The Spread Eagle hosts civil weddings, private dinners, birthday parties, christenings and business meetings for up to 90 seated guests and 120 at an evening reception. The coaching inn stands on the banks of the River Ribble in the village of Sawley, near Clitheroe in Lancashire, on the edge of the Forest of Bowland, and has 11 bedrooms upstairs for guests who stay the night.
Seminars and company events
The inn lists business meetings and corporate functions among the events it takes. The Sawley Suite works for a board meeting or a working lunch of up to 24 people, while the Abbey Suite suits a larger team dinner or a company celebration. Menus can be adapted to the occasion, from buffets to private dining, and the 11 bedrooms let a small team stay on site. Festive group menus run from late November for Christmas parties.
Weddings and receptions
The Abbey Suite holds a licence for civil ceremonies, so the ceremony, the wedding breakfast and the evening party can all take place in one building. It seats up to 90 guests for the ceremony and the meal, and takes up to 120 for the evening celebration. Picture windows look over the rolling hills along the Ribble, and the remains of Sawley Abbey give a backdrop for photographs. Inside, the suite has a rustic interior and feature fireplaces. The inn offers wedding packages, including an evening Twilight Wedding package for 70 guests, and arranges viewings for couples.
Rooms and capacities
The Abbey Suite is the main event space, with up to 90 seated and 120 standing in the evening. The Sawley Suite is a smaller private dining room for up to 24 guests. Outside, a courtyard and riverside areas, including a new outdoor space, take drinks receptions, summer parties and relaxed private celebrations. The bar and dining room can also be part of a wedding day.
Accommodation
The inn has 11 individually designed en-suite bedrooms, many with views of the River Ribble and the valley beyond. Couples can prepare and stay on site, and close family can book the remaining rooms. The inn is dog-friendly, rooms included.
Catering
All food comes from the inn's own kitchen, which cooks a seasonal pub menu, Sunday roasts and the Eccles cakes the house is known for. For events, the team offers buffet and private dining menus and can tailor dishes to the occasion. Breakfast is served to residents each morning.
History and setting
The Spread Eagle is a traditional coaching inn in the Ribble Valley, set beside the river and close to the remains of Sawley Abbey. Walks start from the door, and the beer garden looks over the water. It has welcomed travelers for generations and now combines a village pub, a dining room and an events suite.
Getting there
The inn's address is Sawley, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 4NH. Clitheroe is the nearest town, and the event team takes inquiries by phone and email.
