna Day Centre provides to our community. We have been longstanding partners, and we're delighted to continue to support Gretna Day Centre at this special time of year."

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For more information or imagery, please contact the Gretna Green press office

[email protected]

Notes to editors 

About Gretna Green

Gretna Green is the home of weddings and one of the top wedding destinations in the UK. The Famous Blacksmiths Shop, in Gretna Green, has over 260 years of history and heritage, joining couples since 1754, and is now a world-class, award-winning wedding destination, with a 5-star visitor attraction, shopping and two hotels. Through five generations of ownership, since 1885, this family-owned and operated business has been at the heart of Gretna Green and Dumfries and Galloway local history for over 135 years.

PRESS RELEASE

20^th of December 2022

Gretna Green welcomes Gretna Primary School for Carol Singing

Gretna Green welcomed 20 pupils from Gretna Primary School to sing Christmas carols for visitors at the Famous Blacksmiths Foodcourt on Friday 16^th December. Led by the primary class teacher, the children sang different Christmas classics, including Jingle Bells, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Santa Claus Got Stuck Up the Chimney. The pupils enjoyed singing to visitors of the Famous Blacksmiths Shop and the Gretna Green team members who stopped by to watch the kids’ performance. After the performance, Gretna Green team members gave to each pupil a gift that included a Gretna Green Jute bag, fudge, biscuits and a teddy bear. Isabel Rhodes, Chief Executive at Gretna Green, said: “It is such a pleasure to welcome pupils from the local school to sing Christmas Carols for our visitors and colleagues. It is always heart-warming to see the local community spread some festive cheer.”

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For more information or imagery, please contact the Gretna Green press office

[email protected]

Notes to editors 

About Gretna Green

Gretna Green is the home of weddings and one of the top wedding destinations in the UK. The Famous Blacksmiths Shop, in Gretna Green, has over 260 years of history and heritage, joining couples since 1754, and is now a world-class, award-winning wedding destination, with a 5-star visitor attraction, shopping and two hotels. Through five generations of ownership, since 1885, this family-owned and operated business has been at the heart of Gretna Green and Dumfries and Galloway local history for over 135 years.

PRESS RELEASE

12^th of December 2022

 Gretna Green Supports Springfield Primary School to Spread Festive Cheer

• Gretna Green continues long-running support of local primary school
• Gretna Green hampers donated to school for festive prize draw
• School pupils welcomed to Gretna Green to sing festive carols

Gretna Green, the award-winning wedding, hospitality, retail, and experience destination, located in Dumfries & Galloway, supports Springfield Primary School again this year to spread some festive cheer. 

Last week, 8^th of December, Gretna Green donated 3 hampers for Springfield Primary School’s Festive Prize Draw. Hampers were handmade by the Gretna Green team in Christmas theme. They contained a variety of festive fare, including sweets and biscuits, chocolates, tea, Christmas crackers, cosy cashmere scarves, candles and a voucher for a full Christmas lunch, including a turkey that can be collected from Gretna Green.

 On Monday 12^th December, Gretna Green welcomed 31 Springfield Primary School pupils to sing Christmas carols for visitors to the retail & attractions site. The schoolchildren enjoyed seeing Gretna Green’s Christmas decorations on display and gave a truly magical performance. Each pupil also got a Gretna Green Jute bag with sweets, pencils, a pen, and a Gretna Green Teddy Bear.

Being in a long partnership with Springfield Primary School, Gretna Green knows for sure what type of gifts would be appreciated more in such time of the year.

Isabel Rhodes, Chief Executive at Gretna Green, said: “We’re proud of our partnership with Springfield Primary School and how we’re working with them to spread some festive cheer. From supplying hampers for the school’s prize draw to welcoming the schoolchildren to Gretna Green to sing carols, it’s a testament to what our two organisations can do when they come together for the local community.”

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For more information or imagery, please contact the Gretna Green press office

[email protected]

Notes to editors 

About Gretna Green

Gretna Green is the home of weddings and one of the top wedding destinations in the UK. The Famous Blacksmiths Shop, in Gretna Green, has over 260 years of history and heritage, joining couples since 1754, and is now a world-class, award-winning wedding destination, with a 5-star visitor attraction, shopping and two hotels. Through five generations of ownership, since 1885, this family-owned and operated business has been at the heart of Gretna Green and Dumfries and Galloway local history for over 135 years.

Christmas Afternoon Tea 

Looking to fill your weekend with some festive plans? Then why not come to Gretna Green Famous Blacksmith Shop and enjoy our Christmas-themed afternoon tea.

Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea with a Christmas twist. Tuck into a selection of sandwiches, cakes, and scones, as well as mince pies and mulled wine. Enjoy all of this for just $16.50 per person. 

Can’t make it before Christmas? Don’t worry, our Christmas afternoon tea will continue until the 31st of December.

Book today by calling - 01461 337893

What is Pride Month?

Pride Month is celebrated every year in June to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York which took place from 28th June to 3rd July 1969. These demonstrations came about by members of the LGBTQ+ community as a response to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a well-known gay bar at the time. Although these events happened in America, the Stonewall Riots became a significant turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights across the globe, including in the UK.

So much so, that in 1969, the Committee for Homosexual Equality (CHE) reforms, and begins to gain support from medical professionals and the church. This was a small but important step in LGBTQ+ rights during this year in the UK.

Pride at Gretna Green 

During the 60’s Gretna Green had developed a profile of being a somewhat ‘love conquers all’ place. On the 22nd of June 1969, just six days before the stonewall riots, having known that Gretna Green was a place that forged together hearts no matter the ‘scandal’, a gay German man wrote to the ‘mayor’ of Gretna Green, although the village did not have it’s own mayor at the time so the letter was received by the Famous Blacksmiths Shop in the in hope of same-sex marriage.

It states,

“I have recently been informed that it is possible for two people of the same sex to get married at Gretna Green” And goes on to ask for information.

After the Irregular Marriages Act was passed in 1940, marriages conducted at the Famous Blacksmith Shop were no longer legally valid. However, that didn’t stop couples flocking to the Blacksmith’s for an Anvil Blessing after a register office ceremony. And so, although it was not until 45 years later in 2014 that same-sex marriage was legal in Scotland, Gretna Green is proud to be an inclusive wedding venue, joining hearts from far and wide for decades, and prior to the change in the act have conducted many civil partnerships.

Art Anvil

To celebrate the change in Martial Law in Scotland we ran a competition to redesign one of our Anvils. Which Erin Colquhoun from Glasgow School of Art won. You can find out more about our Art Anvil here and visit the Anvil itself in our new Famous Blacksmith Experience.

We believe that no matter what, love conquers all. 

Travelling to a Festival this summer? Take a Break with a Stop-Off at the Famous Blacksmiths Shop, Gretna Green!

Edinburgh Fringe, Rebellion, Reading & Leeds, Solfest, Creamfields, Edinburgh Military Tattoo… Whichever festival you’re travelling to this summer, make Gretna Green your designated ‘pit stop! Just off the M6, M74 and A75, the Famous Blacksmiths Shop 5-Star Visitor Attraction is much more than you think. The perfect place to rest up with free parking, 5-star toilet facilities, dining, shopping and more!

Discover Cycling-Friendly Gretna Green & View All Our Cycle Routes

Love cycling? Looking for a new cycle adventure? Add us to your list of destinations this Summer, or split up your next long-distance cycle with a stop-off at Gretna Green's 5-star Famous Blacksmiths Shop Attractions!

Summer Holiday Days Out at the Famous Blacksmiths Shop, Gretna Green

It’s finally time for the summer holidays! So, why not do something unforgettable this summer with an exciting family day out at Gretna Green’s 5-star Famous Blacksmiths Shop Attractions? We have so many incredible things to see and do for a truly memorable adventure – perfect for the kids, and, even better, we’re dog-friendly too! Click the map below to download your own:

Happy Chinese New Year 2019, the year of the pig!